Page 65 of Luca

A little bubble of excitement swelled in my belly. Meet the spies who had pledged their lives to my mate and kept him safe? Hell yeah! “I’d like that.”

“Dirike is a bit of a knob, and the Shae sisters are total freaks—and I don’t just mean sexually.” He gave me a look for emphasis. I barely stopped myself from asking for clarification. “But the others? Yeah, you’d like ’em.”

“How many are there?”

“Twelve. Which is a great number, to be honest. Makes pairing off easier. We were thirteen, but…” He sighed. “Ki isn’t with us anymore.”

I offered him a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, they’re not dead! They just packed up and fucked off to the human realm,” he said before gazing at the ceiling. “Fucker still has my casserole dish.”

He looked so affronted that I couldn’t help but laugh. I swore this guy was about as unserious as they came. “Why not go there and get it back?”

“To the human realm?” One of his eyes shifted back to me, and he shrugged idly at my nod. “S’pose I could. I’ve always fancied a trip over.”

“You should! My best friend Alex would love you.” Seeing interest flicker over his face, I tacked on, “He’s mated to Cair’s brother. Teighan.”

“Huh, keeping it in the fam. Nice.” Not sure he quite knew what that meant, but whatever. “Maybe someday I will. You and your friend can show me all the best haunts, and introduce me to all the hot and available humans.” He grinned up at me in a half-salacious, half-crazed way. I sent him a dry glare.

“Yup. You two would get along swimmingly.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly his eyes darted in different directions. Cee appeared at the door, her expression impassive. It was blatantly obvious she wasn’t here for a social visit. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

Gary sniffed. “Yes, thanks. Could do with a drink, though. D’ya mind?”

She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Are you actually going to do some work today or just sit in here chatting and stuffing your face?”

His gaze swung from me to her, then back again. He blew out a long breath, his eyes slipping closed. “Think she’s talking to you, boss.”

I snorted.

“I’m talking to you, dipshit,” she grumbled, the sound petering out into a growl as Leaf came bounding through the gap between her legs, tongue lolling like a dog’s. She flapped her tiny wings, taking uncoordinated flight onto Gary’s lap, where he gave her vigorous scritches. She was fucking adorable, and seemed to have a favorite. “I have patrolled the area and everything is clear, but that doesn’t mean you get to hide in here, bothering His Highness.”

“He’s not a bother,” I blurted out. “I’m glad of the company.”

I barely suppressed my cringe at how pathetic that had sounded, but it was the truth. I’d been desperate for any sliver of interaction, to be distracted from the tedious healing routine, and Gary had delivered. He was my saving grace.

I couldn’t pretend otherwise.

“You poor creature,” Cerila droned, her sarcasm evident, though I also sensed an undertone of genuine pity. Fortunately, Gary was as oblivious as a rock—rich coming from me, I knew—so I wasn’t given the chance to wallow.

“See?” He beamed, sticking his tongue out toward his companion. “You’re too uptight, Ceril-ahhh. Relax. Have some fun. You might like it.”

“Strap a target to your chest and let me shoot.” She smirked, the expression taking on a dangerous edge. My lips thinned. “Thatwould be fun.”

She left, her patience for conversation clearly drained, and instead of filling the awkward silence with rambles—my usual default—I waited apprehensively for Gary’s reaction.

He just shrugged. “Yeah, she adores me.”

I let a laugh bubble past my lips, shaking my head. “If it helps you sleep at night.”

Not long after that, Gary went off in search of his daily before-dinner snack. I attempted another spoonful of stew, but it was stone cold and not happening. I set the bowl on the floor for Leaf, but even she gave the congealed gloop an unimpressed sniff before trotting away with a wiggle in her step.

I climbed out of bed, stretching out my stiff muscles. I’d been cooped up in here for too long, and I had the urge to wander around and burn off some restless energy. Cair wouldn’tbe pleased, but he wasn’t here to police my curfew—a detail I was actually kinda mourning because I really missed him—so it was tough titty. I threw on the bathrobe Flick had loaned me—the garment swallowed me but it was cozy as hell—before ambling into the hallway.

I wasn’t yet familiar with the layout of the cottage since I hadn’t been given the chance to explore. Within ten steps, though, I could tell that it was massive, a maze of winding corridors and too many rooms, but it somehow still managed to keep that rustic, homey vibe that I favored. There was a scent that clung to the walls, I noted, a feeling of kinship that seemed to surround me. I embraced its warmth as I trekked further away from my room, snooping briefly behind every door that was left even slightly ajar. There was what looked to be an armory behind one—or a weapon collector’s wet dream—which I would be returning to later. When I had permission to investigate thoroughly, of course.

I followed Leaf; she seemed to know where she was going, prancing around the corners like she owned the place, and honestly, who was I to say she didn’t? It became apparent where she was headed when voices drifted toward my ears. They were muffled from my place at the far end of the hall, but I recognized the deep cadence of my mate, and Zadok’s gentle lilt. I wanted to know what they were talking about as their voices seemed slightly agitated. If it involved the plan ahead, or revenge, then I really needed to be in there.

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