Page 49 of Hellfire

“No. I won’t leave you alone.” I unbuckled my belt and got out of the car, going around to her door, meeting her there, and taking her hand.

Twenty minutes later, we packed our two reusable bags in the trunk, the click of the door filling me with a sense of accomplishment for getting this far and reaching the home stretch of my goal.

Luna rubbed the back of my biceps as I closed the trunk. “How’s your manhood?” Her encouragement meant the world to me.

I couldn’t have done this with my brothers. They looked at me like I was a broken puzzle, and didn’t have a clue how to solve me.

“As big as a stadium.” I smiled and climbed into the car, and she got into the passenger side, planting her palm on my leg.

Something had been playing on my mind this past week, and I needed to raise it. The wards didn’t have any success translating the final symbol collected from Luna’s mind map.

“Do you mind if we take a detour to Gable’s?” I posed the question. “I want to know if he’s heard back from his biker friend with answers. Will he be home?”

“Sure.” Her smile widened, and I didn’t need my sacred flame to know that she was delighted that I reached out to a serpent for assistance. “He doesn’t get out much because of Mary. I can call and find out.”

“Thanks, sweetness.” I leaned over and kissed her cheek, making them lift and round into perfect apples that I brushed my mouth over. “Let’s drop by his loft and see if he’s home.” An extra test to go beyond where I initially planned and stay out longer than intended.

She smiled and linked her fingers with mine. I put the car into gear and drove away. Focusing on her happiness reduced the ache in my chest, eased my grip on the steering wheel, and unwound my bound muscles.

“You’re making big leaps,” Luna told me, removing her safety belt as I reversed into a parking spot outside of Gable’s shop. “We’ll appreciate your huge balls later.”

I let out a natural laugh this time. My bonded made me forget about my apprehension. I stretched across the seat to clasp the back of her neck and convey my appreciation.

“Come on,” I reluctantly dragged my mouth away from hers. “Before the groceries get cold.”

We exited the vehicle and crossed to Gable’s door, pressing the doorbell, and waiting for him. Moments later, he peeked through the drawn blind, his tight jaw transforming into his cocksure grin.

“You just can’t stay away, Princess,” he said as the door was pried open.

He caught her shoulders, pulled her in, and I felt a flicker of heat under my breast that felt oddly like my scared flame. I bunched my sweater in my hands, trying to capture the sensation.

“Actually, Blaze wanted to visit,” Luna corrected.

“Hotshot? Really?” Gable sounded surprised, leaning back into his doorway, arms over his chest like he prepared to roast me over it. “Coming for a casual visit or business?”

“Business.” That sounded like the appropriate answer when I came for a favor and not out of friendship. And I didn’t want to be here longer than necessary when it unnerved me.

He huffed at my reply as if expecting it and gestured for us to enter. “Come right in.”

Luna scolded me with a glare as she stepped in after him.

Gable and I had our differences over the years. She made me see the error of my ways for being hard on him when I afforded her a chance. The rogue escaped the serpent’s clutches and started a new life for himself. Commendable. For whateverreason, my bonded liked him, and it was high time I went a little easier on him, because he was here to stay and so was I.

Our host motioned for us to sit at the two seats at his kitchen counter while he filled up his kettle.

“Excuse me for a bit.” Luna gave me the eyes to chat and wandered into the living room to greet his sister. “Hi, Mary. How are you?”

Those two embarked on a low conversation. The good oldleave the enemies to sort out their disputetrick. I appreciated her providing us privacy.

I was going to start making amends when he interrupted with, “What do you need? Is our princess okay?” He glanced over at the women.

I flushed with a pleasant heat that he adored her as much as I did.

“She’s fine.” I tapped his counter with my fingers. “I wanted to come to get out of the Academy and follow up with your friend.”

I glanced over at his sister, who went through an even worse hell than me, reducing her to a meek, subservient creature.

“I know you don’t owe me anything when I’ve been an ignorant ass to you,” I said, “but I appreciate yours and your friend’s input.”

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