Devil May Breathe (The Devils of Vitality)

by Chani Lynn Feener

“I’m in love with you,” Pavel stated plainly, as though that were obvious. When Zane merely gaped at him, he shrugged. “You’re obsessed,” he corrected, only for the other man to snort. “Why can’t I be both?” “This is a lot.” Zane dropped back down into the chair.

Pavel swore. “No matter who you call for help, they can’t have you,” he growled. “No one is allowed to take you from me, bashert. Not even Kelevra. I won’t back down. I won’t lose—”

“Did you make breakfast?” Zane moved around the desk and headed toward the door. “I’m starving.” And if he was also a bit freaked out by the massive life choice he’d just made on a whim? No one needed to know.

He cursed and stood, taking his empty plate with him on the way to the kitchen. “I knew I was going to regret doing that almost immediately.” Regrets? Oh no, that wouldn’t do. It was far too late for regrets now.

“I’ll be so good to you, bashert, I promise. So good. You won’t regret.” “I already do.” He tried to elbow him but there wasn’t enough room for him to do more than tap him. “Move so we can discuss this face to face.”

“Your eyes were glowing and you were clearly losing your cool,” he informed him. “I’m guessing hearing me say I would marry you got you overly excited and your instincts to mark your territory and claim your mate got the best of you.”

“I agreed to marry you because it really is my best option. It’ll get me away from Lyra and—” “I love you.” “Could you not interrupt right now?” “You’re being kind of mean, Doctor.”

“I like you,” Zane blurted, seeming just as surprised as Pavel felt once he had. “I like you a lot, I think. Enough to marry you, in any case, but I can’t promise you anything more than that. I don’t know if I want forever with you, or if I even fully buy that you want it with me.”

“Don’t be stupid,” the harsh words snapped off his tongue before he could stop them. “I’ve gone above and beyond to prove to you that I do.”

“What if…” He hesitated, then seemed to try again. “What if I’m not really what you’re after?” “What?” That didn’t even make sense. “What if you only want me because you think I’m that kid from the orphanage? What if, because of what you...

“I thought I was the crazy one.” Pavel shook his head. “Baby, no. I know exactly who it is I want. It’s not some version of you trapped in my head, it’s you, right here, the m...

Zane sneered at him. “Am not.” “Are too,” he teased. “Are you really that scared that I’ll change my mind? Haven’t I already told you I’d never abandon you? There’s nothing more I can say here, Zane. Words clearly aren’t enough to convince you, so,” he risked another step closer and pulled the velvet box he’d br...

If we both still feel the same way as we do now, then…” Pavel tilted his head, waiting, and when it became clear Zane was struggling to continue, urged, “Then, Doctor?” “I’ll legally change my name to Hart,” he offered. “And I’ll never bring up the possibility of divorce again.”

And yet… He didn’t like it. He didn’t like it because that still left his bashert an opening. If Zane decided he no longer wanted this in a year, according to those terms, he could walk away. And Pavel would have to let him. But if he didn’t agree…If he tried to force Zane into this and rip away his security blanket…

That wasn’t family. That wasn’t what he’d promised to be. “There is no version of me in any timeline or universe that doesn’t want what’s best for you,” Pavel said. “Pave—”

“I agree.” He held out the box again. “It’s like I told you before. I’ll always play your game, gorgeous. No matter the stakes. I get one year to convince you I’ll want you for the rest of our lives? You have a deal.” He stepped closer. “Do you accept?” Zane hesitated, eyes on the rings. Then, just as Pavel was st...

“I don’t think anyone in here is rational, gorgeous,” Pavel couldn’t help but quip, which earned him that searing glare. Which was exactly what he wanted. He hated when Zane’s attention was given to someone else, even if it was in an effort to save them from a shitty situation.

That was his bashert. Always one step ahead. Always getting under everyone’s skin the way he knew best. Mercilessly, and without batting an eye.

Lyra could offer him a hell of a lot more than Pavel could. It was a fact he’d been in denial over for a long time, but one he was forced to acknowledge now as he stood there, worried she was going to be able to sway him to her side.

