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Bash plopped down. Arden watched him carefully and he sighed as he picked up their bottles and refilled their drinks. Finally, he grabbed his own glass and pressed it to his bottom lip before he paused.
"What did you do, Arden?"
Arden frowned. "If I tell you, then you'll think the worst of me."
"Maybe," Bash answered with a shrug. "But that's for me to decide, isn't it? Tell me."
Sighing, Arden leaned back and rested his head against the small fridge unit behind the bar. He was quiet for so long, Bash didn’t think he would speak. And then finally, his lips parted and the bear shifter sat forward, waiting.
"Back home, I was good at what I did. And for a long damn time too. I know I look like this," he said as he waved a hand down the length of his body. "But I'm very old, Bash. Very old and very tired." He took a sip of his wine and shook his head. "I've killed so many people," he whispered. "Bad people, good ones..." He trailed off. "Innocent ones. That's the worst of it. I can't get their faces out of my head. I only came here because I knew I wasn't ever supposed to be happy. This was my penance, to help others have a home and safety. But I've screwed that up too." He paused, the glass mid-air. "Someone knows who I am. That's the only explanation I have for this. It's my karma catching up with me. I'm sorry all of you had to be dragged into it." Arden tossed back his drink before he laughed dryly. "I'm a piece of shit."
Bash threw his drink in Arden's face. The dragon stared at him, spluttering and gasping. Bash slammed his glass down.
"Do you want an award for your pity party?" He scoffed. "We've all done bad shit, Arden. Boo-fucking-hoo!"
"Bad shit isn't the same as murdering innocent people," Arden growled. "Show me one other person here who's done that!"
"Me!" Bash yelled. When Arden pulled back, Bash frowned. "Shit. I never tell anyone this stuff, but why do you think I'm on my own? Since when have you known shifters to be solitary? I can't go back to my den. Ever. That's why I'm here."
"What happened?" Arden asked, vodka still dripping off of him.
"I got tired," Bash said without a hint of remorse on his face. "The man I loved was being pushed around by the mate that was chosen for him. And it was every damn day," he snapped. "I grew up loving him and I would do anything for him. So when I confronted his mate about what he was doing, we got into a fight. A bad one." Bash gave up on the glass and drank straight from the bottle. "I killed him. And what did my friend do? He told everyone I'd murdered his mate in a fit of jealous rage just so he wouldn't get exiled with me." Bash shook his head. "My point is that the world is filled with shit. We just have to deal with it."
Arden stared at him as he took another chug. "And you had to throw your fucking drink on me to say that?"
Bash burst out laughing. Something about Arden soaked in vodka, hearing his story, and saying that so casually made him lose it. Laughter bubbled out of him uncontrollably until he wrapped an arm around his stomach and forced himself to breathe to stop it. When he opened his eyes again, Arden sat across from him, a drunken grin on his face.
"Sorry I threw my drink," Bash said. "My temper is shit."
Arden nodded. "Sorry I didn't save you at the auction." They sat in silence as the words sank in before Bash's eyes widened. "Bash."
"You left me there?" he asked.
The thought of that cold cage, stuffed into a space with other supernaturals, like he was an animal waiting to be adopted, brought a bad taste to his mouth. He'd always blamed Porter and his little friends. But apparently, Arden had something to do with it too.
"Porter referred you to me because you needed help," Arden said, his hand wrapping around Bash's wrist before he yanked him back down when he tried to leave. "What we did was shitty, but necessary. As you said, everyone's got a goddamned past so don't get up and leave me alone right fucking now!"
The shout echoed through the room, the floor shaking with the vibrato of Arden's deep voice. Bash stared at him and opened his mouth to tell him that he could shove his words up his ass.But what would that accomplish? Once that's done, then what?He swallowed his words. Going back out on the streets and suffering? Why would he do that? Bash liked where he was. Yeah, Arden was one of the bastards that had left him behind. That just meant he wasn't going to let him off the hook. Ever.
"If I could have gone back without being killed," Arden started.
Bash held up a hand. "That's the past." He looked the man up and down. "Guess you're taking care of me for a long damn time to make up for it, huh?"
Arden blinked at him in surprise before he laughed again. "You're insane."
"I know," Bash answered. His heart squeezed and he stood up this time without Arden stopping him. Once he dusted off his clothes, he held out his hand. "Grab your wine and my vodka and let's get you into a shower. If you're going to take care of me, I don't want you looking like a slob and smelling like a booze factory."
Arden's grin widened. "Bash, I...I..." His eyes watered. "I just-"
"Don't say a thing," Bash answered as he closed the space between them. His chest met Arden's. He was only a bit smaller than him but right now that height felt huge. "It's okay. I forgive you."
"You do?"
"I do," Bash answered before he cleared his throat. "What are we doing? Getting married?" He grinned. "Fuck this sad bullshit. We can cry about our lives once we figure out how to get the guys to a safe, comfortable place."
Arden pushed his fingers through Bash's red hair and before the bear could protest warm lips pressed against his own. Bash stared at Arden in shock before a growl tumbled out of his throat. He pushed back against the dragon, but the man was sturdy as hell. Arden growled right back, their hands gripped and tugged at each other's clothes, but it wasn't enough. Bash's body craved more.
He needed Arden in the worst way.
