Stone slides a hand beneath my ankles, shifting me on Kodiak’s lap so that he can sling my legs across his own. With one hand, he rubs the arch of my socked foot, the other settling on my shin. That alone has alarm bells going off in my head. Stone isn’t what I’d exactly call ‘touchy feely.’ I doubt my declaration after our date would immediately change anything for someone that lived through centuries of courting decorum that left men jacking off to flashes of ankles. The tightening of his fingers signals more that he’s worried whatever Raiden’s about to say will send me running for the hills.
The smooth cadence of Raiden’s voice belies the severity of his words. “There were a vast number of dead lizards killed in various manners and left strewn across the property. No note or gift this time, and our security footage was remotely wiped, which should have been impossible.”
Aaaaand that’s why I should have held out on caving into the desire to kiss him. Kodiak is one more person that Malcolm can use against me, torture to manipulate me into submission. If I die, I may have taken Raiden and Stone out with me, but Kodi would’ve been safe. Now I’ve damned him to the same fate as the rest of us.
Kodi captures a lock of my hair, twirling it around a finger. “I see those thoughts swirling around your head, angel.Noneof this is your fault, and you aren’t to blame for a single thing that psycho does. He’s growing bolder because he’s panicking; that’s a good thing. It means that before you know it, he’s going to be pounding down our door and challenging us to a duel for your hand in marriage, and we can show you that you’re not just worth fighting for, you’re worth fighting for again and again. As many times as it takes for lesser men to accept that you’re ours, and thus, off limits.”
“Then why did you hide it from me?”
A shadowed look crosses Raiden’s features. “We never had any intention of keeping it a secret, only wanted to spare you the visual. It was... graphic, to put things mildly, and you already have enough nightmares.”
Stone adds, “While we refuse to hide the truth from you in a misguided attempt at protecting you from it, we can at least help soften the blow. You don’t have to see the carnage to know it was there.”
I sag against my living chair, soaking up Kodiak’s comfort. He tightens his hold, thumb stroking rhythmically over my side. For once, though, he doesn’t chime in with optimistic claims or some form of distraction. He simply reminds me that I’m not facing this alone anymore.
“Thank you,” I whisper, closing my eyes and sighing. “I’m still sorry you’re caught up in this, but you’re right. I’m in too deep to untangle myself from this mess on my own, so even though he shouldn’t be your problem either, I can’t keep going like I’ve been and appreciate the help. So, what do we do now? Keep going about our lives like he doesn’t matter and wait until the day he slips up?”
Raiden grabs the wine bottle and downs the rest in one pull. Setting it beside him, he scrubs a hand over his face, and I zero in on the purple bags under his eyes, the strain at the tight corners. How much effort he always puts into keeping cool, calm, and collected. “Is there anything else you might remember that could help us track Malcolm down? Ever see him use an ability or mention it? Maybe able to sketch a picture?
The corner of my eye twitches. “Sure, pass me a pencil and notebook?” He does so happily, and I doodle a stick figure with devil horns, passing it back. “Here ya go, I was just holding out on you all this time for shits and giggles.”
Rather than be annoyed, Raiden snorts, shaking his head in amusement.
Stone digs his thumb harder into the arch of my foot, and all of the remaining fight leaves my body. “Wait. After he took you, you went straight to his home, right?” Warily, I nod. “Walking or a car?”
Dangerous hope flutters in my chest. “Car. A black sedan; can’t help with the model, but we drove around... two hours, give or take?”
Kodi perks up, kissing my temple. “We can track down property records from your parents to help narrow down an area for a deeper dive.”
Raiden’s already on his feet. “And cross reference IRS records against any Malcolm’s working as electricians at the time to trim down the suspect pool.”
Despite the hopeful energy suddenly flooding the living room, I’m more uneasy than ever. “Just... don’t underestimate him, okay? Everyone that does winds up dead. Brute strength isn’t everything, or dragons would still rule the world.”
Chapter 27
Stone
