Tasting Darkness

Chapter 79 

“Psst. wake up. We are leaving,” Lycus says, shaking Kalen’s shoulder and waking him. Kalen groans and rolls over to see Lycus hovering above him.

“What’s wrong?” Kalen whispers, sitting up and rubbing his eyes while yawning.

Lycus grabs Kalen’s face, that was still covered in lash marks. “We are leaving. We are better off on our own,” Lycus tells him, pulling Kalen’s pajama shirt off and dressing him. Kalen’s sleeping medication made him extra groggy and almost nonfunctioning,

“Where will we go?” Kalen mumbles, trying to lay back down when Lycus grabs him under the arms forcing him to his feet. “Anywhere they can’t touch you,” Lycus growls before chucking a bag over his shoulder

Kalen doped off his face from the medication woke up later at the bus stop, having no memory of the walk there. It was freezing cold, snow-covered the ground and Lycus was rubbing his arms, trying to warm him, who was leaning on him. The motion having woken Kalen, he peered around, confused.

“Shh, go to sleep,” Lycus murmurs, and Kalen trusts Lycus to keep him safe, so he does just that.

They lived like that for years. Living day to day. Taking any odd jobs they could find, Lycus, at one stage, even became a male stripper to get them by. His werewolf genes made him appear older than he was, and as much as Lycus hated it, he did more than just strip for the filthy old pub tarts as he called them to get them by until he realized he was hurting Kalen and I was shoved into one of Kalen’s happiest memories.

Na

Lycus had just come out to the kitchen at the back of the strip club where Kalen washed dishes, covered i n sweat with money stuffed in his briefs. Kalen hung up his apron as his shift ended before stalking off out the back.

“Kalen?” Lycus asked, chasing after him and pulling clothes on as he chased after him, but Kalen hated seeing Lycus with women and found it made him jealous. He didn’t know what to think of the strange feelings he had for him. He thought it wrong to feel that way.

Trudging home in the snow, they were currently sleeping in a tent at a nearby park, both still too young to rent a place, and neither had ID. “Kalen, did something happen?” Lycus asks him, catching up to him, but Kalen ignores him and keeps walking home. When they get to the small park at the back of the pub, Kalen unzips the tent and climbs in, sitting on his makeshift bed.

“What’s got into you?”

“Nothing?”

“Well, something is wrong,” Lycus says, sniffing himself. He shudders, he hated how they pawed at him, hated the things he had to do, but he did them so they could survive. When Kalen doesn’t answer, Lycus growls before stomping out of the tent and toward the toilets. There was a shower in there, but it only had cold water, but it was better than nothing. When he returned, Kalen continued to ignore him.

“Kalen,” Lycus said, and he looked up at Lycus. He passes Kalen a burger he must have got on his way home. Kalen sighs but takes it. Lycus sits across from him, eating his own food.

“You were in the red room,” Kalen muttered, taking a bite of his sandwich. Lycus shrugs like it is no big deal.

“Filthy whore, she was married too,” Lycus says, his eyes flicking to Kalen’s.

“What?” Lycus asks, but Kalen shakes his head, going back to eating his food.

“You have been really strange lately. What’s got into you? Have you run out of medication? I can pull a double tomorrow?” Lycus tells him. Kalen mutters under his breath, and Lycus growls at him. Kalen knew he was annoyed. They told each other everything. Well, except for one thing, he never told Lycus how he felt about him. When they finish eating, Lycus rummages through their bags, looking for Kalen’s sleepina pills, and sighs.

“You are out. Why didn’t you say anything?” Lycus asks.

“I don’t want you selling yourself. I hate the smell of them on you,”

“It’s just sex. It’s no big deal,” Lycus says before he sighs.

“To me, it’s not! They are using you!” Kalen screams, and Lycus seems startled by his outburst. Kalen hardly raised his voice, and he was quick to apologize.

“I’m sorry, forget I said anything,” Kalen mutters, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache coming o

“I don’t mind. It is fine,” Lycus tells him. “I will speak to Bill about doing more shifts,” Lycus says, and Kalen curses, getting to his feet to storm out of the tent. Only Lycus grips his arm, tugging him back.” What did I say this time? What is wrong?” Lycus asks. This time he was becoming angry with Kalen’s lack of answers. Kalen’s face heats with embarrassment.

“I’m being stupid. It must be my meds,” Kalen tells him with a shake of his head, turning to leave the tent s o he could shower. Kalen froze in the shower, and by the time he got out and returned to the tent, he was shivering and regretting showering in the first place. His teeth chattered as he rubbed his arms, and tonight it was snowing, making it just a little chillier; Kalen hated the cold.

