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  * * * *

  At Dante’s western Zaytari branch

  “Did you hear? Did you hear?” Sarah’s partner rambled.

  She rolled her eyes—the man was an idiot. If she’d known joining the Zaytari would mean she’d have to deal with this shit…ugh, she would have looked for another way to find the information she wanted.

  “Hear what?” she snapped.

  “We got a new executioner today!”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes! And he’s strong. He can control someone’s mind without touching!” he shouted excitably.

  “I see, and where did they find him?”

  “No one knows! No one even knows what makes him qualified for the new job. Well, besides being strong. There must be something.”

  It was odd. Executioners usually moved up through the ranks or had experience—something not easy to get. Legal jobs in torture and murder weren’t exactly common. It was odd enough that maybe she’d look into it. Couldn’t hurt…

  There hadn’t been any leads in years. After five years of silence, all her leads had gone cold.

  Anything out of the ordinary was worth checking out. For instance, a new executioner who seemed to be completely unknown.

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  Chapter Twenty

  The next day

  With a damp towel, Jayden cleaned the blood off his hands. It didn’t wipe it all away, but it would work well enough for now.

  Cleaning the various daggers and knives he used took precedence over getting the blood out from under his fingernails.

  Jayden’s gaze slid over to the dead woman. At least he wouldn’t have to take care of her. Apparently, Dante had other people for that.

  The care of the tools he used, however, was all on him. Not that Jayden minded. He found sharpening blades soothing.

  Focusing on his tools, he began the process of cleaning them.

  Honestly, Jayden hadn’t expected to have an assignment the day after he officially started his new job—not that he was complaining. It was odd. Jayden felt calmer than he had in years—freer even.

  His workroom walls were reinforced with spells, so he heard very little from the residence above. Besides the cries of the criminal, it had been peacefully quiet as he’d worked.

  The urges Jayden had were calm, no longer an unbearable pressure that was crushing down on him to be let free.

  His monster was quiet, as well. Though he was visible—just sitting down in the normal darkness of his mind. What confused Jayden was that it appeared Bow had a crayon in his hand—he was drawing on the nothingness of whatever he was sitting on. Staring down, seeing something Jayden couldn’t. He was definitely smaller than before, younger even. As to why he was, Jayden didn’t have a clue. Bow wouldn’t tell him anything.

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  After he left Dante’s last night, it had taken hours to calm Bow down. The longer it went on, the worse it had gotten. Bow’s fear at one point had started to drag him down, bringing tears to his eyes.

  He was thankful that Stephan had been there. Jayden was almost positive he would still be a sobbing mess on the floor if Stephan hadn’t brought him back. Murmuring words of love, holding him, offering his protection—a place of safety.

  After putting his knives and daggers away, Jayden wiped the blood off his feet. He walked over, avoiding the puddles on the floor, and sat on the steps.

  “You okay, Bow?” Jayden asked as he pulled his socks and boots on.

  Bow’s hand stilled, and he looked up. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  His monster’s cheeks flushed. “I’m fine!” he snapped and poofed away.

  Ah, it seemed Bow was embarrassed about yesterday. Whatever—

  he’d get over it eventually. Taking a deep breath, Jayden visualized his mental walls and tried to strengthen them as Sabriel had shown him.

  That done, he made his way up the stairs.

  * * * *

  Stephan eyed the obviously insane man. “You want me to what?”

  “I want you to train with a friend of mine,” Dante repeated calmly.

  “For what reason?”

  “I’m going to be frank with you, Stephan. You have no doubt gained considerable control over your healing abilities. However, your destructive nature, being so closely connected to your emotions, is entirely unpredictable. It makes you extremely dangerous to those around you. Suppressing it is not the same as learning to wield it. Nor does it work.”

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  He glared. “I’m fine.”

  Dante snorted. “Can you guarantee that if you lost complete control of all that fury inside you, you would be able to pull yourself back?”

  Stephan bit his lips and said nothing—he didn’t know what would happen. Would he be able to pull himself back if he tumbled over the edge? Could he stuff all his hatred back down once it was free?

  Stephan wasn’t confident he could, and that doubt alone proved Dante was right.

  “That’s what I thought. You won’t have to worry about exposing your secret, as the man I’m thinking of has plenty of his own. Once I contact him, I’ll let you know when he’s able to come.”

  His shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

  The front door opened and Jayden walked in—he was a bloody mess.

  “It’s done,” Jayden announced.

  “Stop!” Stephan screamed when the man started to sit down on the cream-colored couch.

  A wide-eyed Jayden froze, hovering awkwardly above the seat.

  “These sofas are a set. You ruin one, you ruin both! They are also irreplaceable!”

  “Ah…” Jayden straightened and stepped nervously away from the furniture.

  Dante chuckled. “Well, I think I should go now.” The man stood and headed out, yelling behind him, “I’ll contact you when I need you, Jayden.”

  “Did you seriously walk over here, down the street, where everyone could see you, covered in blood?”

  Jayden looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m going to go…shower.” The man fled.

  Stephan huffed and shook his head in disgust.

  * * * *

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  Warm water cascaded from the showerhead. Running his fingers through his hair, he rinsed the conditioner out.

