Atlas smiled more broadly, and he was staring at me.
Shit.
I sighed. “What is it?”
“Sebbie likes you,” he stated.
“Good. I like him, too,” I answered. “I’m not sure why you’re giving me that look, though.”
“Probably because you’re fucking slow as molasses,” Jude cut in. “You like him, he likes you, and all you two did was throw longing glances at each other through brunch. It’s like we’re in middle school and we’re going to have to start passing notes for you guys.”
“Like you can talk. It’s not like you’ve done anything about your sheriff,” I retorted.
“At least I get together with him,” Jude defended.
“Getting arrested does not count as ‘getting together with him,’” I stated.
“Hey! I haven’t been arrested… Yet,” Jude added, smiling wickedly.
We all groaned.
“You are not getting arrested,” Josh said, pointing a finger at Jude. Then he turned to me. “And it’s great that you and Sebbie like each other. He needs someone good in his life.”
“Should I put more detailed surveillance around his house?” Liam asked, not looking up from his computer.
Josh’s head swiveled around slowly to stare at him, and the look on his face was a little frightening.
“Liam, please tell me you haven’t installed cameras in Sebbie’s house,” Josh said slowly.
Even Liam picked up on his tone, because he looked up. “Of course not. I know about consent. The only surveillance I have is of the surrounding areas outside. You want him protected, don’t you?”
Josh didn’t seem to have anything to say to that, although he sighed. Then he looked at Atlas. “Why do you look like trouble?”
“The humans are plotting to get Sebbie and Corbin together,” he said gleefully.
We all groaned at that, even Josh. Toby, Q, and Aiden all plotting… Well, to be fair, Aiden was probably the voice of reason. Who knew what Toby and Q would come up with, though. Q would have Sebbie fire-bombing my house as a gesture of love, and Toby would tell him to get kidnapped—again—in order to have me rescue him in a heroic gesture of love. Liam’s hellcat and the paranormal suspense writer were not a good combo to be planning things. And it wasn’t like Dexter was going to be any help in reining them in. He’d probably suggest sending a severed finger as a token of love.
“This is gonna be fun,” Atlas said, and then was shucking his sweatpants, and Josh barely had time to yell, “We wear clothes!” before Atlas was back in his Fluffy form and heading out the door.
“Do you want me to… I don’t know, talk to them?” Josh asked, but even he looked dubious.
“Nah, I can handle the humans. You go do your work stuff. Thank you,” I told him. He smiled at me, and he and Wilder headed out the door next. Wilder put a hand on my shoulder before he went, and I knew it meant they’d be there if I needed them.
That left Jude and Liam, and I wasn’t in the mood for either of them at the moment. I didn’t need suggestions on how to woo my mate. He wasn’t like their humans. He was special, and I would figure out the best way to go about it.
I got up without a word and headed out the back door. Jude waved a hand, and Liam didn’t even look up. Sometimes they were annoying, but they knew me well, and they knew when Ineeded some quiet. The land was now firmly bonded to us, and I’d find a nice spot to meditate.
I walked out into the sunlight peeking between the branches in the forest, and Crow flew off to explore on her own. I eventually found a quiet, shadowed area by a huge old tree, moss coating the ground around it. It gave me a good feeling, so I settled down, leaned against the tree, and closed my eyes, waiting for the land to speak to me.
She almost always had something to say, and I was ready to listen.
I must have fallen asleep, because I was on a dock by a river. The sky was overcast, and the water was choppy. I heard Crow from somewhere—I knew it was her—and I looked around to find her. She flew in, appearing as if from nowhere, and landed on my shoulder. She preened my hair for a moment, and then she cawed in my ear, making me turn around.
There was a man in a black suit standing there. He was beautiful in an unearthly way, and he was staring out over the water. I felt no malevolence from him, but I did feel power. Endless power. I had the urge to kneel in his presence, but I didn’t. Hellhounds kneeled to no one, not anymore.
To my surprise, Crow flew over and landed on his shoulder.
“Ah, my old friend. It has been a very long time. I’m glad to see you’ve found such a good companion to serve,” the man said, gently caressing her feathers.
