With a sigh, Wash came to join him, putting a hand on Peri’s hip as he took the picture and frowned at it. “His powers were never weak. Even as a kid, he felt heavy. And he had no training, no control over it, so he picked up on everything the minute people got close to him. People started to avoid him. Kids would pick on him, treat him like an outcast because their parents said to stay away from him. The only people not afraid of him were me and our parents. It hurt him.”
It hurt them both. Peri could hear it in Wash’s voice. He turned in his arms, studying his boyfriend carefully. “You tried to protect him.”
It wasn’t a question. Peri knew better. Wash was protective of him the first day they met. He knew the surly demon would have gone above and beyond to protect his twin.
Huffing a dry laugh, Wash put the picture face down on the nightstand. “Tried, yeah, until he told me to leave him alone.”
Peri’s brows snapped together. “What? Why?”
“Because that’s what everyone does, sweetheart. People only put up with me for so long before moving on. No one wants an overprotective asshole hounding their heels. It’s why I don’t have any friends. They’d all walk away eventually. They did before.”
His heart broke listening to Wash’s words. He said it so casually, like it meant nothing to him, like he was used to being tossed aside. For what? Being overprotective? That didn’t sound right. Peri loved how protective Wash was of him. He felt safe and cherished every time Wash grabbed his hand and tugged him into his side, spreading his wings to keep the world away.
“Wash…”
“It’s fine,” Wash interrupted, his face a blank mask to hide his emotions. “I don’t have a lot of food in the house, so I ordered takeout instead. Are you hungry?”
He let Wash lead him out of the bedroom, casting one last glance at that photo that was obviously so important to Wash. He wouldn’t take such good care of it if it wasn’t. While they ate, Peri thought about the heartache on Elijah’s face whenever he interacted with Wash, and the way Wash’s expression closed off whenever Peri brought up his brother.
There was more to the story, he just knew it. And it might be time to go to the source to find out. Something didn’t add up. Maybe if he got Elijah’s side of it, he could figure out what happened. And how to fix it.
Twenty-Four
“Our next team building activity will be a treasure hunt!” Taron called to the group. They’d split off for the night after dinner so everyone could get their rest and met again bright and early at the pavilion behind the retreat building the following morning. Peri was already wide awake and bouncing, excited for the game to start, but Wash was dragging and barely had his eyes open as he sipped his coffee like it held all the answers to the universe.
Peri snickered, poking him in the side. “Are you going to be awake enough to help me?”
A grunt was the only answer he got. That was okay though. Peri had enough energy to spare to do the heavy lifting for this game. Wash did most of the work during the last game anyway.
“To spice things up a little, everyone is going to choose someone new to partner with,” Taron continued. “You all came here with a partner. Time to kiss them goodbye and spend time with someone new. This is a team building event, after all.”
That got Wash’s attention, and his eyes finally opened all the way, wide with horror and he finally looked up. “No.”
Peri bit his lip, trying not to laugh at the look on his boyfriend’s face, but it was hard. The poor demon looked like hewas ready to bolt. Or teleport away. That wouldn’t do. Throwing his arms around Wash’s neck, Peri whispered in his ear. “Remember, if you participate, you get a reward. Do anything you want to me. Think it’s worth it?”
Wash’s free hand swept out, pulling Peri tightly against his side, his gaze dragging away from where Taron was still explaining the rules to lock eyes with Peri. “You’re definitely worth it, sweetheart.”
Heart fluttering almost as fast as his wings, he lifted to his toes, intent on stealing a kiss. Before he could, Tony appeared in front of them, an apologetic look on his face as he offered them a hat with scraps of paper in it.
“Sorry. We’re drawing teams. You have to put it back if you pick your original partner.”
“Oh. Fun.” Peri plucked the piece of paper out of the hat, opening it to find Elijah’s name scrawled neatly across it. Huh. That was convenient. He’d wanted to talk to Elijah privately and this was a good reason to get the telepath alone. Fate must have been looking out for him.
Meanwhile, Wash was eyeing the hat like it was radioactive. He reached for a piece of paper, hesitating over one before picking it and peeking at the name inside. “Hell no,” Wash immediately said, tossing the paper back into the pile. “Anyone else but him.”
“Hey! No takesbacksies!” Taron insisted, stomping over to them. He snagged the paper on top that Wash had tossed aside, handing it back to him. “You picked it. You keep it.”
“No,” Wash refused again.
“Who’d you get?” Peri asked, cocking his head at the paper that Wash refused to take back from Taron.
Taron glanced at the paper, then back at Wash. It was then that Wash realized his mistake and tried to grab it, but Taron danced out of the way, hiding behind Ozen as he opened up thepaper. His face lit up and he straightened with a beaming grin. “That’s me! I’m teaming up with Hugo!” Taron crowed.
“Uh oh,” Tony murmured low enough only Peri heard him. “I was kind of hoping Taron would end up with you. You’re patient with him.”
Peri glanced down at his paper again. He could offer to switch, it would make Wash and Tony feel better, and might spare Taron’s life, but… He really wanted to talk to Elijah. Besides, he got the feeling if he did switch, Taron would be hurt. He had already bounced back to Wash’s side and thrown an arm around his shoulders, his wide grin unwavering in the face of Wash’s scowl.
“He’ll be alright,” Peri promised Tony. “Wash and I have a deal. He’ll be good.”