“I remember, now. Cade. Cade Jung…” He sighed. He must have had his mother’s last name. “Yeah, Midnite is better. Sounds hellacooler.”
Mads stifled a little laugh. “Both sound nice.”
“Oh yeah. Hey, Mads! Look forward to meeting you. Hope you’re feeling well. And thanks again for my name.” Nite’s voice rose in pitch, true happiness in his words. “Hey, can you do me a favor and find my fingers, too?”
Fingers?Mads mouthed, brow furrowed. Marquis waved him off.
“Hmm… If I see any spare digits lying about, I suppose I shall bring them to you forthwith.” Marquis stifled a chuckle, amused by the everlasting positivity of the poor dear.
“Thanks, Dad!”
“Thank you, Father. Papa.” Rexford threw that last one in, and Mads didn’t react right away. It took a second for him to process it.
“Y-you’re welcome.” He gave a nervous chuckle.
“Well, with that, I’ll be off. Mads and I are out having a date at the approval of his doctors. I’ll call later. Love you, Son.” Marquis reached for the hang-up button until they gave their love as well and hung up.
Mads covered his mouth with his fingertips. A nervous chuckle bubbled over his lips.
“You, okay?” Marquis reached over to pat his shoulder.
“I’m happy I could make them happy.” A genuine smile twisted his lips.
“Good. Now let’s go get some food.” Marquis got out of the car and walked around, opening the door for him. “I hope you like spicy food like you used to.”
“You remember!” They strode across the parking lot, hand in hand, his warm grip a comfortable pressure.
As they approached, the restaurant flipped their closed sign to open, a sharp-eyed woman on the other side giving them a wickedly happy grin.
“Marquisssss,” the woman said as they slipped in. “And you brought a friend!”
“Nahal, Anu!” Marquis beamed at them. “I’ve brought Mads with me, as promised.”
The two women, cobra shifters and a mated couple, circled them as they strolled in, all bright smiles and golden eyes. “I hope he brought his appetite, and I’ll interrogate you later.”
“I don’t care what you give me, but please, thespiciestthing on the menu.” Mads’s eyes glittered with utter joy. He did enjoy a little pain.
Baron had given him his fill of pain, and then some.
“Whatever you wish for.” Marquis smiled. And he meant it. He’d do anything.
Chapter Six
Mads
Everything inside of him, from lips to intestines,burned. Fire roared through him. “I didn’t know they’d come this far with spicy food…”
“Did you find your match? You seemed content while eating it.” Marquis walked along the riverbank with Mads. He picked up a stick on the ground and examined it, holding it up to the light. “Not this one…”
“It was too much, but I enjoyed every bite of it. The rest of me is protesting.” Mads sighed with a mix of annoyance and delight.
“Perhaps we ask for something a little lighter in spice next time.” Marquis chuckled.
“Never admit weakness in the face of your enemy!” Mads scoured the bank and found a piece of driftwood. He plucked it up neatly and wielded it like a sword, prodding Marquis’s bottom with it.
“What the devil?” Marquis whipped around as Mads hid the stick behind his back, lips pursed innocently.
“Must have been a goose.” He bounced the stick on his hip and grinned.
