“Your wings.”
He seemed to consider it for a moment, then got to his feet. She thought he was going to leave, but he merely took a few steps forward. Then right before her eyes, two enormous wings emerged from his shoulder blades, dissolving the lines on his back. There was a rush of air, a rustle of sound as they spanned open. They arched over his head, extended from one wall to the other, each one likely a good twelve feet from shoulder to tip.
They were absolutely beautiful, one black, one white, the feathers fluttering as he moved.
For possibly the first time since she met him, Penelope was speechless, completely and totally enamored.
Chapter Seventeen
Thursday, August 1, 2019
They managed to pass a few days settling into a routine. When he wasn’t spending time with Penelope, getting to know her, exploring the mansion, taking advantage of the numerous amenities it provided, Obsidian was working with thefiestreigh, trying to locate the remainingamsouelots. Which was where he found himself, making circles around the occupied sofas, glancing at computer screens and feeling somewhat useless.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. A second later, everyone else’s were doing the same.
“We’ve got incoming,” Mordecai announced, drawing Obsidian’s attentionto his computer screen.
“Who?”
“Well, I … uh…” Mordecai squinted at the screen in front of him as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “I’m pretty sure that’s Reidar.”
Reidar? Obsidian wasn’t expecting Reidar back yet. The male had informed him he was staying with Penelope’s friend to keep an eye on her. Granted, they’d gotten word that Sirius had joined up with Perfidious and Seraphina, but no one had confirmed that as of yet. So why was Reidar back here already?
“He’s pulling into the garage now.” Mordecai looked up. “And boss, it looks like his charge is riding shotgun.”
He brought the human with him?
Son of a bitch.
With half a dozen eyes on him, Obsidian snatched his sunglasses off the table, strolled out of the sunroom, and made a beeline for the garage. He made it as far as the main hallway when he heard footsteps coming toward him and the soft cadence of a female voice.
He turned the corner, coming face-to-face with hisladeare, who was clearly surprised by the welcoming committee.
“Hey,” Reidar said softly, taking an odd position in front of the female, as though protecting her from Obsidian. “This is Winnie. Winnie, meet Obsidian.”
Obsidian peered at the female and offered a nod of acknowledgment.
“Would you excuse us for a moment?” Obsidian prompted, then motioned Reidar into the front hall.
“I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” he instructed the female.
The instant they were out of the human’s view, Obsidian spun around and faced the male.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Obsidian ground out, attempting to keep his voice low.
“I know I should’ve reached out,” Reidar said quickly, voice just as low, “but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“To bring a human here. Ahuman, Reidar. You understand what the rules are, right? We’re not to have contact with them unless absolutely necessary.”
Reidar’s back straightened and his blue eyes seemed to shimmer from an unexplained light. Unlike him and his brothers, thefiestreigh’seyes didn’t glow, although they could when a male was highly emotional.
“And don’t tell me you were concerned for her safety,” Obsidian continued when Reidar didn’t speak. “I know Sirius is with Perfidious. The female’s no longer in danger.”
“You’re right.” Reidar gave a clipped nod. “However, bringing her here seemed more appropriate.”
“As opposed to…?”
“Me leaving thefiestreigh.”
