Page 78 of Queen of Spades

“Okay, great. I need the two of you to get out.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ward

Iwould consider us as safe as we’re going to get at this point, but Kane looks like he’s on the verge of losing his mind.

“There’s no safe room?” he growls, stomping across the living room. Good God, I’m pretty sure his eye is twitching.

That can’t be healthy.

“It’s an old house,” Cas says, shrugging. “I wasn’t aware that was a requirement of where we landed.”

“It’s not.” Grady chuckles, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth and chewing obnoxiously. “Seriously, man.” He looks at Kane. “I’ve kept her safe this long on my own. There’s three of us now.”

Cas growls.

“Fine,” Grady says. “Three and a half. Well, three and a princess to keep our princess company while we handle business.”

“I am genuinely surprised no one has killed you yet,” Kane mutters, scratching his beard.

“Considering I’m bonded to the woman you’re lusting after, I’d say I’m pretty safe from attempts by you, at least.” Grady quirks an eyebrow. “But I’m always more than willing to give it a go if you want to try your luck.”

My head tilts to turn my ear toward the stairs. There’s some shuffling coming our way.

Kane tenses, reaching to the back of his jeans for his gun.

Annika pops around the corner leading into the living room, but I do a double take when I spot her loaded down with pillows that have blankets hanging out of them.

“Is everything all right?” Cas asks, looking exceptionally confused.

“Yes.” She walks to Kane while trying to keep hold of the giant pile. She uses her chin to shove the top pillow at him. “Here you go.”

I snort, shaking my head.

She aims for Cas next and tosses one at Grady. He raises a hand, catching the wide throw. She continues over to me with one last pillow. It has a baby pink cotton blanket hanging out of the pillowcase.

“Here you are.” She climbs into my lap.

I immediately wrap my arms around her soft frame.

“Not to sound like an idiot, but what’s this for?” Kane asks.

“I’ve got this, baby.” Grady stands, ripping his T-shirt off over his head. “We didn’t bring any of our normal pillows and blankets with us.” He tosses his shirt at me, but Annika snatches it out of the air, and I realize it was always intended for her. “Saturate them both in your scent.”

“And I would appreciate it if I could have any of your worn clothes. Even stuff that seems questionable, like you probably wouldn’t wear it again. I don’t mind,” Annika says against my throat.

Goddamn.

That makes me feel like a fucking king.

It has to go back to the whole dynamic between alphas and omegas, but knowing she wants to be surrounded by my smell does shit to my head.

“Seriously?” Cas looks at Grady incredulously.

Grady has the pillow Annika brought him in his hand, and he rubs it around his chest before moving to do each armpit. “She likes it best when it’s so ripe, you can barely stand it.”

“Yep, I really do. There’s no such thing as too much man-funk right now. Do your worst,” she mumbles against my skin. “Nesting can get lonely at times. Once I’m done setting it up, someone can come keep me company.”

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