“Fine”, Damon mutters, then storms out. His wife, realising hewill leave her behind, hurries after him, closely followed by the Angel. Lily takes a long breath beside me, her body sagging against me slightly.
“I love you, you're safe here,” I whisper to her, something I have to do in the dark of night when no one but us knows there are monsters in the shadows of her dreams. She reaches up, softly kissing me, then turns to Alma.
“I need a Jenson-sized hot chocolate with the works, please,” she smiles at Alma, which makes us all chuckle, especially when a few hands shoot up wanting oneas well.
DECLAN
“I’m not asking for now.” I sigh. I can feel her pulling away, but I am happy with friendship until she is ready.
“Can I have your number so we can be friends first? My baby sister has taught me women don’t always need protecting, so I won’t get in the way of your job; she would kick my ass if I tried.” I release the breath I didn’t realise I was holding as she takes my phone,
“Can you give the squidget my number, too, please?” I blink, then realise she means Ember, who slinks up next to Victoria.
“I have to warn you, Vicki. If you deem him worthy, I need to get some payback on Big Brother, so I apologise now.” I freeze and look at my sister wide-eyed.
“Payback how?” Victoria asks with an intrigued look on her face, holding my phone back out to me.
“Well, brother dearest smashed into the room while I was sealing a bond with one of my nightmares.” I feel my cheeks heat.
“Evan should spar with him to defend your honour, just like my big brother did with my nightmare mate, too.” I swallow loudly at her hinting that I should fight a demon warrior; I never want to see the evil grin aimed at me on my sister's face again.
Victoria is cackling and snorting, which is so cute. One last snort is heard as the whole place goes deathly silent and looks at Lily. Ember whispers something, and the scary demon trio backs her. Let's hope she doesn’t go offering my ass for a beat down tonight.
EMBER
I summon them as a shock factor, knowing that none of the guests, except Vicki, are aware of our relationship; the three Elders quickly leave.
“Thanks, guys” I turn, not expecting the sight behind me, Ishi is, of course, Suited and booted and looking perfectly pressed, Evan is in ripped jeans and an Aqua t-shirt, stating he’s a Barbie Girl he does have a few blood smears here and there, then there’s Angel, he’s in Boho trousers with doll heads all over with XXs for eyes and an open Hawaiian shirt, and Smurfette toe socks. He also looks like he took a swim in a vat of blood; he’s currently licking a machete clean of blood with a Cheshire cat smile on his face.
“Fuck’s sake”, Vicki scoffs behind them, making them spin to face her, which turns her into a deer in the headlights.
“Dicky, we’ve missed you.” Angel squeals like a three-year-old girl and tries to pull her into a hug, which has her trying to use Declan as a shield.
“Shishter, why ere?” Evan whispers, moving around Dec to her side.
“The Elders were called in about a spat between two packs. We were closer to this one, but will go to the other as well.” Vicki states,
“I’m not hugging you when you're covered in worm blood, hello, bro.”
She says to the trio, kissing Evan's cheek and hugging Ishi. Angel pouts, which increases when he holds his arms wide to me, and I shake my head.
Daniel, the hellhound Elder, bounds over, asking Angel about the worm while Vicki and I update Ishi and Evan.
Angel and Daniel head home to chop up the Worm meat and freeze it for eating later. Ishi and Evan stay for an hour, and after I drop in that Declan is Vic's mate, and they give the appropriate threats, Dec is an amazing shade of greenish white.
Ren and I head off to join Trick for snuggles, butI do hear Dec mutter to Bas.
“Try to find a mate that isn’t besties with our evil baby sister”, I chuckle and wink at them both.
CHAPTER EIGHT
JENSON
I slept on and off. My twin and brilliant mate were there to soothe, reassure and, in Quinny's case, hug and kiss me back to sleep.
Lily is looking into their relationship with Mrs Sinclair; she thinks that at least both are aware, as there was too much recognition in their gaze. It's 5 am, and I don’t have it in me to try to sleep again. I slip out and head to the shower, washing away the sweat and bad memories.
A small hand runs up my spine, and then a forehead is pressed to my back. I’m not as tall as my brother, but Quinny still doesn’t reach my shoulder blades. I feel a press of lips to my back and sigh, turning so I press my back to the tile. Quinny is gorgeous normally, but naked in my shower, all her strength on show. She’s breathtaking. She kisses her bite mark over my heart, then kisses down my body.
