Page 123 of Stroke of Shadows

Sythe flipped him the finger, which only made the Daemon throw his head back with laughter. With an amused grin, Sythe turned towards the window overlooking the bar below, the Drunken Beast at capacity on opening night. Which wasn’t surprising, considering one of the gossip magazines found out about the opening and printed a fake story on how ‘London’s hottest bachelor’ was back on the market. Alice had found it amusing, while Riley was currently working with Titus to corrupt the magazine’s computer systems.

After much deliberation and arguments amongst almost everyone, Riley renamed the bar. Blood Bar had always been the Guardians’ home, Riley’s first investment once they’d become independent from the Order and the Archdruid. It was a change of pace from the multi-million pound companies he used to own, but a bar was arguably easier to run while leading the Guardians.

The Drunken Beast was born from the ashes of Blood Bar, and just like the previous place, Riley kept the signature cocktails in which it was famous. He also added a few food options, which was Lucifer’s idea.

“You touch my nachos again, and I’ll break your finger and shove it up your arse!” Lucy snarled, smacking at Axel’s hand. “Mine.”

“Fucking hell, Luce!”

“Get your own.” Lucy hoarded his cheese monstrosity closer like a dragon with his gold.

“Sy, you decided if you’re going dark again?” Jax asked, watching Lucy and Axel bicker. He’d been keeping busy the last few months, trying to track down as much information as he could on the chalice. Gideon had been silent, as well as the Undead. Silent was never good, because it meant he was planning something. Good thing the Guardians were always prepared.

Sythe shook his head. “Can’t. Titus said he’d share my search history if I died, so I need to stay.” Not that he would ever leave Harper.

Titus snorted in amusement.

“Don’t judge me, arsehole,” Sythe laughed. “You’re the kinkiest of us all.”

Titus pursed his lips. “So what’s with you searching mythical wolf creatures with cocks?”

“That wasn’t sexual!”

Lucifer’s bark of laughter echoed around them.

“It wasn’t!” Sythe looked between his brothers, who were all smirking. “I wanted to see if there’s anything we can relate to our beasts.”

“And searching whether they had cocks was relevant?” Axel asked, smiling.

Sythe shot Titus a glare. “Well, I was curious. It’s not like I’ve looked.”

“You do have cocks,” Lucy confirmed, while sucking his fingers. “Hung, too.”

Jax frowned. “Why are you even looking?”

Lucy pulled out a finger with a pop. “What? I can’t change into those beasties, so I had a good look.”

Sythe’s sides ached with laughter. Fuck, he’d missed his family.

“Well, I can drift. Which I think is cooler.” Lucy pouted.

“I can do that,” Titus said dryly.

“Fine,” Lucy grumbled. “I can fly.”

“I can also do that,” Titus added.

Lucy munched angrily on a nacho. “No, you can’t. You’ve only got one wing!”

Titus shook his head with laughter, his darkened red eyes flicking to the window. “I’m out.”

Axel sniggered. “Is this because Rae’s scheduled on the karaoke next? You sure you don’t want to join her? Maybe do a cute duet?” Green smears coloured his cheekbones. Sythe knew Titus had something to do with it, not because the cousins were always pranking one another. But because the same green paint stained his fingers.

Kace abruptly stood, the cards and chips jumping on the table before he stalked out of the door. It didn’t take them long to watch him move through the crowd, heading straight to Eva, who’d stopped dancing and was currently arguing with someone. Kace appeared, and without stopping his stride he grabbed the guy and headed towards the back exit. It was almost comical.

Sythe shook his head, searching the crowd. He found Harper immediately, his eyes always drawn to her. He’d been trying to give her space, to not overwhelm her while she was figuring herself out. It was hard, his instinct to grab her and not let go. But he understood she needed time. He’d never want her to replace one cage with another.

If she made him wait days, months, or even years, he’d wait. Because, for him, she was everything.

---