Page 139 of Her Tortured Beasts

I whip around and glare at them all. “A cage isn’t comfortable.”

Scythe can’t help it. He takes my hand and finding it unusually warm, my anger melts away. I’ve seen his memories. This is just as hard for him. I squeeze his hand in reassurance.

“You care about my comfort?” asks Xander casually.

It’s not often that I growl but tonight it’s audible. “I think it’s best if you stop the chatter.”

“As you wish.”

I turn to look at him suspiciously for a moment before continuing on. This is going to take a lot of getting used to.

After my mates have all showered for the night, and Eugene has found a spot to roost on a pillow, I unclip Xander’s chain. It’s a traditional clip on, because I wasn’t going to figure out the wrist flicky thing so quickly. He leaves for his turn in the bathroomand I see my three mates staring at Xander’s back with their arms crossed and their faces set into furious lines.

I smile softly at the sight. “So grumpy,” I say, hobbling towards the bed. “Someone cuddle me before I combust, quick.”

They suddenly come out of whatever murderous daydream they’re collectively having and hurry for the bed. I’m wearing a silk chemise tonight, because it’ll only be dresses for leg purposes from now on, and as I settle into the middle of the bed, Scythe and Savage scoot themselves next to me. Lyle crawls up my body, slowly, and so feline-like that I suck in a breath at the heat in his eyes.

He reaches my face and his lips brush mine as he speaks, his breath minty from our toothpaste. “I’m so proud of you.” He kisses me three times on the mouth before sliding down my body again. He has tiger balm in one hand and he starts gently rubbing some on my knee.

It’s the type of pain that feels good and bad at the same time. What I probably need is Xander’s dragon healing. I’m not going to ask for that, so I allow my own power to funnel down to my thigh, easing the inflammation there.

Savage takes the opportunity to kiss me, one hand cupping my cheek. His mouth is heaven on mine. It’s a huge comfort after a long day, combined with Lyle’s massaging hands and Scythe’s thumb stroking my left thigh.

Savage releases me, resting his head on my shoulder as he draws in his writing and poetry book.

Scythe hands me my book from the bedside table, and it’s then that Xander strolls in with nothing but tiny black boxers, his taut muscles rippling as he dries his long hair with a towel.

“You should get an e-reader for the evening. My sister has one,” he says as he strides past our bed.

My mates follow him, their heads like three camels, turning as they stalk his movement.

“Eagle, remember?” I say as he throws himself onto the single bed by the window.

“Areyou,” Savage snarls, “implying that we haven’t provided for hereveryneed?”

Xander raises his hand and ticks a list off. “Let me see. In my brief observation, I’ve seen that she’s almost out of hair conditioner, there’s no water on the bedside table, and no one’s thought to wrap her knee.”

“Oh, stop it,” I say. “I can do those things for myself.”

Xander rolls his eyes. “It’s not your job?”

“I think he should sleep outside,” Lyle mutters, getting out of bed to no doubt fetch water. I don’t know if we even have bandages for my knee.

“If we forgot those things,” Savage gruffs, “it’s only because your gnarly presence distracted us. Once again, you’re at fault.”

“Pull up your socks, Savage,” Xander retorts.

Savage whips his head towards me and presses his palms together like he’s praying to me. “Can I kill him, regina,please?”

“Honestly, I just want to read my book in silence, if that’s okay with you all?” I raise my brows at Savage, then Xander, who throws his head back onto his pillow. Then I turn to Scythe, who’s holding out a foil strip of painkillers for me.

I kiss him on the cheek before taking it. When Lyle returns with the water, I swallow down the oxycodone tablets, then open up my smutty witches book to the first chapter.

Xander’s snide voice is a boom through the silent space. “Also, there’s only one tampon left?—”

“I’m the pad monitor, you giant eyeless bastard!” Savage cries.

“Well who’s the tampon monitor, then?” Xander grumbles. “They’re doing a shit job.”

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