Part 25 (2/2)

He then turned his gaze to Derrik.

”Would you like to explain what you're doing here?” he asked, his voice low.

On his words, Derrik's brows shot up, but his reply was to query, ”Would you like to explain why your rough, long and loud bedplay with G.o.ds d.a.m.ned Maddie could be heard throughout the G.o.ds d.a.m.ned village?”

”We'll not be discussing that,” Apollo told him.

”We won't?” Derrik fired back.

”No,” Apollo said firmly.

Derrik studied him.

Then he stated conversationally, ”G.o.ds, man, if I didn't think I'd murder you on sight, I would have gone over solely to warn you that your activities might break the bed or send you through the floor.” His tone degenerated when he added, ”Or, perhaps, commend you on your b.l.o.o.d.y stamina.”

Apollo said nothing.

Derrik's eyes narrowed. ”How many times did you have her?”

Apollo remained silent.

”I counted twelve of hers, just nine of yours. If I were to tell the men, you'd be legend.”

Apollo kept his silence and Derrik lost his patience.

And his gallantry.

”By the sounds you made when she could not be heard, I can a.s.sume she has much talent with her mouth.”

Apollo ceased remaining silent.

”Careful, brother,” he warned.

He leaned in toward Apollo and his voice went snide. ”By the sounds she made when you could not be heard, it's a definite you share the same talent. Tell me, brother, does she taste as sweet as she promises?”

Apollo's entire body grew tight for the second time that day. But this time, he didn't keep as close a grasp on the threads that held his temper.

Derrik was a man, Valentine a woman. If Derrik did something that deserved it, Apollo would not hesitate to give it.

”Careful,” he growled.

”She isn't Ilsa,” Derrik bit out.

Apollo blinked.

Understanding hit him; he crossed his arms on his chest and said quietly, ”G.o.ds, brother, I know that.”

At that, Derrik blinked.

”You-” he began.

”Lost my wife years ago,” Apollo interrupted him to say. ”And came to terms with that only four months ago. The woman in my bed is Madeleine.”

”Madeleine?”

”The name she's chosen for this world. A name chosen from what you and the men gave her,” Apollo explained and when Derrik didn't reply, he shared, ”She's rather fond of it.”

Derrik looked to the wall behind Apollo, the hardness moving out of his face. Then he looked back.

”I'm in love with her,” he admitted, his voice gruff, his admission dredged from somewhere deep.

”I'm sorry,” Apollo replied and said no more for there was no more to say.

His friend may love Madeleine and Apollo may love his friend.

But he could not have her.

Derrik's face grew hard again and he demanded, ”Convince me you care for her.”

”That's not yours to have,” Apollo returned and Derrik's jaw got tight before Apollo finished, ”It's hers.”

At that, Derrik's jaw went slack.

Apollo cared deeply for his friend but even so, he had no time for this. ”I'll remind you, she's alone over there.”

Derrik's back went straight. ”If you hurt her-”

Apollo didn't let him finish. ”It will be my hurt to salve.”

Derrik kept trying. ”She's not-”

At that, Apollo spoke quickly, reining in his temper. A temper that had to do with the fact that Derrik more than likely knew much of what Maddie was and was not, whereas Apollo knew very little of both, and he didn't like that. He further didn't like the fact that it was he who orchestrated it.

”She may have shared her mysteries with you, but they are her mysteries to share. They are also now mine to discover.”

They locked eyes and neither man spoke for some time.

Apollo grew impatient with it and he was about to break it before Derrik did.

And he did it to announce, ”I'll be leaving Karsvall and returning to the Lazarus seat.”

Apollo's gut got tight at this loss, but he nodded and requested, ”I understand your need to do that but I'll ask that you continue to see to the safety of my children at Karsvall until Madeleine and my return.”

Derrik flipped out a hand even as he didn't quite successfully stifle this flinch at the words ”Madeleine and my” and he muttered, ”Of course.”

Again, the men locked eyes. But needing to face whatever Maddie cared to make him endure, Apollo broke it and moved to the door.

<script>