Peri shook his head, though the idea had merit. He wanted a house eventually. Unfortunately, on a temp’s pay, he couldn’t afford it. And he didn’t want Wash to think he was using him for his money.
“Here for now. I like it here. Maybe we can move you in this weekend? You can teleport so I don’t feel bad asking you to stay the night until then,” he grinned.
Chuckling, Wash nodded in agreement. “That works. Now get your mouth back down here.”
Thirty-Eight
People were staring.
Wash had shown up with Peri right during the early morning rush. He’d stopped at reception to check for packages since he’d been gone a few days, and Peri spent a few minutes talking to Clarita because he was a social butterfly who loved being around other people. He didn’t complain because Peri was happy, and he had hoped to run into Elijah and thank him for helping him see the truth. But the staring was starting to get to him, and he found himself glowering at the room in general, projecting his displeasure.
He didn’t even flinch when Peri hopped onto his back, resting their cheeks together as he asked, “Who are you glaring at?”
“No one. People are staring, though.”
They’d better not be staring at his mate. Mating sigil or not, Peri was his.
“Let’s go upstairs. I want to drop these treats off on the research floor before I have to go back to Taron’s office.” He hesitated for a second before asking, “Are you okay with that? Or would you rather I ask Kian to move me?”
He appreciated Peri asking, he was still a little sour about Taron’s interference, but he’d be lying if he said he didn't want things to get back to normal at the very least. Taron was his friend. Sort of. He didn’t have so many friends that he wouldn’t feel the loss if he cut him out. Besides, Ozen’s words still rang in his head. Taron cared. He just did it in the most annoying way possible.
“It’s fine. I’m walking you to your desk, though. I can bring the treats with me when I head to work myself.”
“Okay!” Peri replied brightly. He didn’t bother to get down, hugging Wash’s neck a little tighter in excited anticipation as they teleported upstairs to Taron’s floor. He was getting more comfortable flying with Peri by his side, but he did love how much Peri enjoyed teleporting. It made something mundane more fun.
After Peri hopped down, he didn’t go far, holding hands with Wash on the short walk to Taron’s office. Kian was sitting behind the desk Tony was normally in, and his eyes immediately dropped to their interlaced hands before he nodded once. “Glad you worked things out. Are those treats for everyone?”
He eyed the bag on Peri’s shoulder that had his box of treats, as well as a few things he said he needed to put in Tony’s office to ‘make it brighter’. Wash hadn’t questioned it, though he got the feeling it’d eventually be his office that got the makeover if his mate had anything to say about it. He couldn’t find it in him to complain.
“Yep! Most are going to the research floor, but there’s enough for you, too.”
Kian got up to see what Peri had to offer, but he noticed Wash glancing towards the closed door to Taron’s office. “He’s in there. So are both his mates. He’s been… struggling, since your little confrontation. Proceed with caution. Mates are protective.”
Wash’s gaze flicked to Peri, then back to Kian, who nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Go.”
With a sigh, he turned on his heel and marched to the door, knocking twice. He wasn’t surprised when Zephyr answered, but he was surprised when Zephyr’s expression barely twitched before he stepped aside and gestured for Wash to enter. He’d figured Zephyr wouldn’t want him anywhere near his mate after the way he’d shouted at him. He sure as hell wouldn’t want anyone near Peri who’d treated him like that.
Zephyr must have seen the question on his face because he answered without Wash needing to ask. “I’m not saying it was right, but you had a reason to lash out. I probably would have done the same thing. Don’t make it worse, or I’ll throw your ass out, consequences be damned. He’s punishing himself enough for the both of you.”
As his gaze shifted over the room, he could see what Zephyr meant. The room itself was dark, the dimmers on the windows that Taron had commissioned for him then stolen to put in his own office on full power. The only light came from a small lamp on the desk, and Taron wasn’t behind it. He was on the couch, curled up in a corner, and seemed to give off pained energy with every breath. His normal appearance kept shifting and dimming, like he couldn’t control his magic enough to remain in one form. He really was punishing himself then.
Tony sat on the coffee table, his face a mask of worry. He glanced up at Wash, pleading with him with his eyes to fix this.
“Taron.”
Taron’s head whipped up, and his body jerked like he wanted to move, but stopped himself. His features fuzzed out even more, his true form drawing to the surface as he fought to control himself. “Wash…”
He considered what to say, but came up blank. He should have brought Peri in here with him. It would have made this easier.
“Ever heard of soul blooms?” His attempt at talking like a friend was awkward and stilted, but he couldn’t have a conversation with Taron while he was this distraught. It looked wrong on him, seeing him so broken.
Taron’s facial features slowly came back, his brows drawn together in confusion. “No. What are they?”
“They’re markings a fairy’s mate gets. Apparently, the more they love them, the more blooms they get.” He rolled up his sleeves enough to show both arms now covered in flowers. There was even a big one on each hand. He’d considered not wearing his normal hoodie, but it was rainy when they left, and Peri didn’t want him to be chilly, so he ended up wearing what he usually wore.
Slowly unraveling himself from his little ball of sadness, Taron leaned forward to take in the blooms. When he glanced back up at Wash, there was cautious hope in his eyes. “You’re…”
“Mated,” Wash finished for him. “You getting involved only brought him to me sooner.”