  Okay, even Jayden would admit that walking out in the open covered in blood hadn’t been the best idea. Considering there was a full bathroom right next to the stairs that led down to his workroom, Jayden could have showered. However, it wasn’t magically reinforced, and he would have felt awful using it.

  Maybe Jayden should ask Dante to install a bathroom in the dungeon. Would it be too much? Whatever, he’d ask anyway.

  After thoroughly washing away all the blood, he stepped out of the shower and dried off. Jayden found it slightly entertaining that Stephan had had them remodel the bathroom to look exactly as his old one had.

  Wrapping a towel around his waist, Jayden walked into the bedroom. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Stephan lying on the bed nude. There was a bottle of lube beside him.

  Stephan peered up at him from under long lashes. Laid out the way he was, Jayden could see every flushed bit of him. The sight of Stephan’s half-hard cock had his own perking up.

  “Stephan…” Jayden rasped.

  “I’m ready.”

  Licking his suddenly dry lips, he undid his towel. Stephan’s heated gaze ran over him as the piece of cloth fell to the floor, his prick bobbing and becoming fully erect. Jayden released a growl of satisfaction at the knowledge that he had such an effect on his little man.

  He prowled forward, slid onto the bed, and crouched over him.

  “Are you sure?”

  Smiling softly, Stephan nodded.

  Jayden leaned down to nip at his neck. He dragged his tongue down, licking the soft, sweet skin, and sucked on Stephan’s

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  collarbone. Stephan moaned and glided his fingers through Jayden’s hair, then ran them down to massage the muscles in Jayden’s back.

  Slipping lower put one of Stephan’s buds right in front of him.

  Lazily, Jayden lapped at the small beaded peek, stopping ever so often to blow on the wetness he left behind. The man shivered and arched toward him every time Jayden’s cool breath hit the spit-covered flesh.

  “Jade…I don’t want to wait. I want…” Stephan whimpered. “I want you inside me.”

  After pushing him away, the man bent his knees and hooked his arms under to hold them up—exposing his hole to Jayden’s eyes.

  Jayden growled. “Your want is my command.”

  Jayden’s mouth watered at the beautiful view. The little pink starburst was twitching under his gaze. Cupping the man’s left ass cheek, he rubbed the small hole with his thumb. Stephan whined and wiggled as Jayden pressed against the fluttering muscle.

  He forced himself to release the man’s rounded globe, then grabbed the lube and liberally coated his fingers in the slick substance before returning to the tight bud. Stephan startled slightly as the cold fluid touched his heated flesh.

  After pushing the tip of his finger past Stephan’s hole, he worked his middle finger inside. When Stephan began to shift nervously, Jayden rubbed one of the man’s thighs to soothe him. Slowly, he opened him up, and soon each pump of his fingers drew sweet mews of pleasure from his lover’s lips.

  “Does that feel good, honey?” Jayden had to stop himself from adding the word “bunny”—he would be sleeping somewhere else tonight if he said it, a threat he hadn’t taken seriously until one night he found himself alone in one of their many guest rooms.

  “Yes!” Stephan moaned.

  Once he could smoothly slide three fingers in and out, Jayden pulled them free. On his knees, he placed Stephan’s thighs over his, grabbed the lube once again, and slicked up his prick.

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  Jayden took hold of his shaft, then lined up the dripping tip to the man’s pulsing hole. “Take a deep breath and push out. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?”

  Biting his lip, Stephan nodded.

  Jayden pushed, and the man gasped as his head popped past the tight barrier. “That’s it. You’re doing great, sweetie.” Jayden groaned—he could feel the man’s inner walls tightening and untightening around him.

  Placing his hands on Stephan’s waist, he rocked forward, working his cock inside. Sweat dripped down his back, his breathing staggering as Jayden struggled to go slow. The deeper he went, the more Stephan’s body clenched around him. Jayden let out a low moan and stilled when he was buried fully inside Stephan’s warmth.

  His whole body was tense as he waited for Stephan to adjust.

  “You did it, sweetheart,” Jayden cooed, panting heavily.

  Taking a shuddered breath, Stephan giggled. “I did it.”

  There had been so much joy in the small sound, but it sent a vibration through Stephan that made both of them moan.

  “I’m going to move now, sweetheart.”

  Jayden slowly withdrew his cock and then pushed back in.

  “Oh!” Stephan cried.

  His thrusts increased in speed each time he plunged inside. While his attempts were awkward at first, Stephan soon matched his movements. But Jayden’s need to bury himself deeper had him gripping Stephan under his knees to push them back. Snapping his hips, he pounded into the man’s tight hole.

  The smell of their arousal permeated the room. Their moans and grunts of pleasure filled the air, drowning out their thundering heartbeats. Jayden had never felt so close to anyone before. It was as if something inside him was healing. He felt…less broken, less empty.

  And as Jayden claimed the man who showed him how to love, tears of joy formed in his eyes.

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  Stephan was so tight, his sucking heat capturing him. It was too much—the heat around him was too much. Jayden felt his climax approaching. His balls clenched each time he drove inside.

