Undone

by R Phoenix

  Gideon had figured that much out when he’d tried to talk to the detective, but he had hoped that it would be doable for an agent of the Organization. However, nothing was easy with Leandro.

  Leandro stepped inside, the door opening and closing with only a whisper with air, cutting off any further conversation that Gideon might’ve wanted to have with the incubus. The fae ignored Gideon and immediately crossed to Kolt with a vulpine smile curved on his lips.

  It made the fine hairs on the back of Gideon’s neck stand up. He didn’t trust that smile.

  The fae touched Kolt’s chin, leaning down to kiss him. “You look troubled, my sweet.”

  Gideon didn’t trust that pleasant voice either. He folded his arms against his chest, leaning against the wall and trying to convince himself that he did not need to get involved in this.

  “I don’t like cops,” Kolt said sullenly.

  Leandro’s hand slid down, toying with the buttons of the shirt and then sliding his palm over the inside of the incubus’ thigh. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  Kolt seemed to soften under the fae’s touch, leaning into Leandro a little more with the skin on skin contact. “I’m… wearing your shirt?” Kolt ventured, looking questioningly at Leandro.

  The incubus wasn’t as good a liar as he ought to be, and Gideon braced himself for Leandro to pick the evasive answer apart.

  “Hmm.” Leandro’s thumb stroked Kolt’s skin. “And you look wonderful in it.”

  The tension was thick in the room, and it only grew more so despite the sweet words and gestures between the would-be lovebirds.

  “Is everything sorted? With the cops?” Kolt asked quietly as he looked up at the fae.

  “I’m not certain,” Leandro said, pressing a kiss to the top of Kolt’s head. “My detective vanished for a few minutes. I’m a bit concerned about where he might’ve been.”

  Gideon realized he’d started bracing too early, and Kolt’s gaze briefly met his. Even before the incubus opened his mouth, he knew what he was going to say, and it was a terrible fucking idea.

  “He went to the bathroom… I saw him there. Nothing came of it,” Kolt murmured, slowly sliding his arms around Leandro’s waist. “Even dressed like this…”

  Great. Now he had more bullshit to deal with. He shouldn’t have helped Kolt. It had just made everything more complicated.

  “I should hope not,” Leandro said, his voice sharpening. “Did he say anything to you?”

  Gideon knew that tone, the one that meant he already knew the answer — or at least had strong suspicions about what it was. Lying to the fae was hard on a regular day, let alone when Kolt was distraught and agitated.

  “That I shouldn’t have come down so soon, that there were still agents in the casino, and to lie low,” Kolt lied.

  It was a little more believable that time, but Gideon wasn’t sure Leandro would buy it.

  “Gideon?” It was the first time Leandro acknowledged him.

  He shrugged. “Wasn’t in there. Ackerman followed him in, but Kolt was in and out in under two minutes.”

  “You don’t believe me?” Kolt daringly asked Leandro, looking hurt and sounding a touch upset.

  Gideon recognized the look Leandro gave Kolt. It wasn’t one he usually turned on his boytoy, but Gideon had seen it directed at others countless times. Leandro knew something was up, though fuck if Gideon knew how — and the fae wasn’t going to let this go until he had something.

  “I always know when you’re thinking about me,” Leandro purred, hand sliding up until he was cupping Kolt’s balls. “Did you know that, Kol’tso?”

  “What?” Kolt asked dumbly, though the incubus shifted uncomfortably under the fae’s touch.

  “Seems a bit odd that you were thinking of me right then, hmm? Like you have a guilty conscience. You and the detective are a little too interested in one another,” Leandro said softly. “I don’t like you two being alone. I thought that was clear.”

  For fuck’s sake, the fae was paranoid. Of course, this time he happened to have a point, though Gideon doubted Leandro was worrying about the right things.

  “I’m only interested in you,” Kolt said, his voice husky as he leaned up for a kiss. He might not have been the best liar, but the incubus knew how to perform.

  It was uncomfortable to watch.

  “What if I decided to give you to Gideon?” Leandro asked, his smile turning cruel as he stroked Kolt’s crotch. “Let every member of the staff taste you?”

