25. Decide

(The second half of the last chapter, partially edited)

Rolling over, Warden reached forward, expecting to find Drake's too-warm body beside him, but when his fingers touched cold sheets, his eyes blinked open.

"He left to go for a long run. He said it was that, or get hit by another rolled up newspaper several times... which he said hurt quite a lot more than he thought it would." Cerat said from behind him, making Warden roll onto his other side and smile sleepily at the vampire.

They were quiet for a few moments before Warden sat up. "It was a smart move. I'm going to go take a shower, then I'll feed you if you're hungry." He said as he got up, not really waiting for a response.

He heard the blankets shift after he was already up, but didn't look back until he felt arms gently wrap around his middle as he stepped inside the bathroom.

"Can I not eat now?" Cerat asked as he ran his cold tongue along Warden's neck.

He probably thought that it was a turn-on, and it did make him fidget a bit, but it also seemed a little forced, and hesitant. Like a lot of what he had been doing lately.

Turning in Cerat's arms, Warden reached up and nudged his chin, closing his mouth gently.

"Tell me, Cerat. Did Drake bite you again after we both did?"

The brief shocked look on the vampire's face made Warden shake his head. "No wonder you're acting more like him."

Cerat frowned before replying, "I don't act that much like him."

Warden chuckled and reached up, messing with Cerat's already mussed bed-head.

"Thank god for that. He did give it away when he was... preoccupied with me last night, though. Werewolves can't normally have telepathic communication with others that aren't in their packs." Warden said, making Cerat glance away for a moment before shrugging.

"I was having trouble and asked him to do it since I knew that you wouldn't want to." He mumbled sheepishly, not lifting his eyes to Warden's.

He knew that it would probably happen at some point, since he did notice Cerat's personality shifting a bit, but he had hoped that he'd ask him instead of Drake. He might have been able to be talked into it.

"You changed after we did that together the first time, too. I think that Drake might have had a bigger influence on you."

Cerat did lift his head then, clearly confused judging from the look on his face.

"We both bit you to try and make your vampiric side consider us as sires, but it seems that Drake made the biggest impression." Warden said quietly as he lifted a hand and gently brushed it against Cerat's cheek, making the vampire lean into the touch without even seeming to think about it.

When Cerat's eyes closed a moment later, Warden shook his head and smiled, letting his thumb stroke along the vampire's cool skin.

"You aren't him, and while he is my best friend, I'm glad that you two are nothing alike." He said before tilting Cerat's head up just enough so that when he leaned in, their lips could meet.

It was a few minutes before Cerat finally took an awkward step backward into the bedroom and dropped his gaze again.

"What's wrong? Did you not want me to do that?" Warden asked, having thought that he'd read the situation pretty well.

Cerat fidgeted, running a hand through his messy hair, but he didn't reply.

"Are you worried that Drake will get mad because of the deal you made?" He asked, getting an immediate nod in response.

That mutt.

"Listen, it's my choice who I spend my time with, intimately or not." Warden said as he stepped forward and reached up to take Cerat's hand.

Pulling him closer, he wrapped his other arm around his waist and finished moving him against his own body.

"If Drake ever bothers you because I decide to give you attention over him sometimes, let me know. I won't let you get bullied because you're quieter... so stop trying so hard to be like him. He might be considered your sire now, but he's not you."

Cerat looked like he was about to argue, but Warden just leaned down again and silenced him with his mouth. There was a moment of hesitation from Cerat before he folded against Warden like a kitten seeking attention.

I knew something was up when you started trying to act more dominant.

Of course, he didn't doubt that some of it was his vampire's personality clashing with his human one, but the rest? Definitely Drake's influence.

Speaking of said werewolf, Warden could hear him coming through the front door as he began to deepen the kiss.

Not going to risk it.

He stepped back, pulling Cerat with him into the bathroom before releasing him just long enough to shut and lock the door.

The pounding of Drake's first against the worn wood not a minute later had a shiver running through Cerat, making Warden pause in taking off the vampire's shirt.

Alright, you can do this. Tell him.

Swallowing down his nerves, Warden released Cerat's shirt and turned to the door. After a few deep breaths he unlocked it and stepped out.

Someone looks slightly unhappy.

Drake appeared to be close to shifting, but Warden wasn't going to let himself be scared. If they were going to be together in some way or another, there would be no bullying anymore. He would have to control himself.

"Can I help you, Drake?" He asked calmly.

When his friend didn't immediately respond, and instead glared over his shoulder, Warden stepped forward and poked him hard in the chest.

"Excuse me, Drake, but I'm talking to you. Don't ignore me to chastise him when he doesn't deserve it."

It took a moment, but Drake finally seemed to focus back on him.

"We had made a deal." He growled.

Warden rolled his eyes and put a hand on his chest, pushing him backward until he dropped to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Listen, Drake. For some insane reason, I like you, but that doesn't mean that you get to call all of the shots. You said that you didn't mind Cerat around me, and I want him around me right now... without you interrupting."

He could see Drake's wolf right beneath his eyes, contemplating how he'd actually found the balls to stand up to him. There had never really been an even foothold between them. It was always Drake at sixty percent and Warden at forty. He always bowed to what Drake wanted to do because he knew that his short fuse would cause more trouble than it was worth... but things were going to be different now.

Reaching forward, Warden pet Drake's head a few times before offering a gentle smile.

"I like you a lot, Drake, but I want a fair share of control over this situation. I think that's something that shouldn't be too hard to give if you really want a relationship, right?"

Drake grumbled and rolled over on the bed, shifting mid-motion. He stayed facing the wall for a full minute, just growing as his hackles lifted and fell. Then, when Warden thought he might just whirl around on him and try to force him away from Cerat, Drake actually slowly trudged off the bed, then disappeared out the bedroom door.

Heart thrumming like a hummingbird in his chest, Warden stepped back into the bathroom and slowly shut, then locked the door before looking up at Cerat.

"That was pretty hot." Cerat said with a hesitant smile that Warden mirrored after a few tense seconds.

By the time he had his and Cerat's clothing off, he could smell something cooking in the kitchen. At least he's not destroying things. It was a very good sign. That, and he had shifted back almost right away, which meant that he hadn't stress-shifted.

"Maybe this thing can actually work." He mumbled, more to himself than to Cerat as he stepped beneath the water.

"They have pills if you have trouble." Cerat replied, drawing a startled laugh from Warden. "I don't think I'll need them." War replied as he gently pushed Cerat back against the tile wall.

He wanted to take his time, but that wasn't really on his side that day so he made sure to be gentle, but didn't draw anything out except for some extra kisses and allowing Cerat to feed while they were busy.

When they finally turned the cooled water off, Warden stepped out first. He dried off quickly, then offered Cerat a clean towel as he ducked out of the room to get changed. He had decided to do as Drake had suggested the previous evening and to just deal with the trial when it came. There was little they could do about it until it happened and they had a chance to explain their situation.

"What's for breakfast?" He asked as he stepped into the kitchen a few minutes later. He was dressed in a light suit and slacks, even though they didn't have to leave for hours.

"If I say you, can I have a taste?" Drake replied, seemingly back to his snarky self.

I knew you wouldn't mind me with Cerat too much.

Sitting down at the small table that had several different basic breakfast dishes already waiting on it, Warden shrugged and smiled as Drake sat across from him.

"If we somehow make it through this trial with Cerat's life, then afterward, you can enjoy yourself... to a point."

The look in Drake's eyes made Warden squirm as he began piling burnt eggs onto his plate, but he'd keep the promise he made. If they could save Cerat with a little extra motivated thinking from Drake, even if it would cost him being able to get out of bed the next morning, he'd do it.