Page 36 of Flirting with Death

"You think he knew what would happen? That he ruined our relationships on purpose?"

"I do."

"That is fucked up," he said.

I moved around him, brushing against him and spreading awareness through me even without the incubus demanding it. He turned to look at me after I sank into the throne. I rested my elbows on my knees as I brought my head up to meet his stare.

"He is the God of the Underworld. I mean, look at what he did to keep my mom here. His love is a bit psychotic if I'm being honest."

An ironic smile lifted the corner of Bellamy's mouth and I knew that something had changed between us in this short conversation. "Kettle, black, I'm pretty sure." He gestured at me with a laugh, his shoulders were even less hard.

"I'm not above kidnapping," I replied, only half joking.

"I know. I've seen the thought filter in a few times over the last couple of days. But if you kidnap Sam, you'll have three furious men on your trail."

"And a very mad hunter too, I suppose," I said, lifting my shoulders in a shrug. I'd still do it.

He snorted, something sparkling in the depths of his eyes. It reminded me of the friend I used to have. "I can see her tearing down the walls of the castle now. Cerberus would probably help her. I think you lost your pet to her."

Yeah, I'd say that assessment was right since the three-headed traitor had trotted along behind her when she left the room. But that only meant he didn't view Bellamy as a real threat to my safety.

"Where does this leave us?" It was stupid to hope that a tiny conversation in the span of years of hurt could really fix anything, but maybe it was the start of building up that bridge that had burned between us.

He opened and shut his mouth a couple of times before he finally said, "I don't know."

It was the most real answer he could have given.

"But we do need to work together, Lex is right." He paced back to the throne I was sitting on. "You know we traded stories, Lex and I. It is what opened that door for us. It was interesting the hand your father had in both of your friendships ending. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, of course the King of the Underworld would know how to manipulate people into doing what he wanted. I feel sorry for you, having a father like that."

"You know, if we are going to compare dads—" I trailed off. I really couldn't say a bad word about the King of Demons. He loved his sons and had showered them both with as much love as he could since they were born.

Bellamy held up a hand to stop me from saying more, already knowing my words didn't match my thoughts. "If I have to be in your head, can you at least put up some sort of protection on your thoughts sometimes? It's like you've dropped them all and bombarded me with your every idea, unfiltered."

I hadn't realized I had done it, but my walls had crumbled since he had used me to regain strength. A part of me didn't want the distance my protection would create, but I nodded in agreement. This was needed. If we had friendship on the other side of everything, we both had to round off our rough edges for the other, and that included not taunting him with every contemplation I had.

The emotional rollercoaster we just took a ride on left me feeling vulnerable and slightly weak. However, when he reached out and tilted my head up to him with a single finger, I met his gaze. He traced his knuckles over the side of my face, igniting a heat in the bottom of my stomach that spread through my limbs.

"I want you, Alastor. I'm just not sure I can get past the hurt," he said, as he dropped his hand and stepped back. It left me feeling slightly lost, but it was something that I had to accept.

CHAPTER 22

Raiden

Our search felt like it was never ending. Shouldn't I have some sixth sense for the treasure? I searched yet another full chest. How much did my family hoard? Then I saw it, the red ruby of a necklace, the jewel a large rectangle encased in silver. Magic pulsed off of it in slow beats like a heart. That was it.

"I found it," I said, as my fingers closed around the gem. Sighs of relief passed through my companions on the treasure hunt. Sam and Brook collapsed against the pile they had been searching, while Lex, Alastor, and Bellamy stood straight, stretching out their backs.

"I guess luck is on our side," Bellamy replied.

I still wasn't sure how I felt about the demon. The others had no issue taking his orders in the bedroom, but it made me bristle the first time he tried to tell me how to please my girl. Male ego or something more, I wasn't sure, but one glare had shut him up. And it was like they all sensed when I was with her, it was only me. Sure, they all watched us like they would some porno on TV, but I was okay with the attention, and I knew Sam liked it. Making her scream out in pleasure over and over again while they heard it was more than enough to keep me going.

"The full moon is probably soon in the mortal world," Lex added.

Sam pushed to her feet. "Well then, I guess we should get back." She dusted off her hands on her jeans as she walked over to me. "Can I see?"

I held it up, dangling from the chain between us. It caught the light magically as the others came closer, too.

"That is a Stone of Nobility, you can not give a stone that makes the wearer invulnerable to the mage," Alastor said.

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