“Stop.” He was blushing. It made Nox burn just a little bit brighter for him. He could love Nelson for a thousand years buthis hidden smiles and tender blushes would never cease to make Nox’s heart flutter.
“Make me.” Nox kissed him, cherishing the way their lips clung and the heaviness of Nelson’s eyes as he grew drowsier. “And you’restrong, Nelson. You don’t know how many times I’ve been afraid and relied on your integrity and courage to get me through something. I would have folded a dozen times after New Castle if I didn’t have you.”
“Thanks.” Nelson’s arms tightened around Nox and he received a firm kiss. That was how Nelson signaled that he was tired of talking about himself. “That means a lot more to me than Smoak’s opinion on just about anything. Goodnight, Nox.”
“Goodnight. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Nelson’s fingers sifted through Nox’s hair and massaged his scalp, shutting down the rest of his brain.
“You matter the most, Nelson.”
It was the absolute truth and Nox’s last thought as he drifted off was that he’d find a way to prove it.
Chapter Five
“He killed all of them?”Merlin was apoplectic.“All of them?”He was standing on his chair and turning red. “This is…unfathomable!”
Nelson was rather furious as well but he would take that up with Nox later. He was too afraid and was hoping there would be a solution if he let the discussion play out.
“Except thereallyscary ones,” Smoak confirmed. “He still wants my head on a platter and he’s afraid to face me alone again.”
“Hundreds, you say?” Clancy verified as he refilled his glass at the sideboard. He swore under his breath and Nelson was not encouraged by how quickly Clancy was knocking them back.
“So… Dùbhghlas is like a…supreme demon now and he has an evil, undead valkyrie working for him,” Nelson summarized, scanning his notes. He glanced at Nox and then around the room, waiting for someone to correct him but Smoak applauded like a dickhead as Clancy groaned into his whiskey and Merlin dabbed his bald head with a handkerchief.
“And there could be as many as eighteen more Fomorians,” he added with a shaking laugh. There were tears in Merlin’s eyes as he climbed down from his chair and lowered onto the seat.
“I’m not worried.” Bryn held up his hand so Arawn could slap it.
“We’ve got this,” he said and there were murmurs of agreement but most were halfhearted.
Merlin sniffed hard and nodded. “We made quick work of them before and we weren’t prepared. We’ll be ready next time.”
“Next time,” Nelson muttered, his gut aching as he wondered exactly when that would be and how they could possibly prepare. And howhecould be of any use. “Do we have any clue as to where Dùbhghlas went?”
No one had any ideas and Nelson was too angry to make jokes and small talk so he tucked his notepad back into his coat pocket. “I’m going to run out for a little while. That box of crystals by the door won’t deliver itself to the bookstore.”
“Now?” Nox asked, concerned as he followed Nelson. “Howard’s not in a hurry to get them back.”
“I know but I could use the drive to clear my head.” Nelson didn’t hide that he was upset as he buttoned his coat and lowered to pick up the box. “We’ll talk later.”
“I’m sorry!” Nox whispered as he looked over his shoulder at the study. “Take one of the twins with you, at least.”
“I’m not in the mood for company.”
“I get that.” Nox nodded as he stepped closer, searching Nelson’s face and gauging his temper. “And you have every right to be mad but what difference would it have made if I had told you and we spent the whole night stressing and plotting and winding ourselves up into a collective nervous breakdown?”
“We’ll never know because you didn’t give me any input on the matter, you just omitted the most important facts and made another decision without consulting me.”
“That’s not—!” Nox started but Nelson cut him off with a hard glare.
“Will I have any say in it and get to fight when the time comes, or will you blow me out of the way again?”
“I didn’t do that because I don’t trust you or believe in you,” Nox insisted. “I had to protect you!”
“I know. Because I’m brave and smart but I’m just a man who can’t turn into a demon or a hound and I don’t know any spells.”
Nox gasped and gave Nelson’s chest a hard shove. “That’s not fair! To either of us. How dare you minimize how important you are to me and this family?”
