He chuckled, hands coming up and grasping my hips to steady me, just a second before I crushed my mouth to his.
And that was all I got in.
One nip and suck of his lips, before he stilled abruptly and eased me back gently, then swung his head at the door, frowning in concentration.
I was gonna ask what on earth was happening when a massive rush of power answered my question. He must’ve picked up on it before me with his Basilisk senses.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“Ambrose and Ketheron.”
“What? Here? At our place? I’d only ever expect that if Win was here.”
“Indeed.”
“Why do you think they’re here?”
“Let’s see,” he said, then swept a wave of his citrine power at the door.
It must’ve connected with the ward outside and kind of… pulled from the interference of their arrival, them being so near it, because then their voices were gravitating toward us. It was a specialized version of anauditory enhancementspell.
“Don’t pass through uninvited, Ketheron.”
“I won’t break the ward. I promise, my gorgeous.”
“It’s not only that. We may not be granted access, and may have to see to our purpose for coming here while remaining outside the property’s protections.”
“No. Coming here seemed to implicitly imply that we would venture inside. I want to see tiny god’s home of love with his darlings.”
“I understand, but our power sets are unnerving to many and can even be disturbing to the equilibrium of others.”
“All three of them have been around your magic. That day at the dark sands beach when we were tracking Winter following his abduction, your power was radiating out in protective concealment over me, Sylas, and Remnant. These three were all able to withstand it.”
“Emotions were high then, adrenaline flooding them all. In a calm state, defenses are lowered. So we must approach carefully.”
“Even Vaxan felt my power when I allowed him to channel me. I was in him.”
“I wouldn’t refer to it that way.”
“It’s a fact of—oh, a double entendre?”
“Very much so.”
“Oops. There are so many to be aware of, Ambrose.”
“I know. I know, treasure. Not to worry. I am here with you. Now, let us send a signal—carefully—all right?”
“Yes, okay. I suppose even without our power being a factor, it’s not good form to barge into somebody else’s home and tour it without invitation.”
“Precisely. Would you like it if the situation was reversed and it was done to us and our new—ah, my apologies, of course you would. You are so very open and inviting. Aww, my sweet treasure.”
“My gorgeous.”
Vax and I exchanged a look, a mixture of amusement and being utterly fucking stunned.
There was a careful push at the ward and we both felt a roll of Ketheron’s magic, sweetly followed by a magically manufactured sound of a doorbell chiming pleasantly.
As I chuckled, Vax eased me off his lap and rose, then strode to the door.
