you stash your extra key, and you know, our guest wanted a drink.”
“And it’s rude to keep a guest waiting,” Athaliah purred, batting his eyelashes sweetly as he grinned
hungrily at Lorenzo.
Melting instantly, Lorenzo guffawed awkwardly. He’d obviously never had someone as handsome as
Athaliah show him such attention.
Snod took the shot of liquor immediately, growling at the awful burn. He was definitely going to need
at least twenty more of these to stomach the sight of Lorenzo and Athaliah flirting.
His brother was a free man now, yes, free to make his own decisions and love without restraint just
as Snod could. But Snod still saw the sweet sixteen-year-old boy he had sworn to protect, and it was
too easy to imagine snapping Lorenzo’s fingers.
Frankie blinked over to Snod’s side, slinking his arms around his waist. He seemed to sense his
discomfort as always, nuzzling against him to keep him calm. Snod leaned into the gentle touch,
kissing Frankie’s hair and unable to resist a blissful smile.
“Holy fuck,” Athaliah gushed, his mismatched eyes damp and definitely far ahead of Snod in how
much he’d had to drink so far. “You look so happy, Obie.”
Snod couldn’t help but blush, grinning shyly at Frankie, who was gazing lovingly right back at him.
Trapped in those brilliant green eyes, he felt a sense of completion he had never understood until
now. He tilted his head, replying sincerely, “Because for the first time... I really and truly am.”
Chapter Sixteen
As much as Snod loathed to admit it, Athaliah and Lorenzo had a lot in common. They were about the
same age, and Athaliah’s only references for pop culture were prior to when he had been brought
home to the Order.
Kidnapped, he had corrected sternly.
Snod fussed at that, but let the two of them continue their heated discussion about robot men who
turned into cars and who would win in a fight. He had no idea what they were talking about, but he
had never seen Athaliah smile this much.
Lorenzo and Athaliah returned to the kitchen to take more shots, Snod politely declining to join them.
He was already tipsy, and he was content to leave his blood alcohol level right where it was.
“Today’s been quite a day,” Frankie said, snuggling against Snod on the couch. “Almost gave you a
heart attack, could have blown myself up...”
