Lore scoffs as she brings the first spoonful up to her mouth, and the soup spills from her spoon. “Look what you made me do.” Her shirt has a wet stain over her chest. I worry for a second that it might have burned her, but she seems fine when she goes back for another taste.
“I can clean you up. That’s an even better idea.” Modeus leans up on his elbows and eyes Lore’s chest. Egan shoves him back to the bed with a palm to his forehead. “Fine, I’ll wait until she’s done.”
EPILOGUE
Lore
It feelsgood to have the wind whipping through my hair. I’ve spent the last few weeks trapped in the house with three overbearing mates. At least Egan dropped the rule of chastity after a few days. Modeus healed much faster once we started having sex, and I had all the attention I could handle.
When I see the first sign warning me to turn back or face certain death, I slow my bike. The entrance to Brass’ place is hidden well if you don’t know what to look for, and I need to be mindful of any new traps. The djinn is a menace, and his warning should be heeded.
Using my feet, I duck walk my bike down his slick drive. The heavy shade of the trees ensures the road is damp all the time. Once the gate comes into view, I kick down my stand and hope the mud doesn’t swallow the thin metal before I can get back.
“Brass,” I holler as I scale the metal fence, avoiding the spikes.
“What the hell are you doing?” Frances scuttles over, and his beady eyestalks swivel as if to see if anyone else is coming.
“I came to see how he is.” My feet land on the ground hard, and an echo of pain radiates through my stomach. My hand moves to cover the ache, but I force myself to act like I’m wiping dirt from my shirt instead. All I need is someone telling the guys I’m still sore.
“He’s alive,” Frances deadpans like he wishes the founder was dead, but we both know that’s the furthest thing from the truth. “Out back,” he adds, and I follow him around the shack. I have no idea why he lives in this decrepit old place, but then we round the house and I see the tall grass swaying in the light breeze before the water comes into view, and it makes a little more sense.
“How’d you get paroled?” Brass narrows his eyes on me.
“Good behavior.” It’s not too far from the truth. I’m not the only one who can be bribed with sex.
I slowly lower myself into the chair, and Brass watches me with his shrewd gaze. “How are you?” I ask before he can ask me.
“Full of more sprockets.” He runs his hand over his distended stomach, and I remember what he looked like in the bed when I found him. It’s a wonder he survived. “And you? Don’t bullshit me either, kid.”
It’s funny he calls me kid. I sure don’t feel young. “Sore but getting better.”
Brass nods his head and looks out toward the swamp. I follow his gaze in time to see Frances wade through the mud and slip into the murky water.
“I wanted to say thank you. If you didn’t warn us about the witches, I wouldn’t have called Melva and had her create the circle.” At the time, I thought it was apropos to trap and kill anyone involved the way they killed Harlow, but without it, things could have been a lot worse. I think back to all the witches Sabastian let into the territory without our knowledge the night of the trials and what might have happened if their plan to overthrow my club had succeeded.
Brass’ lips curve down in a frown. “If I wouldn’t have been caught with my pants down, she would have already been dead.” I don’t take his words literally. I know he was passed out drunk when the wolf brought his mate to Reaper’s and they killed him.
We still don’t know what spell, if any, was used, but my suspicions are on Mezra, the halfling obsessed with Egan. I don’t know if I can chalk up her history with Egan to coincidence or if there was some sort of divine intervention involved, similar to the way all three of my mates found me right when I needed them most.
I already spoke to the other presidents and warned them that the half demon, half witch probably isn’t the only one of her kind with unusual powers. It’s clear the witches are meddling in things they shouldn’t be, but that’s a problem for another day.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing okay,” I tell Brass instead of trying to convince him what happened wasn’t his fault. That would take years to get through the old codger’s head.
“I’m really happy you’re okay too, kid.” His purple eyes meet mine for a long second, and then he gazes back out over the water.
* * *
Lore
When I stopmy bike in front of my garage, I tap the little button on my keyring. The new door rolls to the side, revealing Modeus and Cyrus’ rides parked inside.
Egan leans against the doorframe with one foot crossed casually over the other, but I’m not buying it. “Have a relaxing day without me?”
He doesn’t try to answer, which is far better than a lie.
“What did you do? Watch TV, take a nap…follow me to the swamp?” I narrow my eyes.
Egan slips away from the door and flees into the house. He knows he’s been caught.
