“Thank you for my first lesson in blowjobs.”
A yawn stretched Fox’s jaw and he made a strange, happy noise. “Anytime you want a demonstration, or even if you just want to practice, I’m happy to help.”
Growling, Winter pulled Fox close and flipped them so that Fox was on his back and Winter was on top. Fox cackled wildly, and joy exploded in Winter’s chest, pushing out the last of the darkness from the night’s events. He kissed Fox over and over again. He couldn’t get enough of the feel of his lips, the taste of him, the little noises he made. The sex was amazing, but Winter was endlessly addicted to kissing Fox. He would never get enough.
When he finally lifted his lips, it was to find Fox smiling up at him.
“Look at that,” Fox started. “Trauma all gone. Almost like magic.”
“You’re the magical one here.”
Fox placed his hand against Winter’s cheek, his thumb tracing along the point of his chin. “I think you underestimate yourself, Winter Varik.”
Winter could only turn his head and place a kiss to Fox’s palm. He had no response. He hoped Fox was right. “We need to get some sleep. We have to figure out how we’re going to save the world tomorrow.”
Sitting up, Winter reached over the edge of the bed and grabbed one of the blankets. He settled it around their naked bodies before pulling Fox close again. He didn’t know how they were going to save his family, but he didn’t want to do it without Fox at his side.
Chapter 21
Fox awoke with a start. He shot upright in the bed, gasping for air against the last image burned in his brain. All the Variks were dead…because of him. Because of his magic. It was just a nightmare, but he couldn’t shake it.
He glanced over his shoulder to find Winter sprawled on his stomach, his face pressed into his pillow as he breathed deeply.
It would be so nice to just curl up with Winter again and fall asleep, pretend the nightmare was nothing, but he knew he’d never be able to. The dream wasn’t an omen, but a reminder of the one thing he didn’t want to think about—hurting the Variks.
As quietly as he possibly could, Fox slipped out of bed and pulled on the pajamas he’d tossed onto the floor. Escaping Winter’s room without waking him, Fox headed downstairs where he dropped on the couch to face the cold, hard truth.
He was the Fox in the prophecy.
Damon believed he was going to hurt the Variks from within.
There was a chance he could be right. What if he’d gotten the prophecy straight from the witch? She could have explained that was what the prophecy meant.
Not that Winter didn’t have a good interpretation too. They just weren’t working with enough information yet.
The big question was whether Fox was willing to risk the lives of all the Variks by not doing anything.
That was a huge fucking NO.
He didn’t want to do anything that endangered the Variks. Yes, he’d known Winter for barely more than a week, but the vampire was claiming his heart piece by piece with every kind word, gentle gesture, and wonderful laugh. Even the Variks had treated him with kindness and respect despite the fucking mess they were all in. Not once had they thought less of him because he couldn’t do magic. When Winter said he’d didn’t think Fox meant to harm them, they all believed him. And by extension, they believed in Fox. He had no intention of ever breaking that trust.
So if he didn’t hurt them intentionally, it all came down to doing something unintentionally.
Like blocking Winter’s access to the ghosts with his magic.
His stupid fucking magic, which he couldn’t even access. The last link between him and his mother. She’d been so proud of her witch heritage. She never wanted to do grand things with her magic, but she loved doing small, helpful things. She liked making the world a better place.
And Melanie Turner instilled that same pride and need to be helpful in her son.
Except Fox couldn’t do anything helpful with his magic. If anything, he stood a very good chance of destroying something beautiful with his magic, and he couldn’t allow it.
He had to get rid of his magic.
Just the thought created a painful lump in his throat. Fox slapped a hand over his mouth to hold back the choked cry. He’d wanted magic his entire life, and when he’d finally discovered that he was