Chapter Thirteen

 

 

 

While the lumbar puncture wasn’t as bad as Erin had expected, the CT scan was horrible. Erin had never thought himself claustrophobic, but being in the scanner was nerve-racking. Just when he thought he was going to lose it and start yelling to be taken out, the scan was done and he was being removed from the damned hellish thing.

“That must have really sucked, huh?” Andy asked. “I felt like I was being stuffed in a small box just watching you.”

“Our twin-bond kicked in. It was awful. If I ever have to have another scan like that, I’m taking a Xanax or two first.” Erin shuddered. “I don’t even want to get in the elevator when we leave.”

“We can take the stairs. We’re only on the second floor.”

Erin bit back a snarky reply. Andy tended to treat him like he was weak, and it pissed Erin off. But the truth was, he did get tired easily, and it seemed to have just started. Before, he’d noticed he felt run-down now and then, and that’s why he’d gone to the doctor. But over the past few days, he’d just felt tired all the time.

He missed Jude’s bites, too, but knew they had to hold off on those.

Just thinking about Jude made Erin feel a little better. Jude was a rock, and he didn’t appear to be annoyed if Erin didn’t feel up to having sex. Though, even as tired as Erin was, he almost always had enough energy for sex.

Jude took care of him in other ways, ways that didn’t make Erin feel weak or less than the man he’d always been. They were simple acts of consideration, and Jude never pushed him about how he was feeling. He’d ask Erin how the appointments went and listen to Erin’s reply. Jude took him at his word if Erin said he was able to do something. Andy, bless him, fretted and double-checked everything Erin told him.

Erin loved him dearly, but Andy’s worrying made him tired. Still, he wouldn’t have changed anything about Andy. Erin loved him, period.

“So the results from the lumbar puncture should be in by tomorrow?” Andy asked. “And the CT scan?”

Jude nodded. “Yes, I mean, they have the scan already, but the images have to be gone over. Tomorrow, hopefully, we’ll know how bad this shit I have is.”

“If I hadn’t mated with Rad—” Andy began.

Erin stopped him by holding one hand up. “Don’t. Even. I’m the one that goaded you into banging him in the first place.”

“Yeah, but we’re twins, you and I, and if you developed this, I probably would have too.” Andy frowned as he held the door open for Erin.

Erin rolled his eyes at his brother, a move he seldom bothered with. “What? So it’d be better if we were both sick? How does that make any sense at all?”

“I just feel so guilty.” Andy huffed in disgust. “And none of this is about me. Ugh. Just ignore my whining.”

“Can do,” Erin assured him. “So Claude didn’t cancel the dinner?”

“He kind of couldn’t without coming off as really rude,” Andy countered. “As it is, he’s already got to explain that the human mate to be is now otherwise engaged.”

“What does that even mean?” Erin opened the doors to the stairwell.

“Basically, he’s telling them all that you’re Jude’s,” Andy explained. “And don’t get mad at me over that. Or Claude, either, because you and Jude are together, and you could be all better if you just agreed to be his mate.”

“Andy, don’t start,” Erin warned. He cared for Jude, a lot, but committing to him for eternity? That was something Erin and Jude both needed to be sure about before doing.

“I’m just saying,” Andy protested.

“Well, stop saying.” Erin trotted down the stairs, though he really felt like taking them slow. He didn’t want Andy stressing over how tired he was. “Let’s just get through each day as it comes.”

“You’re right. Let’s do that.” Andy beat him to the exit door and opened it. “Ah, it’s hot as hell out. Want to get a shake on the way home?”

“That sounds good.” Erin tried to eat healthy, but a chocolate shake would really hit the spot. “And some fries. Shake and fries.”

“Deal.” Andy unlocked the car.

Erin got in on the passenger side, Andy on the driver’s. Erin was capable of driving but Andy liked being behind the wheel, and Erin didn’t care who was behind the wheel anymore. When they’d been teens learning to drive, he’d always wanted to be first. Now he appreciated being a passenger.

Andy detoured through a fast-food place with decent shakes and excellent fries. They munched and slurped and Erin enjoyed the ride home. Erin still had about a quarter of his shake left, but Andy had drained his by the time they reached the house.

Erin unbuckled and got out. He stretched, then winced. “My back is still a little stiff. Maybe I should start doing yoga. Keep me flexible.”

“Go for it,” Andy agreed. “I bet Jude would enjoy you being able to put your feet behind your head.”

Erin pictured that. “Never mind. I’ll just start meditating or something like that.”

Andy laughed and they walked up to the door together. Erin unlocked it and followed Andy inside. The air conditioner was always set on sixty-five, and Erin moaned in appreciation of the cooler air. “Feels so good.”

“It does.” Andy locked the door. “Do you want to take a nap? I need one, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, we can nap. Come on. We’ve shared a bed before. Won’t hurt to do it now.” Erin headed to his bedroom. Once there, he stripped down to his briefs. Andy did the same, then they got in bed and, without hesitating, they rolled toward each other. Erin didn’t feel weird cuddling with his twin. It felt like embracing a part of himself. He drifted off to sleep easily.

