Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 112

It's a short lunch and a quick trip back to our hotel before changing to head to the evening's event. What I hadn't had much time to appreciate, that this trip had brought to light, was the number of public events we attended together. Finally, I was able to collect his arm and stand with him as an equal instead of a King with a bodyguard. 

Much as it was a novelty for me, I'm sure it brought him a great deal of pride. It was one of the main talking points in our old life. His desire to claim me publicly had never faltered, while we'd had our share of uncertain glances and commentary, generally it would seem we'd been accepted by the public as a couple.

My body ached as we entered the large doors of what appeared to be some type of restaurant that'd been cleared to house the event. An unsettling feeling in my new lycan life, as discomfort typically was short-lived in these instances. Yet, it felt like my joints were made of gravel, my back throbbed uncomfortably and I squirmed in my own clothes. Nothing felt right, I felt as though a fog had settled behind my eyes and I struggled to sort through it.

I spot the band name, seeing Tiberius' likeness in relationship to a healthy donation in exchange for the space. Sighing, it would seem much as he was a soul eater, he knew how to appeal to the public. We would rush through this and I'd bring my husband back home for some much-needed relief, after the amount of teasing I'd earned this morning and the torturous massage I'd earned while we prepared to come here, I'd set myself up for sexually-induced failure.

He'd only been trying to help as he kneaded my shoulders and stroked down my back, yet all I could think of now was the way his hands felt on me. It was like we'd returned to those first days, I was starved for every inch of him.

Signing in, we travel down a hallway of the dimly lit building, into the main structure that was round tables and a large communal space where the majority of the guests gathered in casual conversation. So different from Court, leaving only room for private conversations and lost dialogue in the echo chamber that was the gutted restaurant. With pale walls and minimal decorations, I longed for some decor. 

"Thanks for inviting me." I hum softly as I feel him tense at my voice, he was on high alert and I couldn't blame him. We were among magic users, more so than I'd seen in quite some time. One or two people in costume, with a formal name tag, I suspect them to be heroes in charge of protecting this space. While I don't recognize them, it was nice to know this community had prepared its own support.

"You've always been better at this than me." He responds back, I feel his hand slip into his pocket and know he's fondling his cigarettes. "Besides, you're my personal dose of morphine. I don't think Alpha would let you part from me if you tried. These hits of blood are driving me mad..."

It'd been a curious development, that he was suddenly so enthralled with the taste of my blood and how good it felt to be fed off of. Verando had enjoyed blood since I'd cursed him so long ago. It was one of the things that'd helped him return to his wolf side in the brief stint of humanity induced by the infected wolf bite. My mortal self couldn't tolerate such a fetish, but now, I found it a huge turn on which was problematic for sorting through the repercussions of such a habit.

I spot Tiberius as he gestures to us to join him and the small party surrounding him. The casual greetings are dissuaded by Verando's apparent lack of desire to converse. He was here to appease Tiberius, not make small talk. Casually, I stroke the inside of his bicep with my fingertips in hopes to calm his nerves.

"Well, while we're gallivanting in my personal hell, what do you smell? Might as well practice." Verando's voice is low, hardly angling towards me so his gaze could search the party. It was more to take his mind off of the party, I'm sure. I feel the heat of his skin pressed against my own, it was certainly a concern what creature could be hiding amongst the patrons.