Undying Hunger

Ch. 6: What a good problem to have.

Reid's lips brushed Dante's when the door flew open, and Mathew froze as both Reid and Dante twisted their heads. Reid's cheek brushed Dante's, and he flew back onto the table, cursing when his ass hit the puddle.

"Sorry!" Mathew squeaked and shut his eyes. He tossed the towel in Dante's direction. It hit the ground and Dante picked it up. The room was silent as Mathew slammed the door. Letting the sheet covering Dante fall, he stood, glancing at Reid covering his face in his hands.

"Here—" Dante said, about to help Reid clean up, but Reid cut him off.

"Go, clean up and go back to work. I'm sending a stylist up to fix your mop." Reid snatched the towel, keeping his back turned away.

"As you wish," Dante said, lingering a moment too long. He burned to know Reid's expression but tore from his spot. Dante obediently went back to work, letting Reid's stylist cut his hair. and agreed to Reid's choice of clothes. And Dante Did everything in his power to put space between him and Reid.

He'd walk through the house, hearing a pair of voices, like Evie, Ben, and Reid spending the afternoon watching a movie. Dante let them be. He heard Nino and Reid chatting in the kitchen and decided to grab a drink later. Reid even met Jace outside the castle when Jace was picking Mathew up for a weekend at his cottage. Dante spied on them from behind a curtain as Reid laughed at something and the boys blushed. Dante's presence would poison every interaction.

He waited until the last possible moment to see Reid again. On the night of Tabitha's gala, Dante stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, checking his phone and studying the guest list to make sure he knew everyone.

"Damn, I'm good," Reid announced from the top steps. The gallery's dress code called for jewel tones. Reid wore a dark emerald, green suit that somehow made his hair a fierier red. Unlike last time, he styled his hair back and laid it flat.

"Took you long enough," Dante smirked, stepping out in a burnt orange suit. Something that paired well with Reid but avoided being too matchy. Bianca wanted to take pictures as if they were going to prom. Dante told her to go back home to her husband.

"You can't rush perfection."

"How much more time are you going to need? Another century?"

Reid threw his head back in fake laughter, leaving the castle. Like always, Dante followed behind him. The event was at an art gallery, but on display were Tabitha's many trinkets and her impressive jewelry collection. They arrived at the exhibit on time, which already lifted Dante's spirits.

"Wow," Reid said as he entered. The jewelry was on display everywhere with the jewelry on velvet black cases. Behind them were photos taken, zooming in on the jewelry's details. In the middle of it all was a golden tree with twisted limbs, but instead of leaves, it was dripping with diamond earrings of all kinds.

A fire caught underneath Reid's feet, and Dante quickly grabbed his hand. He scolded, "Don't stray too far."

"Come on." Reid rolled his eyes and led Dante closer to the tree, scaling a few feet taller than even Dante.

"This is incredible," Reid said, his eyes twice their normal size, glittering as much as the diamonds. The lights hit every diamond, gem, and other expensive rock perfectly to make them shine.

"Thank you, darling," Queen Tabitha said, appearing with her entourage of well-dressed help.

"Was this your idea?" Reid asked.

"Of course. I've collected so much over the years and somehow, out of it all, I've accumulated diamonds."

"What a good problem to have."