Lachlan pulled back so he could see Cam’s eyes—his beautiful, warm, brown eyes—and told him everything he knew. That Bryce, as Bróccin, was the witch Lachlan had traded places with three centuries ago. That Bróccin had caused Elspaith’s death, and was somehow behind the Scorch in Cam’s family.
The Wulver, once he’d recovered, had filled in a few blanks. Cam’s mother had noticed something strange in the wards surrounding Bryce. She was more perceptive than most, the Wulver said. She’d come to believe he was hiding behind a glamour, a kind of magical disguise, but she couldn’t fathom why. He’d been a friend of the family for years…
That was when she’d begun to detect a pattern in the family records. More recent generations had started to include entries for their allies as well as their enemies, and it seemed that most Witch Incumbents mentioned a friendly hunter—or a mystic, or a fortune teller—who turned up with helpful guidance and stuck around for fifty years or so. Always a different name, a different face; so tenuous that Amelie thought she was clutching at straws.
Until her great-grandmother mentioned losing trust for this ally when she discovered he was using a glamour. Great-Grandma Walker died by Scorching shortly after making the observation.
The Wulver didn’t know exactly what else Amelie had found, but he believed she and Evan had gathered enough evidence to confront Bryce together. And he’d killed them for it.
The Scorch seemed to be key to how Bryce was staying alive. Like he was somehow feeding on a person’s life force when the fire consumed them.
‘So you see,’ Lachlan finished shakily, ‘if I hadn’t traded places with Bryce in the first place, your family would have been safe.’
He heaved a deep and anguished sigh. He needed Cam to know the truth.
Cam blinked slowly at him, and Lachlan wondered what he’d say to all this. Was he angry? Did he feel like Lachlan had betrayed him?
‘I’m so sorry,’ Lachlan said for what might have been the hundredth time. ‘I didn’t want to trap you here, Cam. But I couldn’t lose you either. I… I know it was selfish.’
Cam trilled a distressed sort of sound, swaying his head from side to side.
‘I don’t know how long you’ll be stuck this way.’ Lachlan swiped tears from the corners of his eyes. Cam must be sick of seeing him cry by now. ‘For me, it was months before I learned to transform. I felt so trapped. I don’t want you to have to endure this. I’m so sorry, Cam. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.’
He rested his forehead on top of Cam’s nose, unable to stop the tears any longer. Cam made a sound approaching a growl and slunk away from him. Lachlan grasped at empty air, hurt and disoriented as Cam dipped underwater. Was he angry? Was he—
The water erupted, dowsing him in a burst of cold spray. And suddenly there was Cam, human, hauling himself up onto the jetty.
He tackled Lachlan backwards and claimed his mouth for a ferocious kiss.
Lachlan forgot how to breathe. His hands flew into Cam’s hair, yanking him down so hard it must have been painful. But Cam only crushed harder against his lips, attacking Lachlan’s mouth with his tongue, demanding and declaring that all of it was his to own.
Lachlan dimly perceived Cam’s extra weight bearing down on him, but it wasn’t until he tried to push back that it truly dawned on him. He was pinned under Cam’s powerful body, held deliciously contained by his muscles with the heat of his naked skin radiating through what Lachlan immediately decided was too many layers of clothing. He squirmed, unsuccessfully striving to shuffle out of the oppressive coat.
Cam finally released his mouth and they both sucked in a few frantic breaths.
Cam’s Scorched hand clutched Lachlan’s cheek, gripping just a little too hard as he directed Lachlan’s bleary gaze up at him.
‘Don’t you ever ask me to forgive you for this.’ Cam’s deep voice hummed through Lachlan’s entire body. ‘Don’t ask me to forgive you for saving my life. All you’ve done is save my life. Over and over again.’
‘No, Cam.’ Lachlan couldn’t stop the tears from pouring, but this time they were tears of relief. ‘Cam, do you know how lost I was? You found me, Cam. You found me.’
Lachlan was desperate to grab hold of him properly. Cam shifted to let him sit up. His face clouded with lust as Lachlan began chaotically ripping off his clothes. ‘You need me right now, Lachy?’ he said, eyes lidded and voice husky.
‘You might need to be careful,’ Lachlan said breathlessly while tearing open his trousers. ‘Remember your stre—Oh…’
Cam dived right in and sucked Lachlan’s stiff cock into his mouth. A shiver of ecstasy tore up Lachlan’s spine. His skin was so tender. Cam’s tongue was silky soft, the velvety slickness instantly unbearable as he bobbed up and down Lachlan’s shaft. It was like he’d been having sex with a thick sheath on up until this point.
He shoved at Cam’s head, gasping desperately for a break already. ‘Not yet, Cam. Don’t make me come yet.’
Cam sucked his way off. ‘Optimistic of you. Thinking I’ve got any patience right now.’
Lachlan recognised the gleam in Cam’s eye and moaned. Cam always made it so hard to hold back…
He swallowed thickly, realising abruptly that he didn’t necessarilyhaveto hold back any longer. There was no supernatural power invigorating his muscles. No phantom plesiosaur weight hiding in his bones.
The same thought had apparently occurred to Cam. He leaned in, voice deep and throaty. ‘I want you to fuck me, Lachlan. As hard as you can.’
Lachlan fought to keep his own voice from going shrill. ‘Sure you can take it?’
