Page 30 of Court of Evil

He licks the shell of my ear, making me stumble. “Admit you enjoyed it, hunter.”

“Drop dead,” I snap as I open the final door in the corridor, correctly guessing it’s Shamus’s bedroom. It’s a huge room, with a sitting room and an open sliding door to a raised bedroom atthe back. Stretched out on his front on one sofa is Shamus. He lifts his head at the sound and peers at me.

“Angel?” He frowns, running his eyes down the blood splattered across my skin.

Gripping my pillow, I turn away from him and drop it onto the other leather sofa, then I throw myself down, ignoring them as I flip them off and turn to face the back of the sofa.

“Erm . . . hello?” he says, confusion lacing his tone.

The fae mocks, “If you think him being here will protect you, hunter . . .”

“Shamus, Shamus, Shamus, I caught them fucking—” Ronan cuts off, and fury explodes through me, making me sit up as they all turn to look at me.

“If I hear one more fucking word from a single one of you, I am going to chop off your balls and hang them out of the window. Okay?” I yell. “Even you, ghost boy. I will find a way. Don’t tempt me!”

When I drop down with a huff, it’s quiet for a moment. “You would think getting laid would make her happier. Maybe you did it wrong, fae. There’s a lot of blood, but some people are into that.”

“That’s it—” I jerk upright, but Ronan disappears. I turn my glare on Shamus and the fae. “I mean it.” I point from my eyes to them before slumping down and curling around myself.

I’m just starting to fall asleep when something soft covers me. I startle and look down at a fluffy blanket. My eyes go to Shamus’s retreating back as he limps over to the other sofa.

I track his movements for a moment, something thick coating my throat before I turn away and force myself to sleep, needing the rest.

CHAPTER 14

The robe is soft, and despite the fact that I’m naked under it, I sit cross-legged on the sofa, looking out of the windows beyond.

“Here,” Shamus says, and I accept the mug, warming myself as he sits heavily on the other sofa.

“How are your wounds?” I ask.

He arches a brow, blowing over his own coffee. He’s still shirtless, with some sort of herb mixture slicked down his back, and I try, I really do, not to look at his torso, but it’s hard.

He’s built with muscles meant for use, not just display. He’s thick and strong. “Better,” is all he says as he takes a sip.

I copy him, and when there’s a slurping sound, we both turn to see Ronan trying to drink from a mug. The liquid slides through him to the floor below.

“Is that a puppy pad?” I ask.

“He insists on trying to drink it every single day, and I got sick of cleaning it up,” Shamus answers, a blush staining his cheeks.

“I miss coffee,” Ronan grumbles.

The fae isn’t here. Maybe I should be worried, but Shamus doesn’t seem to be, so I relax. Besides, without his constantflirting, I can relax a little. There’s been too much otherworldly craziness these last few days, and this feels normal.

Well, as normal as it gets with your commanding officer and a ghost trying to drink coffee and basically pissing it onto a puppy pad.

“Can’t you just solidify and drink it?” I ask curiously.

“I can, but, well, ghosts don’t go to the toilet, and I have to rid myself of it straight away, so it seems like a waste,” he mutters, eyeing the cup sadly. “Oh, sweet nectar of the gods, how I miss thee.”

“Right.” I blink and look at Shamus. “So where is that backstabbing bastard, Black? I’m not wasting any more time. I want the fucker to suffer and then die.”

Shamus sips his coffee as he watches me. “I know you want revenge, Tate,” he says, and hearing my full name makes me sit up taller. “Before you say anything, I am not stopping you, no. I would never be that foolish, but what I am suggesting is a smarter plan than running off after him alone. You need a new team, people who have your back. Black is ruthless and capable, you know that. You cannot take him down alone.”

“What do you suggest? No hunter will go against Black’s unit. That leaves us with no one. Or what? I keep collecting monsters since I already have a fae and a ghost?” I scoff angrily.

“Hey!” Ronan protests, but we both ignore him.

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