“What did those idiots do now?” he growls.
Wrapping my legs around his waist, I grip the counter. “Just filled me in that we aren’t actually mated so you moved another girl in to take my place.” His eyes widen with panic and I take mercy on him, kissing his throat. “Just giving you a hard time.Someonemight as well be getting one around here.”
He closes his eyes in relief and leans his forehead against mine. “Don’t fucking scare me like that.” Straightening up a moment later he adds, “Speaking of.”
Still wrapped around him, he slides me off the counter, one hand under my ass and taking me with him as he heads back to the bags he brought in. He sets me down on the table as he rummages through them until pulling out a small, paper bag.
“Soren came through. Apparently we just steep the dried leaves into a tea daily. He recommends starting with three glasses a day for a week so it can build up in your system, then drop to two a day after that.” For such a light bag, it suddenly feels incredibly heavy as I focus my attention on Kahl’s nervous features.
“Thank you for putting so much effort into this.”
Leaning in, he places a lingering kiss on my lips. “You make me sound like some benevolent martyr. This is one of those self-serving kindnesses, love,” he chuckles.
Kaiden and Kinsley start pulling plates down for dinner, and it might just be my imagination, but their movements seem less fluid than before, like they’re riddled with sudden nerves. We aren’t even sure this will work, but it makes the prospect of actually getting laid much more possible. Thrilling, but equally intimidating for someone who hasn’t had sex before; or three someones in this case.
Changing the subject before they get too keyed up, I circle us back to the more pressing issue at hand now that Kahl’s back. Filling him in on everything he missed, since he went to start putting out fires as soon as we arrived at Ezra’s, I get to watch his typically stoic face twist as he grows increasingly pissed off. I’m not even sure which part of the story has him more incensed; the fact that supposedly they’re going to kill a boy for being like me, that the humans are tapping into their phones, or that Faye wants me to leave Hadeon and them behind.
“Which asshole took your picture and who the hell was he sending it to?” is the first thing out of his mouth, hand slamming down to the table. My heart begins sprinting from the fury radiating off of him, though it’s certainly not from fear. The crack in his composure just sends a jolt of longing through me, making me pointedly aware of our position.
Kaiden lays plates on the table and I’m forced to peel myself off of Kahl to slide into my chair. He stabs into his food, just pushing it around on his plate. “Wouldn’t put it past Nate after the way he was digging into shit. Never liked that bastard in the first place. We should just kill him and chuck him in with the other bodies, get Cai to say he miscounted.”
I snort, taking a bite of food. As much as I’m used to inhaling my food quickly from years of desperation, the somber tone helps to slow my hand, giving me something to distract myself from the heavy conversation with.
“Not that I think anyone would buy it, but I’m with Kaid. But just for honesty’s sake, pretty sure the first day you guys conned me into leaving the house there were plenty of people with their phones out. Could be anyone.”
Kahl groans, tilting his head to the ceiling like all of the answers will be written on it for him. “Pretend the hypothetical boy doesn’t exist. What could this woman want your blood for?”
Kinsley strums his fingers on the edge of the table like drumsticks, not bothering with the pretense of eating and musing aloud. “Trade Saige for herself? Though she’s got to know if anyone made her that deal, they’d go back on it. Being upfront about wanting her blood is smart, makes her seem honest and us more likely to believe whatever else comes out of her mouth.”
“If someone were to use my blood, they could infect countless human women and then the population issue would be resolved and fully fledged dragons would run rampant again. Something like that could likely go for a pretty penny,” I admit, though the words make me feel nauseous.
Kaiden scrubs a hand down his face. “It doesn’t matter either way, it’s not worth the risk. I’m not about to just sit here on my ass while you throw yourself to the wolves, Saige. Whether this kid exists or not, either we all go, or none of us do. It’s that simple.”
There’s a squeak on the stairs before Faye’s face appears, teary eyed. “They’ll never let you in. Saige, maybe, but even that’s a long shot. I’m not sure I can pull off. They consider us just as dangerous to their safety, knowing it puts a bigger target on their backs. I might be able to con them into a story of giving her a reprieve for a day or two before she carries on, because they have a soft spot for women in trouble, even the dragon females, but I can’t even swear they’d go for it. But three adult males?” She shakes her head. “No way in hell.”
Kahl scrubs a tired hand over his face, using his foot to scoot out the chair in front of the place we set for her. “Fact of the matter is, as much as I know you don’t want to hear it, we can’t make a spur of the moment decision on something as risky as this. We’ll sleep on it, try to come up with a compromise, and give you an answer one way or another tomorrow. You’re free to head back now if you’re not willing to wait that long, but at least eat something first.”
She hesitantly lowers herself into her chair, nodding. “I get it, and I don’t blame you if you aren’t willing to help. I’m asking her to risk everything for someone she doesn’t even know and I can’t prove exists. I’ll leave tomorrow morning either way.”
