“People are crazy,” Thomas muses, sitting on the couch next to me. Jac and I just got back, and after I showered to get the remaining kerosene off me, I changed into PJs and came downstairs to hang out with the guys.
“Are you sure you can trust her?” Hasan asks, sitting in the chair next to me.
“Yes. I really do think she’s sorry. And wanting a family…it’s something I can relate to. And I understand it even more after seeing how batshit crazy her aunt and uncle are. She never felt like she belonged anywhere, and while I know there are far worse problems, that feeling gets heavy.”
“Pity can infringe on judgment.”
“I know,” I agree, looking at Hasan. “So can desperation. And if she gives me the slightest bad feeling, I’m putting a truth spell on her.”
“Maybe you should do that now. Make sure her intentions are what she says they are.”
“Ace knows what she’s doing.” Jacques comes into the room. He’s shirtless with his wings again, and has a few bandages over the worst burns on his arms. He assured me again and again that he’d heal in his sleep, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
“That’s debatable.” I give him a wry smile. “But thanks.” We talked on the way home, and I finally opened up for the first time about how I’ve never had friends. I was afraid to let anyone in. I didn’t want to care about someone and have them leave my life, whether it be intentional or not.
I wanted friendship. I wanted love. And it wasn’t until the guys came into my life that I stopped running from it.
“I do kinda wish you could have seen their faces when Jac burst into that cellar.”
Thomas laughs. “I can imagine. Fucking nutters, if you ask me.”
“Oh, totally.” I shake my head, just a little curious what’s going to happen to them once they’re released from jail and await trial. Will the others in their community shun them? Support them? The official arrest was for two counts of kidnapping as well as assaulting an officer. With Gemma being in such poor health when I finally got to her, they won’t get off easy.
I take a big drink of my wine, welcoming the buzzed feeling tonight. We ordered Chinese takeout and it should be arriving any minute now.
“How would you guys feel if Gemma stayed here a few days?” I ask, looking at each of their faces. “Just until she’s better.”
“If you’re okay with it, we are,” Gilbert tells me. “She knows what we are already, right?”
“Yes, but that’s all she knows. No one else needs to know exactly what happened.”
Hasan lets out a huff and gets up, going to the large windows. Honestly, I’m still a little torn. Do I feel bad for Gemma? Yes. Is she really sorry? Yes. Do I trust her…I think so.
I want to for the same reasons I wanted to be her friend before. I wish Mom were here now. She’d know what to do and would give me an unbiased opinion. I could really use one right now. Hasan doesn’t trust anyone. Tom and Gil will agree with pretty much anything I do, and Jacques…his affection for me affects his judgment. I know it does and I’m positive he’ll admit it too if I were to ask.
I don’t want to be stupid. But I don’t want to toss Gemma to the wolves—so to speak. The poor woman has been through a lot. She knows about magic and has seen Jacques in all of his winged glory. We were both orphaned at a young age and know the struggles of what it was like to grow up without a family.
Draining the rest of my wine, I reach up and take Gil’s hand, giving him a little tug. Taking the hint, he hops over the back of the couch and sits next to me. He wraps his arms around me, and I snuggle up next to him.
Jacques takes a seat in the armchair nearest the fireplace, not fitting in too well because of his wings. Rolling his eyes at himself, he stands and pulls the charm from his jeans pocket and slips it over his neck. With a smile, he settles back into the chair.
“So we’re doing this now?” Thomas asks, raising his brows.
“Doing what?” Jacques shoots back, putting his feet up on the ottoman.
I laugh and shake my head. “I love you guys either way, you know. Do what you want.”
“Grab the charms, brother,” Gilbert tells Thomas. He shoots Gil a look and then gets off the couch, returning a minute later with the remaining three charms. Gil slips his over his head and his wings magically disappear. He readjusts us on the couch, able to hold me closer now that the wings aren’t in the way. Thomas puts his on and joins us, moving in close so I’m sandwiched in between.
Hasan took the charm from Tom but hasn’t put it on. He hasn’t said anything, and I don’t think he ever will, but I think helikesbeing a gargoyle. Other than the whole being forced to sleep during the day part, of course. Thomas told me how Hasan was revered for his skills as a warrior. I can tell he was built for battle, physically as well as mentally.
“You have to go back to work soon, don’t you?” Gil asks, flattening his hand over my stomach. His fingers are going to start inching down any second now.
“I was told to take at least a week off, though I technically have more vacation time.” I tip my head up to look into his beautiful sky-blue eyes. “I used to feel anxiety over having free time, but now I don’t want to go back. I’m really debating taking the next week off.”
“I don’t understand,” Jacques says. “What is vacation time?”
“When you work at a company or organization, you usually get allotted so many days of vacation. If you don’t take them, generally, you’ll just lose them if you can’t roll them over,” I explain. “And in some places, overtime is frowned upon, and not taking your vacation days can make it look like you weren’t allowed to take vacation days.”
