Chapter 512: Ask

“I was just… curious about your case… What you came down here for?” Derek bit back the silly, jealous question about the scent he was sure was Tyler’s.

Derek bit his lip, shivering at the brush of Nikolias' breath across the back of his hand. Why did it feel like Nikolias had no idea when he was usually so good at sussing it out just from looking at Derek? Maybe hanging out with Tyler for all of a few hours had changed how in tuned with Derek's moods he was.

Derek grimaced, feeling more and more ridiculous about the train of thought leading him straight into panic.

"Tyler... he'll be okay?"

Nikolias nodded. "There's some hope he'll be up by spring break."

About two months from now.

"Is he coming to Frey Shores?"

"If I have anything to say about it. Houston's broken his heart enough..." His tone resolved into a flame solemnity as he snuggled deeper into his blankets. "I don't want him to have to deal with that mess a moment longer than he has to. Hopefully, they'll let me pick him up and drive him back instead of sticking him on a plane, but if not I'll fly back with him." He huffed. "Not how I'd hoped to be spending my spring break."

His thumb stroked the back of Derek's hand, and the butterflies in his stomach struggled under the weight of his uncertainty.

Just ask...

Derek gasped at Nikolias' voice in his mind.

"Your anxiety is turning the world blue."

Derek frowned. The room hadn't changed, but Nikolias' necklace was glowing in the shadows of his blankets.

"What's wrong, babe?"

Derek gulped, and the butterflies gave a valiant jerk.

"I... It just seemed like you'll be spending a lot of time with him... Alone with him. A-And you sound... I don't know..."

Ask. His voice whispered again, squeezing his hand. Please ask.

"Why won't you say that to me out loud?"

"Because I'm scared I'll accidentally enchant you." Nikolias paused. "It's easier to hold it back when I'm just giving you answers. Between the suppressors and the day I had, I just don't want to chance it."

So please ask.

"I need to know you're comfortable asking when you're unsure... When you don't feel secure in what I feel for you."

So he did know. He felt it and hadn't said anything, wanting for Derek to say something. Derek clenched his hand, wanting to pull away but unable to make himself do it. He shifted in place. Nikolias gamely scooted back and lifted the blanket. Derek hesitated, but he climbed in, snuggling into Nikolias' chest with a sigh. The thrum of his heart beneath his ear had a way of calming him and being exactly where he wanted to be.

"I'm just overreacting."

Or maybe you have the right to ask questions when your boyfriend has left out details you find pertinent.

Derek's jaw trembled. "Did you do it on purpose?"

"Of course not." Nikolias shifted. "And I'm sorry I made you feel like that's something I would do."

"That's not what I meant," Derek sniffled and scrubbed his eyes. "It's just..." His nose wrinkled, searching for the words to explain why he'd been on edge since he'd hugged Nikolias at the airport. He sniffled and that scent, alien, male, warm, and hungry reached his nose again. "I can smell him in you."

Nikolias frowned and looked down, sniffing his arm. "You can smell him? I mean his bag is here.."

"Not it's closer than that. It's on you. He smells like he wants..." Derek swallowed. "Like you were close. Physically close."

"Tyler went into a coma within an hour of seeing each other. I did have to restrain him for a bit before, but..." Nikolias blinked. "Ah. Right. I think your dads might have answers about that."

"Why?"

"I think you're coming into your vampyr blood." He smiled. "Tyler is half vampyr from an unknown coven."

Nikolias slipped an arm around Derek's waist until their foreheads bumped together.

"You still haven't asked, though."

Derek worried his lip. "Do you have feelings for him? H-Have you ever had feelings for him?"

"Not like I have feelings for you." Nikolias chuckled. "Tyler was going to be my brother."

Derek's eyes widened. "What?"

"My Dad formally adopted him via the human legal system or something like it. Based on his paperwork, he should have been transferred to Washington with me to Samuel and all the following bullshit. He's sick, but I think you'll like him when he gets better. He's a secret rocker too." Nikolias winked. "Half vampyr who is already awakened, though.” He paused. “I’m pretty sure when he tried to bite me—“

“He what?”

Nikolias shook his head. "He's been starved for years. I don't think he was even fully conscious of what he was doing at the time."

Derek nodded. "Well... as long as he doesn't hurt anyone."

Nikolias lifted his mouth to kiss his forehead. "You're adorable. Feel better? Now that you know I'm not harboring feelings for anyone but you?"

Derek ducked his head, refusing to answer.

"Should we talk about my relationships with every young man I've known in the city?"

"Don't tease me."

"Never, love. I'm serious."

Derek gasped at the sleepy murmur. Nikolias tugged him closer, capturing a leg between his and melting the tension away with the warmth of his body. Derek thought to put some distance between them since they had already done so much out of order, yet he couldn't. He slipped an arm over Nikolias' waist and rubbed his face against his collarbone, covering some of Tyler's lingering scent with his own. He frowned, noticing the way it emerged and filled the space between them.

"You can't smell it?" Derek asked.

Nikolias hummed sleepily. "No... Don't think I've got any of that blood." He chuckled, low and husky. "Thank fuck. I'm tired having the rest of it." He sighed. "If you want answers, you can always ask."

Derek nodded. "Thank you... for not making fun of me."

"Never." Another kiss to his temple and Nikolias' breathing evened out into sleep. Derek could hear it moving through his lungs, but also through his body, like listening to a tree or a fish breathe. He pressed closer and shut his eyes, letting himself relax into sleep.

When he woke up, Nikolias was still asleep, legs tangled, hair fanned out around his head and completely relaxed. Derek doubted he'd be waking up and someone was calling him.

He slipped out of bed, grimacing as he couldn't remember if he'd texted his dad that he'd made it or not. He darted downstairs to his bed to grab his phone. It wasn't his father, and apparently he had sent a message before they'd turned in for the night.

Dimitri had replied with a wish for Derek to have fun and enjoy his budding romance with "One From On High." He was going to have to ask more about what that meant.

The number was unknown to him, but he answered.