“I wish you’d laugh more,” I say. I’m unashamed in taking my fill of his naked chest.
“I’ll take that into consideration.” Talon tips his head to the door. “We should probably head back, otherwise they’ll think we’re having relations.”
“I’m not against having relations.”
“Neither am I, but not while your apartment is full of people.”
I can’t help snorting and open the door only to have Sparkle, Beau, and Lark tumble in.
“I told them not to do it,” Gabe says from the couch.
“We weren’t doing anything,” I say.
“We know,” Sparkle says. His tail whips behind him and he grins. “Y’all are so sappy and cute. I can’t wait to see howthis pans out.” He wiggles a manicured fingers between me and Talon.
“I love it when my friends find love,” Beau says.
Talon and I go stiff.
“I don’t know that you can call it love,” I say. “We’re going to get to know each other, right?” I look to Talon, who nods.
“Yeah, way too early to call this love.”
“Well, I’m calling it,” Beau says. “This is love and you’re going to be so happy you’ll forget there was ever any weirdness.”
Talon goes still again.
“Not that I’m calling you weird,” Beau says. He holds his hands up. “You’re pretty awesome and you make the best pastries I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot.” He pats his tummy. “Your treats and human treats don’t compare.”
“I don’t like weird,” Talon says. “It makes me think of when I was bullied right out of the Fae lands.”
I rub his shoulder. “I don’t?—”
He lifts a hand. “I’m going to the Fae lands. You deserve to have your sleep again. I hate seeing you so exhausted. It makes your sparkle dull and you’re so sparkly most of the time.”
“Hey! I’m the one named Sparkle here.”
“I know, but you can’t deny that Wren has a spark. Maybe it’s the Fae in him.”
Lark looks down. “Do I have a Fae spark?”
Sparkle pokes Lark’s shoulder. “A different kind of spark from Wren, but yeah there’s something about you two, there is sparkle.”
“We’ll our wings glow,” Lark says and demonstrates.
“Oh! Can we see your’s?” Beau askes me.
“Certainly.” I turn and spread my wings before willing them to glow.
“So pretty,” Beau says and runs a finger over the ridges. “I wish my wings glowed. Can you imagine a bat coming at youwith glowing wings.” He laughs before shifting into his bat form. He’s a micro bat, and it’s hard to see him when he starts flying around.
“You’re adorable, Beau, but do not shit all over my apartment,” I say.
He shifts back and cackles as he cups his groin. “I’d never do that. That’s just gross and I don’t want to clean it all up.”
We all get situated on the floor and finish our movie. Half of us are asleep before it finishes, but I stare at the empty screen. If I close my eyes, I’m sure Lord Yelling will be there behind my eyelids, and I don’t want that.
Unfortunately, I can’t fight my exhaustion.
