“You need to be careful.”
“I will be.”
“You don’t have combat magic.”
I eyed him. He stared back at me, then turned, shoving his hand into his hair. “I saw you dead, Mere.”
I shivered. I still hadn’t mentally dealt with that. “I’ll have Evie and Kyla with me. I’ll hang back, and they’ll do all the dirty work when we track her down.”
He turned. “Promise?”
“I promise.”
He started to nod and then glowered again. “Fuck it, I’m coming with you.”
I raised one eyebrow. “And what happens if you lose track of Daimonion for good?”
A muscle twitched in his cheek, and I leaned back against the wall once more, crossing my arms.
“That won’t happen.”
“No. It won’t. Because I’m not going to be responsible for you missing out on your vengeance because you were babysitting me.”
He scowled at that, and I turned and opened the door. “Nothing has changed, Vas. Respect my boundaries.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. Then I was in his arms, his mouth on mine. I let out an “mmph,” but my mind was suddenly blank as his tongue stroked and teased. He gripped my hips, pulling me even closer, and I felt him hard against me. A pulse of heat burned in my belly, and I let out a tiny groan.
The sound seemed to spur him on, because he tightened his hands, the wall at my back and his huge body holding me in place for his exploration.
He cupped my cheek in one of his big palms, and he slowly pulled away, his eyes darker than I’d ever seen them.
“You better not die on me, Mere. Because I’ll hunt Hades himself until he gives you back.”
He turned and strolled out of the stock room.
* * *
Meredith
As soon as everyone left for the day, Kyla, Vas, Virtus, and Evie followed me up to my apartment.
We sat in my small living room, and I surveyed the laptop. Ilayda had used her name and a series of numbers as her password.
“Can you find anything?” Evie asked.
I gave her a look. “Give me a second.”
She sent me an easy grin. Kyla paced back and forth in front of the window, while Vas lounged on the sofa next to me, looking as relaxed as if he were lying on the beach. Virtus had sprawled out on the floor next to my coffee table.
I could barely look at Vas after our kiss. Because if he hadn’t pulled away, I likely would have let him do all kinds of things to me in my stock room. And I had a feeling he knew it.
I took a deep breath, turning my attention back to my bar. It was difficult to believe it was no longer a mess. We’d need to remain closed for a few days while we replaced the furniture and alcohol, but thanks to my friends and all the other people who’d showed up, we wouldn’t be closed for weeks or months.
My eyes filled, and Evie gave me an impatient look. “Still falling to pieces because people love you and your bar enough to help clean it up?”
I poked my tongue out at her. Real mature.
Next to me, Vas wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “I think it’s cute,” he said, pressing a kiss to my temple. He’d been more affectionate since our kiss in the stock room, as if he’d come to some decision. Whatever decision it was, I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it.
