Page 94 of Wrath

“So I heard you guys are leaving,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

“In just a bit,” I replied, mentally adding,After Lupe and Z finish fucking.

A tiny bit of jealousy pierced my chest at the reminder of what I’d almost walked in on when I went to check on them.

Z’s throaty groans…

Lupe’s growls…

Yeah. I would’ve given my right ass cheek to have joined in.

Okay. Maybe not my right ass cheek. It was probably my best feature. My left ass cheek? I swore the fucker was a little puffier than its counterpart.

Focus, Bash.

I lowered the sword back to the table and leaned against one of the pillars erecting the tent up.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked, studying Dair intently.

When it had become apparent that Dair wouldn’t be able to walk anytime soon, Z had ordered smooth, hard pathways to connect the majority of the tents together. Of course, the humans—in particular, that fucker Stefan—obliged without complaint. They would do anything to make her happy.

Now dozens of wooden pathways—all of them sanded down—wove through the camp. The humans created more every day.

I knew Dair was embarrassed to need such accommodations, but I also knew Z didn’t give a shit. She wanted her mate to feel comfortable in our temporary home, and I didn’t blame her. I hated to see my brother confined to his tent because it was difficult to traverse the rough terrain.

“You guys need to come back to us, you hear me?” Dair shakily ran a hand through his golden hair. “Z wouldn’t survive losing you. None of us would.”

Tension etched itself into his forehead, creating deep grooves.

I scoffed. “I have no intention of dying anytime soon, thank you very much.” I once again grabbed the sword and held it at the ready. “I’ll be taking this with me. It’s my stabby tool.”

Amusement quirked the corners of his lips. “You’re calling a sword a stabby tool now?”

“It’s a fitting name,” I argued, studying the supplies once more until I found what I was looking for.

A scabbard.

Now I just needed to figure out how the fuck to put it on…

Dair watched me fumble, making no move to help me, before saying, “Are you afraid to use your magic?”

The question took me by surprise. I fumbled the scabbard and cursed loudly when it fell to the floor.

I bent to pick it up. “Why would you say that?”

Dair nodded towards the weapon. “Because you’re using a stabby tool.”

I shrugged and finally hooked the damn thing around my waist. At least, I think I did. Were scabbards even supposed to go around the waist?

“My magic isn’t always reliable.” I shrugged nonchalantly, as if my heart wasn’t pounding abnormally fast in my chest. “Lilith’s trial for me taught me that.”

Sympathy darkened Dair’s eyes to a midnight-blue color. “Because your magic hurt her?”

I gritted my teeth and attempted to place my sword in the scabbard.

“We can’t always rely on our gifts.” Never in a million years did I think I would say those words.

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