Free NecessaryDecision by A.D. Christopher Page A

father… Varek winced. If he and
Gable were responsible for turning Kylar into a junior version of Baron the
Bastard, Varek knew he would never forgive himself.
    “And Mercy wasn’t using Caleb and Kerrick to gain her
freedom,” Kylar continued. “She wasn’t pretending to love them so she could
move out of the slave cabins!”
    “We didn’t pretend. We do love you. Please, can’t you
see that? Don’t you love us too?” The pleading tone in Gable’s voice was almost
too much for Varek. The pain on both of these beloved faces, the pain in their
voices…he couldn’t stand it. How could this have happened?
    All he wanted to do was hold them both tight. All he wanted
to do was take them both to bed. But that would probably never happen again.
Just as that chilling realization sunk in Kylar spoke.
    “I think you two should leave.”
    “Kylar,” Gable said. “Please listen to us. Yes, we started
out wanting a Pride-born warrior-mate to gain our freedom. But it was never
about using anyone. We wanted a third to fall in love with, we wanted—”
    Kylar’s face went even redder. Varek had to force himself
not to take a step back. Showing fear when Kylar was in this state would
probably be a bad idea. “Just leave. Just get out. I never want to see you two
again.”
    “Kylar, we love you,” Varek started, but he could see it was
too late.
    “Get out!” Kylar yelled. “Get out or I’ll throw you out! Get
the hell out of my house and my life.”
    Varek took one last glance around the living room, the room
where the three of them had had such fun, such passion, such love. Would he
ever see this room again? The painting above the fireplace was new, chosen by
the three of them together. A symbol of their new life together. Now that would
never happen. Tears filled his eyes. He’d probably cried more today than in the
past ten years combined. He was a warrior, a fighter, but he was also a man
who—until today—had believed that love could be as powerful as hate. The death
of that belief, and knowing that Kylar’s bitter waste of a father had won the
day, made him more vulnerable than he’d ever been before.
    “Come on, Gable,” he said, putting a hand on Gable’s
shoulder. “We have to do what we’re told.”
    “I don’t want to! I want to stay.” Gable pulled in a deep
breath that came out as a sob. “Please, Kylar, let me stay. Let me explain it
to you, all of it, and how much we love and need you and—”
    Kylar gave a short, ugly laugh. “Yes, you certainly do need
me. But you won’t have me. Go find some other Pride-born to use. I’m sure
you’ll manage to seduce someone before the year’s out. Now get out of my
house .”
    Before either of them could reply, Kylar stalked down the
hallway to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. The sound of it echoed in
Varek’s head like the pounding of a hammer, a hammer smashing his hopes and
dreams and the love they’d shared into pieces.
    * * * * *
    The slave quarters had never seemed so small, so dingy and
smelly and downright depressing. Gable felt like he could barely walk. His body
was so heavy, his legs so weary. Varek seemed to feel the same way. They
trudged down the long row between the bunks holding hands. Varek’s was cold,
but his was even colder. Gable felt as if he’d never be warm or happy again.
    How could this have happened? How could they have lost
Kylar?
    By unspoken agreement he and Varek walked to Gable’s bed and
collapsed on it together. Varek lay down and pulled Gable’s back to his front,
spooning him from behind. Gable clutched at Varek’s arms, holding on tight, and
entwined his legs with Varek’s. They lay still for what felt like hours. The
entire time, there was only one thought that kept running through Gable’s head.
    “We hurt him,” Gable whispered. “Oh God, Varek, we hurt him
so much. And we can’t help him because it’s our fault…” He bit his lip and
tried his best not to start crying. If he