AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nog came flying into the room in his corgi form, a crocheted doll between his teeth. His muffled barks were consistent with his sounds of impatience. Pol followed him, and began to speak, but quickly cut himself off when he saw Clara was present. The tension in the room shifted the moment they began to exchange words. How could they not see how badly they wanted each other? I’d be damned if I let that one slip by her.
She rolled her eyes, looking away from him. “What do you want?”
“I came to see if Reagan needed anything before I escort the two of you down there.”
“I don’t need you to be my escort.”
“Damn, woman. I didn’t say youneededone. It’s customary.”
She whirled, facing him. “Who the hell do you think you are calling mewoman?”
I groaned. “Seriously, you two. Get a room.” Nog exhaled loudly through his nose, making sounds amounting to a laugh.
“I donotneed a room with him,” Clara said defiantly. “He’s moody, and abrasive?—”
“And incredibly hot. Quite like you. Everyone here knows you have a thing for him,” I interjected, quickly looking to Pol. “I don’t mean to objectify you, but you know you’re a pretty man.”
He inclined his chin. “I am.”
Clara grumbled. “We aren’t even each other’s types.”
“Oh, don’t I know it.” For a moment she looked smug, happy that I had sided with her. Until I finished my thought. “Your type sucks.”
Her mouth popped open, and her cheeks flushed pink.
“Seriously, Clara. Your last boyfriend stole your autonomy with poison, tried to kill me, and planned on killing Pol and Caius and probably a slew of other people.”
She glanced at the crocheted doll on the floor as Nog bit down on it, shaking it between his teeth with a heavy growl. With a saccharine sweet voice, she said, “And now he can live as a chew toy for eternity.”
“Maybe it’s because her last boyfriend was a power-hungry, arrogant piece of shit? Too bad he didn’t bother to get to know her or respect her powers,” he said, approaching her with his hands behind his back. Even though he was speaking to me, it was as if he were addressing my cousin.
“Oh? And what would you know about respect? Hmm? I get dragged into Tartarus and you instantly question me and my motives.” She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
He slowed, tilting his head. “Can you blame me for being skeptical? I’d lived with Abyssian forfive thousand yearsand I knew something was wrong but could never figure it out.”
“You called me woman.”
“You called me Pollito.”
I tried to muffle my snort-laugh.
“Wait, you said you liked the sound of it?” Her voice changed slightly toward the end of her question. She was actually worried ...
“And you care about what I like?”
“I . . . no. Maybe, but it’s not like you care about?—”
“You like sunsets.”
Clara released a small gasp. “How did you know that?”
“You like the smell of fresh baked bread, but especially anything with cinnamon. Romance books are your preferred reading, simply because you want to find that kind of love even if you don’t believe it exists. You favor the orange crochet needle over the blue. The one your little brother gave you because it’s your favorite color.”
“Damn, Pol. Well played,” I whispered, giving him a thumbs up, but neither of them looked at me. The corgi and I were just witnesses to whatever was happening.
“How could you even know all that?” she said, her features softening. “How could you possibly . . .”
“Because I made it a priority to learn about you.”
