CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
MARCUS
The urge torip Dumont's head from his shoulders was strong. The only thing that stopped me was Merry holding my hand.
And not clutching it in fear.
Just holding onto me because she seemed to want to. Our fingers were interlaced and she held onto me but her fingers weren't gripping hard.
This small human woman had the strength to distract me with a mere touch of her fingers against mine.
Merry nudged me with her elbow. "Are you listening to anything he's saying?" she murmured.
"Not really."
She rolled her eyes but kept her hand in mine. "Okay, I want everyone in the living room. I'll make a pot of coffee and we'll talk."
Macgrath crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Dumont. "I'm not sure he deserves coffee. More like a punch to the throat."
Merry released my hand then so she could mirror Macgrath's pose. "I'm telling you that you need to listen to what he has to say."
Macgrath ignored her until Ava turned toward him and smacked his arm. "Ewan," she growled.
"Ewan?" Merry asked.
Macgrath stared at her, a brow arching, and said, "Merriweather?"
"Ugh. Fine. Be a butthead," Merry said, throwing her hands in the air.
Ava gave Macgrath's leg a light kick. He groaned and relaxed his position. "Fine. Coffee for the vampire who trespassed on our territory and got through Ava's wards."
He left the kitchen.
Ava studied Dumont. "He does have a valid point. How did you get past my wards?" she asked.
"Magic," Dumont answered.
I growled and both Callum and I took a step toward him. He raised his hands in surrender.
"Sorry. I couldn't resist," he said. "I've always wanted to say that."
"Stop trying to be funny and go into the living room so you can explain things to them," Merry said as she moved over to the coffee maker. It was the type that did single cups or pots, depending on the settings you used. When Dumont didn't move, she glared at him. "Now."
To my shock, he picked up the water bottle sitting on the table in front of him and left. Apparently, he wasn't immune to Merry's glare either. Callum followed him into the living room. Ava gave me a pointed look that I had no idea how to decipher and went with them.
Merry set about making coffee. "Do you have a tray or anything to carry the cups and pot on?" she asked as she started the pot brewing.
I thought about it for a second and remembered that Ava had brought one over months ago. It was on the top shelf of the pantry, leaning against the wall.
"I'll get it."
I scrounged around, got the tray out, and carried it to the sink to wash the dust off. After I dried it, I put it on the counter next to Merry. Together, we got out the cups needed.
I watched her movements and realized that I could have lost her tonight. My hands wanted to shake, but I couldn't allow it. Not now.
Later, after everyone was gone and I was alone in my room, I would face it, deal with it, and put it away.
Once all the cups, sugar, creamer, spoons, and coffee pot were arranged on the tray, I carried it into the living room, much to Merry's amusement.
