In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC 5)

Laurent smiled at him, his heart overflowing with joy. “Yes. To see a part of you in him, to know that we’ve strengthened our bond through this being we’ll bring up. And I actually think you will make a great father if you choose to. You can be very patient.”

Beast smiled and rested his head against Laurent’s. “And you can be the moral compass I can’t be.”

Laurent chuckled. “I’ve lost my moral compass when I found erotic pictures in Mr. Barnave’s books. Or…” he poked Beast. “When I married you.”

Beast shook with laughter. “Speaking of moral compasses. How about we keep Magpie in the dark about us making up for a day longer? He’s losing his shit over this.”

“Oh! That truly is evil. Let’s do that. He is unbelievable. Remember how just the other day, he sent me a bouquet of flowers and had me think it was from you? It’s been so uncomfortable to find out the truth, but I suspected something wasn’t right from the start. Flowers aren’t like you at all. His audacity knows no bounds.”

Beast pushed a wonton into his mouth. “Right? Or how he insists that one of the walls in the baby room should be painted red. My child’s room won’t look like a fantasy brothel.”

“Beast?” Laurent gave him a kiss. “Can we start with the fortune cookies just this once? You know how much I love them.”

Beast smirked and took one from the paper bag. “Sure. You go first.”

Laurent cracked the cookie open, but frowned as he read the fortune. “Don't worry about the stock market. Invest in family. Lucky number: 7. What’s the stock market?”

“It’s… people buying things that don’t physically exist and then either lose or gain money. It’s like gambling, but for those people it’s work. At least that’s how I understand it,” Beast said, cracking open his own cookie, but Laurent didn’t let him read it just yet.

“So, instead of gambling, invest in family?”

Beast nodded. “Maybe this is a sign that we should invest in a rich godfather after all?”

Laurent snorted. “You have to admit he’s going out of his way to charm us. Okay, what does yours say?”

Beast unwrapped the roll of paper. “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why ships are built. Lucky number: 7. What does that mean? That the baby will be born in July?”

“Ha! Better focus on the wisdom of the prophecy. I am the ship, and you keep trying to save me from myself. But I need to saaail!” Laurent laughed and kissed Beast’s cheek.

Beast kept him close for a few more seconds before breaking the kiss. “Okay, that’s enough sentimental bullshit. I’m starving.”

But the cogs in Laurent’s mind wouldn’t stop working. “Wait. Seven. Like seven deadly sins. I’ve been trying to crack it. The pattern in Baal’s requests. I was talking to a colleague about it just earlier today. He mentioned vices. That’s what it is. Orgies for lust, feasts for gluttony, Knight’s fights for wrath, and so on. It all fits. I should have thought about it sooner, it’s obvious.”

Beast stuffed his face with meat and chewed. “And… what of it?”

Laurent kneeled, too excited to sit still, and he put his hand on Beast’s shoulders. “In theology there are seven virtues that correspond to the sins. If Baal gains his power from sins committed on club grounds, maybe virtuous activity could drain him of it.”

Beast swallowed the food. “I mean… it’s a thought. But I’m not sure the answer to our problem can be so straightforward.”

“Worth a try, though. It’s not like we have anything to lose.”

“But we’re working on bringing down the trees, which is much less complicated, since they’re a physical thing. Otherwise, what are you gonna do? Enforce chastity on everyone? That’s not gonna work, I can tell you that much already.”

Laurent wouldn’t be so easily dissuaded when he felt like he hit the nail on the head. “No, but I’ll think of something.”

“Okay, but for now, we focus on the trees.”

Laurent nodded. “We will. Because I trust and respect your judgement. But this ship will be sailing from that harbor one day.”

Chapter 20 - Beast

Beast lived for quiet mornings in bed with Laurent. And after being deprived of them for so long, he was even greedier for lazy kisses, quiet words whispered into his ear, and the gentle touch of Laurent’s beautiful hands.

Too bad Laurent was already getting out of bed.

Beast groaned but was too sleepy to talk yet, so he rolled over and pushed his face into the pillow. He listened to the faint rustle of clothing, and the tap of bare feet on the floor, but once the door opened and shut, he knew sleeping was over.

Beast laboriously opened one eye and glanced at his alarm clock, which confirmed his worst suspicions—there was no point in trying to fall back to sleep when there were important matters to attend to in just two hours’ time.