"Your husband is outside," Ned tries to reassure him. "He's waiting. You're all right, you have a mate." He's seen bond rejection before, in a pregnant waif of an omega girl, heartsick and heatsick at the same time after the alpha that had made promises to her had abandoned her. It doesn't make sense that Burr is acting the same way -- after all, Alexander is just outside, their bond is as secure as any that Ned has ever seen, and, anyhow, Aaron was the one refusing what Alexander offered. Alexander did heed, however reluctantly.
Unless he didn't, when Ned was gone.
No, that wasn't like him -- even drugged, he wouldn't have forced Aaron, wouldn't have punished him, wouldn't have done any of those things that alphas are entitled to do, by law, but should never, ever do, by justice, to disobedient mates. Perhaps he said something. But it is hard to think of a thing Alexander could say that would drive Aaron to a man who seduced and ravished him, unwillingly, in heat.
He wipes away the fever sweat. "Do you want him here?"
Lacking a firm response, he calls Alexander in. "Carefully," he warns. "He's very ill, and I know not precisely why."
It's Jefferson's fault. Alexander knows it is, whether he did it on purpose or recklessly. His breath dies in his chest as he sees Aaron again. He kneels by the bed, pushing Ned's stool away, and carefully takes Aaron's hand in both of his. Kisses Aaron's knuckles, once, briefly.
"Don't leave me," he pleads, soft. "Please don't leave me." His pride is withdrawn, dead and shriveled and crackling in him. Not like this, not like this; he can't lose Aaron like this.
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Unless he didn't, when Ned was gone.
No, that wasn't like him -- even drugged, he wouldn't have forced Aaron, wouldn't have punished him, wouldn't have done any of those things that alphas are entitled to do, by law, but should never, ever do, by justice, to disobedient mates. Perhaps he said something. But it is hard to think of a thing Alexander could say that would drive Aaron to a man who seduced and ravished him, unwillingly, in heat.
He wipes away the fever sweat. "Do you want him here?"
Lacking a firm response, he calls Alexander in. "Carefully," he warns. "He's very ill, and I know not precisely why."
It's Jefferson's fault. Alexander knows it is, whether he did it on purpose or recklessly. His breath dies in his chest as he sees Aaron again. He kneels by the bed, pushing Ned's stool away, and carefully takes Aaron's hand in both of his. Kisses Aaron's knuckles, once, briefly.
"Don't leave me," he pleads, soft. "Please don't leave me." His pride is withdrawn, dead and shriveled and crackling in him. Not like this, not like this; he can't lose Aaron like this.