Page 25 of Flirting with Death

I drew in a steadying breath as my gaze ran over him in all his glory, his junk on full display. If I wasn't so upset at everyone leaving me here, I might have suggested round two. But I was mad, and he, unfortunately, was the only one here to face my wrath.

"I'm going after them." I strapped on my dagger, avoiding looking at him altogether. He was distracting.

"That is not a good idea. The other muse saw something if she went to your brother. You need help with this one."

His voice faded as I left him in the bedroom. He was talking sense, and my emotional self didn't want to hear it.

"Samantha, stop," he commanded, and I hesitated, my finger just above the call button for the elevator.

I stomped back over to him, poking him in the chest. "You don't get to tell me what to do. I didn't give up any of my ability to think for myself by sleeping with you."

He chuckled, relaxed and not even the slightest bit upset at my outburst. "I wouldn't dare. But take a minute and let yourself think clearly. You're acting rash."

"Okay, Dad," I said. With a huff, I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"Considering how much I know you love your dad, I'll take that as a compliment." He shrugged, the stupid grin still on his face.

The anger died inside of my chest at the mention of my dad. "Did Raiden ever come back?"

"He did. Your dad is stable. Your mom and brother were with him, he told them you were with us."

Guilt hit me in the gut fast and swift. "I should have been there."

"You were, love. Your determination saved him. Give yourself a little grace." He brushed his knuckles over my cheek. How could he take my anger and still have such a loving look on his face?

"I think you are a little mental," I said, peering up at him. The words slipped out unbidden, and he laughed, wiping tears from his eyes.

"My father is Hades, so it is to be expected."

"You are more than your father, Alastor." Anytime he mentioned his dad, I couldn't shake the feeling that he felt like he was lacking compared to the King of the Underworld. It wasn't even close to the truth.

He nodded like he didn't believe me, hiding the rest of his reaction as he turned away from me to go find his clothes. I let him go, but I knew deep inside my heart that I was going to love his broken pieces until they mended. I would love them even if they never did. Because that was this feeling that was growing inside of me, it was a blinding, all-encompassing love for all the guys. It was the kind that kept you up at night if you were apart, the kind that mended holes in your heart left by old wounds, and most of all, the kind I would die to protect.

"Alastor," I called after him. He turned on his heel to face me. "I love you."

"I know."

* * *

The group arrived back just after midnight. Bellamy had a new lead, thanks to his dad. We were looking in the wrong place. The King said that there was a warehouse in the district that they had control of for years. Demons regularly used it as a place to crash when they came to our area. How I didn't already know about it was a little concerning, but it explained the higher than normal activity in our city.

They had gone to watch the building tonight, stalking in the shadows as they observed the coming and going of the demons. I was glad they had engaged none of them in a fight. Yes, Alastor was right and all of them could handle their own, but I still had control issues. They were hard to give up.

Brook's guys had to return to Fairy for a disturbance at the portal that led to the Unseelie lands. They had a semi-truce with them now, but it was tenuous and needed constant attention. But Brook had refused to leave. We took Lex's Timberland, Brook and I climbed into the third row, giving the guys space to spread out. Raiden took shotgun while Alastor, Bellamy, and Cerberus piled in the second row.

"Tell me how you ended up with these four," Brook whispered. If she was trying not to be overheard, she was failing in a car full of supernaturals. None of them turned around to listen, but I could tell we had their full attention at the moment.

"Cliff notes version. They sent me to capture Bellamy. My mom assigned Raiden to help. I didn't want his help, because I didn't know he was a dragon. So I went to Fantasia to ask Lex for his help where I met Alastor, who was also searching for Bellamy." I pulled in a deep breath.

"If you can't tell, everyone wants me." Bellamy shifted in his seat to smirk back at us.

"Not everyone," Alastor grumbled.

His eyebrow went up, and he eyed him with a knowing look. His thoughts were clearly written on his face. He knew he had all the control in their relationship. But I could also see that he wasn't as unaffected by Alastor's words as he pretended.

"I'm here for Sammy," Raiden replied from the front seat. He didn't bother to turn around.

"Raiden is a dragon?" Brook's eyes were like saucers. "We both have dragons. Just wait until his possessiveness breaks out." She shook out her whole body as if she had to shake off a memory.

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