Huh. Didn’t expect that. Even after all these months, these guys are a total mystery.
“Forever?”
He shrugs. “Until my heart tells me otherwise.”
“Well, I should probably go back in and make sure they aren’t harassing any other customers.” It was stupid to have left them alone this long. Miya nods and he opens the door for me and we step back in the dark bar.
Armin stands as we approach the table. He flashes me a lopsided, apologetic grin. He’s the easiest to get along with. The most adapted to the modern world. He seems to relish his freedom whereas the others still seemed chained. To something. I’m not sure what.
All five guys lounge around the table. Including Marshal. “I was looking for you. We got more drinks, and Marshal promises to behave.”
I lean into Miya. “Did you tell them to get their shit together before you brought me back?”
His face is straight, but there’s a twinkle in his dark eyes. Maybe these guys aren’t as clueless as I thought. I look at Marshal, who stares stonily at his drink on the table. Well, maybe not all of them.
“Hildi,” Agis says, his voice booming over the music. Half the bar looks in our direction. “Sit—I saved you a seat.”
I squeeze into the seat between him and Rupert. The youngest-looking of them all glances at me through the long dark lashes of his eyes. Legends say he has supernatural abilities. I’m not sure what they are, but sometimes when he looks at me I feel like he can reach into mind.
“Don’t worry,” he says, leaning close to my ear. His shoulder rubs mine. “We’ll behave. Not all of us think like Roland or even Marshal. It’s just their nature.”
There’s a layer of guilt thick in his voice.
As they fill up my glass with one of the pitchers of mead, I’m starting to wonder if I’m using my time with them appropriately. Maybe I’m not supposed to just be their babysitter. Maybe, I can help them heal.
He follows me into the back hall, a few steps behind, so that no one will think we’re together. We’re not together. Not really. It’s a means to an end.
My heart hammers as I duck into the small storage room where the bar keeps extra supplies. It’s not for customers, but it’ll do. He enters the room behind me and shuts the door, pulling me against his tall, hard frame. In a heartbeat his mouth is on mine, warm, strong, overpowering.
“Gross,” I say, pulling back, “you taste like Fae.”
Marshal chuckles and pushes my hair out of my eyes. “I didn’t kiss her.”
“You wanted to.”
He shrugs and grips my hip with one hand. “I want to do a lot of things, but for some reason you keep stopping me.”
I bite my bottom lip and look at the man—the Immortal—in front of me. He’s tall and unbelievably handsome. He exudes sex and makes my blood thrum. He’s awful; sadistic and deadly, violent and greedy. He’s wholly unrepentant and when he kisses me I can taste the sin, the rage and destruction.
I feel something other than the pain threatening to swallow me whole.
His hand travels from my hip up my side, fingers grazing my bare shoulder until they settle behind my neck.
“I won’t stop you now,” I tell him, although he already knows. We’ve been doing this for weeks. Sneaking around behind the others, finding hidden spots, or stolen moments. It’s stupid. Reckless.
Addictive.
He smiles at my statement, lips curled and his green eyes peering into my soul, aware that I need something—anything to cling onto, and he’s more than willing to be that anchor. He needs something, too. This works. For now.
3
Hildi
Circe kicks us out at two, giving Morgan and the guys a little more peace. It’s still nice outside, and we walk home from the bar on the dark, quiet streets.
“I’m assuming they don’t know who the father is?” Armin asks. Apparently, he’s struggled with the idea of the Ravens being Morgan’s harem, but it took a lot of alcohol to get him to say it out loud.
“No,” Agis says, slapping the huge man on the head. “They’re not worried about it. It’s just theirs. Five men, a lady, and a baby.”