While she enjoyed her friends’ and Guardian brothers’ company, she sometimes longed for that one person to share her life with.
The door opened, and Týr stepped inside, bringing in the cold.
“Hey.” He smiled, pulling off his beanie and rumpling his wheat-blond hair.
Their cells beeped simultaneously. A groan escaped him. “Not even a moment to breathe or see my mate,” he grumbled, fishing out his cell from his coat pocket.
Ely didn’t bother retrieving hers. It could only be their formidable leader wanting a meeting.Vae, all she wanted was a hot shower to wash away this night and a certain darn demon.
“Yup, a meet-up.”
Sighing, Ely dematerialized to the Arc’s study at the other end of the vast castle. She reformed in the corridor and entered the compact study with its L-shaped desk and walled bookshelves stealing up more space.
Michael wasn’t there yet.
Ely settled against the desk. Týr stopped at the closed French doors and stretched, his spine cracking.
Blaéz walked in, looking like he’d stepped out of a photoshoot, even after a long night patrolling. “Well done, Ely,” he said, shrugging off his trench coat.
She frowned. For taking on a horde on her own? But then he cut Týr a smirk, and the warrior snorted.Right, the Corvette.Instantly, her dark mood perked.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I now have a super-expensive car that cost me only a hundred bucks. By the way, I’m changing the color to…” She contemplated one that would drive Týr crazy. “Purple.”
“Why, why would you do something so sacrilegious?” His eyebrows tipped together in displeasure. “The black’s perfect.”
She cast him a perplexed look, fighting a grin. “But I like purple. It’s spunky. Girly. Now…” She tapped a finger on her lips. “I must find a place to get the color changed.”
“Shadow’s friend has a workshop downtown,” Blaéz added helpfully. “I’m sure she’d give you more info.”
“Celt, I’m gonna kick your ass,” Týr growled.
Blaéz chuckled as Dagan, Aethan, and Nik strolled in, taking up the rest of the minuscule space and making the study appear even smaller.
She hastily sat on one of the two chairs opposite the desk, keeping out of the way as the guys settled in.
Man, she wished Michael would consider converting one of the seldom used,biggerliving rooms into a study. But since the guys failed there, she buttoned her lips. More, she suspected, Michael remained here just to torture them.
Dagan leaned against the wall opposite Týr and folded his arms over his chest, eyebrows raised. “You look…unwell.”
Her smile reared up again. “It could be because I won his vintage Corvette playing one-on-one basketball.”
“By default…” Týr muttered, eyes narrowing.
“Ohhh, no, no!” She huffed. “I know that look. I won’t be betting or playing against you in any game for the coming year.”
“Norse, stop hounding her,” Nik called out from where he took up space in the back, the serpent’s head tattoo on his neck staring straight at her. From what she’d heard, he could also take on its smokey form.
Týr smirked. “Didn’t say a word.” He retrieved his pack of M&Ms from his coat pocket, selected a few blue candies, and popped them into his mouth.
“Didn’t have to.” Nik removed the tie from his ponytail, the sun-streaked length sliding to his shoulders. Her thoughts slipped to another male with hair like midnight and eyes like flames, and who rattled her brain.
Play with her?Her mouth thinned in irritation.
“You okay?” Blaéz asked, taking the chair next to her.
Ely froze. Crap.Did he somehow pick up something about her and the frustrating demon? With his precognition, anything was possible.
“She’s better than okay.” Aethan snorted, hauling everyone’s attention off her, and she nearly sank to the floor in relief. “She took out a horde of blood demons tonight.”