  Kolt recoiled, pulling his arm back from Leandro’s waist. “...Why?” he asked, his voice grim and a little hostile.

  “I wasn’t enough for you,” Leandro said, and his voice might’ve seemed gentle if it wasn’t for the look on his face. “You wanted more than me. Don’t you still?”

  Gideon couldn’t believe his ears. The fae had gone completely and utterly insane — or maybe he’d always been insane, but he was showing it now in a way he never had before.

  “That’s not true!” Kolt snapped. “I never said that. It’s—”

  Gideon could hear the way the incubus started to panic as he became aware of the trap about to be sprung on him. It was if Gideon could hear the rise in that heartbeat, the tensing of the muscles in his back, the way the incubus’ flight instincts kicked in.

  “Why would I want that?” Kolt asked.

  Gideon hated that he knew why the fae would be so misguided — because Kolt was an incubus.

  Leandro’s hand moved from Kolt’s groin to his back, holding him close. “Well then,” he said.

  Gideon’s stomach turned. He saw the trap within the trap, and the word “no” escaped him in a barely audible breath.

  If Leandro heard him, he chose not to acknowledge it. One of his hands slid down Kolt’s arm, pausing at his elbow as he continued, “Either you’re a whore who needs to fuck everyone you touch…”

  Kolt’s reaction was immediate, his breathing growing hard and erratic.

  “Or you want me and me alone. Which is it, Kolt?”

  “You,” Kolt answered. No hesitation, no second guessing, the reply swift and decisive.

  Gideon was disappointed by how easily Kolt let himself be trapped again, falling in line so compliantly — and yet he couldn’t help but feel that the incubus hadn’t really been given a choice at all.

  He didn’t want to see the vision of the near future turn real, but all he could do was watch as the fae fastened the bracelet back around Kolt’s wrist. Leandro didn’t often show just how fast he could move, but the beautiful, cursed piece of jewelry was locked in place before Gideon could blink.

  He couldn’t look away.

  Kolt stared at it, as if it wasn’t really happening, as if it was a bad dream. It had to feel like one for the incubus, who was not having the best of days. “Thank you.” Kolt’s voice cracked as he said the words, his gaze still on the bracelet, still breathing hard.

  Gideon watched in disbelief as the nightmare played out, the twisted vision becoming reality and giving rise to a host of new futures. It was a twist of fate he’d have prevented if only he could have.

  That was a lie.

  He could have. He hadn’t, because it wasn’t his job. Perhaps in some way, Kolt had brought this upon himself.

  Leandro’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. He relaxed, pulling Kolt into his lap and urging the incubus to straddle him. Kolt complied again, though when his gaze finally jerked away from the bracelet, he met Gideon’s eyes. There was something haunting in that look, and he didn’t much care for it. It was desperate, at wit’s end. It reminded him of a wild animal, injured in a trap, begging to just be put down.

  Gideon looked away.

  “Good,” Leandro murmured against the incubus’ ear. “You’re welcome, my Kol’tso. I’ll take care of you. You won’t have to let anyone else touch you, not anymore.”

  Kolt didn’t speak, but the sound of that erratic breathing was impossible to ignore. Gideon glanced askance at
the pair of them once more, where Kolt’s arm was wrapped around Leandro’s neck, and he pressed needily up to the fae. He could barely hold back his anger.

  Leandro, Ackerman, every fucking asshole who visited the casino — they were all part of this.

  He was a part of this.

  It wasn’t fair, but there wasn’t much he could do to help. It wasn’t his place to change such things. He was there to work, to do Leandro’s dirty work for him. He wasn’t there to protect an incubus, a slave, who hadn’t gotten into the care of a fae by accident.

  Leandro finally seemed to realize he was still there, and he glanced briefly at Gideon. “You’re dismissed for the evening, Gideon,” he said as his hands slid down to Kolt’s ass.

  As if it was going to be that easy after the shit the fae had pulled. He didn’t like being a pawn in the fae’s game and manipulations. It raised his ire and anger as much as seeing Kolt’s free will tampered with. They’d need to have a word about using him again, as Leandro was prone to forget that he wasn’t just some chess piece.