  Wanting Stephan to fall over the edge with him, Jayden changed his angle, making sure to hit the little bundle of nerves inside Stephan each time. Only a few thrusts later, the man cried out. Stephan screamed his pleasure, and his hole spasming around Jayden’s cock sent Jayden tumbling over. Shouting, he coated Stephan’s inner walls.

  Panting, Jayden gently pulled out and lowered his lover’s legs.

  His little man let out a soft whimper as his prick slid free. Body feeling heavy, he had to force himself to shift enough to fall beside Stephan instead of on top of him.

  Jayden groaned and sluggishly pulled the little man into his arms.

  Placing a kiss on top of his head, he ran his hand over Stephan’s sweat-coated curls.

  A hoarse giggle had him peering down.

  Stephan beamed up at him. “I did it.”

  Jayden let out a deep, raspy chuckle. “Yes, yes you did.” Tucking Stephan’s face into his neck, he rested his chin on top of the man’s head.

  “Jade?” Stephan asked, his voice muffled.

  “Hmm?” he hummed, pulling back to look down.

  Stephan stared up at him with a rather kittenish smile on his face, and then he ran his pink tongue slowly over his lips. “Can we do it again?”

  Jayden’s eyes widened, and staring down at the luscious little bundle, he discovered his lost libido.

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  Chapter Twenty-One

  Three months later

  Stephan snapped his head up from the paperwork when his office door opened. Jayden walked in, then closed it behind him.

  Smiling brightly, Stephan asked, “What were you up to?”

  “Not much, just doing a bit of scouting for Dante. In other words, I was mindlessly wandering around town for hours, listening to the things that go bump in the daylight.” He leaned his hip against Stephan’s desk.

  “Find any o—” A sudden bitter and metallic taste had him gagging. Head sagging, Stephan pressed his forehead against the cool wooden surface of his desk. Breathing deeply in and out of his mouth, he tried to calm his turning stomach.

  Jayden dropped to his knees beside Stephan’s desk chair. After swiveling the chair, he cupped Stephan’s face with both hands, searching his eyes. “You okay?”

  Considering there was a high possibility he was about to throw up, Stephan thought it was a rather dumb move on Jayden’s part. Though, it did give him more reason to try his damnedest not to.

  It was Jayden’s lucky day, Stephan thought as his belly started to settle. “I’m good. I think I just ate something rotten. The fried cod I had earlier smelled off.” Though it had still tasted good, which was obvious considering how much he ate of it…

  “That’s what you said yesterday.”

  Sitting back on the floor, Jade pulled him off his chair and into his lap. Stephan thought they looked a bit ridiculous on the floor, hiding

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  behind his desk. Not that they were hiding, it’s just anyone who came upon them would probably think so. Liam would most definitely have some questions.

  “Not true. It was bad cheese yesterday.”

  “You should see a healer.”

  “Even immortals can get stomach aches. It’s perfectly normal.

  Food poisoning isn’t a sickness, it’s…food poisoning,” Stephan ended lamely. “And if it’s not the food itself, then I’m probably just eating too much. Which, if you think about it, is your fault, as you keep shoving food at me.”

  Jayden shook his head. “If you say so. So, what are you doing?

  You’ve seemed really preoccupied lately. New project?”

  “Ah…yes. Um, you remember that little girl you found?”

  Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Yes…did something happen?”

  “Oh, no, she’s fine. It’s mo
re to do with how she ended up in the woods.”

  He snorted. “Not really a mystery. The orphanage owner and director sold her, along with a few others who unfortunately didn’t survive. Of course, the two aren’t exactly breathing now, so what about them?”

  Stephan cleared his throat, feeling a bit nervous to tell Jayden what he was planning. He wasn’t sure why. What he was working on would help a lot of people. Hopefully…

  “Well, I bought the orphanage, along with many others. Also a few empty buildings here in Vadin and Bram.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, more often than not, the orphanages lack the necessary funding to function properly. Also, their methods of monitoring the home lives for these children are less than perfect. And, well, I have money to spare, so I bought them with plans of renovating and expanding to create needed amenities, a more loving environment to grow up in, and one with opportunities for them to better their lives.

  Those who are never adopted deserve just as much chance at a bright

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  future as any other child. So there will be a focus on schooling, as well. Something else I’m looking into is how some of the children ended up there. In all honesty, while the Zaytari tries to monitor for abusive homes, their task force is severely undermanned. So many fall through the cracks.” Clearing his throat nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Like you…”

  When Jayden remained quiet, he continued. “It really isn’t acceptable. So I started to research for a better way. I ran across a book on the First Realm. The humans have this thing called Child Services. It removes children from abusive homes and rehomes them.

  The concept itself is sound. But from what I gathered, it’s a bit broken and sometimes the children end up in worse situations.” Stephan winced. “But I plan to take the overall idea and create a workforce focused solely on protecting these abused children. Something separate from the Zaytari. And, well…after discussing it with Dante, he then discussed it with the other Zaytari bosses, who then talked to the king. As of earlier today, I have the full backing of the king to create the sector with the full force of the law behind it. If it works, there’s a possibility that it will convince other kingdoms to do the same.”