Gray glanced at Shadow, who appeared perfectly carefree waving at the people inside. The pressure in his throat trickled down his chest and clutched at his heart. Lowering his voice, he met Beast’s eyes again. “Would you wait if this was about Laurent?”
Beast shifted his weight in obvious discomfort, but he nodded and tapped the window to greet his husband, who approached the door with a wide smile. “Just… tell us what we can do. I’ll see you inside.”
“How did it go?” Laurent asked, but then the other bikers poured into the bar, and Gray was left with only Shadow for company.
“What are we doing?” Shadow asked and put his arm around Gray in a gesture so protective it broke Gray’s heart. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
Gray looked up, surprised that with the ruby out of their hands, it was Gray’s wellbeing that Shadow thought about the most. Instinct told Gray to shake off the arm for the sake of appearances, but the weight of Shadow’s flesh and bones felt right against his nape, so he leaned into him instead.
“I’m fine. We followed you in the cart until the guards spotted us. Let’s call Magpie.”
“Can you believe that we’ve done it? We’re one step closer to getting a ruby for me.” Shadow leaned down and kissed Gray to the eruption of whistles and screaming inside the bar.
Everyone was watching.
Of course.
The Kings had always enjoyed shocking civilians with expressions of sexuality and rude behavior, but Gray suspected that they were curious about his new relationship too, since he’d always kept his sex life under wraps. With Shadow, the intimacy felt so natural he didn’t really want to fight it.
“Yes, we’ll find that ruby for you, and you will stay with me,” Gray said, deciding that Shadow’s optimism was much healthier than the worry deep in his heart. He pulled out his phone and chose the right number before impatiently listening to the tune on the other side. Of course Magpie was one of those people who chose to have a song playing while the caller waited for him to pick up.
“I’ve seen the news,” Magpie said as soon as he answered.
Gray sighed. “The thing is damn big. Now your part of the deal. Where do I find one for Shadow?”
Gray hated every second of the silence that followed. A million thoughts rushed through his mind in that span of time, and they ranged from anticipation to fear that maybe Magpie had lied to them about the existence of the hidden ruby.
His feet were growing roots into the asphalt, but Magpie finally spoke.
“It belongs to a ghost.”
Shadow was close enough to Gray to hear what was being said and frowned. “A ghost, Mr. Magpie?”
“Oh, you’re there too. Of course you are. Yes, a ghost. The being is menacing, and a relict of the last ritual Baal had attempted. He is bound to the house he died in, but I believe the gem might be what’s giving him his power. I made numerous attempts to retrieve it, but none of my associates managed. The ruby definitely exists, and it is yours if you can get it. I will send you the address.”
Gray pressed his lips tightly together. Why did they need to know about the previous failures? Was Magpie trying to discourage Gray from the attempt? “I will get it,” he said firmly and rubbed Shadow’s back to give him some hope too.
“I applaud the confidence, Gray. I sincerely hope it all works out for you two. With my prize secured, I can sleep soundly, and I wish the same for you.”
Gray opened his jaw wide to relax its muscles. “Sure. I’ll be waiting for your message,” he said curtly, out of patience for this kind of behavior. He needed a drink.
Once the call was over, Magpie sent the address promptly, and Gray could hardly believe how smoothly that had gone.
“Can we join the others?” Shadow asked and gestured to the people inside. He was such a sociable creature that it broke Gray’s heart to think that if something went wrong, he would be stripped of his personality and memories, and pulled back into a mindless swarm of black goo in a world beyond time.
Lost forever.
Gray would never again feel complete.
He took a deep breath and made himself smile for Shadow’s benefit. “Sure, let’s celebrate,” he said, grabbing Shadow’s hand and leading him into the bar that smelled of beer and cigarettes. Not so bad after all.
It wasn’t the first time the Kings had partied here, and the sight of the logo spray-painted on the wall behind the billiard table made him smile. This was the kind of stuff that had excited him since he was a kid. A place where he belonged. With men who accepted him.
For once he didn’t even feel empty without Mike around. He would always miss his brother, but with Shadow at his side, Gray was whole again in ways he’d never imagined he could be. Not just because Shadow loved and cherished him, but because Shadow wanted to be a part of the Kings of Hell family as well.