I was curious to know what happened. But I also needed a drink, because my blood was all over my hand now.
I smirked at him. “You’ll have to get over that at some point.” I started walking with him, both of us heading towards the exit. I shot him a look.
“Your brother has claimed her as his best friend. Daleyza is probably thrilled to have another girl around. Don’t fuck it up with your hot-headed bullshit.”
We stopped by the doors, and I rested my hand on the bag next to him, careful to avoid his shoulder. “Look, I get it—there's history between you two, and it doesn’t help that she's… well, fucking gorgeous.”
“I haven’t noticed.”
I laughed. “Fucking liar. The woman is in our life now, Ronan isn’t far behind in loving her and fuck, she’s so lonely in those woods.”
It pissed me off, knowing she was lonely.
Not just the kind you feel after a bad day—the kind that eats at you, day in and day out. I saw it in how she melted under Ronan’s touch, how she clung to his smiles like she hadn’t had warmth in years. Even the blood mage's obsession didn’t scare her off. That kind of emptiness doesn’t just go away. It makes you crave connection so badly; you’ll take it in any form—kindness, obsession, even chaos.
She’s guarded, yeah, but not stupid. She watches everything and calculates before she speaks. And still, there’s something in her eyes that’s starving for closeness. Loneliness will do that to you. It breaks you down. It makes it easier to let people in, even when you know better. She hasn’t even told us her name, and still… she’s already let us see more than she probably meant to.
I’m just a stubborn bastard who doesn’t let anyone else in but my brothers and Daleyza. Hence why I fuck and throw women away, never letting myself feel.
“How do you feel about her?” He asked.
I shrugged. “I would fuck her if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You fuck everyone.” He deadpanned
True. But not since I met her.
I sighed, sidestepping a group of hunters that came through the door. “Look… she’s different, I respect her, and I accept that she will be in our lives. But that’s it, even if I did like her, I would never have her.”
Nobody deserved to be stuck with me.
My hands twitched in my pocket, and he noticed, he always does when I need a drink.
“Just talk to the girl.”
“I’ll talk to her when you deal with your shit, Kieran.” I knew he was worried; everyone was, but it was easier said than done.
The doors slid open again, and in walked Sera—hair yanked into a too-tight black ponytail; face caked in makeup thick enough to crack. Brown eyes dull as ever, fake smile stretching across overfilled lips. She was wearing a light two-piece get-up and heels, which meant she was working today.
“Hey, handsome.” She cooed—if you could call that nasally high-pitched voice a coo. It was that high-pitched that I was half expecting the animals from the Whispering Woods to come crashing through the windows.
Darian must be deaf to have sex with her.
“Sera,” he grunted, barely sparing her a glance. His eyes flickered over her once, flat and unreadable, not a hint of interest on his face. “What do you want?”
She didn’t even spare me a fucking glance, probably a good thing because I didn’t particularly like being around her.
“Two things, first, do you fancy going out tomorrow night?” she batted her eyelashes, and I tried not to eye roll. “Secondly, Vespera has called an emergency meeting tonight.”
Well, that didn’t sound good.
Darian eyed me, “We will be there, do you know what it’s about?”
Some of the other Hunters that came in before, including Ronan’s friend Jeremy, came over when they spotted Sera. Some fancied her, probably been dick deep in her, but luckily, Jeremy also hated her, which made me tolerate him.
I could tell she was annoyed that he didn’t answer her first question; she tapped her fingernails against her side, her chest pushed out like that would change his mind.
One woman I haven’t touched—and not for lack of trying, I’d sooner suck off a cactus with one up my ass than lay a finger on her.
