Syn

I leaned against the couch, my eyes on the television as I stirred the glass of whiskey in my hand. I knew alcohol wasn't necessarily great while I was supposed to be getting over the pills, but I'd be fucking damned if I couldn't drink whiskey anymore...

Then why are you not drinking it?

I sighed, the internal question pressing into my brain. As badly as I wanted it, I couldn't bring myself to put the glass to my lips. Every time I did, Queen's face flashed into my mind. It was beginning to drive me crazy.

She occupied my mind like nothing else could. Today while I was dealing with an emergency with Hades, all I could think about was her. How fucking crazy was that? My men were telling me how demons were being killed in my own territory and all I could think about was if she had something to eat.

I fucking loved Queen. I would until I drew my last breath. But I needed to get my head straight or else everything I had spent my life working for would crumble in my hands.

When I got back to the cabin, I was exhausted. My head was pounding, and my chest was caving in— the pills weighed heavy on my mind. Instead of going where I knew they would be, I came home to be with Queen- just to lay with her and fall asleep to the sound of her heartbeat.

But to my disappointment, she wasn't there.

I saw the texts from Paris letting me know where they were and couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy- well, that's a lie. Not a tinge. I wanted to kill the man. Not only was he having dinner with my girl, but it was also at our place. I wanted to be the one to take her if she wanted to go.

The only thing reining in my rage was my trust in her. She wouldn't cheat on me.

My cell phone vibrated against the wooden coffee table in front of me and I set the glass down, reaching for it. A smile reached my lips as a message notification with Queen's picture flashed across my screen. I opened it.

Princess: I miss you.
12:39 a.m.

Me: I miss you more.
12:40 a.m.

Princess: Then why aren't you here...
12:41 a.m.

I watched the text bubbles appear again before disappearing and I looked at the messages in thought.

...because I wasn't invited.

That was why.

Me: I figured if you wanted me there, you'd let me know. Enjoy yourself, Princess. I'll see you when you get back.
12:45 a.m.

Princess: Take this as me letting you know.
12:46 a.m.

I read the text message and immediately sat up, something felt off. Queen was a lot more forward with me recently, but she didn't become grammatically correct on text overnight. There were no emojis, lack of periods, or exaggerated exclamation marks.

This wasn't her.

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Queen

I watched as Paris's fingers moved across my phone, his eyes set on the screen as my curiosity grew. "What are you texting him?" I asked. He passed my phone back to me and I chewed my lip as I read the messages.

Syn was replying constantly, but he had left the last message on read. Maybe he just wasn't interested. Syn had never been the best tester, but when he wanted to do something, he did it. He probably didn't want to be bothered tonight. He was going through a lot.

"Hmm." Paris plopped a fry into his mouth. "I'm honestly shocked that didn't work."

"What? Do your texts usually have men falling to their knees?" I raised a brow. He rolled his eyes at me and I wanted to laugh at his irritation, but I couldn't bring myself to fake it. I was admittedly a tiny bit disappointed. I wanted him to be here more than I let on.

A loud crash a few feet away from us made my head snap in the direction of the sound. My mouth dropped as I watched Syn stumble in through a portal and knock over a table in the corner.

"Syn?" I questioned, immediately rising to my feet and rushing over to him, ignoring the staff looking in our direction. He swayed in his spot and I wrapped my arms around him to provide him with a little bit of balance. "Are you drunk?"

He cupped my cheeks, and studied me, a confused look on his face. "You're okay."

"And, you are not," I replied, looking at the blood dripping down his nose. "Shit, Syn." I grabbed a bunch of tissues from the table closest to us and pressed them against his nose. "What's going on?"

"I thought something happened to you," he groaned, shutting his eyes tight and holding his head up. Worry creased my features as I eyed him as Paris appeared by our side.

"Why would you think that?"

"You were texting fucking weird." I glanced at Paris and he gave me a half-shrug before reaching out to help me with Syn. I still had no idea what was going on with him. He could hardly stand on his own. "And you." He looked at Paris. "Why weren't you answering your goddamn phone?!"

"It died." Paris winced.

"I don't fucking pay you as much as I do for your phone to be dead! I want a damn charger glued to your fucking forehead—"

"Syn, stop," I looked up at him as he wiped his nose. "It was my fault if anything, it was my idea to come here."

"Why are you—" He paused, looking down at me in question before shaking his head and stepping out of my hold. "I'm going to use the restroom." He turned on his heel slowly, using the edge of a booth nearby to steady himself.

"Do you want me to go with you?" I asked.

"No," I heard him say as he walked away.

"What about Paris?" I offered.

"Fuck no. I'm more than capable of using the restroom on my own." He rounded the corner to the restroom and I sighed, rubbing my temple with my fingers. He was acting weird. And even that was an understatement.

"Well," Paris broke the silence. "Drugs'll do that to you."

"What?" I looked up at him.

"He's going through capxica withdrawals, Queen. His powers shouldn't be working right now. Somehow he mustered up enough strength to portal here, but that could've killed him. Frankly, I'm surprised he's still standing right now. He must've been really worried."

"You knew?" I asked.

"Well, of course I do. Why do you think my friends aren't at the cabin anymore? Syn told me the truth, but he needed discretion. He's paying me a pretty penny for just that."

I swallowed a breath and crossed my arms at his words. His knowing yet not saying anything all night wasn't the only thing that had me stunned. I knew over-exerting himself right now would make him weak, but it could kill him?

Did Syn know?

"I'm not just here to protect you from Drake, Queen. I was hired to protect you from him if the need ever arises. Drugs are unpredictable, but people on drugs are a different story," he said. "Syn has given me permission to make a decision if harm ever comes your way because of him."

