Second Chances [Eternal Flames Maddox 8]

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

“Clove, come back here and talk to me!” Destrain shouted.

Clove continued down the long hall, shouting back, “Just leave me alone, Desi! I just want to lie down and rest.”

Destrain sat at the table with an audible sigh. A bottle of water was placed in front of him. When Destrain looked up, his longtime friend and confidant stood there looking at him with

understanding and sympathy. “Des, he just needs time to adjust.”

“I know, Cas, but he isn’t even trying. I don’t know what to do. I try and show him how things are now, and he gets upset if he can’t make something work the first time,” Destrain stated with exasperation.

“Des, Clove died centuries ago. There were no cars, planes, or electronics back then. It’s a lot to take in,” Casimir replied.

Sighing heavily once more, Destrain removed the cap from the bottle, took a sip, then said, “I know what you’re saying is true, but Cas, we didn’t have any idea how things worked either and we learned. He won’t even try to learn.”

“True, but we also were able to make small trips into this realm from time to time and we were able to see the advancements little by little. We may not have been here when the cell phone was invented, but we did come when the house phone was in every home. We met the Wright

brothers when they were experimenting with flying, so it was no big surprise to see planes in the air. The last time Clove was in this realm, there were gladiators and emperors ruling their lands.”

“I know that, Cas, but we have pixies that have never been to this realm and they are adjusting just fine. Something is wrong with my mate and I don’t know what it is. I thought the day my Clove died was the worst day of my life and every day after that. However, seeing Clove so sad and despondent since he was returned to me, makes what I felt before seem almost

insignificant,” Destrain softly said.

Casimir sat back in his chair looking at him. Destrain could tell the man had something to say but was hesitant to speak. “Out with it, Cas. I know you have something you want to say, so just say it.”

Nodding, Casimir replied, “Okay, I will. Pull your head out of your ass, Destrain. You have to be one of the luckiest men I know. Your mate is poisoned and dies, then centuries later is brought back to you by the gods. Zeus didn’t have to allow Asclepius to return Clove to you. Yes, you saved Jensen’s life, but he could have just thanked you.”

“I didn’t do anything for Jensen that I wouldn’t have done for anyone else,” Destrain quickly said.

“I know that and so did Kali, Zeus, and Asclepius. However, we were all shocked and happy for you when we saw Asclepius bring Clove to you. It was a gift that all of us knew you deserved.

None of us thought about how Clove would feel. None of us know what his life after death was like, Destrain. Was he happy where he was? Does he remember where he was? He is not only trying to adjust to this new world, he is also trying to adjust to life once more.”

Destrain wiped a tear from his eye. Kings should never be seen crying, but he, Casimir, and Aracus had been through so much, he looked at them as his brothers. Casimir was the proud dragon, always thinking and rationalizing everything. Aracus, the quiet phoenix, that didn’t speak much, but when he did, he had a whole lot to say. They laughed together, cried together, and shared their innermost thoughts with each other. Destrain didn’t know if he could have made it through the loss of his mate and disappearance of his son had it not been for his two guardians.

He would forever be grateful to them both. It was nice to have Cas so close right now. Normally he and Aracus were with Twix and his grandchildren, but since the council had agreed to allow a personal bodyguard for each member, and Twix and Rhys hired an ex-Australian military man to be their new nanny, Casimir had asked to be reassigned to Destrain and he had approved the request. If Destrain was forced to have someone up his ass all day and night, he felt better having a close friend to be that person.

“Des, are you even listening to me?” Casimir asked.

Setting his bottle down, Destrain replied, “Not really, no.” Standing, Destrain said, “I’m going to go and try talking to Clove again. Maybe I can get him to tell me what’s bothering him, so we can work on rebuilding our mating.”

“Damn it Des, you really weren’t listening. I said just give him time and some space. When he’s ready, he will talk to you,” Casimir lightly argued.

Destrain ignored Casimir and started out of the room saying, “I’m his mate. I should be able to help my own mate. I run an entire town and have ruled over the pixies for centuries. I can and will get my mate back, Cas.”

Passing his own suite, Destrain felt more sadness filling his heart. Clove had asked for his own rooms when he was first returned to him. It had hurt, but Destrain had made sure Clove was assigned to the adjoining rooms right next to his own. Raising his hand, Destrain was going to knock then changed his mind. He was king, damn it, and this was his mate. He shouldn’t have to knock. Turning the knob, Destrain was relieved when it opened.

Clove stood staring out the window, looking lost and alone. Destrain wanted to go to his mate and just hold him and reassure him that all was going to be alright. They had each other and together they could make things as they had been so long ago. “Clove, we need to talk.”

Clove didn’t say anything as Destrain walked in and closed the door. “Clove.”

“I heard you, Desi. Apparently, you didn’t hear me. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to watch a movie on that theater cube or learn how to use the damn cell box you gave me. I just want to be left alone,” Clove whispered angrily.

“I know this realm can be difficult, but if you just let me help you—”

Clove didn’t let Destrain finish speaking before he turned to his mate, snapping, “Help me? How exactly are you going to do that, Destrain? You have no idea what I am going through. You can’t! You did not die, live in a world of euphoria, then get tossed into mayhem and lunacy.”

