But I was wrong. It was nothing more than a physical release that he deeply regretted. Because it was with me.
Eventually, I was able to stuff my emotions about what happened so far down that I became numb.
By the time I went down to hang out with the rest of the guys, Azrael was nowhere to be seen. I was relieved, honestly. I don’t think I can handle facing him for a while after what happened.
The rest of the day passed pretty casually with us just hanging out, talking, and decompressing after the craziness of the past few days.
Each of the guys pulled me aside individually to ask me if I was okay. It was cute how they all did the same thing while having no idea the others were doing it too.
The last thing I wanted was to talk about Azrael regretting us making each other come, so I just lied and said I was tired and overwhelmed. Which I guess wasn’t that much of a lie. I am exhausted and overwhelmed with everything I’ve learned and everything that’s happened.
I still haven’t told Charlie or Coop about the whole thing with Andrew. I don’t even know if I should, because I don’t want to implicate them in my crime.
I haven’t had the courage to ask the guys what they did with Andrew’s body or whether my apartment still looks like a crime scene. I can’t hide out here forever, though, so I’m eventually going to have to face it.
Just not today.
Sighing to myself, I push the covers off and get out of bed. Lying here moping isn’t going to accomplish anything or make me feel better. But spending time with the guys just might.
Quickly brushing my teeth and throwing on clothes, I wander out of the room and down the stairs in search of the guys. It was weird that I woke up alone. One of them has been with me at all times for the past few days.
I’ve gotten used to their constant companionship, probably a little too quickly. I feel weirdly lonely as I look around the living and eating areas and don’t find anyone.
The faint sound of voices drifts from somewhere to my right, so I start walking in that direction. My footfalls are silent on the polished walnut floors as I walk for what feels like forever. I windthrough hallway after hallway and pass by too many doors to count.
While I knew their house was big from the outside, I’ve only really been in the main living spaces. The kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedrooms are all clustered fairly close together, making the space feel cozy and intimate.
In reality, though, the house is huge.
When I turn down a corridor that dead-ends at a white door, I finally find the source of the noise.
“You need to fucking remove the other illusion, Az. This is ridiculous. She deserves to know.” Hal’s raised voice drifts through the crack in the door.
My eyebrows raise at what he said, and I creep closer, wanting to know more. I don’t know who they’re talking about, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s me. Whatever Hal thinks I should know, I definitely want to.
When I’m only a foot or two from the door, I stop, not wanting to alert any of them to my presence.
“No. I told you when we first found her that it would be a bad idea to get involved. She’s done nothing to convince me any differently,” Azrael rumbles, his voice hard and unyielding.
Even though he’s not speaking to me, I still flinch at how harsh his tone is. Whoever he’s talking about, he sounds like he absolutely despises her.
“But it’s different now,” Remy almost whines. “She’s a dragon. There’s no reason to hide this from her.”
Well, now I’m almost positive they’re discussing me. I don’t know how many other women they’ve discovered can turn into dragons lately, so I’m fairly sure whatever Azrael is hiding involves me.
“There’s every reason. She is a complication that none of us need right now. We have bigger problems to focus on than some girl who is nothing but trouble.”
Even though I don’t know for sure if he’s talking about me, his words still feel like an arrow straight through my already fragile heart.
All my life, I heard about how I’ll never be worth the trouble I cause, how I’m nothing but trouble, and how life would be so much easier without me. For some reason, it hurts exponentially more coming from Azrael than it does from my parents.
“Our mate will never be a fucking ‘complication,’ Az,” Colt growls. It sounds like he slams his hands onto a desk or table. “Get your goddamn head out of your ass before you lose her forever. Lark deserves to know that she’s our mate. You can decide not to complete the bond with her, but you don’t get to rob the rest of us of that opportunity.”
It feels like all the breath is knocked out of my lungs at Colt’s revelation.
Mate?
They’re my mates?
