Gage frowns, probably wishing he could wrap me up in his arms. "I don't know. Maybe...ten?"
My mouth falls open. "What? Why?"
"We don't know what's going on," Kane says. "I didn't think there would be more than five, but it's obvious this is a rough cycle. That's why I don't want to put you in a cage. There're just too many."
He comes to brush his lips against mine, holding me to him as he does his best to free my mind from its burden.
"This atmosphere is draining," Dice gripes as he comes in, swatting as if he's trying to keep the air away from him. "You guys have to quit being so fucking miserable. It's stealing all my energy. It took all my extra to heal last night."
No one even acknowledges the unhelpful incubus. I still don't even know why he needed to heal. Something tells me I was involved, which is a little scary.
He curses when no one gives a damn about his needs, and he returns to his room, leaving us alone with our solemn silence and coffee. Then, suddenly, an old Spice Girls song my mother used to love starts playing—loudly.
Dice leaps back in, singing with the lyrics, while wearing his leather pants and no shirt. He points to Kane and runs his hand over Gage's chest.
"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. So, tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I want a—"
"Dice!" we all scold in unison, gripping our ears to offer them reprieve from the obnoxious music.
He scowls at us when his attempt to lighten the mood fails, and he storms out, forcing all of us to stifle a grin.
"He's so annoying," Gage groans.
"Glad we agree on something," Kane mumbles, moving to sit down behind the bar as the music stops.
I go to stand beside him as he flips through numerous scroll images on an iPad. He's reading about me—my kind.
"Studying up?" I ask, trying not to sound as pathetic as I feel.
"Of course I am. I want to prove to everyone you can control it."
My eyes water as I tilt my head. He's so completely on my side that he thinks I could never be the monster so many of those others were. Without thinking, my lips press against his, startling him a little, but he draws me closer and onto his lap as he returns the spontaneous affection.
Gage vaporizes from the room as I thank my night stalker with actions rather than words. Kane smiles against my lips, enjoying the little show I didn't mean to put on. A small tear drips out as it all becomes overwhelming, and his smile falls as he pulls back to wipe away the watery traitor.
Before he can say anything, music starts blaring again, and we both roll our eyes as Dice comes around singing, "Killing me softly with his song."
"Dice!" we both yell.
He mutters something under his breath, possibly cursing us, but the music is too loud to hear whatever snarky remark he has. Kane shakes his head as Dice retreats back to his room once again.
"Do we have to keep the incubus?" he asks.
I smile softly, almost feeling a little better, and then a new song begins blaring. This time, I burst out laughing as Kane narrows his eyes at the annoying incubus returning, singing once more.
"Ice Ice, baby... Ice Ice, baby... All right, stop. Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with my brand new invention..."
As Dice continues singing, Kane groans, doing his best to stifle his own grin as Zee and Deke start singing along. When it gets back to the chorus, I can't help but join in on the fun.
"Ice Ice, baby."
Kane's eyebrow cocks up as he gives me a mischievous glare. "You, too?" he asks, daring me to take the bait.
"Ice Ice, baby," I playfully sing, challenging him.
He starts tickling me ferociously, making my body jerk and contort in hideous positions as my laughter bellows through the house. Deke and Zee both chuckle as I beg for mercy, but the smile on Kane's face is absolutely beautiful with its carefree tug.
Dice has successfully broken the spell of misery for the time being, though we all know it's just a short reprieve. Dice and Zee dance as I scramble free from Kane. He starts chasing me, toying with me. There's no way I can outrun him, but I can't help but gush out more laughter as I give it a pathetic attempt. Gage pretends not to notice us when we clamber into the living room where he was trying to hide.