Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Got it! See you in a while.”
He walked slowly to the front door, yawning twice when Rogan’s gaze met his. Once inside, he dropped off the cocoa with the cook and left everything else in the nursery. Grabbing his dragon, Rogue, Brooks headed for a different floor and let himself into a guest room. He could hide in here for a while.
Taking a seat on the slightly dusty closet floor, Brooks retraced his steps to that door in his brain. He reached for the second latch and closed it. It didn’t click completely closed, but the connection between them narrowed. Hopefully, Rogan couldn’t read his thoughts and emotions now. That seemed way too intimate for someone who would have rather been with a female mate. Hopefully, it wouldn’t alert Rogan that something was wrong. He should think Brooks was asleep.
Dropping his head down on his knees, Brooks felt like his heart was breaking. He hugged his stuffie close and tried to pull himself together. Rogan would return soon. He might give him a bit of alone time to wake up from his nap, but they usually spent the evening together. Could Brooks keep the charade going that Rogan cared for him?
Rogan had told him he had one male mate before him. Brooks hadn’t thought of asking if he was disappointed to have another one. Rogan had always seemed attracted to him, but now, Brooks replayed their conversations in his mind. He’d told Brooks he loved him very quickly. Had he lied? Was Rogan pretending to care about him?
Little things seemed big now.
A crashing sound came from the front of the house, making Brooks sit up straight.
Brooks! Where are you? Rogan’s urgent call filled Brooks’s mind.
Brooks fought to clear his head. He imagined the color gray, hoping it would cover anything floating around in his mind. Aware that he couldn’t hide forever, Brooks stood. As soon as he got his mind protected, he’d call Rogan like he’d woken up a few minutes ago.
“Brooks! Answer me!”
Rogan sounded upset. Had there been another attack? Maybe one of the mates was hurt. Brooks pulled himself together and headed for the staircase. He’d gotten halfway down the hall when Rogan appeared in front of him.
“Brooks! Our connection dwindled to almost nothing. I thought someone had shielded you.” Rogan hugged him hard, knocking the breath from Brooks’s lungs, stepping back while holding on to Brooks’s arms like he was afraid he’d disappear.
“Maybe it blinked out while I was asleep,” Brooks suggested and yawned for special effect.
“Tell me what’s going on. You’ve closed off our connection as much as you could. Only a deliberate act would cause this.”
“Perhaps we don’t have as strong a connection as you did with your other mates. I’m sure it happens. You have to get tired of being stuck with someone. Fate might not always be right.”
“What are you talking about, Adventurer?” Rogan shook Brooks gently. “What is going on in your mind?”
Brooks met his gaze for the first time. “It’s okay, Rogan. I understand.”
“What the fuck do you understand? Because I don’t!”
Brooks leaned back slightly from the volume of that exasperated question. Why was he so upset? It wasn’t like he was the mate Rogan wanted.
“Sir, can I help you?” Sara’s gentle voice asked from the stairway.
“No!” Rogan shouted and then shook his head as he visibly tried to pull himself together. “I’m sorry, Sara. There’s something wrong and I need to get to the bottom of it. I won’t hurt Brooks. Just give us some time.”
“Of course you won’t, sir. Mates are the most precious of your treasures.”
“If I were a woman,” Brooks grumbled.
“What?” Rogan’s roar cleared the hallway as Sara hurried away. “What does your masculinity have to do with how much I love you?”
Brooks shrugged, hoping to knock Rogan’s hold off. Rogan’s fingers tightened around him. “It’s okay, Rogan. I understand everyone has preferences. I’m sorry you got stuck with me.”
“I am not fucking stuck with you! I would not change a single thing about you.”
“Right,” Brooks said. “You kind of have to say that.”
“I do not!” Rogan glared at him. “What put this in your mind? You were fine before we went to the drugstore. Did you take something there? Do you have a drug problem? I can help with that.”
“What? No! I’m not an addict.”
“Then what happened? One moment we’re talking about circus peanuts, then we’re attacked. Wait… Did something happen when they shot at us?” Rogan leaned forward to smell him. “I don’t smell blood. Are you hurt?”
“No, Rogan. I’m not physically injured.”
“So, there’s mental damage?” Rogan asked softly. His voice shifted immediately to hold warmth and caring. “Talk to me. Let me help.”
“Rogan! I’m not mentally damaged.” Brooks stressed that last word before continuing, “Other than being hit over the head with the fact you wish your mate was a woman.”