Darius smacked Grayson’s shoulder as he walked past.
My mate studied me, his shadows thickening around my shoulders and easing my overwhelm a bit more. “I like your blanket cape.”
“Thanks. It missed me.”
His lips curved up a tiny bit. “How are you?”
“Better, now.” I slipped off the bed, leaving my cape behind.
Grayson met me beside the mattress and took my hand. The sudden relief that accompanied his touch was staggering.
"Thank you."
"I don't want you in pain, Love. Ask next time."
"I'll think about it."
He tugged me closer and lowered his lips to my forehead, kissing me lightly before we made our way out to join everyone else.
Callum and Kat had arrived while we were in my room. Everyone was already sipping the enchanted beer Grayson had brought with him.
Liv pointed at Grayson. "Dare says you have lust beer that you only sell to mated pairs who sign a consent form."
"We do."
She held her hand out. "We can officially welcome you to the family after you share it."
Grayson lifted an eyebrow. "You think drinking lust at girls' night is a good idea?"
Liv said, "Absolutely," at the same time Niall said, "We'll take it home."
She shot her mate a look.
He met it with one of his own.
I felt Grayson's amusement through the bond. "I didn't bring any, but if you both sign the forms at one of the breweries, I can tell someone to send it home with you."
Liv sighed and accepted it, dragging Niall toward the couch with her.
"We'll take one too," Kat said quickly, flashing Callum a devious look.
His lips curved slightly. "Make it a few."
Grayson chuckled. "I can add you to the list."
"Don't worry about me. Sad, single unmated fucker over here. I'll take the cheer beer," Darius said, clinking his open bottle against one of the unopened ones still sitting in the box.
"Cheerbeer?" I asked.
"It cheers you up," Grayson explained. "The lamias make a few varieties, but the chill beer and the cheer beer are the most popular. The effects work through magic instead of alcohol, sothere's not really a negative side to them. Other than possible addiction, which is part of the reason we only sell them at the breweries. We track who's drinking what, too."
My eyebrows lifted. That was significantly more complex than I'd realized, but it did seem like a good call.
The rest of us followed Liv and Niall into the living room, and we found Niall rubbing Liv's feet while she was sprawled across the couch, drinking one of the chill beers.
"You look tired," I told Liv. She rarely looked tired, which was why I noticed it.
Grayson pulled me onto his lap, and I snuggled in just a little closer.
