“No, it’s alright. I wanna know,” I insist. “Do you really think it could be my purpose? To guard a damn Gate to Hell?” Then I remember somethin’ else they said before. “Is this about that other woman you were tellin’ me about? What was her name?”
“Delta,” they both reply.
I get a little caught off guard at their quick response. Is it just me, or did they both answer that way too quickly? Are they...involved with thisDelta? I mean, they said they didn’t have mates, but that didn’t address all the foolin’ around that goes on in lifebeforeyou settle down, I guess.
I blink at my own train of thought and... Was that jealousy I was just feelin’ in the back of my throat? Well, ain’t that just absurd. I’ve known them for all of a day. Then again, I always did crush on the bad boys. I guess a couple of demons are me graduatin’ up to the next level, and there ain’t no doubt about it, I am crushin’ on themhard.
“Yes. Delta was called to the Gate just like we think you’ve been. She became a Guardian,” Alder tells me.
“Yep, it was really something. Such a fragile-looking thing. You remind me of her, actually,” Flint says, lookin’ at me with contemplation. “Both slight but feisty. You should’ve seen her go when it was crunch time. She helped us with our Gate once while they came to visit. It was a thing of beauty,” Flint explains, his eyes faraway and lost in the memory.
I might not be the best people-reader, but I’d bet my panties that I just heard longin’ in his voice. Irritation climbs up my stomach and lodges itself somewhere in my chest.
“Well, if this Delta is so perfect, why can’tshehelp you guard your Gate?” I ask, aimin’ for an innocent, inquisitive tone but landin’ square on testy instead.
I pause for a moment, judgin’ myself. I don’t know these two or this Delta girl. What do I care if Flint has a crush and they both keep comparin’ me to her? Yeah, we’re flirtin’, but maybe that’s just in their nature. And yeah, maybe it’s a little insultin’ and difficult not to feel like sloppy Hellgate seconds, but I have more important things to focus on. Like figurin’ out how to live my best demon life...and maybe huntin’ down a certain mystery demon named Delta and introducin’ her to my tribulations. Kiddin’. Kinda.
Alder looks over at me. “Are you alright? You seem agitated.”
My spine stiffens. “I’m not agitated, I’m just thirsty,” I reply tartly.
He watches me for a moment, and his mouth lifts into a knowin’ smile, and his eyes glint with amusement. “Delta stays withherGuardians at their Hellgate, Medley. They ran into a little trouble in Hell not too long ago, but apparently, it all got sorted, and they’ve developed quite the connection, if you catch my drift,” he tells me.
I frown as I take in what he’s tellin’ me.
“Yep, they’re all head over heels for each other. You can’t swing a cat without hitting the sexual tension around that quint,” Flint adds.
Quint?
“Wait. You mean she’s gettin’ down with…” I trail off, just in case I’m way off the mark.
“That’s correct. There were four Guardians already inducted to their Gate. Delta was the fifth,” Alder states, watchin’ me carefully, like he wants to gauge how I’ll take this information.
“So she’s...and they’re…” I swallow, not sure how to ask the next part or what I even might want the answer to be. “Is that typical? That a Gate’s Guardians all...you know…”Is my voice higher-pitched than usual?
“Fuck?” Alder asks, his features alight with heat and mirth.
I blush, which makes me feel stupid, and that only results in even more blushin’ on my end. I try to picture Flint and Alder hookin’ up with each other, but I can’t. I just don’t get the impression that they’re connected in that way.
Unfortunately, what I realize all too late is that it’s very easy to picturemein all kinds of positions withthem, and somethin’ about that has me feelin’ all Goldilocks-ish, because damn, that sexy porridge is just right.
Flint takes a deep inhale and sighs. “Damn. If that’s not my favorite smell in the whole world...” he observes longingly.
Alder chuckles deeply, and I breathe in too, tryin’ to scent what it is that has Flint behavin’ all dreamily. I smell swamp and freshly cut grass. Not the best smell, but not the worst either. I shrug, and my irrational jealousy deflates a little as we continue down the path, accompanied only by the sound of cicadas and a breeze in the trees.
“To answer your question, I don’t know that we can say what’s typical,” Alder tells me. “The Gate has never called females before to guard it. Delta is a first, and if you’re like her, then you’ll be an enigma too.”
“I think that Delta was drawn not only to the Hellgate but to her Guardians too,” Flint adds. “The fucking between them is a choice, though, Peaches. It’s not part of the job requirement unless you want it to be.”
I look over at him, expectin’ to see teasin’ flirtatiousness in his features, but instead, I find that he’s lookin’ at me intensely.
If I am thisenigma,are they hopin’ things between us progress like they did with Delta? Or are theyworriedthat’s where it might go? This is all so confusin’.
They’ve been subtly andnotso subtly checkin’ me out, flirtin’, and takin’ my measure, but maybe that’s not because they’re truly interested. Maybe they’re doin’ it because they think they might be stuck with me and they wanna see how this is gonna work. I very well could be readin’ all of this wrong and they’re simply tryin’ to gauge whether or not I’ll suffice with the two of them.
I look away from Flint, not sure what to think and too wrung out to figure it all out right now, but at least I’m gainin’ more information. That’s about the best I can do at this point. Listen and learn.
Up ahead, I see the dark shadows of a couple of buildings. One is on a hill across from us, and the other one seems to be the bar. Both are quiet and dark, not a soul in sight. My eyes focus on the unfamiliar buildin’. “What’s that up there?” I ask, changin’ the subject.
