Page 30 of Something Worth Keeping
“I’m not in shock. I’m processing.” Julian stepped over a severed arm, his attention fixed on Cillian. The dismembered limbs registered in his peripheral vision - messy and inefficient compared to the last time he’d seen Cillian’s work, but effective given the time constraints. “You said you were coming. You came. That’s statistically significant.”
“Statistically…” Cillian’s voice fractured into multiple tones before he caught himself. “Julian, I just tore three men apart in front of you. I became…”
“Accurate?”
That stopped him. Cillian’s mouth closed. His shadows writhed around his legs like anxious serpents.
Julian adjusted his glasses - one lens was cracked, which meant he’d need to file an insurance claim and find his replacement pair - and moved closer. “Your response was proportional to the threat level. They were threatening me with a knife. The one in the grey jacket broke my glasses when he hit me. You eliminated the danger.”
“I eviscerated them.”
“You neutralized them.” Julian reached Cillian and tipped his head back to examine him properly. Blood covered most of Cillian’s face, but Julian couldn’t identify any wounds beneath. “Are you injured?”
Cillian looked at him like Julian had started speaking in tongues. “Am I…no. No, I’m not injured. Julian, you’re not listening. I showed you what I am. What I’m capable of. Any rational person would…”
“Run?” Julian reached out and touched Cillian’s jaw, turning his head to check the other side. There were no lacerations or contusions. “That would be statistically normal, yes. But I’m not running.”
“You should be.” Cillian’s voice dropped to something raw and devastating. “I’m a monster. You just watched me become the thing from your nightmares.”
“I don’t have nightmares about you.” Julian wiped blood from Cillian’s cheekbone with his thumb. The gore didn’t bother him - it was just biological matter, and it was already cooling. “And you’re not a monster. You’re an Eldritch Guardian who responded to a direct threat against your fated mate with extreme prejudice. The response was contextually appropriate.”
Cillian caught Julian’s wrist. His grip was gentle despite the violence Juliancould feel still thrumming through him. “How are you this calm?”
“I’m not calm. My heart rate is elevated to approximately 140 beats per minute, and I can feel the adrenaline response in my extremities.” Julian met Cillian’s eyes - black and swirling with emotion. “But I’m not afraid of you. I’m concerned about you.”
“Concerned about…” Cillian made a sound between a laugh and a sob. “Julian, I just…”
“You made one hell of a mess.” Julian glanced around the alley. Viscera painted the walls. The leader’s head had rolled into a puddle near the dumpster. “But your methods were very effective. Your estimated time of engagement was under 90 seconds. Three targets neutralized with zero risk to yourself. Tactically, it was flawless.”
Cillian pulled Julian against his chest. The movement was sudden enough that Julian stumbled, his hands coming up automatically to steady himself. He pressed his palms against Cillian’s blood-soaked shirt.
“You’re analyzing my murder technique.”
“I’m analyzing your combat efficiency.” Julian felt Cillian’s heartbeat against his palms - too fast, too hard. It was not human rhythm, or if it was, the person needed to be in a hospital. “You were scared.”
Cillian’s laugh was hollow. “I was terrified. When I saw them touching you, when I saw the knife…”
“Not for me. For yourself.” Julian pulled back enough to look up at him. “You were afraid I’d reject you.”
Cillian’s shadows curled around Julian’s ankles, desperate for the connection. “Wouldn’t you? Any sane person…”
“We’ve established I’m not statistically normal.” Julian reached up and touched Cillian’s face with both hands, framing his jaw. Blood squelched between his fingers. “Listen to me. You came when I called. You protected me. You eliminated a threat to my life. Those are facts. Everything else is just…window dressing.”
“Window dressing.” Cillian’s voice was strangled. “Julian, I disemboweled a man with my bare hands.”
“You disemboweled three men with shadow-tentacles, actually. And yes, it was visceral. But they were going to kill me.” Julian kept his voice level, factual. “They said Marcus Vane wanted to question me. I’m almost certain that’s a euphemism for torture and disposal. You prevented that outcome.”
Cillian’s hands came up to cover Julian’s. His fingers were sticky with gore. “You should be screaming.”
“Why? Because you defended me? Because you showed me your true form?” Julian shook his head. “I’ve been researching Eldritch Guardians for six days. I knew what you were capable of. Seeing it in person simply confirmed the data.”
“You can’t research this.” Cillian gestured at the carnage. “Research can’t prepare for…”
“I prepared by accepting you.” Julian pressed closer, ignoring the blood soaking into his sweater. “You told me what you are, what you do. I chose to explore this bond with full knowledge of the parameters. Nothing has changed.”
“Everything has changed!” Cillian’s shadows surged, wrapping around Julian’s waist and legs. “You’ve seenme lose my shit. You’ve seen what happens when…”
“When someone threatens your mate?” Julian raised his eyebrows. “Yes. And I’m impressed, not horrified. Your response time was exceptional.”
