Dane stood and placed a hand on Baer’s shoulder. “This was also about giving you and Wiley a chance to get to know each other without the weight of everything else. A chance to fall in love. To make it all feel real and not some kind of crazy fated destiny.”
Baer jerked at Dane’s words. “You all knew?”
Dane flinched. “Grey told us.”
“But seriously, it was all pretty obvious,” Clay murmured.
“Really,” Lucien chuckled. “Five minutes in a room with you two, and even I figured it out.”
“But I’m sorry we didn’t connect the dots on your soul mate’s potential power sooner,” Clay apologized. He shoved one hand into his dark hair and scratched his scalp. “We were so caught up on the spell books, sure the answer was a spell, but I think Wiley’s right. He’s going to hold the key to helping Ruby and possibly even taking down Ardette.”
“Wiley?” Baer’s heart raced in his chest. He shrugged off Clay and Lucien’s hands, spinning around to find the young man still seated on the floor, his wide eyes staring straight ahead. His breathing was coming in fast little pants, as if he were starting to hyperventilate.
Baer dropped to his knees in front of Wiley and slowly laid his hand on his slender shoulder. “Wiley, baby. Remember what you’ve told me. You’re in control. This is your life and you’re in control of you. Nothing controls you. The decision is always yours.” In their many late-night conversations while cuddled up in bed, Wiley had told him about some of the mantras his therapist had taught him when he was overwhelmed.
Wiley nodded and breathlessly said, “I’m in control. The decision is mine.”
“Good. That’s very good. Now take a deep breath with me and hold it. In through the nose,” Baer instructed. He sucked in a slow, deep breath through his nose and held it for a second before releasing it and saying, “And let it out slowly through your mouth.”
They repeated the process a couple of times more. He was aware the others were hovering nearby, but all his focus was on Wiley. The young man just needed to be coaxed back to him.
After a few minutes, Wiley blinked and seemed to be breathing a little more easily. “Wow, you’re good at that. I’ve never had anyone talk me down from a near-panic attack so fast.”
Pride and relief blossomed in Baer’s chest. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Wiley’s temple. “Anything for you. Now, talk to me. What are you thinking?”
“I-I don’t know. It’s all so…big. So much.” Wiley lifted his wide eyes to Baer. “I mean, I want to believe Grey, but…how can I be your soul mate? I’m not…I’m not enough. You know how I’m broken.” Wiley tapped the side of his head, indicating his illness. “And even without that, I’m just a comic book artist. A dorky, skinny nerd. I’m no superhero. Definitely no Dane.”
Baer’s hand slid up to cup the side of Wiley’s head, forcing him to hold Baer’s gaze. “Just for one second, forget about all the magic, goddess, superhero bullshit.”
Wiley looked at him like he’d lost his fucking mind, and Baer chuckled.
“Yeah, I know, but try. Forget all that. How do you feel about me?”
“You?” Wiley gasped and he seemed to come alive with new life. “I love you. You’re amazing and patient…and you just get me. I’ve never been so happy in all of my life. I’ve never laughed so much. You’re so kind and compassionate. And silly right when I need you to be silly. It’s like you look at me, and you know me…and you somehow accept all of it. Even the nerdy, dorky, and broken stuff.”
Baer tightened his grip around the back of Wiley’s neck and pulled him into his lap, holding him as close as he could get. A lump formed in Baer’s throat, and he buried his face in Wiley’s shoulder. “Baby, there is nothing broken about you. Everything about you is perfect. You are so damn perfect for me.”
“But—”
“No buts. No exceptions. You are mine. Some part of me has known it for days, but I apparently needed to be beaten over the head with it. I love you. Love you so much.”
Wiley wrapped his arms around Baer as a choked laugh escaped him. “Love you too.”
Baer reluctantly pushed Wiley away so he could look him in the eyes. “But you know I come with all this fucking baggage. Annoying brothers. Goddess aunts. Monsters trying to kill me. Magic I don’t completely know how to use. Being my soul mate means being in danger. Maybe even for the rest of our lives.”
Reaching up, Wiley let his fingers slide across Baer’s forehead and down his cheek to the end of his bearded chin. His smile was serene—as if he’d found some deeper sense of peace he’d been missing for so long. “None of that matters. As long as I have you, I will happily face the danger, monsters, and annoying brothers.” He winked at Baer. “Though the magic is an awesome bonus.”