Free Spark And Flame by K. Sterling

how well he thought he understood Langley, something always stunned and perplexed him. Nothing about Langley’s behavior after his capture made sense. He left the courtroom like a winning contestant and acted as if he was starring in his own reality television show.
    “He’s where he’s supposed to be. Why can’t the world leave him there and move on?” Aiden asked and Lancelot appeared unconcerned as he did a quick lap around his bowl. Aiden sighed as he dipped his fingertip into the water and waited. Lancelot started toward it to investigate and Aiden remained still. He got Lancelot to nip his finger once and he was hoping it would happen again. “I’m starting to feel several parallels between our lives. It feels like the world is getting smaller, like I’m in a fishbowl and being forced to show the more aggressive aspects of my personality. I just want to be left alone,” he complained.
    Aiden’s eyes narrowed as Lancelot floated closer. The fish was completely still as he drifted toward Aiden’s finger. He held his breath and waited until Lancelot darted and attacked. He barely felt it but a gentle smile curved Aiden’s lips. They were very alike. Neither appreciated a stranger violating their territory and both were willing to attack if they felt threatened.
    “You wouldn’t tolerate a delusional arsonist in your bowl, would you?”

Chapter 16
     
    “Aiden,” Lane said gently as he pushed Aiden’s phone closer and he shook his head.
    “I know what they want,” he said and dismissed the call. “I’m not going to talk to him,” Aiden repeated for what had to be the hundredth time. “He’s never going to go away and leave me alone if I let him manipulate me the way he does everyone else,” he said and Lane nodded in agreement as he pulled Aiden against his chest and sat back.
    “He said he’ll tell you where Stewart is,” he argued gently and Aiden shrugged.
    “Knowing where his body is won’t bring him back. He’ll still be dead and the family will have to mourn him,” Aiden said and Lane’s hand curved around Aiden’s jaw and he turned his face so he could see his eyes.
    “But they’d have closure,” he said and Aiden frowned as he searched Lane’s eyes.
    “I don’t understand how finally locating and seeing his dead body is going to help,” he admitted and Lane’s mouth opened and closed a few times as he struggled to explain.
    “What if it was me?” He asked and Aiden paled and looked like he was struggling to breathe.
    “Don’t say that,” he said quickly and Lane gave him a pointed look.
    “You don’t really have any other family members that you’re connected to,” he explained. “How would you feel if you didn’t know where I was? Even if you were certain I was dead, you’d want to have proof,” Lane said and Aiden’s eyes watered.
    “But if I had to see you dead, I don’t know if I could survive that,” he whispered thinly as his voice failed and Lane nodded.
    “You would,” he said firmly. “You’d be lost without me for a while but you’d eventually heal and move on. You would see that mourning me excessively wasn’t healthy or serving any purpose,” Lane teased and Aiden shook his head.
    “Everything would be gone! I’d have nothing left!” He said loudly and Lane hushed him gently.
    “You’d be fine. But I’m not going anywhere,” he reassured him. “Look at it from the loved one’s perspective. You would want to know what happened to me and where I was,” Lane said and Aiden exhaled loudly as he nodded in agreement.
    “I’d lose my mind if something happened and I didn’t know if you were hurt or dead,” he admitted quietly. “But I don’t want to talk to him,” Aiden protested. “It’s only going to encourage him and he’s so delusional. This isn’t good for his pathology and who knows if it would put me or us in danger,” he said and Lane shrugged.
    “We can take care of ourselves and each other,” he said. “I think