Read At Year's End (The 12 Olympians) for Free Online Page B

figured you weren’t a vamp, though. Too tanned.”
    “And that’s the only reason I couldn’t be a vampire? Because I’m tan ned?” Jaxon chuckled.
    “Don’t laugh, I totally believe in all of that stuff.” Elijah stared down at his hands. “You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”
    “I would never make fun of you, Elijah.” Jaxon lifted Elijah’s chin and stared into his eyes. “Never.”
    The heat in the room seemed to go up and Jaxon could have sworn fire blazed in Elijah’s eyes. Jaxon moved over a tad. Well, now this was interesting.
    “Um, so, back to the show?” Elijah licked his lips and turned back to the TV. Damn, if wishes could come true, Jaxon would be naked on his bed screaming for —
    “Yep.”
    They watched the show for a good half hour before Jaxon turned to Elijah.
    “He seems kind of moody.”
    “As opposed to the psychopath brother?” Elijah chuckled.
    “Which one do you like more?”
    Elijah’s brows furrowed and his nose wrinkled in thought. “I don’t know. I can’t choose. There are traits to both brothers I find appealing. There’s the safe but sweet, and then there’s the brooding and dangerous — and that’s just the one brother,” Elijah snickered. “The other one puts up a front. Yes, he’s a ginormous asshole, but deep down, all he wants is to be loved.”
    “You find the brooding guy appealing?” Jaxon’s brow rose.
    “I think they both have reasons for who they are and how they behave. I just like a man with substance .”
    “I think you’d make a great shrink someday.”
    Elijah turned sideways and regarded Jaxon.
    “Let’s take you for instance. You had a wonderful family, until they were killed. Yes, I know about it,” Elijah put his hand up to stop Jaxon’s words. “I think in a lot of ways you blame yourself for not being able to do more. As you’ve gotten older, you didn’t want to care for anyone the way you did before. I bet you had girlfriends before your parents died. Didn’t you?”
    Jaxon nodded.
    “Boyfriends?”
    “One.”
    “See the thing is, you can’t go back and you can’t change it ; some things you have to let go or they will destroy you with anger and hate.”
    “Are you sure you’re only 17?” Jaxon narrowed his eyes.
    “If I said I was older, would you kiss me?” Elijah batted his long eyelashes.
    “I thought you had a boyfriend?”
    “I do?” Elijah tried to concentrate, but the room was starting to spin.
    Jaxon felt Elijah’s forehead ; he was a little warm. “Why don’t you rest, okay? I’ll get you something to drink.”
    Jaxon stood and went to the door. Looking over his shoulder, he made sure Elijah had gotten under the covers and was comfortable. Something very fucked up was going on, and Jaxon was going to find out exactly what it was. He made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Justice was leaning against the island counter as his mate, Skylar, popped popcorn.
    “How are the Salvatore brothers?” Skylar chuckled.
    “Elijah is disappointed I’m not a vamp.” Jaxon raised his brows.
    “Won’t he be so happy to know you’re a werewolf instead?” Skylar smiled wide.
    “Who’s a werewolf?”
    Jaxon sighed and looked over his shoulder. Stone was staring at them.
    “You know, the character on Elijah’s TV show,” Skylar blurted.
    “Oh,” Stone nodded. “I like the quiet one better.”
    “The brooding, Mr. Do-gooder?” Jaxon laughed.
    “I see you know him well.” Stone grinned. His eyes widened and he looked from Justice to Jaxon. “Oh my God, I just put that together!”
    Skylar handed the popped corn to Stone. “Here, can you give this to the guys?”
    “Sure.” Stone nodded.
    He walked back into the living room, looking over his shoulder at the brothers. Skylar turned to Justice with a grin.
    “ I wonder how long it will take him to put all of it together?”
    “Said the son of Poseidon.” Jaxon chuckled and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “Where are the