 

* * * *

 

The scent of something delicious woke him. It woke Andy, too, who sat up and sniffed, his eyes still shut.

“Food. I smell food,” Andy mumbled. “Good food.”

Erin poked him. “My boyfriend is a great cook.”

“Boyfriend, eh?” Andy opened one eye to look at him.

“What else should I call him?” Erin asked. “I don’t know how this stuff works. He’s the only guy I’ve dated more than once. Okay, maybe those weren’t dates. Whatever. Now I’ve lost my train of thought.”

“Eh, let that sucker derail. You don’t need it.” Andy stretched his arms up over his head. “I want to eat whatever he’s making.”

“Same.” Erin got up and decided to at least put on shorts in case Rad was already there too.

“Clothes. Good idea.” Andy got up and found his pants. After they dressed, Erin and Andy left the bedroom.

Erin heard voices immediately. “Ah. Claude has arrived.”

“Sounds like it,” Andy agreed. “He’s going to either nag you or subtly try to get you to agree to be Jude’s mate. Maybe he’ll offer Jude two donkeys in exchange for your hand. Well, three, because you’re worth more than two.”

Erin needed to invest in some duct tape. “Ha freakin’ ha. No one is going to give me away or whatever. I’m dating Jude, not the whole coven.”

“Might as well be,” Andy groused. “Take my word for it, they’ll all be throwing their two cents in on what you should do.”

“Two cents won’t get you a damned thing in this town, and that includes my concern over those opinions.” Erin smiled while he said it, though, because he knew Andy was only voicing his concern for him. “I get what you’re saying, and besides, I’ve known the coven members for years now. Some of them I even like.”

“You know you love all of us there,” Andy corrected, grinning back at him.

Erin figured the emphasis on ‘all’ was a hint that he was in love with Jude, too, or maybe he was just being oversensitive.

Then he wondered if he was in love with Jude. Erin didn’t doubt that he had the capacity for enduring love—he remembered the tenderness and love his parents had shown to each other every day, and they’d been married over two decades before they passed away. He knew what romantic love looked like, and suspected he’d know what it felt like, too.

What he didn’t have sorted were his feelings for Jude, and with everything else going on, he didn’t trust his emotions, didn’t trust himself. His body had turned on him—he knew that wasn’t a good way to think about it, but he couldn’t stop his mind from going there—and he was a mess.

But being with Jude made him feel better like nothing else did.

“Erin.”

Erin had been so lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed they’d reached the living room. Claude calling his name almost startled him.

“Claude, Abernathy,” Erin said, nodding toward the coven leader and his mate. Then he waved at Rad. “Rad.” With those greetings done, Erin went right to Jude, who stood by the love seat, dressed in dark, tight jeans, thick-soled black boots, and a shimmery dark blue shirt that molded to his muscular torso like it’d been painted on.

Erin’s mouth went dry and his dick threatened to grow erect. He willed that unruly part of himself to behave as he reached for Jude. That there were people watching mattered not one bit to Erin. Jude’s arms were around him, he had his hands on those broad shoulders, and a second later, Jude’s lips pressed to his.

The comfort Erin felt was indescribable. It filled him, as did a warm rush of affection. Whatever was happening with Jude, it was good and Erin appreciated it, as well as the vamp himself.

The kiss was brief and almost chaste, with only a hint of Jude’s tongue touching his. Erin sighed and closed his eyes as he lowered his head and rested it on Jude’s chest.

“Tired?” Jude asked, big hands rubbing Erin’s back.

“Happy,” Erin corrected, though he was tired despite the nap. “Glad to see you.”

“Me too.” Jude kissed the top of Erin’s head.

Erin could have stayed in Jude’s arms for hours, but they did have guests. He repressed another sigh before moving to stand beside Jude. He slid his right hand down into Jude’s left. “So, is this an intervention, Claude?”

Claude, immaculately dressed and coifed as always, arched one perfect black eyebrow at him. “Erin, I see you’ve retained your snark. Of course I am concerned about you, as is Abernathy and the rest of the coven. You are aware that we will help you in any manner you wish.”

It wasn’t a question. Erin still nodded. “Yes, and while I appreciate it, I don’t want to be nagged about becoming a mate or being turned. I don’t need the additional stress.”

“Agreed, so I give my word that I will not bother you about the matter at this time,” Claude said. “Should your health deteriorate severely, I reserve the right to bring your options up again.”

“Claude—” Erin began.

Claude held up one hand in a ‘stop’ gesture as he shook his head. “No, Erin.” He came over and touched Erin’s cheek. His dark, knowing eyes seemed to hold Erin still.

Erin knew the power Claude wielded, the way he could hold a person in thrall and mess with their mind. But he trusted Claude.

“You are my friend.” Claude’s caress was gentle, though brief. He slipped his hand from Erin’s cheek to Jude’s shoulder. “And, Jude, you and I may not spend much time together, but you are my coven member and friend. I will always do what is best for anyone who is either or both of those things.”

