Page 66 of His Angel

The silver line on Taylor's mask glints as he turns to Tamsin, and as my gaze flicks to the men behind them, I can’t help but wonder how useful would a second person be to them in their moment of confusion, or would it be more of a distraction than an asset?

The leather burns at my wrist, a promise was given but not returned, not like the one Leo and I made to each other, the vengeance we would hand out if anyone fucked with the other, but am I really willing to risk Wyatt alone in this?

The stupid circle of thoughts keeps rotating, going around and around and getting me nowhere but back at the beginning. Frustrating.

“Well, congratulations to our first power couple of the challenge,” the man says with a nod. “We’ll be watching you all closely.”

“If we could have a moment alone with the new couple, please?” Liselle asks.

I catch Tamsin’s gaze as we file out, her excited smile twinkling in her eyes before we leave, the boys striding as we meander our way back to the cars.Well, that was weird.

Wyatt’s hand finds my lower back, briefly, his signature bead bracelets giving him away as a comfort I didn’t realise I needed until his warmth begins to heal the concern swarming around my stomach.

Everything has been so carefully structured, so regimented, with every move having a purpose, so what on earth were those people for? The ceremony was witnessed by two of the Devils already, is there more that comes afterwards? Something I’ve not been privy to yet because I haven’t chosen him back, haven’t claimed him too.

But I’m not the only one that feels like something is off, that reads the undercurrent of tension, as Nick declares, “Ivy rides with me.”

“Angels and Devils travel separately,” one of the security or drivers or whatever they are says, only raising further alarm bells as I look at the girls.

I don’t want to leave them too, but something isn’t right.

“She’s his Angel,” Leo says, striding my way and holding up my wrist.

“Fine,” the guy agrees as Wyatt ushers me into a car behind Nick, Oliver already taking the back seat.

Aimee sends a small smile my way, waving, but it doesn’t reach her eyes, and I know she’s feeling the divide being drawn in the sand.Aren’t we all?

It’s not that I want to go with the guys over them, but I also don’t feel safe right now and they’re the better option here. Sad, but true. And as strange as it sounds, they’ve become one of my safe places.

If you’d told me that a month ago, I’d have laughed in your face. But they have.

I somehow find myself stuffed awkwardly between Nick and Wyatt, tension rolling off them both. Wyatt slides his arm along my shoulders, drawing me into his comforting embrace, and far from the chest-banging caveman display I expect from Nick, he just takes my hand.

Now, this isn’t the threesome experience I’d been imagining recently, never expecting Nick to be so calm about someone else reassuring me, and I can only imagine what Oliver is thinking in the back seat, but it feels good. Wyatt’s calming warmth at one side, and Nick’s determined strength at the other.

Oliver and Wyatt talk about something for one of their classes as we head back, Nick’s thumb rubbing back and forth against the back of my hand silently, and by the time we make it back to the house, I’ve almost forgotten about the weird meeting we’ve just come from.

We are all out of the car and climbing the stairs to their front door when that awkward avoiding of the obvious finally breaks, Oliver asking the question first.

“Did it seem strange to any of you that they pulled us from class for that?” Oliver asks, opening the door.

“Totally,” I agree.

“Well, we’re all home safely, so let’s just get a drink and wait for everyone else,” Wyatt says as we strip off our masks.

Nick hands his to Wyatt before stalking off to the kitchen, his long strides carrying him away quickly.Strange.With a shrug, Oliver and I follow, Wyatt heading upstairs with their masks to put them away properly. He’s fidgeting around in the cupboards when we get there, stacking up drink after drink on the counter.

“I wasn’t sure what you all wanted,” Nick mumbles, refusing to make eye contact.

“Cheers, dude,” Oliver says, either not picking up on the strange way he’s acting or not caring. “I’m gonna load up if you guys want a game?”

Wyatt comes back in, picking up on the tension immediately and sending me a concerned look. “Sure,” he agrees, grabbing a drink and leaving the two of us alone. “Will you message Stephanie too, get the girls here instead of at their place and give Ivy some company?”

“Can do.”

Their conversation dies down as they move around the house, heading further away and into the den.

“They’re taking a long time,” Nick says, his gaze flicking to the clock on the wall. “They should be back by now.”

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