Page 24 of Hades

As I pull the loft door closed gently, the lights of the white hall glare and almost blind me.

Damn Pyro and his love of the color. I blame the mortals that started associating each of us with a color. Now mybrothers feel the need to comply and keep those colors as their favorites.

Impatiently, my finger reaches out and repeatedly pushes the down arrow. It takes what seems like an eternity for the ping, and then the silver doors open.

Cursing myself for not sliding on some shoes, my bare feet shuffle into the elevator and I hit the number six, lighting it up. Focused on getting to Hayden’s room, I don’t notice that Brittany joins me. Has she just been waiting here to surprise me?

“Hello, Warrick,” she purrs.

For as long as I can remember, she’s been trying to get into my pants, even when she was with my brother.

I’d rather walk past her and ignore whatever antics she’s trying to use, I nod in greeting.

“It is good to see you again. How’s Drevi?”

“He’s well and you?” I ask, not turning to her. When will she finally take a hint?

“Married now. My husband insisted we stay here. It wasn’t my first choice, but running into you and Frank has made the stay worth it.”

“How is that?” I mutter.

“Well, where two of you are, the other two aren't far behind.”

Brittany gets saved by the bell when the doors open to Hayden’s floor. So, I exit instead of giving her a piece of my mind.

As I walk toward the correct room number, Frank slips out into the hall to greet me.

“I was just about to text you.” He must have sensed me coming.

“Well, the elevator must have gone to hell and back. Tookits sweet ass time getting to the level of the loft. Then it let that bitch Brittany in. Talk about an awkward conversation.”

Frank snorts. “That’s almost as bad as it was here. Hayden told me her ex was in her room. It didn’t prepare me for the sight that was on her bed. There he was,” Frank laughs, shaking his head, “naked, surrounded byflowersin the middle of her bed. All ready and waiting on Hayden to jump him the moment she walked in. She was pissed, and so was I. Hayden had to talk me down. I was molding all the flowers in the room. I am a fuck up just like Drevi. Weird thing is, clothes appeared on the ex out of thin air. He was pissed that I was there, but even more so that Hayden made him leave.”

“What is different about this girl? Without trying, she somehow pulls our powers to the front, and they get mixed with our emotions. We have never encountered a mortal capable of this before. Another reason to stay close. Now go rest, if you can. Both Drevi and Pyro were snoring when I left. I’ll keep an eye out for something stranger from her.”

“Maybe I should just stay here with you,” Frank jokes but it’s cut off with a yawn.

I push him toward the elevator, with a mumbled ‘go,’ and once he heads down the hall I let myself into Hayden’s room.

Tiptoeing in, I gently push the door and it clicks into the lock. Then I extend my arms in front of me, searching for the couch in the dark. Just because I’m unable to sleep doesn’t mean I should wake Hayden.

I inch forward slowly. That is, until my hand hits flesh and fabric.

Frank wasn’t as quiet as he thought he was. The moment his hard body left my side, my eyes snapped open. I didn’t follow him immediately, but I was close as he closed the door without so much as a goodbye.

I materialized a slinky nightgown as I rose from the bed. If I stepped out in the hall I didn’t need to give anyone walking by a free show.

My curiosity piqued when I heard Warrick’s voice through the door. I couldn’t make out their words, but then again, I wasn’t really trying. The rattle of the knob had me taking a few steps back. As my butt hit the back of the sofa, I leaned there until Warrick made his way forward into the room.

Warrick’s hand grazed my breast, and he sucked in a deep breath.

“Warrick, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

He stuttered as his brain tried to form a sentence, and he finally managed, “Frank told me about your ex. I couldn’t sleep, so I told him we could trade places.”

“That sure was sweet of you, but who said I couldn’t takecare of him myself? Frank came up to me in the hall. It was a rough day already, and adding Seph into the mix wasn’t my idea of fun. Your brother may regret helping me, though. My ex was butt naked on my bed when we entered. I don’t think it was the eyeful he was expecting.”

Blindly, I reach for his hand and I miss completely.

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