Devil May Breathe (The Devils of Vitality)

by Chani Lynn Feener

He hated this. Hated how close they were and how he was forced to stand here and pretend like he wasn’t seething inside. Hated—

He lost sight of him the moment Zane raced from the restaurant, but that didn’t matter. Pulling up the tracking information on his multi-slate, Pavel took off after him. He’d follow his bashert into the pits of hell if he had to.

“Oh?” Aodhan cocked a brow. “Do tell. If he isn’t your friend, then…?” “Brother, I’d like you to meet,” he risked a step closer to the table, “my future husband.”

But at the mention of the Imperial Heir, his mood noticeably darkened, and when he didn’t get an immediate response, he grabbed Zane’s wrist, stopping him. “Gorgeous.”

“She wants to make me her Royal Consort,” he began, only to have to force Pavel back down when he instantly sprang up. “Lay back! What the hell is wrong with you?! Do you want to bust your stitches?!” “I’ll kill her.” Pavel’s eyes were glowing,

“Wow,” he tipped his head, fascinated, “those are pretty.” “Back off,” Zane warned, knowing his brother well enough to know where his mind was going. “They’re mine.”

“I’m guessing from your reaction you’re not a fan of Lyra or her weird obsession with Zane?” “I tend to take issue with people who covet things that don’t belong to them,” Pavel stated.

“What’s wrong, gorgeous?” Pavel quirked a brow. “You didn’t honestly believe I was chasing after you for shits and giggles, did you? What part of bashert didn’t you comprehend?”

“I like you, future brother-in-law. I think we’re going to be great friends.” “You are not,” Zane told them both warningly.

“Not if you’re his bashert. Honestly, I’m shocked he hasn’t already collared you.” “Excuse me?” Zane almost took a step back. “It doesn’t mean how he’s making it sound,” Pavel reassured and then turned to Aodhan to add, “And I can’t do that, unfortunately. Otherwise, I would have a long time ago.”

He felt left out, and even though, logically, he shouldn’t care that Pavel was maintaining eye contact with someone else—a someone who happened to be his older brother, on top of it all—he found irritation snaking around his insides.

“I want to avoid becoming the Royal Consort of the Imperial Heir and—” “I want you.” Pavel curled his finger through the belt loop of Zane’s jeans and tugged him closer.

“Stop that.” He swatted his hand but gave up when the other man refused to let go. “I’m not looking for this to last forever—” “You’re wasting your time, baby bro,” Aodhan interrupted him next.

“Would you both shut up and let me finish a damn sentence?” “Not if you’re just going to spout nonsense. He couldn’t let you go even if he wanted to. He’s already formed the bond. Y...

“Don’t you dare,” Zane growled. “Hart, put that down right now or I swear to the gods I will never let you touch me again.”

“What did you call me?” Pavel turned, the look of excitement on his face throwing Zane for a loop. “What?” “Do it again.” “…Hart? So?” “It’s a nickname. Finally.”

“He’s Retinue,” Zane stated, knowing that he had to keep Titus on his side in order for this to end in his favor. “There’s no way he’d say anything to anyone. He’s also claimed me as his bashert, which means he can’t betray me.”

But when he pictured the way he’d appeared on that video footage, the way he’d looked at Pavel…Zane wanted to explore that further. He wanted to know if those emotions had been a fluke or if he was actually capable of becoming enamored by someone.

“Do you have anything to add?” Zane demanded, annoyed that he was just going along with this. “No, gorgeous,” Pavel grinned. “You’re handling it all beautifully.”

“Pavel,” Aodhan called out, “this might come as a surprise, but I care about my brother, in my own way. If you do anything to him, like try to get him to marry you even if he doesn’t want to, your eyes won’t be the only thing I remove from your body. Understood?” “Loud and clear.” Despite the threat, Pavel was grinning.

“You’re so far from shy now, gorgeous. I almost wish you still were. Then I wouldn’t be so jealous all the time.” “Whether or not I’m shy, I’m definitely not that kid, Pavel.”

“You’re just taking responsibility, that it?” “No, I mean, you still chose to come after me, even when—” “Are you talking about Great, gorgeous?”

Pavel’s tone darkened. “Don’t think I’m not going to punish you for that, or for the stunt you pulled with Kazimir Ambrose at the Velvet Brew. Was it fun at least, teasing me? Making me go crazy for you?”

“If you have that much self-control, enough to watch me have coffee with my ex and go on a romantic dinner date, I don’t think you like me nearly as much as you claim.” It was a stupid thing to say, a challenging thing, but Zane said it anyway, keeping his eyes on the road and his hands steady on the wheel as though he wasn’t affected.

As though he wasn’t currently holding his breath, waiting for Pavel’s response. “You were needy as a child too,” Pavel drawled. “Always so greedy for my affection. Clingy. I didn’t mind though, back then we’d agreed to be each other’s family in a world where no one else wanted us.

“I’m not having family problems. Well, not unless you count my struggles with you.” “I don’t.” Because they weren’t family.