Though Claude didn’t say it, Erin thought he was basically saying he’d let Erin alone for now, but if the leukemia proved fatal, Claude would intervene before Erin could pass away—despite Erin’s wishes otherwise.

And for all Erin knew, he might change his mind in such a case. It was easier to say he didn’t want to be a vampire and live possibly forever right then when he was still clinging to hope for remission. If he were to receive the worst sort of news, he couldn’t say how he’d react.

“I want Erin’s wishes respected,” Jude said. “He has approximately two years of treatments, depending on the findings from the latest test and scans.”

Two years—time would seem to drag by and fly past simultaneously. Erin couldn’t believe how fast the decades had passed already, that he was so close to being forty.

That he might not live to see the big Four-O birthday.

Claude’s lips twitched then he gave one of his rare smiles. “I have so often pushed a vamp into choosing a mate, given the risk humans are to us, but I suppose you are, as always, worth being an exception.”

“He is,” Jude agreed.

Rad snorted. “It’s not like we haven’t trusted him all this time.”

“Exactly.” Abernathy came over and patted Erin’s back. “We’re here for you, for whatever it is you might need or want. Need a Snickers bar at three in the morning, or in the afternoon? Call on us. We’ll be there for you.”

“Thank you.” Erin blinked back tears. “Really.”

“You would do the same for us,” Abernathy said. “And you’ve counseled how many vamps from not just our coven, but others that needed help? You and Andy are well loved and respected in the vamp world.”

Erin felt his mood switch from near-weepy to amused. “Just imagine, had Claude successfully erased Andy’s memory, that’d be a different story.”

“I didn’t completely remove the memories,” Claude informed them. “I’ve explained this before. I wanted to at least give Radney a chance with you.”

Erin and Andy exchanged a knowing look. “Right,” Erin drawled. “You just keep telling yourself that was it, and not my brilliant ability to hypnotize Andy or his incredible brain that broke through your thrall. Whatever you have to believe to feel good about yourself.” He winked at Claude.

“I always feel good about myself.” Claude smoothed down his lapel. “I am me, after all.”

Erin clasped a hand to his chest and gasped. “Oh my God! Claude made a joke!” He leaned back on Jude. “Someone mark the date and time.”

“Who says he was joking?” Abernathy nodded at Claude. “I mean, look at him. He’s the living depiction of debonair.”

Erin cocked his head to the left and considered Claude. “It’s always the quiet ones, they say, but I bet the immaculately groomed ones are freaks in the bedroom too.”

Claude actually laughed while Abernathy nodded almost violently.

“Well,” Claude said, “I prefer to say that I am very skilled in all things that I do, including dear Abernathy.”

“I’d say TMI but I kind of want to hear more.” Rad fanned himself. “Any talking about sex is always good with me.”

Claude gave him an arch look. “There will be no more discussing my and Abernathy’s sexual goings-on.”

Rad shrugged. “Fine, then I can tell you how I bent Andy over—”

“Radney!” Andy shouted, cheeks red. “You won’t be doing anything like that again if you don’t hush right now!”

Erin snickered. His brother was still the more prudish of the two of them. Pretty much the more prudish of anyone Erin knew, and he loved that about Andy.

“What?” Rad asked, a confused expression in place. “We’re all adults. We all get to fucking. What if someone has tips the rest of us don’t know?”

“Then you will just have to experiment and see what you can discover with your mate,” Claude replied. “Or, as I hear so often in the coven house, Google it.”

“Two jokes in one night,” Erin observed, rubbing his chin with one hand and trying for a pensive expression. “Hm. That’s got to be a record. Are you sure you’re okay, Claude?”

Then, much to the surprise of everyone—Erin would be willing to bet—including Abernathy, Claude snorted and rolled his eyes.

“Please, I am not a completely humorless man.” Claude unfastened his suit jacket. “Nor am I incapable of casual attire.” He removed his jacket, draped it over the back of a chair, then took his tie off as well. When he undid the first three buttons on his shirt, Erin started laughing.

“Whoa, there, man, we don’t want you to go wild on us,” Erin said to Claude. “You’ve blown our minds enough for one night.”

“Very well then.” Claude smirked and unfastened a fourth one, followed by the buttons at his wrists on his sleeves. He pulled the entire shirt off over his head, mussing his hair. Claude tossed the clothing onto the chair with his jacket, then looked like he dared anyone to comment on the silky, tight undershirt he wore. “There. Casual.”

Only Claude would think wearing the pants of a four thousand dollar suit, expensive Italian shoes, a leather belt that probably cost more than a lot of people earned in a week, and a silk tank top qualified as casual wear.

But Erin could go with it. “Casual looks good on you.”

“Everything looks good on him,” Abernathy said. “Now, how about we humans eat dinner while our vamps keep us company?”

Erin liked that. He liked Jude being his vamp a lot, and he liked having friends that cared for him.

“Dinner sounds great.” Tonight was a night to celebrate the people in his life, and Erin was going to do just that.