  “Leandro…”

  The fae quirked a brow at him. “Yes?”

  “Don’t use me as a pawn again,” Gideon said steadily. “I do what you want, but I’d never fuck your slave against his will.”

  He half-expected Leandro to burst into a rage, but the fae laughed as he thrust his hips up against Kolt’s and squeezed his ass in an obscene gesture of ownership. “His will is mine, Gideon, and he’s an incubus... any fuck is a good fuck for him,” Leandro crooned, fingering the bracelet while kissing Kolt again — lightly, almost chastely, like they were lovers. “I know I got your hopes up, but really, it’s better this way.”

  Gideon had a bad taste in his mouth.

  “Now, go on. I have a needy little pet to satisfy,” Leandro said, his attention already returning to Kolt. “Don’t I, my Kol’tso?”

  He didn’t look. He didn’t want to, and he didn’t want to hear Kolt concede to the fae again. He turned to leave, but it was impossible not to hear it now that he’d started to notice it.

  The incubus’ breathing, heavy and still somehow frantic, even as he stopped breathing now and again, or the way the rhythm changed whenever Kolt kissed Leandro or was kissed by him.

  It was a long fucking walk out the door all of a sudden.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kolt was left behind at the bar, with nothing much to do other than drink and wait for Leandro to come back from his super important meeting. Like a good boy, he did just that, gesturing to Arla for another refill. She gave it to him without a word.

  He was rarely this alone, especially of late. Gideon was in the meeting with Leandro, and he knew someone somewhere would be looking after him, but he still felt a touch forlorn…

  He took a sip from his drink, and his eye fell on the bracelet that moved with the gesture of drinking. He touched it idly, running it between his fingers and polishing the amber stones with his thumb.

  The bracelet was part of the reason he was alone. He wasn’t altogether sure he minded the bracelet and what it did anymore. Leandro had kept true to his word. He hadn’t been sent to entertain anyone since the bracelet had been put back on him. The fae hadn’t ignored him either — and the sex was good. He hadn’t gone wanting.

  “Pretty,” Arla said with a smile and a nod at the bracelet. “Lee give it to you?” she asked.

  Kolt nodded. “Yeah,” he said thoughtfully, not looking away from the piece of jewelry. Perhaps he could get used to being Leandro’s pet properly, with no more whoring — and he wouldn’t really miss that — as long as the fae didn’t decide to go celibate again.

  “What can I get you, Barsum?” Arla asked.

  Kolt looked up abruptly, not having seen, heard, or felt the man approach.

  “Vodka tonic,” Barsum said, and sat down right next to him, ignoring the other empty stools. “What’re you having, Kolt?” he asked next.

  Kolt glanced at him. “Bourbon,” he answered slowly. He was aware of Barsum’s gaze on him as he looked Kolt up and down. Did his kind know nothing of boundaries, or social graces?

  “I hear Leandro had you fuck that human,” Barsum said casually.

  The hairs in the back of Kolt’s neck stood on end in direct response. “In a way,” he answered vaguely.

  “I thought your ass was—”

  “Not yours,” Kolt agreed before the guy could finish that sentence.

  “Please,” Barsum scoffed. “If he’s got humans getting that…? No one would even know.”

  Kolt cast him a disgusted look. “What do you want, Barsum?” he muttered, even though he knew already. He wanted the privilege, of course, the mystique of fucking an incubus, of altering his DNA.

  “Let’s go to one of the private rooms, hmm?” Despite the intonation, it wasn’t really a question.

  He wished Detective Ackerman had agreed to drag Barsum out of the casino instead of Gabriel Fisher. Barsum was the fucking worst.

  “No,” Kolt said, but that didn’t seem to matter to anyone, least of all Barsum, who moved in a little closer to him. A hand came to rest on the small of his back — or rather, just on his upper butt.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get paid well enough for it. Leandro won’t know—”

  “He always knows!” Kolt hissed, pushing Barsum’s hand away, but that only resulted in his wrist being grabbed and his body being yanked closer to Barsum’s. The bracelet was trapped under the man’s grip, and he sucked in a breath. “Let go of me, Barsum,” he warned, not wanting to twist his wrist free with the bracelet digging painfully into his skin.

