Page 158 of Demise

Ronan’s release comes seconds after mine, his vicious groans rivaling the loudness of my own as he fucks Wesley’s ass hard and deep before slumping over his back, riding out the pleasure.

When we all still, only heavy breathing can be heard for several seconds before Liam speaks up.

“I’m being serious, Vinny. I’m jealous. I’m getting a kiss one day.”

We all laugh at that, except for Vincent, who flips Liam off. The rest of the night is spent with an insane amount of aftercare, cuddles all around, and the best sleep of my entire life.

Chapter Forty Eight

Ronan

The next morning, we all sleep in, and when I mean all, I mean Skyla and Liam. Vincent, Wesley, Asher and myself agreed that just to be safe, we’d take watches. As much as I want to believe that Skyla’s parents have nothing but the best intentions for her, I’m not willing to take that chance.

My eyes are burning from lack of sleep, but when I see that sleepy smile of hers, it makes it worth it to know she got a good night’s rest. The only reason Liam got out of it is because Sky practically fell asleep on top of him and none of us wanted to wake her.

Fucker.

I’m still trying to process everything that we learned yesterday. The fact that Henry is not Skyla’s dad….and knows about it is a wild concept. As is the fact that my brother has known the same. Though, it paints a clearer picture as to everything that occurred between them all and why Christopher went off the deep end for months after her ‘death.’ However sadistic and delusional he is and was, he clearly loved her,probably still does in his own way. And he had a hand in her planned murder.

There is fresh snow on the ground, we all bundle up, and we make our way over to Skyla’s parents’ house. Inside, we all freeze when we notice we are not alone. Jonathan and Giselle are here, as well as Rachel, but there are also three other women and one man sitting at the dining room table that has expanded to take up the entire living area. There are six empty spaces left, assumingly for us, and Skyla is the first to approach the table.

Conversation stops as they see us, and Giselle gets out of her seat, holding her close. Every hug they’ve shared since the shop has been like this, like two souls desperate to be near once again. I won’t pretend to understand the impossible situation Giselle was put into, but I will say if it had been my daughter…I’d have fought a hell of a lot harder. I’d have taken on the whole goddamn Brethren barehanded if that’s what it took. Skyla seems to have accepted it though, so I’ll let it go. For now, at least.

Her father is next, giving her an equally heartfelt hug before shaking our hands. It’s strange to be in a room full of witches, people we’ve been told are the worst kind to walk the earth. Even more strange is that there is no hostility. Well, I shouldn’t say that. One of the women is watching us with a guarded sneer, along with Rachel who watches only myself, Asher, and Vincent closely. Not sure what makes Liam and Wesley so fucking special that they get a free pass.

“Skyla, this is Astrid and her wife Sariah,” she says as she gestures towards the two women with smiles on their faces. Their arms are covered in tattoos, snaking up and across their chests. Astrid has both a septum piercing and a nose ring, while Sariah has gauges and long blonde hair that nearly touches the seat of her chair.

“It’s so good to finally meet you.” Astrid smiles.

Skyla nods with a smile of her own. “You too.”

“And this is Jillie and her partner Ezra,” Giselle introduces.

Jillie nods her head to Skyla but graces the rest of us with a disgusted look like she’s revolted to be in the same room as us. Ezra attempts to greet us, but the sincerity doesn’t make it to his eyes, and it puts us all on edge.

“Please, sit.” Giselle encourages, gesturing to the sprawling display of food at the table.

Skyla takes a seat beside her mom as Liam sits beside her. Asher takes the head of the table before Wesley, me and Vincent take our seats. Vincent takes the seat beside Jillie, which is apparently over the line for her. She huffs, shaking her head as she stands.

“I’m sorry, G. I can’t be here,” she says as she hurries out of the house, Ezra right behind her as he shuts the door behind them.

Awkward silence descends on us for several seconds before Giselle smiles sadly.

“I’m sorry. Jillie has a gift with energies and—”

“Yours is suffocating,” Rachel inserts. “Like I’ve said before,” she says to Vincent.

He gives her a deadpanned stare that she meets before grabbing what looks like a cinnamon roll and some bacon. Jonathan shoots her a look that she conveniently ignores before he shakes his head.

“Apologies for my sister as well, I’d like to say she’s normally better behaved, but—”

“I’m not,” she says simply. “Especially not around Puritans,” Rachel says with a wrinkle of her nose.

“Funny, we could say the same about witches,” Asher throws back.

“What do you even know about us anyways?” Rachel says, resting her elbows on the table. “You think we are a bunch of crackpots who dance around fires on full moons, brewingpotions and sucking the lives out of people or something?” she mocks, shaking her head as she takes a bite of her food. “You know nothing.”

“I’d like to learn,” Skyla says, redirecting the conversation. “If that’s alright.”

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