Page 10 of The Rowan's Stone
She joins me. Closing her eyes, she raises her face to the sun, soaking it in. “You’re right—this is epic,” she drawls. Opening her eyes, she stares at me. “Don’t rush it. Enjoy the moment. Here and now. Spend some time with the cadre. Destiny always finds a way to assert itself.” Her face is solemn, as if she knows this firsthand. “Let’s get to the good stuff. What’s going on with you and the five, I repeat,fivedelicious men in your life?”
I throw a chip at her. “Seriously? I tell you epic things, and all you want to talk about is sex?”
“Sex, really? Who? I mean, I know Valerian, but who else? Tell me it’s that yummy blond god, Daire.” She sighs dramatically before continuing her interrogation. “Or did you go dark and fall into the shadows with the seductive Astor?”
“I haven’t had sex with anyone but Valerian,” I retort, then groan. “Astor and I are close, I think. But we’re both enjoying this sexual dance, so neither of us are in a hurry. The rest?” I throw my hands in the air.Arrgh. I’m not good at these things. Theron’s good looks and demeanor blew me away when I first met him. Then he became my rock, and I needed him in a different way. Now he’s changing on me again. Daire was dating Solange when I met him and acted like a dick, so I kept my distance. But when he healed me, we started connecting, and even though he’s given me no encouragement, I feel him watching me all the time. Fallon and I have a weird physical spark that happens whenever we touch, and he’s incredibly attractive, but we haven’t spent much time together. It feels…complicated.
Her mouth drops open before she starts laughing like a loon and literally rolls on the grass. “I was expecting at least two or three, but one?” She gasps. “You’re living with one of the hottest and most powerful cadres in existence, and yet you haven’t made one move on them?”
I consider her question. “The timing hasn’t felt right. And honestly, I’m busy trying to figure out all of these other things, like who my father might be, and I guess I’m content to let things happen on their own.” I don’t want to admit I’m nervous. They’ve all become such a big part of my life, and while I want them, I’m not sure if it will screw things up. It would be different if it was only sex. But I like them too. Narrowing my eyes, I decide to throw her into the spotlight. “All right, we’ve talked all day about me. I’m dying to know what is up with you and Callyx. Your turn to spill.”
Meri huffs and rolls onto her back to stare at the sky. Her countenance is dark. “Fine, I’ll give you the condensed version. When I was younger, I ran away from home. With little food and no powers, I didn’t get far. Some kids found me and took me in. They belonged to a pretty motley crew, running around, doing harmless things like pickpocketing, begging, and running errands for rich supernaturals. I ran with them for a few months. One day, they invited me to join their gang, and I didn’t hesitate.” She plucks at the grass for a minute, lost in the past.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t realize my grace period was over. In reality, the gang worked for a shady demon, the kind you don’t ever want to meet. He’d send us out on errands, dark requests designed to steal pieces of our soul, but we did them. I did them. Because you didn’t want to disappoint him and there are worse things than death,” she reflects, her voice monotone, expressing little emotion about this time in her life, but her fingers continued to yank on pieces of grass.
She takes a deep breath, as if the memories are suffocating her. “It was bad. Much worse than what I’d run away from,” she explains, her voice raspy. “I spent a few years with them, unable to escape, until one day, I found a savior. The demon sent me to kill Callyx.” She stops and laughs at the expression on my face. “Easy, tiger. Obviously, he’s very much alive.”
I slowly uncurl my fists. “I know he lives a dangerous life, but knowing it and hearing you tell me you were sent to assassinate him is tough to hear without wanting to kick your butt,” I reply, my voice harsh with anger.
She pats my hand. “I get it. Thankfully, Callyx is a big boy, and he knows every fighting trick in the book. He laid me out in three minutes flat. Then he tied me up and scared the hell out of me with his shadows and glamours until I cried like a baby, confessing everything to him. He left for a few hours, and when he returned, he was carrying the head of the demon with him. He saved me.”
Stunned, I look at her in horror. “Well, not quite the story I expected to hear. I thought you two had a one-night stand or dated or something.” I sit up and stare down at her. “I’m glad you told me, and it makes me admire you both for what you’ve gone through. And…” I pause. “I’m so glad he saved you. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have you and that would be a damn shame..”
She laughs exactly as I intended and raises her glass. “Cheers to friends. And no, never, the chemistry isn’t there. But I’m grateful, so very, very grateful. I was in rough shape when he saved me. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. The things I did to survive took a huge toll, but he didn’t judge me. He listened while I told him every single heinous act I’d committed the last few years. It’s tough to bare your soul, but he didn’t judge.” Her eyes are soft, looking back on the past. “The next day, he left to get us some food, and I left to go home. Partly because I felt so naked after spilling all my dirty deeds, but mainly because I realized you can’t outrun destiny, so I went home to face it. We never saw each other again until you introduced us.”
“Whoa, no wonder there was some serious tension between you two,” I muse. “He must have been pissed when he returned and found you gone. His temper is almost as bad as Vargas’ and he’s very protective.” She’s biting her lip when I look over, so I grab her hand. “I’m sorry for everything you went through then and I suspect what you still go through. And no judging. I had an easy life compared to you.” I pause, sensing some deep sinkholes in her past. “You know, if you ever want to talk about anything, I’m here. I mean it.”
Meri nods solemnly. “Maybe. One day,” she says softly, then gives a small chuckle and pours another glass of wine.
“Let’s enjoy the sun and wine,” I tell her, holding my glass up for her to clink. “To epic stories and friends who share a destiny.”
6
THERON
Arden leans against the bedroom door, her body glistening with water from her recent shower, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. Her eyes stare into mine while she waits for me to signal my intent, but I refuse, staring impassively back at her, conveying little in return. With a flick, I dispense with her towel entirely, watching as her eyes darken with desire.
Leaning into her, I watch the pulse at her throat flutter and a light blush steal over her cheeks and the mounds of her breasts. Water seeps into my suit, molding us together intimately, but it’s not enough. My hand trails down the curve of her hip to her knee, and I draw her leg around me and thrust closer. Her breath hitches.
“You have my complete and utter attention,” I drawl huskily. My lips skim her throat to the pulse fluttering in the hollow, where I place a soft kiss. “And I intend to focus every bit of it on you. But you will not be in control, not even a little bit. Every piece of you will be mine, every whimper and moan the music in my symphony, every orgasm the crescendo in my concerto. Do you understand?”
She licks her lips and moves restlessly against me. “Yes, I understand,” she whispers.
Satisfaction thrums through me. “Let’s get started. Take off my clothes,” I command.
Her hands reach up—
Piano riffs blare in my ear, my alarm interrupting the exquisite moment. Shutting off the phone, I curse and wipe a hand over my face. My hard cock throbs in agreement. Stifling the urge to go back to sleep, I grunt and get up to shower. At least I have the means to take care of one of my frustrations.
* * *
Stepping into the conference room,I nod with satisfaction at seeing everyone here. Valerian’s sitting beside Arden, holding her hand, Astor across from him, while Daire and Fallon are seated on each end. I stand beside Astor and kick off the discussion.
“We’re all here because Arden asked me to pull together a plan.” I stop talking when I hear several groans. “Is there a problem?”
Daire stares at Arden with a pained look on his face. “Seriously, you asked him for a plan? You do realize you’ve unleashed a monster, right?” He shakes his head sadly at her.
She cocks her head and raises an eyebrow. “There’s too much to figure out, and I’m not sure where to start, so yes, I need his help to create a plan.”