Zane stared at the familiar drink, the same one he frequently ordered at the Velvet Brew. “Knowing my coffee order makes you my stalker, not my family.” He took it, but fiddled with the straw, torn. “If I drink this now, I won’t be able to sleep.”

“Fine. You’re not comfortable accepting me as family yet? That’s fair. You don’t know or feel what I know and feel. But don’t forget why we’re here, gorgeous.”

“Don’t do that,” it was the sincerity in his tone that got Zane to drop the attitude. “If you were going to let me die, you would have allowed it earlier. Admit it, Doctor. You don’t want me dead. You like me. Whether that’s enough to want to spend the rest of your life with me or not, that’s still to be decided. But you do like me.”

Zane held up a hand. “If you say ‘mine’ I’ll toss the rest of this drink at your face.” “You are mine though,” he insisted. “You’ve always belonged to me. I suppose now it’s my job to convince you of that fact. It’s lucky we have two whole weeks to accomplish that goal, don’t you agree?”

“Where are you going? If Ledge was here tonight, would you have insisted he play your doctor instead?” Zane knew it was petty and childish, but he asked it anyway.

Understanding where Zane would stand in the family hierarchy was as good a place to start as any, especially since he already knew himself well enough to know he would never settle for being anyone’s second choice.

“I won’t be a choice,” he corrected, out loud, even though it had to sound strange out of context. “I have to be everything or nothing at all.”

“You just want me for my body. Just want to sleep with me and—” “Hush,” he stated harshly, tone instantly causing Zane to snap his mouth shut. “Good boy. No, gorgeous. You’ve got it all wrong. I love your body. I’d live inside it all day and night if I could. If you’d let me.” Absolutely not.

“But that’s not the only reason I want you,” Pavel reassured. “You’ve said something like this before. Let this be the last time, hmm? Let me put those doubts to bed, the same way I’ll be putting you to bed later. You might not have been paying attention to me all these years, but I can’t say the same. I’ve been watching you, studying you. Learning your every move, and tick, and,” he ran his hand through his hair and then grabbed a fistful, yanking his head up, “desire.”

“I know how self-centered you are, how manipulative and calculating you can be. I love that about you. I love knowing that you’ll do anything and everything it takes to get what you want. It makes me even more excited about becoming one of those things.

Once you covet me, you’ll be possessive even more than I am now, isn’t that right, Zane? You don’t like sharing your things—your real things. If Kazimir had told you he wanted to fuck you and Nate both, it wouldn’t have mattered. Because he didn’t matter. Me? I want to matter, baby. Make me matter.”

Words so similar to the ones he’d thought himself a million times over. All he’d ever wanted was to matter. To be important. To be something someone co...

“I’m going to teach you how precious you are,” Pavel said. “I’ll prove it to you, over and over again. As many times as you need until you believe it. Until you believe me. You’re the only thing I’ve ever truly cared for. The only thing I’ll ever desire. I’ve claimed you, Zane Hart. You’re mine. And I’m never letting you go.”

Pavel shushed him. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.

“You should be happy to know that’s not true at all. I was simply finding a way to get back at you while still following the rules. That’s what a good boyfriend does, wouldn’t you agree?”

Pavel rubbed his face against Zane’s, and just as he was about to sink into oblivion, he heard the crazy Retinue member whisper, “I’ll always play your game, Doctor. Always.”

Pavel thought of Zane, upstairs, asleep in their bed, and his lips lifted in satisfaction. A part of him finally felt relief for the first time in years, the tight knots he always carried inside of him undone. It was instinctual, brought on by his nature, but he welcomed it all the same.

There was a comfort in knowing his mate was here, safe, secluded, and all his. He was more than happy to welcome that comfort. And he wouldn’t let anyone, not even his brother, mess with it.

“I’m sorry, Ledge, I have to go. My boyfriend is awake and he’s begging for my attention.” “Screw you,” a bitter voice came from behind him, and Pavel chuckled.

“Yes, that’s a very scary threat. I’m curious if you can even find the location of my heart though, Doctor, what with you still not knowing exactly what I am.” He sneered. “I know where your heart is, asshole. I’ve felt it pounding in your chest whenever you’re holding me down.”

“I have other plans in mind. Speaking of, you were angry when Kazimir brought Lyra into the bedroom—” Zane took a menacing step forward before he could finish. “If you allow anyone else to lay hands on me, I swear—” “Never.”

Just the thought alone had his spine stiffening and his eyes glowing brightly. A low rumble traveled up his chest unbidden. “I want people to see who you belong to. I want them to wish they could have you but know they never will. No one will ever touch you aside from me, bashert. No one. I’m your end game.”

It would have been nice to have an intimate, quiet breakfast together like real lovers would on a dreary morning such as this. But there was always the chance for a romantic evening meal. Getting to hunt down and claim what was his? That was an opportunity he would never pass up, and certainly not something that could be considered a punishment in his eyes.

Pavel had caught the possessive gleam in his eye before he’d fled. Had noticed the way Zane’s nostrils had flared in displeasure when he’d realized everyone was paying an insane amount of attention to all of Pavel’s body. His doctor really didn’t like sharing.