“Thanks. You can head home, Tara. I’ve got him.”
Tara hovered at Keld’s side as he carried Grayson toward a familiar Range Rover. “Grayson? Do you want me to stay?”
“It’s okay, Tara,” Grayson muttered. His mind was still hazy. “You should finish your run and head home.”
“If you say so…” Tara shot Keld a harsh look. “You’ll be explaining later.”
Keld nodded and opened the passenger door. Grayson allowed himself to be buckled in as he held the ruined blue fabric against his face. As they pulled out of the unkept drive, Grayson saw the female Mer, still lying in the grass.
“Who is she?” Grayson asked. His voice didn’t sound like his own, but clarity was beginning to creep through his thoughts. He had to snap out of it. He wasn’t at home, his parents couldn’t get to him here. It was just a cut.
You’re fine.
Keld’s jaw tightened. “My mother.”
Chapter 32
Keld
The scene kept replaying itself in slow motion: Grayson, meeting his eyes just as Jiei’s claws ripped through his face. Blood spilling from the wounds. The sharp angles of his mother’s bony frame as he threw her to the ground. Keld hadn’t saved him. He was too late.
“All done.” The forced, bright tone of Grayson’s voice only made Keld’s stomach clench. “Just needed a few stitches.”
Keld took a deep breath and looked up at him. A thick gauze pad was taped to the left side of his face, but it wasn’t big enough to hide the edges of the bruise. Keld lowered his eyes.
“Are you in pain?” he asked quietly.
“Not really. They numbed me up.” Grayson leaned down, trying to force Keld to look at him. “Hey. I’m okay. I’ve had worse.”
Keld gave a jerky nod and got to his feet. “Let me take you home.”
Grayson’s brows pulled together. “Are you staying over?”
“If that’s what you want.” The words were mechanical, spoken without conscious thought.
Grayson trailed behind Keld as he led the way to his car.
The drive home was deafeningly silent. Grayson kept shooting anxious looks at him, but Keld’s mind was a tangle of darkness and rage. Grayson wasn’t safe with him. He was incapable of defending his Omega, even against his own mother. Grayson deserved better—deserved an Alpha who could take care of him, whose only family member wasn’t a violent addict.
Keld blinked. When had he pulled into his parking space?
Grayson placed a hesitant hand on his forearm. “Are you okay?”
Keld shook his head. “Don’t ask me that, not when you’re the one who got hurt. Come on. You need to get some sleep.” He climbed out of the car without looking at the Omega.
The Omega hurried after him. “Wait, Keld, seriously, I’mfine.”
Keld glanced back at him. “Okay, you’re fine. I’m glad. But you still need to rest and heal.” He held the building door open and gestured for Grayson to go in. His pale eyes were wide with some emotion Keld couldn’t dissect. Or maybe he refused to.
Keld followed Grayson to his apartment door, eyes snagging on the bandage. How could he touch Grayson again, knowing the Omega had needed to besewnback together because of him? Maybe Grayson would wake up the next morning and realize he didn’t want to see Keld anymore. The thought sent a thrill of selfish horror through Keld.
“Have you eaten lunch?” Grayson asked. “Because I’m starving.”
“I’ll make us something.” Keld moved to the kitchen on autopilot. He could see Grayson sitting at the island in his periphery, but couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes. The Omega watched him cook in silence, leaving only to change his bloodied shirt.
Grayson’s phone went off, startling them both. He glanced at the number, brows furrowed, and declined it.
“Unknown number,” he muttered.
