Page 58 of Redeemed
David rubs his cheek against Trajan’s shoulder. “Of course I am,” he says, slurring his words.
“We needed this.” He pauses. “I needed this.”
I want to kiss him, but I’m afraid. Jacques’ command hangs between us, more lightly than before but still present. “I needed it too,” I say, althoughneedis an inadequate term. Physical closeness with David and Trajan has the strength of a demand, the unrequited hunger found in yearning. The details of them—David’s all-over tanned skin and smile that never quite fades, Trajan’s unruly hair and quiet strength—are things I’ll never forget, yet I cannot go long without experiencing them.
This thing we share exceeds anything I’d ever expected, and I will do anything in my power to preserve it.
Anything.
David makes a sound that’s close to a snore and, as if reading my mind, Trajan pokes him. “Don’t fall asleep. We have to figure out our next moves.”
“Don’t wanna move.” David grabs hold of each of us and drags us closer.
Gently disentangling himself, Trajan says, “I know, puppy.”
David groans, stretching his arms over his head and pointing his toes.
I pull out my phone. “We’ve got a few things on the calendar.” I open the app. “You meet with Delia Packard tonight, David’s got an appointment with the Were Authority tomorrow morning, and at some point Jacques is going to attempt to bring Armageddon down on our heads.”
“Sounds about right.”
David’s still stretching, although now he’s bent over with his nose to his knees. “The Were Authority thing is a huge pain in the ass.”
“I’ll be there to represent your pack, and so will Cliffe. We can ask Sheena to back us up, too.”
“Yeah.” David sounds bummed, but I don’t know how to cheer him up, so I change the subject.
“It’s kinda fucked that we don’t know Jacques’ schedule.”
David straightens, bending a knee and hooking it with his opposite elbow, twisting his upper body. “Connor and I had an enlightening discussion with the Morrigan and a phouka who works for Jacques. Whatever he’s planning involves the Princess and black magic.”
Trajan’s brows are drawn together. “The vampire sires in this area are concerned that he’s going to bring the elves down on all our heads.”
“And both Sheena and Lydia say he’s gathering allies to him,” I say. “I wonder what that means, exactly.”
David unwinds and when a phone starts to buzz in the other room, he gets up. His toned legs and perfectly molded ass give my cock ideas, but the look on his face when he comes back to the bedroom hits me like a bucket of cold water.
“Friday the tenth.” He frowns at the phone. “The dude I bought the warded hacky sack from needs a werewolf bodyguard on Friday because he’s heard there’s a big black magic thing happening and he and a few others are going to try to stop it.”
Trajan and I share a glance. “Sounds like we have a date,” Trajan says.
“Like, in three days.”
“Damnú. Now we just need to know where it’s happening and how many people we’re going to be fighting.”
David’s attention is still on his phone. “The witches are still trying to divine the location, according to Albion Bird. As to how many we’re fighting, maybe we should check out the place Betancourt’s been staying. With luck he’ll have his evil minions camped in the yard so we can count them.”
I doubt it’ll be that easy. Things are coming to a head, and we need to be ready.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Trajan
CONNOR, DAVID, AND I pile into the rented SUV. We have a good four hours until midnight and we’re all too antsy to sit in a hotel room. Instead our destination is the house in the Santa Monica hills where they believe Jacques is staying. Connor drives and David keeps the mood light. I spend most of the trip repeating “get out get out get out” because my maker’s presence is hovering on the edge of my awareness, waiting for the slightest opening.
We take the 101 and traffic is surprisingly light. Eight p.m. is still rush hour in this part of the world.
“The house is at the end of a long driveway,” Connor says, “so we can’t really drive past without calling a whole lot of attention to ourselves. We’ll have to park and walk in. Poke around a little and see what we see.”
