"Not at all. How was training?" I ask, bright and casual.
Somehow, it got around legacy circles that Zak was a prized competitor in the Entity's arena. A lot of legacies with their eyes set on joining the new, extremely tough-to-get-into RLHNA law enforcement training program started reaching out, requesting that he teach them.
Now, he trains people in a gym across the street from Steph's bakery, where I've resumed working part-time. Whenever he's on a "lunch break," he's usually just in the bakery kitchen, trying to convince me to let him go down on me at work.
I've held strong so far, but he is one persistent half-demon.
Kaenon has been helping historians understand and interpret many aspects of the ancient fae. After Marwood was removed from power by the fae elders, Kaenon also started working with the fae at their facility. By studying him, they're learning a lot from the work of fae in the past, supplemented by the scrolls Athanis and Thalo left behind.
Asher has done a few odd mercenary jobs, which Ian sometimes helps with because it turns out he's one hell of a hacker. Asher also helped the RLHNA design and restructure its new law enforcement training program. Otherwise, my keeper and my thrall have both cut down on work.
Which I appreciate, because as it turns out, I really like just hanging out with my quintet.
And spending time in bed with them. Which we do alotof.
Zak's gray eyes narrow on me. "You're trying to change the topic."
"It's nothing. I'm good," I promise.
"Yeah? Let me feel what's going on, and I'll believe you."
Debating for a second, I decide it can't hurt, so I let my empathic ability flow as I wrap my arms around him. Immediately, he jolts, alarm crossing his handsome face.
"Holy shitballs, that hurts. What's going on? Who the fuck kicked you in the stomach?"
I fight a laugh. "I'm just cramping. I've tried not to share that with you guys every month."
He grimaces, touching his head. "Why does your head ache, too? And what the fuck is happening to your poor lower back? What kind of sick, twisted shit is this?"
"Welcome to the wonderful world of womanhood." I throw in jazz hands.
He huffs, leaving the bathroom to look for my phone in my room. Once he finds it, he grumbles, "Enough of this shit. We're calling your husband."
"Which one?" I laugh. "Kaenon is still out running, and Ian?—"
"You think I'm gonna call your vampire when you just started leaking his favorite snack?" he rolls his eyes. "No, this is a job for—what do you have him in here as, again? Buns of Steel? There he is."
The phone rings for a second before I hear Asher answer on the other end, sounding mildly concerned. "Is something wrong, Shorty? I can't feel you through the bond, so I was about to?—"
"Come home quick. Our wife is dying."
Then Zak just hangs up.
I stare at him, realizing I'm probably missing a freakout of epic proportions by not sensing Asher's emotions through the bond right now. "He might think you meant that literally."
"Good. The sooner he magics your cramps away, the better. And hey—I don't give a fuck if we need to feel a bit of pain, I like sensing you all the time. No more hiding feelings from us."
I try not to fidget with my dress before I sigh. "In that case, I should probably tell you that I've just been kind of…disappointed, lately."
Zak freezes before his expression morphs into something like panic. "Fucking hells. Damn it—okay, I'll find a way to fix it. I can work more, or less, or if you wanna brainstorm with the others, we can try?—"
"Wait, what are you talking about?" I ask, frowning.
"One of my trainees told me his honeymoon phase ended around the four-month mark. I told him to eat shit because that wasn't going to happen to us, but if it's happening to us?—"
I can't help it. I start laughing.
How can I help it when my half-demon is so off the mark?
