“I saw Drago. He’s still alive.”
Boaz’s head snapped toward him, his eyes wide.
“Your brother is alive. Does that mean everyone else is alive?” he asked.
“I only saw Drago,” Blade said.
“But if he’s alive, others could be too,” Manlius said, hope lighting his eyes.
Alexander groaned inwardly, already seeing where that hope would lead.
Misery.
How were they supposed to get them out of the underworld?
“Come on, we should call everyone and have that meeting as soon as possible,” Manlius said as he hurried to his truck.
Alexander reached for Boaz, but the werewolf was already moving.
“He’s hot,” Blade said as they followed. “A little uptight, but hot. No wonder you were rarely home.”
“Blade, not now,” Alexander warned as he climbed into the truck.
Boaz took the front seat, leaving Alexander to get in the back, even though he wanted to sit beside him. Blade slid in after him, and they drove to Manlius’ house.
Alexander braced himself for the familiar scent of incense and candle wax that clung to the place. Blade wrinkled his nose as he stepped inside.
“You’ll get used to it,” Alexander said as they walked.
Manlius led them to a sitting area and quickly excused himself with Boaz to make calls.
“So, this is what a coven looks like,” Blade said, looking around, though there wasn’t much to see in the sitting area. Not like the other room with the candles. Alexander wondered what Blade would think of that. Blade was half witch, but he had never really been around others like him.
“Yes,” Alexander said.
“Is it just the sorcerer here, or are there others?” Blade asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
Alexander made a mental note to ask Manlius to show him the candle room. Blade would probably love it.
“I haven’t seen anyone else,” Alexander said. “I think it’s just Manlius.”
“Hmm,” Blade murmured, running his hand over a chest in the corner.
They fell into silence as Blade continued exploring the room. Alexander reached out with his senses, searching for Boaz. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounded him.
Alexander closed his eyes and simply listened.
Minutes later, Boaz and Manlius returned.
“It’s going to take a few hours, but every supernatural creature is on their way here. You can go home and come back once everyone arrives, if you like,” Manlius said.
“Can we wait here?” Blade asked, turning to him. The eagerness in his voice was clear, and Alexander couldn’t refuse.
“Sure,” Manlius said.
Alexander stood and walked over to Boaz. He took his hand and led him out of the room. He wasn’t entirely sure where he was going, only that he wanted a moment alone with him.
He climbed the stairs and pushed open the first door he came to. As soon as it closed behind them, he pulled Boaz into a kiss.