Saffron snorted, unable to hide her grin.“Probably true.Still think I deserve a sympathy pass, though.Two hundred years without sex?That should earn me some kind of loyalty discount.”
Isaac laughed, the sound rumbling against her back.“No discounts either.But you’ll never go without again.”
Nolan wagged his brows.“We’ll see to that.Frequently.Enthusiastically.”
The conversation turned more serious as Isaac asked, “That fire ...what really caused it, Saffie?Why were you trapped?With your powers and skills, you should have been able to shut it down before we even got there.”
Her mismatched eyes darkened.“Marcus.He was linked to others—five of them.I could tell from the number of aura signatures that were attached to the bastard.He was drawing a significant amount of power from others, like we do when we reunite as four.Each one of them was nearly as strong as him.I tried to stop them, but his power wasn’t his alone.He was tethered to the rest.I fought, but he sealed me inside.You found me before he could finish what he started.”
Isaac’s gut clenched.“Five others?So, you had to fight six of the crazy fuckers?”
She nodded.“Six men.Old power.Old vows.I don’t know who they are in this life, but I know they walk among us.And they want what Marcus wanted.”
Nolan swore under his breath.“And they’ll come for you.”
“They will, and I long for the day that they do,” she said fiercely.“They’ll regret it.For the remaining short time they would live.”
Nolan said in an obvious attempt to lighten the mood.“So ...our kitten.Always watching us.You know, you were quite the voyeur when you were living with us, kitten.”
Isaac grinned.“Bathroom doors meant nothing to you.”
Saffron smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder.“Well, excuse me for keeping an eye on my prospective mates.Quality control, gentlemen.”
Nolan nearly choked laughing.“Quality control?That’s what you call it when you sit on the counter while we shower?”
She sniffed, pretending to look regal.“Someone had to make sure you scrubbed all the important parts.Standards had to be maintained.”
Isaac wagged a finger at her.“I knew it!That judgmental stare wasn’t about abandonment issues—it was hygiene.”
Saffron snorted.“Oh, please.The way you both strutted around half-naked, it was like you wanted an audience.Don’t blame the cat.”
Nolan leaned in close, stage whispering.“Pretty sure the cat was blushing half the time.”
“Pretty sure the cat was taking mental pictures for, well, let me just say, personal use later on,” she shot back, making them both groan.
“Christ, you touched yourself thinking about us?”Isaac growled.
“Hell, yes,” Saffie said with a shrug.“What, you think I was licking my paws all night for fun?”
They burst out laughing harder this time, laughter tangled with kisses and playful touches until the mood steadied again, warmth wrapping around the three of them like a blanket.
Isaac propped himself on an elbow.“So, what happens now?Do we move into our apartment?It’s not much, and we will definitely need a bigger bed but—”
Saffron cut him off with a laugh.“Hell, no.You two are not dragging me into that shoebox you call an apartment.I already live here.I have the only other apartment on this floor.I have been having the bathroom renovated, which is why I have been over here, and up until recently, I was living as Willow’s cat over at her old place.Ursula and I have the whole floor, and the roof top terrace.My place, and, for that matter, my perfect bed is bigger, better, and has a view that would make you weep.I’ll show you later.”
Nolan grinned.“Works for me.Though, fair warning, I’m stealing the good side of the bed.”
“Over my dead body,” Isaac muttered, making Saffron snicker.
Isaac smiled, relief loosening the knot in his chest.“Ours, then.Finally.”
But her face softened, eyes shimmering.“You don’t know how hard it was.Watching you die.All of you.Again and again.I thought I’d break.”Her voice cracked, a tear slipping free.“Two hundred years of waiting ...it nearly killed me.”
Isaac gathered her against him, kissing her hair.“We’re sorry you carried that alone.”
Nolan brushed her cheek with his thumb.“Never again.You’ll never face another day without us.”
Their tenderness deepened into hunger, hands sliding over skin, kisses growing urgent.They worshipped her with slow reverence, every caress meant to reassure.Isaac kissed her deeply while Nolan stroked her body, whispering how much he loved her.The laughter of minutes before melted into sighs, gasps, and the heat of bodies moving together once more.
