Page 9 of Moonlit Nights & Northern Lights
“I’m sure Maxwell wants to go home for the evening now, but the pair of you can arrange something for tomorrow.”
Seb nodded dismissively, and everyone started gathering their things. Kit shoved past me with a grunt that probably meant “we’ll talk later,” while Priya squeezed my shoulder. Felix disappeared back into his lair.
Freddy scampered down my leg and across the floor, pausing only to hiss at Maxwell’s shoes before darting off toward the kitchen. Probably to raid whatever food had been left unattended.
My attention snagged on Seb and Flynn. The way Seb’s whole demeanour softened as Flynn stepped closer, like ice melting in spring. Flynn’s fingers traced along Seb’s jaw, and he nuzzled into his hand, his eyes fluttering closed for just a moment. Flynn murmured something against his cheek and Seb laughed softly, pressing a kiss to his temple.
I could pretend it made me want to retch, but my chest ached watching them. Would anyone ever look at me like that? Like I was their entire world? Dev certainly hadn’t. It had been great at first, but somehow, I’d always felt like I wasn’t quite enough, wasn’t quite what he wanted. And then he found someone who looked exactly like me but… way better. God, what was wrong with me? Here I was, worried Dev might be dead, and I was still obsessing over how he’d—
A pointed cough cut through my spiral. Maxwell stood there, arms crossed, towering above me. “Tomorrow morning,” he said. “Seven a.m. sharp. Text me your address. Don’t be late.”
I opened my mouth to argue about the ungodly hour, but he was already striding away, leaving nothing but the scent of his stupid lemongrass cologne and the thud of his shoes against the floor.
“Oi.”
I turned to find Priya behind me.
“You alright?”
“Am Ialright? My ex-boyfriend’s probably lying dead in a ditch somewhere, and I’ve been paired with the same dickhead who locked me and him up in cells during a full moon. So I’m absolutelyfantastic, thanks for asking.”
Priya didn’t look remotely impressed. She lightly punched my arm. “Don’t attackmeover it, you twat.”
My shoulders slumped. “Sorry. I just—” I ran my hands through my hair. “I hate this. All of it.”
“Look.” She grabbed my wrist, her fingers warm against my skin. “Maxwell is highly competent. He’s good at his job. If you want to find Dev quickly, just keep your mouth shut and try not to insult him every five seconds.”
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly got stuck in the back of my head.
“Rory.” The tone in her voice made me look at her. “I mean it. This isn’t about you and Maxwell’s… whatever that is between you two. This is about finding Dev.”
The fight drained out of me. She was right. Of course she was right. Priya was always right, which was deeply annoying.
“Fine.” I sighed dramatically. “I’ll try to play nice with Detective Dickface.”
“Rory!”
“That was the last one, I swear.” I held up my hands in surrender. “Starting now, I’ll be a perfect angel.”
She snorted. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Text me tomorrow?”
“Course.” I pulled her into a quick hug, letting her familiar lavender scent soothe me. “Thanks for always having my back.”
She kissed my cheek.
“And if I accidentally shift and pee on his fancy car, it’s just marking my territory. That’s basically police work, right? Securing the perimeter?”
Priya let out an almighty groan. “Go home!” she snapped, turning on her heel and storming towards the stairs.
Well, then. Seemed like pissing on Maxwell’s car was off the table.
For now.
2
Theodore
The steering wheel creaked under my grip as I checked my watch for the tenth time. Eleven minutes late. My day off wasted, waiting outside Rory’s building for him to come down. Brilliant.
