Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 44

"Do you guys mind?" Douxie asked suddenly, slowing to a stop. The others looked back. "Carter and I need to talk."

Steve snerked. "Yeah. Talk."

"I think he means they actually need to talk, Steve." Jim said, then nodded at Douxie with a knowing look. "You know where we'll be."

Douxie pulled Carter aside as the others continued down the hall, fingers twitching. Carter squeezed his hand gently. When their friends had disappeared down the hall, including Archie and Fenris after a nod from their boys, Douxie drew in a deep breath. Then pulled Carter along to a door he knew led outside.

They exited the castle into an overgrown garden, that once was probably beautiful. Douxie pulled Carter with him a ways away from the door, then sat down under a tree. Its branches did little to block out the roaring storm above them, but Douxie had needed room to breathe.

Carter sat next to him, letting go of his hand. "So?" He asked expectantly.

Douxie sighed, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry I never told you."

Carter pursed his lips, twisting the ring on his finger. "I don't understand, Douxie. I thought you trusted me."

Douxie looked at him, brows furrowing, heart twisting in his chest. "My love, that's not why."

Carter met his gaze, something deep and hurt in his eyes. "Then why?"

He drew in another deep breath. "Because until very recently, I thought the same of the fae that I told you. That they were malevolent and cruel... I didn't want you to think of me that way."

"But you thought of yourself that way," Carter said. "Until recently."

Douxie sighed, not answering him.

"I still don't understand why you didn't just... tell me." Carter pursed his lips. "Why the hell would I have judged you for something you can't control?"

Douxie opened and closed his mouth, searching for something to say. "I—" he looked at Carter, anxiety swelling in his gut. "I... think I could ask you the same thing."

Carter's expression dropped. He went from mildly bewildered to irate in a moment. "What?"

Douxie took a deep breath, turning his body towards Carter. "Aren't there things you've never told me?" He asked carefully.

Carter's expression remained the same, though his eyes did narrow slightly. "Hisirdoux, this isn't about me."

Douxie blanched. Fuck. He just got full named. "Um—"

"Trying to turn this around and pin me for something not even in the same ballpark as this is a low I won't take from you," Carter told him with a glower. "I'm not a child, don't try strong arming me into a fight. Not now. This is about you, Douxie. This is about something you lied to me about for eighty years."

Douxie looked away from him, guilt gnawing at his chest. He took in a deep breath, knowing now was not the time to push him about this particular subject. "Okay..."

Carter's expression dimmed slightly, he looked a little less angry. He sighed, rubbing tiredly at his face. "You know that I get it, right? It's not like I don't understand, but I don't understand why you said nothing for as long as you did."

Douxie chewed his lower lip. "I was scared... I was afraid that if you knew... you'd look at me differently."

Carter looked up at him, brows furrowing. "I would. I do." He took Douxie's hands. "Of course it would change the way I look at you, but that's not necessarily bad."