"What type of decision?" He looked at me deeply before standing up straight and looking toward the hallway Syn disappeared into. When he still didn't answer me, my anger flared and I poked at his chest. "You will not lay a finger on him," I warned him. "I don't care if you walk in on him choking the life out of me. If you touch him, you'll be the only one that dies."

"As romantic as that is, my loyalty is to him. Not you.  Meaning whether or not you kill me, I need to do my job," he said.

"Your loyalty is going to get you killed."

"You really do love him, don't you?" He asked.

I ignored the question as Syn gingerly walked back toward us. I took a step toward him, taking his hand in mine and pressing a kiss against it. "What were you thinking?! Did you know you could really hurt yourself using your—"

"I don't care," he said. "If I think you're in danger there's nothing I won't do to get to you."

"You could die."

"Well, I'd die if something happened to you."

I let out a deflated sigh, knowing that I could never win this conversation with him. I wrapped my arms around him and laid a cheek against his chest. He wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders, holding me against him and I relaxed.

Paris cleared his throat. "Well, I'll leave you two to it—"

"No," Syn spoke up with a wince. "Don't leave on my behalf. You two were enjoying yourselves before I crashed into here. Please, continue."

I felt him withdrawing once again and I held onto him, looking up at him through my lashes. "Will you stay?"

"I don't necessarily have a choice, Princess," he gave me a weak smile and I frowned before looking at Paris.

"Can you ask for to-go boxes, please?"

He gave me a single nod before walking past us to the counter and I turned my focus back to Syn. "You don't have to leave, Queen. I don't mind waiting—"

"No." I shook my head with a yawn. "Right now I want nothing more than to go home and be alone with you."

"Are you sure?" He raised a brow. "This is your favorite place and I'm not sure when I'll be able to bring you here. I want you to enjoy—"

"You are my favorite place, Syn," I said and his eyes softened. "But...I will ask you for something if you really want to make it up to me."

"Anything."

"Kiss me..." I whispered. A small smile spread across his lips but his tired eyes made my heart ache. "Only if you're feeling strong enough. I don't want—"

His lips lowered to mine, silencing my rant and I moaned against his mouth. He deepened the kiss, and I felt him groan against me as my body pressed against his. With a sharp intake of breath, he pulled away from the kiss and rested his head against mine. "Don't kiss me like that right now," he warned, his eyes shut.

I smiled. "Why?"

"Because it makes me want to do other things and I'm too tired to please you in the way you deserve," he said.

"You're getting ahead of yourself with that dirty mind of yours, Syn. It was just a kiss."

"You were practically pressing your tits against me, Princess."

"I would never take advantage of you like that, not at a time like this." I feigned innocence.

"No, feel free to take advantage of me. Especially at a time like this." I laughed, shaking my head as Paris approached us.

I created a portal in the same place Syn stumbled in through and the three of us walked in. Syn used me as support to walk, and Paris followed behind us with the food in his hand.

When we walked into the living room of the cabin, he set the bag of food on the kitchen counter before standing behind Syn and me.

Syn kept his arm around my shoulder, fighting to not put all of his weight on me as we slowly walked up the stairs. I watched him struggle, a hand over his chest and groaning with each step we took. My heart reached out for him and I placed a kiss on his hand, patiently urging him to take the next few steps needed to make it to the second floor.

I had never seen Syn like this and it made my eyes tear up. Not because I somehow felt as though I had to shoulder some burden, but because I knew how he was feeling inside. Even though he'd never say it. He hated having to depend on anyone to do anything for him, so this had to be killing him. I quickly understood why our security personnel dwindled to just Paris. 

He didn't want anyone to see him like this. And I knew if it were up to him, I wouldn't be here to see it either.

I peeked back at Paris behind us on the stairwell and gave him an appreciative smile. He had remained quiet and patient, not touching Syn at all to help. All he did was follow a couple of steps behind us in the off chance that Syn fell back. I was thankful for the distance. Knowing my stubborn man he'd decline his help, and I had a feeling Paris knew it. It must've been some universal male understanding I had no idea about.

After reaching the top of the stairs, the walk to the room was short and swift. Paris' steps fell back, not following us into the bedroom and I carefully helped Syn sit on the edge of the bed.

"Here, take this off." I lifted the hem off his shirt and he yawned, letting me take it off before collapsing back onto the bed. I tossed his shirt in the hamper, smiling down at him. I unbuckled the belt of his jeans, helping him undress until he was in his black briefs.

When I was done, I let out a tired breath and placed my hands on my hips. His eyes were closed, his arms spread out like an Eagle and his feet remained planted on the floor. "Syn," I called, taking off my jacket.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"Hm."

I smiled, stepping out of the sweats pooled at my feet and stripping down to my panties. "I more than love you."

"I more than more than love you back," he whispered, eyes still shut. "Come to bed."

I turned off the light, navigating my way through the dark room and crawling over him to my side of the bed. I felt the bed rise as he got up and lifted the blankets. Once I was under, he laid down beside me. He wrapped his hand around my wrist, pulling me closer to him and I turned around, scooting into him until I felt his warm body behind me. His heavy arm wrapped around my waist, his other arm acting as a pillow to my head as he held me against him and I relaxed.

I could feel his warm breath against my neck as he let out a deep breath and I laced our fingers together. "I promise it won't always be like this," he said. "One day soon this will be a distant memory. A cautionary tale we can tell all of our kids, okay?" I placed a kiss on his arm. "Until then, just stick with me, Princess."

"In sickness and in health, Syn. I'm not going anywhere." He placed a small kiss on my shoulder, relaxing his body against mine and I let myself drift to sleep in the comfort of his arms.

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Y'all make some mf space🙄