“Fuck’s sake, he’ll probably have Gabriel and Dathal with him.”
I tried again. “Probably, but that’s not what—”
Axel glared at me, then gestured to his cock. “Make it go away.”
I laughed. “How?”
“I don’t know, but I am not greeting them with this thing.” His gaze darted towards the door at the sound of gravel crunching under tyres. “Maybe you could scare me. Growl or something.”
I snarled at him, letting my fangs slide out, and his eyes darkened, teeth sinking into his bottom lip.
“Yeah, no, that’s not working.” He closed his eyes, face screwed up in a grimace at whatever thoughts were running through his head. “Right, that’s done it. Thank fuck.”
I was still stood there wondering what the hell he could’ve been thinking about when Max, and whoever was with him, knocked on the door. Axel headed into the hall to answer it before I reacted.
“Axel,wait…” But he was already opening the door.
Max’s laughter sounded before Axel had even got out a hello.
“See, I fuckingtoldyou,” Max said, his voice jubilant and a touch smug. “You owe me a tenner, Dathal.”
Dathal muttered something in fae, which I obviously didn’t understand, but I recognised Axel’s pissed-off tone when he answered him. They hissed at each other for another few seconds and then…
“Talis,” Axel yelled, and I groaned. “Why is Dathal telling me I apparently smell like, and I quote, ‘I’ve used yourcomeas shower gel’?”
“I have no idea,” I called back.
“Of course you don’t.”
Max walked into the kitchen first, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Thanks for that.” I bared my fangs at him, but he just laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “Seriously though, I’m so fucking happy for the pair of you.”
“Thanks.”
Leaning in and lowering his voice, he said, “Dathal told me about the high court and how they want him back there.” Something flashed in his eyes. “Fuck them, T. Do whatever you have to do to keep him here. I know it’s early days to consider a bond or a joining pact, but you already know deep inside whether or not it’s right for the two of you. If it is, then don’t waste a second making it impossible for anyone to take him away.” He gave my shoulder another pat and stepped back, muttering something that I didn’t fully catch, but it sounded a lot like “I wish I hadn’t.”
I caught his hand. “Max—”
He gave me a quick shake of his head and stepped back, huge smile back in place as Axel walked in, Dathal and Gabriel behind him.
I didn’t want to let it go. I’d hardly ever seen Max be anything other than his usually happy and laid-back self. But I’d heard the regret in his voice, had sensed the spike of longing and despair as he’d muttered words obviously said without thinking. But now wasn’t the time.
Later, though.
Later I’d have a word with Rys, because they might be in different packs, but they were still close, and Rys would kill me if I knew his cousin was hurting and didn’t tell him.
“You fucker,” Axel said, walking over to me, and I turned my focus on him, wondering just how angry he was. He was smiling though, so he couldn’t be too mad. “You could’ve told me I smelt like we’ve done nothing but have sex for the past week.”
We’d done exactly that.
“I tried,” I offered, and he rolled his eyes.
“M-hmm. Only when you heard Max’s car.” Realisation dawned and his smile turned sly. “You like it.”
I shrugged, unapologetic. “Of course I do.”
“Fucking shifters,” Axel muttered, but he leant up and gave me a quick kiss before facing the others. “Not that it isn’t a pleasure to see you all, but I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence that you’re here when Lady S is due through the gateway at some point today.”
