Page 170 of Shadow

He laughed softly and looked over my shoulder at Church.

“Let me guess. She’s trying to convince you to let her go,” Church said.

“She makes a convincing case. She’s promised me an entire week of being alone with her in my bed.”

“Cute. Not happening.” Church stood and pulled me away from Stitches, who groaned. “Get dressed, baby. Shadow, Sin, and Ashes are taking you to classes. Stitches can come with me. Unless you want to swap with Ashes?” Church looked over at Stitches.

“I’d prefer it. I hate that place,” Stitches said softly. “If that’s OK.”

“It’s fine. I want whatever you want.”

Stitches relaxed. Church slapped me on the ass. “Get dressed. You’ll be late. Grumbling, I went into the bathroom and showered before dressing. I pulled my hair back into a long ponytail. I never wore it up, so everyone stopped and stared at me when I got downstairs.

“What’s this?” Sin asked, reaching for the thick pony and wrapping it around his hand. “I like this. I can direct you anywhere. I. Want.” He angled my neck and pressed his lips against mine. “I’m so going to fuck you like this.”

I nipped his bottom lip, making him kiss me harder.

“Hey, save some for the rest of us,” Ashes said, dragging me away and into his arms. Sin grumbled and grabbed a slice of toast as Ashes kissed me.

“I do like this,” Ashes murmured. “You’re always so pretty, heaven.”

I grinned and kissed him before breaking free to kiss Shadow.

“Morning,” he said. “I like the ponytail, too, but I like everything when it comes to you.”

“Suck up,” Stitches teased.

Shadow flipped him off.

“OK. Get her to classes. Ashes and I will handle Cady. I’ll be in touch. See you guys. Specter, be good. I’ll know if you’re not and will punish you accordingly. Stitches, Shadow, make sure you let that bitch out of the mausoleum this morning.

Stitches grunted, and Shadow led me to the door, Sin following. We pulled open the door to find Asylum waiting.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he greeted me, offering me his arm. “I thought I’d join you for a stroll to classes.”

I laced my arm with his as Stitches and Shadow bid us goodbye to go to the cemetery to release Lucy. Sin rested his hand on my lower back as we walked to campus.

“Like old times, huh, Sin?” Asylum asked.

Sin laughed softly. “Somewhat. Things are better now.”

“Good.”

I listened as the pair talked about the weather, classes, and one of the sisters, because there was a rumor going around that she was meeting up with another sister in her spare time.

When they left me at my class, I went in, unable to concentrate. By the third class of the morning, I hadn’t heard from anyone, and I was getting worried.

When lunch rolled around, I darted out of my class and crashed into Ashes.

“Hey, heaven,” he greeted me. “In a hurry?”

I nodded, making him smile.

“Come on. We’re calling it an early day.”

I took his hand and let him lead me through campus and back to our house. Church and Cady were already sitting on the couch talking. She was crying. Immediately, I released Ashes’s hand and rushed to her.

“It’s OK, specter. She’s fine,” Church said.

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