Lycus was reading with a torch between his teeth when he entered. Kalen falls onto the swag beside him, and Lycus looks over at him before lifting his blanket and chucking it over Kalen. Lycus would sometimes shift, knowing his fur would keep him warm and help warm Kalen.

“I’m fine,” Kalen growls.

“You’re freezing,” Lycus tells him as Kalen wriggles beneath his blanket. Lycus places his torch down before sighing and moving closer to Kalen.

“I can shift?” Lycus says, but Kalen felt guilty about their argument and believed he didn’t deserve a friend like him.

“Man, this tent is fucking boring when you are so quiet,” Lycus says, laying down.

“Why don’t you go sleep with one of your whores? I am sure they will keep you entertained,” Kalen spits bitterly, not meaning for the words to spill from his lips.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Lycus snaps at him before gripping his shoulder and flinging Kalen on his back. He glares down at him.

“Fucking answer, I am sick of your snide comments. Do you think I want to fuck them? It’s a job. It keeps u s fed,” Lycus snaps at him.

enjoy it, or you wouldn’t

to say, Kalen, fucking say it.

earn enough without fucking them.” Kalen tells

way to cover it,” Guilt smashes

Kalen shakes his head, going

a double tomorrow?” Lycus tells him. Kalen mutters under his breath, and Lycus growis at him. Kalen knew he was annoyed. They told each other everything. Well, except for one thing, he never told Lycus how he felt about him. When they finish eating, Lycus rummages through their bags, looking for Kalen’s

are out. Why didn’t

selling yourself. I hate

It’s no big deal,” Lycus says before

They are using you!” Kalen screams, and Lycus seems startled by his outburst. Kalen hardly raised his voice, and

I said anything,” Kalen mutters, rubbing his temples. He could feel a headache

n.

Kalen curses, getting to his feet to storm out of the tent. Only Lycus grips his

he could shower. Kalen froze in the shower, and by the time he got out and returned to the tent, he was shivering and regretting showering in the first place. His teeth chattered as he rubbed his arms, and tonight it was snowing,

Kalen falls onto the swag beside him, and Lycus looks over at him before lifting his blanket and chucking

“I’m fine,” Kalen growls.

tells him as Kalen wriggles beneath his blanket. Lycus places his torch down before sighing

shift?” Lycus says, but Kalen felt guilty about their argument and believed he didn’t

fucking boring when you are so

whores? I am sure they will keep you entertained,” Kalen spits bitterly, not meaning for the words to

Lycus snaps at him before gripping his shoulder and flinging Kalen on his back.

you think I want to fuck them? It’s a job. It keeps

seem to enjoy it, or you

to say, Kalen, fucking say it. I am

want you fucking them. You earn enough without

expensive. It’s the only way to

need them,” Kalen says, but

you went

that is what you have to do for them, no. I

to them or me,” Kalen

person I love is their fucking some bitch

blurting everything out, only realizing what he said when it was too late to take it back. Lycus tilted his head to the side

love me?” Lycus asks, and Kalen’s face heats and his eyes

scream bubbling up

shock that Lycus’ lips were pressed to his. He had always secretly wondered if they were as soft as they looked. But his kiss was rough as he forced his tongue into Kalen’s mouth

asks, pulling back to look at him. When he does Lycus rocks his hips against Kalen, and he realizes Lycus had an erection. Kalen

something,” Lycus says to

from him. “What

want the same thing,” Lycus says, and Kalen looks at him. Kalen thought Lycus

grossed out?”

I always have. I just didn’t want to act on it.

to be with me?” Kalen

here if I didn’t,” Lycus tells him before smiling and dipping his face closer to

deepened the kiss. “Just so you know, I love you too,” Lycus whispers. That was one of the first times Kalen

was okay with that as long as he had Kalen. Kalen, however, felt he was ruining Lycus’s life. Stopped him from becoming who he could become, and when their magic manifested, fear rushed through Kalen when he saw Darius

down, and I am sucked into it. It was a week after their 18th birthday. Both of them were sitting at the park under a tree in the sweltering summer heat. Kalen had felt faint all day from having

they will help?”

you insane? That is Darius Wraith. He will kill us,”

fear the demonic-

know that. We are

he wanted us near, he would have called on us by

called on him. Besides, I don’t see much bad

wrong they had to fate us to the two most influential families,

know that,” Lycus said, sending a flare of magic

gasps, horrified as his mark tingles. He looked at it. Mine name was faint, not

living like this,” Lycus

it,” Kalen said, a little sad. He rubbed his wrist before

it out. Maybe once she comes of age, they will accept us,” Lycus murmured to him. They both fell asleep, and Kalen was later woken

on his neck before looking at Lycus. Darius’ brows furrow while Kalen tries

behind him with strength that clearly indicates what Lycus was.

are the one that called on us,” Darius

says while Kalen was worried Daçius would kill