Arrow Inferno

***

Ryan took just one look at the trio and knew that he'd been the topic of discussion. He saw the pity in the eyes of both Phillip and Stan and felt the blood rush to his face. Had Jeremy told the guys about how he'd begged for sex? Had he told them how he'd turned him down? That had happened about five days earlier and he couldn't say that his relationship with Jeremy had been the best. Jeremy avoided him by making sure they were never alone during the day. At night, Jeremy either went to bed early before him or waited till after Ryan slept before he came to bed. They however always woke up curled around each other. But that wasn't enough.

Ryan couldn't help but regret taking some days off to be with his mate. Seeing as he was being avoided by his mate, he obviously shouldn't have bothered. He'd been walking around Jeremy on eggshells because he didn't want to offend the man or give him any stress after what he'd been through at the Fort. And being horny all the fucking time sure wasn't helping. Sometimes he felt like screaming out his frustration.

Nothing Ryan had felt in the past few days, however, compared to what he was feeling right then, looking at the expression on Phillip and Stan's faces. He felt exposed. He felt as though he was being ridiculed which was strange because he knew that Phillip and Stan would never mock him. He felt sorry for himself. Ryan's throat felt tight. He wanted to hide. He wanted to kneel over and die. He wanted to go somewhere that no one would see him. It was suddenly difficult to breathe. Ryan looked around with wild eyes. His eyes stung. Finally, he focused on Paige.

"I need to..." He panted harshly.

"Ryan, what is wrong?" Paige gasped as Ryan turned back towards the door.

"I need some air." He breathed. "I'll be..."

"Ryan?" Jeremy shot out of his seat and rushed to the door but Ryan disappeared right before their eyes.

"What the fuck is going on here, Jeremy?" Paige growled. She looked pissed. "What did you do to him?" "I've done nothing," Jeremy muttered gruffly.

"Why the fuck do I find that hard to believe?" Her voice raised. "He doesn't look like you've done nothing to me." Paige jabbed a thumb toward the door. "I've never seen him like this. Not even when your arse was rotting in that place. He looks broken. And he's been like that since you came back. It's like something died inside him. What the fuck did you do?" She screamed like a lioness whose cub had been taken.

"Can't stand the sight of him," Stan responded simply as if he hadn't just blurted out a most ridiculous reason. And he totally ignored Jeremy's glare.

"What?" Paige looked confused.

"I need to find him," Jeremy said, reaching for the doorknob.

"Wait, wait..." Paige slammed a hand on Jeremy's. "What does he mean you can't stand the sight of him?"

"Cause another man kissed him." Stan again quipped.

"Will you shut the fuck up?" Phillip growled.

"You're punishing him because of that?" Paige whispered, shocked. "Really? That's balderdash. I'm so disappointed in you Jeremy." And she looked it too. "I'm trying Pa..."

"Try harder asshole." She hissed. "That man has done nothing but love you with everything he is since you left here. Despite all that you've put him through, he's accepted you as his mate and allowed himself to fall in love with you. He's selflessly done what he didn't even know he was capable of, to save your people. That battle should have been fought by you and not him. You should be kissing his feet, treating him like a king, and giving him anything he asks for. But you rather choose to treat him this badly? Was it a sin to miss you? Was it an offense to want to dream about his mate? Was it a crime to want to feel his mate's lips on his in a dream? Tell me, are you always conscious of what really goes on when you dream? When did you become so self-righteous? Can you even..."

"I get it, Paige," Jeremy murmured gruffly. "I get it."

"He didn't know he was kissing another person you idiot so you better crouch your tiger, hide your dragon and pull your head out of your fucking arse," Paige growled. "Fix this." With that, she yanked the door open and then stormed out of the suite.

Jeremy turned his head to look at his two friends who he knew were of the same mind as Paige. There was guilt written all over his face but that wasn't what drew gasps from his friends. It was the look of utter panic on Jeremy's face that struck Phillip and Stan.

"Jeremy?" Phillip started towards his friend.

"I can't feel him," Jeremy said in a shaky voice. "How do I find him?"