Page 135 of Court of Evil

At this moment, I know two things for certain.

I will never leave this place, and I love him.

I love them all. I never thought I would be able to love again, but my heart has been stolen and divided amongst them for protection, and I couldn’t care less. Let them have it because I know I have theirs as well.

“I love you too, mistress,” Tem says, and everyone turns to look at him. “That’s what she was thinking, that she loves us all.”

My cheeks heat, but I can’t be mad.

“Really? Well, well, well,” Jarek teases.

“Knew it.” Fang holds out her hand, and Ronan passes over some bills as I gawk at them.

Zeev catches my hand and kisses the back of it in a rare, tender gesture. “Love is nothing to be ashamed of. Love is the reason wars are fought and poetry is written. Love is the reason for everything. Without it, we would have nothing. Love is . . . life. I finally understand that. I think we all do. We have all been hurt and left behind in some way, but with you, we have found a second chance.”

“A new beginning,” Fang says.

“A family,” Tem remarks.

“Safety,” Jarek adds.

Shamus grins. “Brothers.”

“Friends!” Ronan exclaims.

“Home,” Addeus says, voicing my own thought. “We found home with each other.”

“I did too,” I admit. “It’s something I never really had, but it’s loud,” I joke, making them chuckle. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now let’s eat. I’m starving.”

No one dies. No one attacks. No one interrupts.

We have our very first family meal of many.

“What? No,” I grumble. “I am not battling it out for his floor. Let them have it.”

“Fine, then you can move onto my floor,” Shamus says over breakfast the next day. “Fine by me.”

“Is this all a big plan of yours to get me in your bed every night?” I mutter.

His smirk makes my thighs clench, but I keep my glare trained on him. “That’s something I would love, but we both know we would end up killing each other, so no, angel. I know where I belong in your life. You can visit my bed when you wish, not the other way around. You need your space, but you’ll have to fight for it. I can’t just hand it to you.”

I look away for a moment, and he leans in, covering my hand. “What is it?”

“I don’t know if I can stay there. There are too many memories. Besides, I don’t even know what I’m going to do now,” I tell him.

“You’ll do the same thing you did before—hunt. It’s what you were born to do, only this time you’ll hunt for those who would ruin our guild. They are still out there, and only you can find them. You’ll travel the world with your new team, rid it of evil, and then you’ll come back home to me. If you don’t want that floor, take another one, but you will have a base here, a place to retreat to when you need it. Name it and I’ll make it happen.” He kisses the back of my hand as I stare at him. “But I wasn’t planning on making you stay in the same rooms. I was going to have it all redone if you wanted it—another fuck you to Black andyour old team. It’s the elite floor, Tate, and it’s where you belong, but it’s your choice. It will always be your choice.”

“I guess having a commander for a lover is a good thing,” I remark. “Though I did expect more perks.”

“You want perks?” He kicks the table out of the way, the screech loud, and my eyes widen as he grips my chair and drags me over, his lips meeting mine in a brutal kiss that has me gasping as he leans back, his eyes glistening. “You get me. Isn’t that enough, angel?” His voice is soft and seductive as his hands slide up my arms to my neck, tilting my head back as he brushes his lips over my cheek to my ear. “Now get your sexy ass dressed and prove why you’re mine. Take that elite floor back and I’ll spend the night between your thighs, reminding you why you risked it all for me.”

“Not for you,” I mutter as I push him away with a glare. “For the cause.”

“Sure, angel, whatever you say.” He kisses me quickly, avoiding my slap as he dances out of reach. “They are waiting in the courtyard.”

“I never agreed to it!” I yell.

“But you were going to!” He waves me away as he leaves.

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