“Not just any cloak,yourcloak,” Curio points out, as though that distinction makes all the difference.
In my head, I chastise myself for using the wrong name. He’s Skull, that’s how I have to see him and refer to him when we hunt. The last thing I want to do is leave the walls of this place and fuck up the anonymity they work so hard for.
“Was it made with thura or something?” I question as I assess what looks to be a simple sable wool cloak.
“I’m sure the seamstress that fashioned it did so with the highest affection for the coin she’d be making when done. Does that count?” Bones inquires with a cheeky smile.
I shake my head and stare down at the hood in Scorpius’s grip.
And here I thought they’d want a blood sacrifice or something.
My fangs threaten to drop again despite just managing to retract them a few seconds ago. I need to talk to Ri—shit!—Bones about why I’m craving a carotid all of a sudden, but it’ll have to wait until we get back.
“Alright,” I concede, reaching into the hood of the cloak and feeling for one of the slips of parchment that Scorpius dropped inside. “Is this really how you three chose your names?” I ask as I pinch a folded slip between my fingers and pull it out.
“Trust me, this beats the hours of deliberation and arguing that happenedbeforewe all agreed to leave it in fate’s…hood,” Skull assures me.
“Arguing?” I press as Scorpius plucks the parchment from me.
“Whowas going to be Scorpius was an issue that almost came to blows,” Skull whispers conspiratorially, and I laugh as I look over at Bones and then the clear winner of the name.
Fate chose well. Maybe it’s because I met them with these names initially, but they seem so fitting. I can’t imagine calling them by different designations or picture Bones being theScorpiusof the group.
A tiny tingle of excitement makes me hold my breath as Scorpius unfolds the name thatchoseme from the hood.
“Claw,” Scorpius announces, his eyebrow quirking up with contemplation.
“Claaaww,” Bones repeats as though he’s testing it out.
“Claw?” Skull questions, his onyx perusal moving down and then back up my body as though he’s looking for a way to make the name fit.
Bones snatches the parchment from Scorpius’s hands, confirming the name with his own eyes. “Claw,” he concurs, a little flat, his shoulder lifting in a half shrug. “Nope. That’s not it. The hood’s obviously rusty. Try again,” Bones suddenly declares, and Skull nods his agreement while Scorpius hastily offers me the hood again.
Thank fuck.
There is nothing intimidating or threatening aboutClaw. In fact, Bones made a meal of some that he plucked off a crustacean. They were delicious. However, I don’t want a name that’s more likely to spark hunger than fear.
I try to hide the relief I feel behind a small laugh, but it sounds stiff and awkward even to me. I reach inside the hood again. This time, I mix up the collection of slips before picking out another one. My heart picks up as I hand it to Scorpius, and he quickly unfolds it.
A smile flashes across his face, and I exhale some of the nerves fluttering around in my chest.
“Telson,” he reads off, his mouth wrapping around the name in a way that has me thinking about his tongue twining with mine. It makes me want to hear it fall from his lips while my mouth is wrapped around his cock.
“Telson?” I ask, not opposed but unsure of how it fits with their obvious theme.
“It’s what a scorpion’s stinger is called,” he explains, and goose bumps crawl up my arms.
“Telson,” I whisper reverently, and it feels…right.
“Tels,” Bones announces, already playfully shortening it.
“That’s the one,” Skull affirms, and just like that, another piece of thewewe’re now becoming clicks into place.
Auset is tucked away for the time being, and in her stead is Telson of the Order of Scorpions. Warmth floods my chest, and a heavy weight of purpose and belonging serves to anchor me. I never knew how much I wanted this, how much I needed it, but now that I have it, I’ll never let it go.
“Telson…” Scorpius addresses, the commanding tone pulling me from the internal acknowledgement that has my eyes starting to sting.
I blink away the sensation and focus on the task at hand.
