Chapter Seven
The motel was one level. Amenities included a continental breakfast, with homemade biscuits, sausage, bacon, eggs. Going by the signs on the lobby window, they were very proud of the fact everything they served was free-range, antibiotic free, and local.
Nox parked in front of their room.
“Home again home again.” Luca grinned but it quickly fell. “Sorry, that was lame.”
The hotels were starting to feel a little too much like a permanent arrangement. Nox wasn’t sure how else to keep Luca safe other than keep moving.
A sweetness filled Nox’s lungs, and movement pulled his attention to where a family worked to herd their children into one of the rooms while juggling their luggage. The kids darted back to their SUV, and Nox had to grab the steering wheel to keep from lunging out the door.
“Hey.” Luca stood outside the van, the duffle bag in his hand. “You gonna—”
When had he gotten out?
“Nox?” He climbed back into the van and shut the door. The duffle hit the floorboard with a thump.
The potential prey raced down the sidewalk.
Nox snarled. Warmth gripped his arm, and the world bled back into focus. Luca was almost over him in the seat. The Anubis shifted its focus to Luca’s hand and rolled under Nox’s flesh with the promise of tearing free.
The new arrivals yelled for their kids who didn’t seem to care.
“Don’t stop.” Tremors caused earthquakes in Nox’s limbs. “Whatever you’re doing, Luca, don’t stop or I’ll kill them.”
Luca widened his eyes. “I won’t stop.” He petted Nox’s arm. “I’ll touch you as much as you need me to.” He glanced back at the people. “You won’t hurt them.” And Luca sounded so sure.
“Yes, I will.”
Luca searched Nox’s face, then nodded. “Okay. Then I won’t let you.”
Nox’s head turned on its own accord. “Fuck.” He tried to close his eyes, but his body wouldn’t obey.
Luca slid over Nox, straddling his lap.
The Anubis snapped its attention to him.
“I take it this helps?” Luca held Nox’s face.
He nodded.
“Is this what my brother used to do?”
The Anubis wouldn’t let Nox look away.
“You said he kept you from Phasing?”
“Yeah.”
“Was there anything else he did?”
“Noth—” The Anubis turned the lie into a growl. Color slipped away, and Luca’s heart fluttered behind his slender ribs.
All around Luca his particles glowed. Black threads crawled down Nox’s arms. The family was gone now, but any minute someone else could pull up. They’d see him, then there was no telling what would happen.
“We can’t stay out here, someone will…” As if the Anubis fucking cared. Let them see. Let them covet.
Luca reached down behind the seat. The position pressed his shoulder to Nox’s. He released the steering wheel and gripped Luca’s hips.