After cleaning myself for the second time, we wait for Zeke and everyone to change into something more comfortable. They all opt for nightclothes or comfy workout clothes like myself. Once we’re ready, we decide it’s best to go the long way around to the library because we don’t want to take a chance of disturbing Tempest by walking by her room.
We’re guests, and we don’t want to become a pain in the ass for Lynx’s parents since they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts.
As we head back to the library room for our post-dinner education, I spot Lynx down the other hallway at an open doorway and break off from the group.
‘You okay?’I ask, walking up to him.
‘Yeah, just watching mom put Tempest to bed,’he confesses. I peer around his shoulder and watch as his mother tucks the little shifter into bed and grabs a book of nursery rhymes off a small shelf.
‘My mom used to read to me from that book,’Lynx confesses as I run my hand up his stiff back. I squeeze his shoulder a few times before continuing down his back, and I feel his muscles release beneath my fingers.
A wave of guilt hits me as I think of how young Lynx was when he came to me. He missed out on so much of his childhood with his parents. Instead, he spent his childhood with me and my own mother. I know I might regret asking, but I have to know.
‘Do you ever regret it?’
Lynx fully turns to face me with his face pinched.‘Regret what?’
My jaw clinches as my eyes shift to look at his mother and sister. ‘Your childhood and leaving so young?’
His hands gently cup my face, bringing it back to catch his smile.
‘Not a chance.’He kisses my forehead before putting our heads together and looking intently into my eyes.‘Finding you, my mate, as early as I did was the greatest honor anyone could ask for, Rez. Some shifters never do. So, don’teverquestion if I regret anything. I could never regret you.’He pulls back, and his eyes dart to the side, squinting before giving me a smirk.‘Actually, the only thing I regret is not losing my V-card sooner.’
Ugh. I playfully smack him on the arm but hold in my laughter as I grab him and lead him back to the library room.
‘You’re horrible,’I comment, and his laugh is the only reply that I receive.
We're the last ones from our group to the room, and everyone seems to be waiting for us. Lennox is in a worn brown la-z-boy, drinking a steamy drink next to the fireplace. JP and Zeke sit in the loveseat with Reaper in their lap, soaking up some cuddles, while Knox sprawls out on the ground. There’s a small pile ofpillows on the floor that Chester and Moni have taken over. Levi gives me a smile while he scoots over a little bit and pats the area between him and Knots on the sofa. Ryker throws him a frown from his other side but slides over to give me room as I sit between my Door Knight and mage.
“Really? In front of my own parents?” Lynx lets out a scoff.
“Sorry, Lynx, but you snooze, you lose,” Levi says, smiling to himself. I’m taken aback a little that he’s even showing this fun and laidback side of himself, let alone in front of everyone.Maybe I’m getting through to him.
Lynx rolls his eyes and plops down on the ground in front of me, leaning against my legs, but he turns just enough to look at Levi.
“Pfft. Aren’t you missing a leash?”
“I couldn’t find yours.”
“Dayum!! Levi has bite,” JP calls out.
“Who’s this Levi, and what have you done with my brother?” Zeke says as everyone joins in laughing.
I catch a slight blush on Levi’s cheeks before he clears his throat, signaling his discomfort. I grab his hand, knowing he doesn’t do well with ribbing for long, and give it a squeeze before addressing Lennox.
“So, Lennox. You were going to tell us about the Trail of Worth?” I prompt, hoping to get this conversation going.
He quickly hides his smile at our antics. “Ah, yes. I don’t know where that saying even came from, but?—”
“In this book,” I blurt out, remembering and pulling out the small book I have shoved into the pocket of the crop top hoodie I’m wearing now. I’m surprised I still have it, to be honest, but it was in my pocket before my shower, so I switched it over. Finding it in Lilith’s library stash and having Lucifer give it to us in such a hurry, it never occurred to me if we’d still need it, but it isn’t mine, so I didn’t want to leave it lying around. It wassupposed to get us to the Road of Worth, but that’s all we had to go with. Do we still need it?
“Let me see that,” Lennox asks, reaching for it. We pass the book between the group of us until it reaches him, and he opens it immediately, skimming through until he finds what he’s looking for. “Ah, yes. Actually, this was translated wrong,” he announces, looking up and giving us a broad smile as he passes it back. He leans back and laces his fingers together, laying them on his flat stomach. “It was called the Road of Worth or Road for the Worthy. The road is filled with different trials along the way. It is said that each level you descend will test those that come before it because not everyone who seeks the path has honorable intentions.”
“What do you mean?” Moni speaks up as her bark turns a dark gray. “Isn’t it just the way to open the portals back up to Hell?” she asks, holding her tail against her. Chester pulls her into his lap and starts playing with her hair, and her color slowly fades back to her natural green.
“For those that are looking to do so, yes. But the road can lead to other things as well,” Lennox says with a ghost of a smile.
“My word, Lennox,” Sierra says, smacking her husband on the arm and making him wince as she comes in and leans on the arm of his chair. “This is our son and his friends. Not just the run-of-the-mill old demon looking to run it for riches.” Sierra rolls her eyes before she makes eye contact with me and comes over. Levi, being the gentleman he is, gives up his seat for her and conjures a seat for himself on the other side of Moni and Chester.
