He pauses at the corner of the bed, thinking about the way Kade bent him over, sliding inside him, one hand reaching around to stroke his cock. Then they’d lounged around in bed, Felix almost nodding off, until Kade leaned in, taking his cock into his mouth. Felix shivers, reaching down to rub himself through his pants.
The bed sheets. They’re stained, with bits of dried cum scattered around, and they really should be washed. It’ll take thirty seconds to pull them off.
Felix sets the clean clothes on the desk, heaving one corner of the mattress up. Maybe he should have asked Kade for help, but they’ll probably get distracted on the bed again, and the sheets are filthy. The corner of the fitted sheet comes off. He steps over to the other corner, reaching under the mattress.
His fingers bump into something cool and soft. Frowning, Felix slides his hand further along the bed frame, curling his fingers around the metal thing. It yields under his fingers like water, but there are ridges to it, like several tiny links.
It’s a chain, he realizes, sweeping it up.
He crouches and pulls his fist out from under the mattress, his belly brushing against his thighs. Then, he uncurls his fingers, staring at the heavy chain in his palm. It’s silvery like steel, the links thick and dense. Kade had been wearing it for the past few months. Why did you take it off?
Felix frowns, lifting the chain out of his palm. It falls into a loop. There’s a ring at the end of it.
He stares at the plain metal band as it sways, his thoughts whirling. Why were you wearing a ring?
Light glints off the delicate carvings on the inside of the band. Kaden, the first word reads. Felix stares, his fingers shaking. People don’t engrave names on just any ring. Kaden Brentwood.
The ring’s too small for any of Kade’s fingers. Maybe his pinky, but... It slips neatly over the tip of Felix’s index finger. He rocks back onto his heels, sitting heavily on the floor. You couldn’t have...
He slides the ring over to the chain clasp. The chain unhooks after a few tries. Felix slips the ring out, his throat tight.
It fits right onto his ring finger, cool and sturdy, stopping at his second knuckle because he’s put on weight. But it would have been a snug fit otherwise, and—Felix can’t breathe.
It’s the ring Kade had proposed with five years ago.
46
Felix 5 Years Ago
The headlines blare in his mind.
One in Five of Meadowfall will be in Debt and Homeless.
Meadow Village Homes to Clear out Existing Tenants.
Sudden Rent Hikes Bankrupt the Community.
Felix clenches the papers in his hands, storming through the hallways of his father’s mansion, his footfalls muffled by the thick carpets.
He hasn’t agreed to be part of this. He hasn’t thought the success from his illustrations would give his father ambitious ideas to fill his properties. He hasn’t thought his father would use his drawings to throw out a huge part of his community.
Kade’s family will be homeless in two weeks.
Felix has called his father’s home rental company, asking to speak with corporate. He has told them, repeatedly, that as Alastor Henry’s son, he has a say in the cooperation’s practices. He wants to erase those debts, let people back into their homes.
All he’s been met with are associates reciting scripts. I’m afraid that the changes have been implemented. No, the tenants will be held to their contracts. No, we can’t change that.
He twists the knob of his father’s study door, flinging it open.
At his polished desk, the mayor of Meadowfall glances up from his monthly planner, mildly curious. Felix slaps the newspapers down in front of him, his chest burning.
“You’re evicting them,” he snarls. How can his father do this? How is he even related to this man? “You’re charging them for things they don’t even owe. And you paid off the lawyers so no one will fight for them.”
Alastor Henry straightens his shoulders, leaning into his high-backed seat. His cool gaze sweeps over Felix. “Yes.”
I can’t believe you’re my father. “You can’t do that.” Felix jabs his finger at the papers. “You’re the mayor. You can’t just screw your people over!”
His father tilts his head, gray eyes calm. “I don’t have time for tantrums, Felix. The wealthy will give Meadowfall’s economy a boost.”
“I didn’t agree to this,” Felix snaps. “Those were my drawings you used to sucker the new tenants in.”
Alastor’s gaze turns flinty. “You were aware what marketing images are for. This should have occurred to you before you handed them over. Or had you forgotten that while you were cavorting with that... what’s his name?”
It still hurts, surprisingly. Felix wishes he could wring his father’s neck, wishes he could hurt his father just as he has hurt him. But he’s never been able to. Father’s always said he’s helpless, and Felix hates it. “Kade,” he says, his eyes stinging. “His name is Kade Brentwood. We’ve been bonded fifteen years. You knew that.”
“Ah.” His father looks back down at his organizer, a fountain pen perched in his fingers. “You should already know—the decision is irrevocable.”
“At least make an exception for the Brentwoods’ home. They’re my family!”
“And I’m not?” The mayor narrows his eyes. “You’re an embarrassment to the Henry line, and to me, Felix. Taylor has found success for himself. What about you? What can you do, other than caper with some forgettable boy?”
Felix flinches, shame dulling his fury. He and Kade live in a little cottage by themselves, saving up, and that’s fine. They’re happy. Kade is more than anything he can ask for.
But Felix is still a failure to his father, to everyone, and he has failed Kade and his family, now. The Brentwoods will be