“And you didn’t have to watch your soul wither away and die, then live for centuries alone, lost, and wishing every damn day that the gods would take you, just so you could spend an hour with the man who held your soul.”

Clove snorted, “You were so lonely you slept with a woman and gave her a son. I saw how much you missed me.”

“That isn’t fair. Not to me or to Avery. Candace was a sweet woman. I wasn’t looking for a relationship and she knew it. We became friends and yes, eventually we became lovers. I was lonely and so f*****g empty. I just wanted to feel alive. So yes, I slept with Candace, but I left before the night turned to day, feeling guilty for betraying you—even though you were dead. I never slept with anyone again after that. I will not regret Avery’s life being granted by our coupling. He went through a great deal, but he has really pulled himself out of hell and now he is mated to our best friends and living a happy, rewarding life. He is a good young man and will make a fantastic king one day,” Destrain stated with pride.

Clove’s eyes widened. “King? You would choose the bastard child over our Desdain?”

“Twix does not want to be king, Clove. He told you this himself,” Destrain argued.

“His name is Desdain of Shadowfox. Son of Clove and Destrain, Kings of Shadowfox and he is next in line to be king of the pixies,” Clove stated with that regal tone Destrain remembered hearing so many times so long ago.

Destrain sighed, softly saying, “I know his name, but our son asked to be called Twix. His request should be respected and honored, as should his feelings about being the king to our people.”

Clove turned back around to look out the window. Destrain let out a sad breath, before saying,

“Clove, I love you. I have always loved you and I will love you until the day I no longer breathe.

I want to understand what is wrong. I want to help you acclimate to this world once again. I want to walk hand and hand down the main street of Maddox and show you the small piece of the world the pixies have built. I want to sleep in the same bed, kiss you, make love to you for days at a time, but I can’t do any of those things—we can’t do those things, until you open up and let me in. Your sadness can’t just be because you don’t understand how to turn on a television or how one works. It can’t be because you don’t know how to answer a cell phone or text a reply. I once knew every piece of your heart and soul and I know there is something else going on here.

Just tell me what it is, and we can figure out how to fix it, so we can be the mates we once were.”

Clove turned around, and said in an almost pleading voice, “Don’t you think I wish I could?

How can I make you understand something I don’t understand myself? How do I explain things that have no explanation? I love you, Destrain. I want to be the man you once loved, but right now I can’t. I just can’t.”

Clove took off out of the bedroom door, swirled his hand and disappeared through a portal, ignoring Destrain’s screams for him to stop.

* * * *

Clove had no idea where the hell he was. He had become so distraught over his and Destrain’s argument he just had to get out of there before his guilt ate him alive even more than it already was. Now here he stood in the middle of a town, not knowing what to do or where to go. Then he saw Mystique Gardens, the flower and landscaping shop owned by Pascal and Zen. Thank the Gods. It helped seeing something familiar. If he walked towards that, he would pass the hotel, fire and police station, and then the pub was right there. “By all that’s mighty, I could use a drink.”

Slowly, Clove made his way towards the tavern hoping he didn’t see anyone he knew. He had a lot to think about. Like his new life, his new world, his mating, what happened to him after he died and…No! He couldn’t think about it! Clove’s guilt built until he thought he might die yet again, but this time with a broken heart. His breathing increased as his heart felt as if it was going to pound out of his chest. The buildings around him began to swirl. Yes, he was going to die. He just knew it.

“Clove? Clove, is that you? Are you alright?”

Clove didn’t hear his name or realize someone was leading him to a bench. He felt his head being pushed down between his knees, and only then did he hear the man say, “It’s going to be alright, Clove. Just take in deep breaths and let them out slowly.”

Clove did as the voice directed and slowly, things began to ease off and the dizziness passed.

“Is he going to be alright, Logan?”

“Yes, pretty boy, he’s going to be fine,” Logan replied.

“Thank the gods. He scared the crap out of me. I thought he was going to have a heart attack,”

Jensen said with fear still in his voice.

“He was having a panic attack, pretty boy, but he’s coming back to us, aren’t you Clove?” Logan asked.

Clove raised his head and looked at Logan and then Jensen. Clove remembered them from the field of death, when he had been brought back into the world and again at the Christmas party.

Clove had not stayed long, but he remembered Logan’s mate. The boy made Clove feel calm and more at home. It wasn’t until he learned that Jensen was not human, but the son of two of the most powerful gods in heaven. “Thank you both. I don’t know what happened.”

“We’re just glad that if you were going to have a panic attack, it was in front of the fire station,”

Logan said with a laugh.

Nodding, Clove replied, “Agreed and thank you again. I should be alright, if you two want to head home.”

“We were going to the sports bar for a couple of drinks. Would you like to join us?” Jensen asked.

Had Logan asked, Clove would have said no, but it was Jensen asking, and Clove felt

comfortable around the man. And besides, he was going to the pub himself, why not be with someone it felt right to be around? “I was heading there myself. If you don’t mind the company, I would be happy to join you.”

Logan helped Clove up, saying, “You are always welcome in our home and at our table, Clove.”

“Well, let’s go have an ale together,” Clove replied with a small smile.

“Beer, Clove. We don’t really say ale anymore,” Logan replied with a smile.

Clove smiled back. “Then let’s go have a beer.”