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“Always the hero,” Simon said, a look of admiration on his face.
“Have no choice,” Renn said. “So many people are selfish, useless shits.” He finally turned his eyes to Christopher. “You look well, little brother.”
“I am, and I’m happy to see you,” Christopher said.
Dash came running up then. “What’s happened? How can I help?”
Renn halted and went still, looking Dash over for a long moment. “Just a few popped stitches.” He stood up a little straighter and said, “I’m Renn, Christopher’s brother.” He extended his hand after adjusting his hold on Simon.
Dash clasped his hand. “Glad to meet you. I’m Dash. I’ve heard good things from him and your mate.”
The silence that followed the wordmateseemed to engulf them all. Christopher held his breath as he tried to look at Simon and Renn without being seen looking at them.
“They are both rather fond of me,” Renn said with a near smile. He nodded to his stallion. “It would be a help if you could see to the horse. He’s had a long, hard journey, and I’m much heavier than the man I bought him from.”
“Be glad to,” Dash said, moving off right away.
Renn pointed to the cottage. “Let’s get me to something more comfortable than an old saddle.”
Christopher waited, exchanging a quick glance with Simon, who looked equally expectant, but Renn didn’t say anything as they made their way to the cottage.
Once Renn was seated on a bench at the foot of the bed in the front bedroom, he looked to Christopher and said, “I was curious about the change in your smell but not sure how to ask. But my question was soon answered for me when Dash came running over.” He glanced to the window and then back at Christopher. “That man’s your mate.”
“He is.”
“Is he good enough to be your mate?”
“He’s a good man and very devoted to Christopher,” Simon said as he peeled Renn’s ruined shirt off and tossed it aside.
Renn eyed Christopher. “You like him enough to have his scent all over you. Have you accepted him?”
“Not officially. We’re together, and he’s helping us. That’s all I care about. We haven’t discussed anything beyond that,” Christopher said.
“Dash practically chased him down,” Simon said before going to the dresser and pouring water into a basin.
Christopher glared after Simon, suddenly wishing the man would go back to being tightlipped again. Renn seemed to be awaiting an explanation, so Christopher cleared his throat and said, “He’s a former highwayman. The pull between us was strong, so we didn’t ask too many questions at first. I was upset when I found out, so I ended things with him.” Christopher paused. “I kept things from him, too, though.”
Renn chuckled. “He didn’t know he was fucking a prince?”
Christopher felt Simon’s gaze on him. Simon knew they’d had sex since arriving at the cottage, but Christopher had never confessed that they’d had sex within moments of meeting. “He didn’t. He found out after I left him.”
“I’m sure that gave him some pause.”
“It did, but he persisted.”
“When you sayformer, how long are we talking about?”
Christopher worried about telling the truth but knew he had to. “He only stopped within the last few weeks. Me leaving him made him reexamine his life. He’s stopped, and he’s even made the effort to return some of the things he stole, which I never would’ve expected him to try to do. We were reunited when he tracked me to Aron’s wedding.”
That perked Renn up. “Aron’s married?”
“Yes. He took the mate vow less than a week ago. A man named Ramsey who lives in Gateshead.”
“Ah, near the Red Temple. I’d love to go there one day.”
Bringing over the basin and some supplies, Simon knelt beside Renn and began washing his wound. “Time enough for all that after you’re fully healed.”
Renn looked down at Simon. “It’s not that bad. It was deep and caused me a lot of pain at first, but there’s no permanent damage. In a day or two I’ll be at the point I can shift to speed up the healing process.” Renn brushed Simon’s hair off his forehead. “I’m sure you can have me fixed up and feeling much better in no time.”
