As much as I want to crush her against me, I don’t fight him when Cole steals her away. He’s struggled more than any of us with abandonment issues, and I know he’s got to be about five seconds from shifting right here and now.
We climb into the truck, Ares so careful about following every speed limit and sign that it would be comical in a different scenario. It’s not until we’re miles away and pulling into wild territory before Rin asks a very important question.
“Umm, where’s Ian?”
Twenty-One
Rin
“Jesus, where does he put it all?” Cole asks, staring at Ian with rapt fascination.
“Excuse you,” Ian’s muffled voice attempts around a mouthful of food. “But that took way more energy than I’m used to using. Least you can do is feed me.”
The floor of the truck is littered with paper bags and food wrappers at his feet, but he’s looking about back to normal. “Better enjoy it while you can, because that was the last of my cash. Until money gets transferred into my account, I’m officially broke.”
Ian turns his wide, grey eyes on me. “Then rob a gas station or something if you’re expecting me to try to fix a kid too. I swear, you four are some of the worst criminals I’ve ever met.”
Osiris snorts. “Oh, I’m sure you’re just running the streets with the worst of the worst, right? First name basis with all sorts of degenerates.”
Ian flips him off as he finishes his burger. “No names; keeps me safe.” He leans forward to meet my eye over Ozzy’s lap. “Seriously, it’s like, rule number one if you’re going to do something illegal. How the hell you managed to talk your way out of being arrested is mind boggling.”
I chuckle, enjoying the way Osiris toys with my hair absentmindedly. “What can I say? An innocent face is really the only thing I have going for me. At least it’s good for something out here.”
Ian gives me a knowing look before popping a fry into his mouth and wiggling the fingers on one hand. “I know what you mean. Apparently these magic fingers are the only thing I’m good for; I doubt a single person back home could tell you a personal fact about me. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re interested in. When you’re a mage, the only thing anyone cares about is how powerful you are. It’s a constant competition to get to the top and I doubt anyone would even know what to do with themselves if and when they got there. They want the title for bragging rights, not to actually do anything with it.” He sits back in his seat, taking another bite. “All this power, and for what? Not like anyone’s using it to make things better.”
There’s a heavy silence as we follow the winding path towards Sarah’s house, each of us feeling the weight of his words in our own way. The humans want to keep everyone beneath them, the mages want to prove they’re the most evolved, and the shifters just want to be left alone. Imagine what we could accomplish if we quit fighting amongst ourselves for once.
Osiris helps me out of the truck, gripping my hips and lifting me easily as I settle my palms on his shoulders with a surprised squeak. “It’s really not that huge of a jump down, you know.”
He doesn’t remove his hands, his touch practically burning through my clothes. “I know.” He leans his forehead down to rest against mine, but doesn’t try to kiss me, just taunts me with his proximity. “But you took such good care of me when we met, I’d like to return the favor. Humor me?”
Cole steps in behind me, sliding his hands down my stomach slowly before cupping between my legs, his knuckles brushing against Osiris.
“Something wrong with your dick that you find the need to play with mine?” Osiris asks smoothly, not sounding upset, just annoyed at the interruption.
Cole nips at the side of my throat and smiles. “I take my role as chastity belt seriously. Be gone, you heathen, for she does not want your cock.”
I burst out laughing, even more so as Ares bats them away and throws an arm over my shoulder to guide me towards the house. “Hell, if they were left in charge, nothing would ever get done.”
Smirking, I turn my head to kiss his arm. “I know, right? Endless orgasms; the horror.”
He snorts. “There’s enough time for both. If it’s taking that long to get you off, they’re doing something wrong.”
Zora pulls open the front door, already scolding us. “You know the children aren’t deaf, right?” But her eyes are lit up with tentative hope despite her chastising words. “Osiris,” she breathes with relief, meeting us halfway and capturing him in a crushing embrace.
“Motherfucker!” I glance back to see Ian eating a facefull of dirt, kicking off his shoes in a huff that we forgot to untie. “For fucks’ sake; one rule!” he gripes, throwing his arms up and fighting with his shoelaces and bruised ego. “Now what’s to keep you from murdering me?”
Cole rolls his eyes. “Quit being so damn dramatic for five seconds, why don’t ‘ya? You fix the kid, you’ll have the gratitude of everyone in the area. No one is going to let us kill the mage that pulled off a miracle.”
“Wizard Jesus,” I cough, mocking him.
He narrows his eyes at me, but the dynamic changed the second he agreed to try and help Osiris. Even if he can’t do anything for Sarah, I’ll make sure he gets home safe. It was a Hail Mary in the first place and I have nothing to go on but a hunch that this is even what’s wrong with her, so I can’t fault him if he fails.
All anyone can do is try, and it’s not like he owes us anything. Still, he agreed to give it a shot and that’s all that I can ask.
Freya appears, eyeing Ian warily, but talking to Ares. “What if he makes it worse? She’s been having more good days lately…she might be finally beating this. We should wait.”
Zora wraps her arms around Freya, pulling her close. “I’m scared, too.”