“All this time,” Pavel found himself murmuring, words low enough only the two of them could hear, “apparently, I’ve had the same fears as you. It never feels good, being left behind.” He pictured that day when they were kids, chasing after the Solaces’ car. “It never feels good being abandoned without even a second glance.” He inhaled and prepared himself for the worst. “At least look me in the eye this time, yeah, gorgeous?”

“Sister,” Kelevra barely got that one word out, his presence seemingly going unnoticed. With no hesitation, the Imperial Heir raised the blaster and pointed it at Zane. Pavel shoved him out of the way a second before the shot rang out.

This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be about to lose Pavel only minutes after realizing he’d been an idiot and he couldn’t live without the guy.

“He also looked like Zane a moment ago. How…odd.” “Careful, Consort,” Kelevra drawled. “I don’t like that look of interest in your eye.”

“Why should I be?” She scoffed and jutted her chin out toward Zane. “It’s not like he’s all that important.” Zane refused to let that hurt him. Sting a little, maybe. But hurt? She didn’t matter. Not anymore. Not for a long time now.

“And you, no more flashing your junk. From here on out, I’m the only one allowed to look, understand? No more modeling for the art department, and no more filming—”

“Promise me I’m not your second choice,” he demanded as Pavel stripped them down. “Choice?” Pavel grunted and lined his cock up to his entrance. “Baby, you aren’t a choice at all. You’re a necessity.”

“You’re an essential of life. I need you in order to keep breathing, in order to keep existing.” “Hart,” Zane gasped when he bottomed out, tipping his head back on the table.

“There’s no point without you,”

“I’ve loved every version of you I’ve ever met,” Pavel divulged. “And I’ll continue to love all the versions of you that you become. We’ll build a family together and grow old together. I’ll prove my intentions to you every day for the rest of our lives if that’s what you need, gorgeous. Bashert.” He captured Zane’s hand and held it up between them, the gold of the ring still on his finger winking in the sunlight spilling in from the windows. “Say you’ll marry me, Zane. Will you? Hmm?”

“Ask me again when your cock isn’t battering my insides, and your eyes aren’t lit up like glowsticks. Ask me again,” he cradled his face in his palms, “when we’re both sound of mind and I can answer you in a way neither of us will ever second guess.”

“So don’t.” Zane held him close and lifted his hips to meet the next thrust. “Come for me, Hart. Come for your bashert, and make me yours. Forever.”

She’d made him realize he’d been blind. Up until that point when she’d broken into their home, Zane had allowed fear and doubt to rule him. Despite all of his claims about wanting to be important and needed, the second someone came around promising those things, he’d locked up. It was easier to read other people, to get under their skin and feel around.

“I was trying to figure out what to do with it.” He tipped his head. “What’d you do with yours?” “That’s simple. I gave it to you.” Pavel lifted his left hand and tapped at the matching gold chain band on his finger with a wink.

Pavel sighed in mild disappointment, staring down at Wells. “I wish I could have seen you take him apart. I bet you were beautiful.”

“Besides, this isn’t about him. It’s about us.” “Us.” Pavel grinned. “I like the sound of that, gorgeous. So, what next?” He turned to gaze at Zane, his eyes already beginning to flash that neon shade of yellow. “Is this the part where you order me to run for you?”

“No,” Zane stated firmly. “Absolutely not. No hugging. No getting nude in front of anyone that isn’t me. And no lingering touches from other people, whether I’m there to catch it or not. Understood, husband?”

“Who’s being taught the lesson here, really, Doctor? I’m starting to believe it isn’t you at all. This isn’t you rewarding me for making me wait for you all these years, it’s you showing me who’s boss, isn’t that right?” Zane grinned. “I love how well you see me.”

“Don’t worry, baby,” he reassured him. “Your possessiveness has been noted. I’ll be more careful from now on. No one else will be allowed to touch me, and in return,” he dropped his gaze down Zane’s body, “I’ll be allowed to touch you. Those are the terms if I’m not mistaken?” He gave a single nod.