Page 39 of Vengeful Mates

His eyebrow cocked as he opened the wrapping, revealing a box. “Another Christmas gift?”

I shrugged. “It was late in shipping.”

Castor twisted the mug in his hands, with a miniature picture of a Microsoft Word Excel Spreadsheet on it. “Freak in the Sheets.” He howled with laughter.

“Too perfect not to order for you.” I stroked his long, curly hair, loving the softness of it compared with the hardness of his body.

“You know me too well, Sorceress.” He peppered light kisses along the column of my neck and earlobe.

I stroked his shoulders, my magick sensing tension needing elimination. “Are you enjoying your new role?”

Castor’s forehead pinched. “It’s more stressful being responsible for twenty-four men’s lives.”

Knots in his shoulder and neck called to me to break them up and ease the tension in his back. The man needed to do his yoga and stretches. Originally, I planned to let him finish his coffee and cuddle. Not when his pain made my muscles tense in response.

“You’re so tense, Daddy.” Unable to resist easing his discomfort, I dug my elbow into his shoulder, and he jerked.

He rubbed at the tense spot. “Go easy, Dark Sorceress.”

Tender muscles meant too much stress. Too much work hunched over in front of a computer or book. Not enough stretching to give his muscles a breather. “How’s that?”

“That’s good. Right there.” He held too much tension here. The weight of the club on his shoulders. Add to it his new responsibilities as VP.

I got into a really thick knot, slowly breaking it up with a combination of my fingers and my magick. “Do you want to go back to being the enforcer?”

Castor hissed as his muscle resisted my charms, forcing me to put more pressure on it. “If Zethan wants his position back.”

Hairy situation. Staying right out of it. If Zethan wanted to talk about it, I would listen and support him as he did for me. I wasn’t going to nag him to do anything he didn’t want to, even if it benefited my other mates.

Castor’s body tensed and leaned away from the pressure of my work. “Have you spoken with him about it?”

I continued to massage my man’s shoulders despite him trying to crawl away, easing the pressure. No other way to break up his knots and ease his pain. “Nope. Not getting my head bitten off twice.”

“He’ll listen to you. Talk to him.” Castor’s shoulders hiked at the extra force I applied. “Find out what he wants.”

The healing magick in me told me this was a petition to get Zethan back where he belonged so Daddy could do what he did best. Enforce. Reckon. Punish the disobedient and wicked. Avenge those who were unfairly and unjustly treated.

“What did you find on Colton?” A little Aaliyah Heller avoidance.

“The last two years haven’t been kind to him. Rivals moved in and seized his territory.”

Fuck. Survival of the fittest in this world of criminals.

“Does he blame the Jackals for his downfall?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.”

I continued my assault on Daddy’s shoulder knots. “Have you come up with a plan of attack for Colton?”

“Not yet. I’m gathering information first. Then I’ll bring it to the table for discussion.” Castor was fair like that. He included everyone and didn’t make rash or lone decisions like Slade had to commence Pharaoh production without the club’s approval or knowledge.

“There’s chatter that Colton is bribing rivals to get his assets back and it’s pissing people off.”

“Kidnapping goddesses and their children doesn’t make friends.” I referred to what Zethan told me about Hades and Autumn.

“Colton is shrewd. Daunting. Possibly your match or worse.” Castor stroked his fingers through my hair. “He used Danny and the Wolves to undermine us. That’s genius, and as one, and the servant of the god of Reckoning, I don’t like to be outwitted.”

Bruised egos were dangerous among my men. None more so than my Dark Daddy when his god sought revenge and justice.

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