  “He’ll know,” Arla cut in, her voice sharp.

  Kolt glanced at her, but he didn’t have time to be relieved for her interruption.

  Barsum cast a look at her, his lips peeling up into an ugly sneer. “Stay out of this, bitch,” he ordered her.

  Arla’s fingers flexed around the rag she was using, holding it so tightly her knuckles went white. She glanced at Kolt, gritting her teeth, then her eyes flicked toward the door where Darcy stood. The bouncer’s back was to them, and Barsum ignored the look and her alike.

  “Just come with me, Kolt. It’ll be great. I’ll make it worth your while,” Barsum promised. He got up and pulled Kolt close to him again, sliding an arm around his waist.

  Of course shit like this had to happen when Leandro was in another room. What would he think? The fae had said he wouldn’t have to play whore anymore, but he was still fae — greedy and fickle as fuck. Would he just agree to a deal and let it happen?

  “I said no,” Kolt hissed, trying his best to push Barsum away.

  The man was much stronger than he was and with a filthy laugh, and a yank, Kolt ended up staggering against Barsum’s chest.

  The sudden howl of the wind cut Barsum’s reply short, and Kolt’s skin tightened with goosebumps from the sharp chill in the air. Chairs got forcefully shoved away from them by the wind as Leandro’s magic cleared the area.

  Kolt shivered violently in Barsum’s grasp as much from the cold as his overwhelming relief. He’d never thought he’d be this glad to see Leandro and Gideon.

  Barsum’s teeth ground audibly. “No need for theatrics,” he said, but his arm tightened around Kolt instead of loosening, rendering his attempts at pulling away futile. “What’s the price?” The words were almost swallowed by the wind, but Leandro would’ve heard them.

  “For your life? High,” Leandro’s voice carried over the roar of the wind. The fae circled around them, the tunnel of wind focusing more precisely until it was only around Barsum — and Kolt.

  Instinctively, Kolt huddled down, involuntarily pushing a little closer to Barsum in an attempt to get away from the harsh snap of the wind that was painful on his face and whistled sharply in his ears.

  “Oh, come on,” Barsum scoffed loudly. “Not like you’re gonna keep him off limits long.”

  Gideon circled around from the other direction. “Let him go, Barsum. This ain’t worth it,”
he said, but his voice wasn’t as clear as Leandro’s through the conjured storm.

  “He’ll fucking kill you,” Kolt whispered harshly at Barsum. “Just let the fuck go of me.”

  “You owe me,” Barsum hissed back at him before addressing Leandro once more. “I’ve some score to settle with him, Leandro. It’s my right, and he’s just a slave. I’ll pay you for it.”

  Kolt felt sick.

  “It’s your right,” Leandro repeated, his voice half-hysterical.

  Kolt was dimly aware of the way the few people left in the room scrambled to get out past moving furniture, shattering glasses, plants whipping back and forth, and lamps violently swinging in the barely contained storm. He struggled against Barsum, wanting to get away now, but not for fear of broken glass or flying chairs. He was trying to get away from a fate far worse than some physical harm. He was a fucking incubus, but not all sex was good sex.

  Of course, the stupid ape didn’t let him go, and despite the surplus of air around them, he couldn’t catch a breath as panic continued to constrict his chest. His cheeks burned from the wind chill, and when he looked up to plead with Leandro, his eyes burned from the cold. If this didn’t end soon, he was going to have fucking frostbite in the middle of the casino.

  “Yeah,” Barsum shot back. “It is my right. You know the laws.”

  Leandro inclined his head. “I do.”

  “So get—” Barsum abruptly stopped speaking, and he dropped like a felled tree, dragging Kolt down with him.

  Kolt staggered, fighting the downward pull and managing to stay upright just as the room went utterly still in the wake of Barsum’s body hitting the floor. The storm dissipated as quickly as it had picked up, as if Barsum’s heartbeat had been the thing that powered it.