Noah’s cheeks tint as he demands, “These are people actively trying to kill her; how is it none of your concern?”
Tilting my head to the side, I kiss her neck. “You claim this place to be safe, correct? Then she’s in no danger. I have no need to seek out fights. If one appears, I’ll handle it then.”
“Hey now,” Ian objects, “what about us?”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t be so weak as to get yourself killed. And if you do-“ I shrug “- more Rel for me. Not sure what point you’re trying to make here.”
Hawk sticks out his bottom lip in a dramatic pout and rests his cheek on his fist, facing us. “I thought we were all friends now? The power of Esmerelda’s vagina united us into one determined, driving force.”
I bite my tongue until I draw blood rather than laugh, though it doesn’t stop Ian from snickering. “He's right though. Rel shouldn't walk right up to the people that want to shoot her in the face, and it's not like all three of us should go and leave her alone in case something unexpected happens. I have to be there, and honestly, I'm not totally convinced that Rhey wouldn't let a vampire eat me. If shit goes south, I can hitch a ride on Hawks back and majestically ride off into the sunset with people's dying screams as theme music.”
Ethan simply looks at his son and shakes his head. “I don’t even know where to start with any of this. But I do think you’re the best choice because of your history.”
All three of us turn to face the wolf as Rel asks, “What history?”
Nervously, he scratches the back of his neck. “I’ve taken point on several nest exterminations in the past. It’s the main reason I insisted we keep reaching out to Malcolm, even though he shot us down several times. Being up close and personal,” he trails off with a sigh. “I don’t know, but it just feels like we’re missing something. I’ve taken down four nests, and each time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was wrong. When they die-“ he rakes a hand through his hair “- there’s a sort of…clarity in their eyes. They look almost human again, if only for a few seconds.”
I can feel the wolf’s unease as if it were my own, along with the way he shuts down when Charlotte releases a suffering sigh. “This again? I know you want to save everyone, Hawk, but it’s just not always possible. Those sympathies are going to wind up getting you killed. Hesitate to tear their throats out, and they’ll jump on that opening. Don’t do that to yourself or your mate because you’re trying to wish an idea into creation.”
“And how many vampires have you killed?” Rel demands, indignant on the wolf’s behalf. At the woman’s purse of her lips, my mate simply snorts. “That’s what I thought. So really, you wouldn’t know. I’d think if you trust in Hawk enough to send him to snuff out nests, you’d trust his reports on what’s happening when he does.”
“Love, it's fine,” Hawk attempts before he’s cut off by Charlotte.
“You’re clearly biased,” she counters, and I intentionally release my hold on my mate, hoping she flies across the table to assert her place.
Yet she doesn’t need to even move to drive that fact home. “And you’re clearly blind. I appreciate the fact that you’re letting us stay here, but let me make something incredibly clear. You don’t get to lord your ‘kindness’ over me. If it comes with strings attached, it isn’t actually kindness; it’s an investment. I will gladly walk out of here, sleep in a frozen ditch, and take my chances with those mages.
“You were already watching them before I ever became a factor, and using my mates to slaughter your enemies is mutually beneficial. For now.” She slides to her feet, fingers splayed as she leans on the table. “But continue to disrespect my mate, and we’re going to have a problem. I’ve already pissed off some powerful people; I really don’t mind doing it again. You say you want to create a world where no one looks down on anyone else?”
Turning her back as if she doesn’t even consider the woman a threat, she starts walking towards the door, the other two rising alongside me to follow her lead while she tosses out, “If you actually want people to buy what you’re trying to sell, then maybe you should start by giving them an actual reason to respect the words that come out of your mouth.”
* * *
“He just runsaround in a red suit and kills people while making sarcastic comments? Why?”
“Because it wouldn’t be much of a movie if he solved problems with hugs.” Esmerelda squirms into a more comfortable position beside me as we recline against the headboard.
“But if he can heal that quickly, why not simply shift and tear people apart that way?”
“Not a shifter, babe. Just a movie; all special effects.” She pops another piece of popcorn in her mouth.
The mercenary on the screen starts shouting before breaking his foot on the metal man. “And the big chrome cock gobbler wants to turn him into a hero?”
Sputtering, Rel sits up abruptly as she starts choking on her popcorn. She takes the bottle of water from me, quickly draining half and gasping out a laugh. “That’s not his actual name. Fuck, remind me to watch old movies with you more often; they are ten times more entertaining.”
Unable to help myself, as the movie continues to play, I lightly run my fingertips over the massive bruise on her shoulder, tracing my mark. Even after it’s healed, that bite will remain for all to see, along with the slightly smaller one on her neck that Hawk left.
Mine, but also…ours. The thought doesn’t set me off the same way that I was struggling with in the conference room. I’ve never been part of a pack, so I can’t be completely sure that the telepathic link binding us together hasn’t affected my outlook. But honestly? I think it’s because I canfeelhow much the wolf loves her, the depth of his devotion possibly even rivaling mine. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that he’d lay down his life for her, would sacrifice everything to try and make her happy. I wanted to find a male worthy of standing beside my mate, and I did.
If only he wasn’t so fucking annoying.
“If you’re trying to distract me, you’re going to have to work a little harder than that,” she quips, leaning into my touch.
Her nerves bleed into mine and I scowl before shoving them away. Even if the mage is rather inept, he’s smart enough to trip someone as he runs away to buy himself some time. And the wolf is arguably competent. But still, despite my protests, I picture my mate’s face if they were to be reckless enough to get themselves killed.
Not because I care, I just don’t want Rel to be upset.
Taking the bowl from her hands, I reach over her to set it on the end table. Hovering above her, my eyes flick between the marks on her skin to her lips before I carefully lean down to kiss her. As soon as I start to pull away, she fists the front of my shirt, drawing me back. The small sigh of contentment she breathes against my lips has my cock jerking already, the woman quickly becoming my addiction.
