Page 83 of Wicked Heirs

“I’m sorry things aren’t going the way you want with her.”

“It is what it is.”

“I didn’t exactly help by tearing down there like a bat out of hell and ruining your time with her. The least I can do is try to fix that in any way I can, to help you.”

“And you like her too.”

“What? I… no. I mean, yeah, she’s a real firestorm of a woman. She’s hot as hell. And she’s got that darker edge that I’m all for. She’s a free spirit too and that shit turns me the fuck on. But I don’t think… I mean…” His eyes went wide. “All right, fuck, it seems that I like her, yeah.”

And he’d only just realized it.

That made due sense with the way that Talon rarely allowed himself to experience the full range of emotions, as he’d been stuck in grief, pain, and rage for so long. If he was starting to open up now, which it certainly seemed like with the way he’d just spoken about Alena, then it was expected that he’d been lagging behind in that area.

I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Good boy.”

He beamed out at me, always delighting in me calling him that.

“The first step is recognizing it.”

He arched an eyebrow. “And the next?”

“Doing something about it, of course.”

We both watched then as Xavier and Alena leaned in across the table and kissed.

Not just a peck on the cheek or forehead, but an intense, all-consuming kiss where he was fisting her hair and she was digging her nails into his sports jacket.

A current of indignation shot through me.

In my mind’s eye, I recognized that it was rooted in jealously, which I considered a weakness from people, but I just couldn’t seem to care in that moment as I watched her growing closer to Xavier, as I watched the two of them solidifying their bond, theboth of them dropping their guards and being rewarded for it, being happy for it.

Something I couldn’t obtain at this stage.

Maybe ever.

I felt Talon watching my reaction.

Before I could call him on it, he announced, “I have an idea.”

“I’m listening.”

“She needs a gentle reminder—as does X—that she’s also yours.”

Hmm.“I couldn’t agree more.”

They’d just ordereda Snickertini each, clearly the wind down to their date. As soon as the ridiculously sweet alcoholic drinks arrived, the two of them ventured out to the patio.

Fortunately, the staff immediately set up several more candles for their romantic fucking date.

“Phew,” Tal breathed as we watched them settle into their new seats. “That would’ve fucked with what we’re about to do.”

Yes, the candles were key. “We’re fine.”

I saw a spark of Alena’s magic a moment before she dipped her finger into Xavier’s drink and it changed color. She was adding blood in for him.

He looked so touched as he realized, and it had me considering stopping this interference for a second.

But then he sank his hand into her hair and softly stroked the pink strands, the intimacy of it really not doing my jealousy any favors.

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