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“I’m a total shit.” Orion sat down next to his friend. “I meant nothing by my comment in the kitchen, Santee. I swear to god I don’t blame you for what happened to me.”
Santee turned to look at him, unshed tears in his eyes. “You could have died. It was my brother who attacked you, and all because you were helping me.”
Orion took Santee’s hand in his. “If my mom went out and shot someone in the supermarket, would you blame me for her actions?”
“But I knew Marvell wasn’t right in the head,” Santee argued. “I shouldn’t have asked you to cover for me, Orion.”
“But would you blame me?” Orion pressed.
“No.” Santee’s shoulders sagged. “I get what you’re saying, but that doesn’t stop me from blaming myself.”
Orion brushed aside a few strands of hair from Santee’s forehead. “Maybe we really should go to therapy,” he said. “It would help you deal with what Marvell put you through your entire life, and it would help me get past my attack.”
“I’ll consider it,” Santee said.
“Do you know anything about the Lovato parents?” Orion asked. “Every time I talk about my mom, Duncan gets this look in his eyes.”
“Not much,” Santee admitted. “Beckett doesn’t like to talk about it, but what I do know is, they went to Costa Rica for a vacation and were murdered.”
Orion gasped, horrified by the revelation. No wonder Duncan always looked that way when Orion talked about his mom. Fuck, it seemed Orion knew how to insert his foot into his mouth and not just with Santee. Then again, Orion hadn’t known about their deaths.
He cleared his throat and nodded. “By the way, it’s karaoke night at Fearless Fox. Wanna go?”
Santee chuckled, which put Orion’s mind at ease. “I can’t carry a tune to save my life.”
“Me, either,” Orion admitted. “I just thought it might be a fun thing to do.”
Santee glanced at him. “We really haven’t talked much since your stay at the hospital.”
Orion grinned. “I was too busy dodging two guys who wanted to mate me.”
“All joking aside, did you do the deed?” Now it was Santee who was grinning. “You don’t have to give me any details.”
“Let’s just say I’m surprised I’m sitting so comfortably.” Orion laughed then sobered. “It was…amazing.”
Santee bumped arms with Orion. “We can go to Fearless Fox tonight. I’ll see if Bran wants to join us.” He stood. “Just so you know, our mates will more than likely be there. Preternatural are very possessive of their mates, and with the weird shit that keeps happening to you, I don’t blame your mates for staying glued to your side.”
“Weird doesn’t even cover it.” Orion told Santee about the forest and about seeing those red eyes.
“So Izel didn’t even mean to take you guys there?”
“No,” Orion said. “And the second time, I was just snatched there by a bathroom stall.”
“What do you think that thing wants?”
“I have no idea, but I’m tired of being pulled back there,” Orion admitted. “The place is serene and beautiful but also creepy as hell. If I didn’t get an evil vibe from it, I wouldn’t mind spending the day there.”
“Just be careful,” Santee said. “I don’t want anything happening to you.”
Beckett walked in, a large tray in his hand.
“And that’s my cue to leave.” Orion headed for the door. “My own breakfast is calling to me.”
“We’ll talk some more later,” Santee said, but Orion’s friend was too busy smiling at Beckett to notice Orion leaving.
When he closed the door behind him, Izel suddenly appeared in the hallway. Orion jumped and squeaked. “I’m going to put a fucking bell around your neck.”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
