Gradually, River’s thrashing and growls quieted. His eyes slid shut as if he were falling asleep, and his breathing slowed. Bel stopped singing, and the room fell quiet. Everyone continued to hold tight to River as if afraid it was all a trick.
“River? Can you hear me?” Bel asked softly. His eyes strayed to the gentle rise and fall of his chest. His color was better, though it was hard to tell under all the dried blood. “Open your eyes, dearest heart. I need you to look at me.”
Long eyelashes flickered and lifted, revealing pale hazel eyes he knew so well.
“Bel,” River said on a soft sigh.
“It’s okay,” Aiden announced in a relieved voice. They all released River, and Bel started to lean down to kiss his wolf while Wyatt hurried around the table to join them.
“Wait!” Marcus shouted and everyone froze. “Is he a wolf or a vampire?”
No one moved a muscle. Eyes darted from Aiden to River, who even looked to be holding his breath. They waited for some sign of which way River now fell.
Rafe snorted. “There’s one easy way to figure this out.” He pressed one hand to River’s chest and lifted his blood-smeared fingers to River’s nose, waving them back and forth. Almost immediately, River jerked his head to the side, his nose wrinkling.
“Eww! Gross!” he said, trying to escape Rafe’s hand.
“There you have it. Wolf!” Rafe declared.
A cheer went up, but Bel didn’t care if River was a vampire or a wolf. He just wanted the man alive. He captured his lips in an awkward kiss. His lover tasted of blood and sweat but also River. He was alive and safe.
River reached up, placing his hand against his neck and Bel hissed, jerking away as fresh pain shot through his body. Now that his lover was on the mend, his own pains were returning. The world swayed and he struggled to stay on his feet. Strong arms wrapped around him from behind, holding him upright.
Bel blinked and looked up to find Aiden right there, a worried smile on his exhausted face.
“Celebrating can wait until we have everyone fixed up,” Aiden said sharply. “River stays on the table until we get another pint in him. Bel, you need to feed from Wyatt. No arguments.”
“But—”
Wyatt cut him off as he pulled Bel’s nearly limp body out of Aiden’s arms. “I believe your father said no arguing. I finally get to feed you, and you can’t fight it any longer.”
Bel wanted to argue and fight, but he was so damn hungry, and there was so much pain radiating through his body. And there was a part of him that truly did want to taste Wyatt, wanted to swallow down his blood and let it soak into all of his cells.
“Rafe, watch your brother. Stop him from taking too much. Less than he would if feeding from a human,” Aiden continued to direct. “Everyone else help clean up this disaster area.”
The rest of the world was already starting to fall away. Cradled against Wyatt’s chest, he allowed himself to be ushered to the other side of the room, where they sat on the floor. From their position, River could easily see them with only a turn of his head. Wyatt drew Bel into his lap and held him so damn close.
Wyatt’s scent mixed with blood and sweat danced around him. Gentle arms wrapped around him, trying to be careful of his wounds while at the same time holding him close. Bel turned his head, brushing his lips across the pulsing vein so close to the surface. Wyatt shivered and one hand tightened on his hip.
“Are you sure you’re strong enough? I didn’t check your injuries. I—”
“Bel, I’m fine. I’ve almost completely healed,” Wyatt reassured him.
“Please tell me you want this,” Bel whispered so very softly, he wasn’t entirely sure Wyatt could even hear him.
“Bel, I have dreamed of this moment since that night we talked in the kitchen. Please don’t take it from me.”
“I love you,” Bel murmured, then sank his fangs deep.
Wyatt moaned and rich blood flooded Bel’s mouth. He groaned and swallowed. The blood was unlike any he’d ever had before. Thicker, richer, and even hotter. It scorched a path down his throat and drenched starved cells. Fresh life and power zinged through every nerve ending. He felt amazing.
“How much is too much?” Rafe’s voice cut through his euphoria, reminding him that he wasn’t alone with Wyatt. “When the wolf passes out?”
“No, definitely not,” Aiden said irritably. “Far less.”
Rafe sighed. There was a soft hiss of fabric shifting and sliding. He could feel his brother closer, but Bel didn’t want to lift his head or open his eyes. Being wrapped in Wyatt was so much better than whatever the rest of the world had to offer.
“Come along now, Bel. Let go of the poor wolf. I’m sure you’d prefer to leave him enough blood to work his cock.”
That was a good point. A very good one.
Bel licked across the wound, sending another shiver through Wyatt’s long frame, while the wounds easily closed.
“That was so amazing,” Bel said with a sigh. He rubbed his face back and forth, nuzzling Wyatt for a second because everything just felt…amazing. He finally turned his head and slowly blinked at Rafe. His thoughts were sluggish, but everything felt too good for him to care about it. “And you’re not allowed to talk about my boyfriend’s penis.”
“What?” Rafe squawked. “Boyfriend?”
“Oh shit,” Aiden swore softly.
“Penis. Isn’t that an odd word? It sounds so funny when you say it. Peeeen-is. P-peeen-is.”
“What the hell is wrong with him?” Rafe demanded.
Ethan’s cackle rang out through the room, but Bel couldn’t see him from where he was sitting. He didn’t want to get up. Wyatt’s arms felt so wonderful wrapped around him, all safe and snuggly.
“He’s drunk!” Ethan exclaimed.
“He can’t be,” Marcus countered. His other brother was still here? It was a regular party.
“He is,” Aiden murmured, though he was sounding a little more amused now. “Wyatt is an alpha, and Bel was severely injured. The rush of blood has gone to his head.”
“Oh my God, I love drunk Bel!” Ethan said around more laughter.
“Penis. Penispenispenis. Well, shoot. Now it doesn’t sound like anything at all. And why do they call it a cock in the first place? It doesn’t look like a chicken in the least. Dick is just too informal. Why don’t we call it a Richard? Wyatt’s is certainly regal enough to warrant a formal name.”
“Hey!” River called from too far away. Why the hell wasn’t he snuggled up with them in their usual puppy pile? “What about my penis?”
“Oh, yours is definitely a Richard as well,” Bel said with an extravagant wave of his arm. “But you must come over here too.”
There was a sound of low arguing and something like a scuffle, but it was only a few seconds before River’s smaller frame was pressed tightly against Bel. With him came the smell of old blood and sweat, bringing back ugly memories of what had brought them to Marcus’s house in the first place.
Bel turned in Wyatt’s arms and cupped his hands on either side of his face, pulling them together until their foreheads touched. “River. My sweet, beautiful River. I was so scared. We were so scared. We can’t lose you.”