Page 99 of Elas

“It’s so refreshing to hear someone else give him a hard time,” Cameron says to Elas. “Really sets the mood.”

Ronan scoffs and places his free hand on his hip. “I told you to hide.”

Cameron rolls his eyes, and I get the impression this is an ongoing argument between them. He shoots me a giant grin. “August! I’m so happy to see you outside of that place!” Elas chuckles as I release him and dart forward, intending to give Cameron a hug, but I freeze when Ronan releases a predatorial growl.

“I will put this blade right back to your neck, human, if you so much as touch what is mine.” There’s a challenge in his smile, like he’s itching to make good on his promise. Cameron lets out a long sigh as my arms awkwardly drop to my sides.

“Here we go again,” he mutters, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at his mate. “Drama queen.”

“Some things never change,” Elas says from behind me, and mischief dances in his eyes when I glance over my shoulder at him. He tosses me a wink as Ronan grunts in irritation.

It’s a pretty accurate assessment of both their personalities, honestly.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ronan finally asks, his gaze bouncing between the two of us. There’s suspicion and something akin to fear in his expression, but I don’t miss the fondness in his eyes as they pause on Elas. “And more importantly, how did you find us so I can make sure it never happens again?”

“That would be my fault,” Reyes says, and I wince, having forgotten about him in the backseat. He hid until the threat was gone… which, now that I consider it, is completely on point for him.

Ronan whirls, his sword hissing as he returns to fighting stance, “For fuck’s sake, man,” Reyes whines, “how many times are we going to do this!?”

“To be fair, you stabbed him last time,” Cameron says, and Ronan nods defiantly, weapon still at the ready. “But it is a valid question… how did…” Cameron swings his finger between me, Elas, and Reyes. “… this happen? It’s like the start of one of those jokes. A blueberry-colored soldier, a medic prisoner, and a rebel stowaway walk into a bar…”

Ronan relaxes his arm as Elas walks over and throws an arm around his shoulders. “You’ve caused quite the ruckus, old friend.”

“We certainly figured that out,” Ronan says, his tone implying there’s a lot to the story we have yet to hear, but he hugs Elas back. Another bolt of jealousy hits me, but it’s milder this time. Their body language is relaxed and friendly, comfortable—but not intimate in the way that forms between lovers.

“I’ve missed you, too, you grumpy fuck,” Elas says with a chuckle as they separate. “Everything spiraled after Commander Bravis went missing. August and I barely got away from base without raising suspicion.”

“Let me guess,” Ronan says, narrowing his eyes at Reyes. “You stumbled upon an abandoned rebel camp with a weird man living in a rat hole?”

“For the last time, I am not weird!” Reyes whines, and Ronan seems to find infinite pleasure in the sound.

“How many days did it take him to come out of his lair, and—more importantly—did he stab you in the shoulder?” Ronan snarls, flashing his tiny little fangs, and I bite at my lip to keep from laughing. Elas grins as well, coming over to slide his arm around my waist, and I blow out a content sigh as I lean my head on his wide chest.

“I told you he’d still be mad about it,” Reyes grumbles to Elas, who only chuckles. He drops his hand to my hips, absentmindedly wrapping his giant fingers around my hipbone and pulling me closer to him.

“We’d been hiding there for a few days when I discovered the entrance to his underground room.” My brows fly higher on my forehead as he squeezes my hip again, and I barely contain the urge to roll my eyes when I realize what he’s doing.

These two and their pissing contests.

Elas’s words have their intended effect, though, and Ronan’s mouth drops open as he gestures wildly at Elas. “Wait. You found one of the hidden rooms?”

“Yep,” Elas says, and I can hear his smirk as he tells that bald-face lie without so much as a flinch. “And I told you he’d be pissed about that,” he says to Reyes.

I decide to put Ronan out of his misery. “It doesn’t count as you finding it since I lived there,” I say to Elas, and he pouts before he grins, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “I knew where the rooms were,” I tell Ronan, who continues to watch me like I might be a threat to him or Cameron. “It just took a few days before we realized someone was staying in them.”

“You ass,” Ronan growls, and Elas’s mischievous grin turns radiant. “Always trying to get one up on me.”

“Wait, hold up a second… you lived there?” Cameron asks, staring at me with his head tilted in curiosity.

“A long time ago, yeah.” I gesture towards Reyes, who stands further away than me and Elas. He watches Ronan cautiously, like he’s expecting to be jumped. “Reyes came out—no stabbing involved—and after a few conversations, he finally told us about the pair of you raiding his camp.” Reyes has enough working against him at the moment, so I decide not to mention the almost-stabbing. He flashes me a relieved smile, eyes slightly too wide.

“We didn’t raid it,” Ronan says defensively.

“We totally raided it,” Cameron says with a snort, flashing Ronan a giant smile that seems to melt Ronan’s defenses.

“You two are sweet together,” I say, and Cameron sends that pleased grin my way as he snuggles into Ronan’s side. We spent very limited time in each other’s presence, but the difference in Cameron’s demeanor is obvious. He’s happier—the snarkiness very much alive in both his tone and facial expressions, but it’s without the edge he used to carry.

“Anyway,” I continue, “we realized who it was right away.”

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