The innkeeper twitches, reaching for a glass. “No one matching that description here, sirs.”
Theo flaps his wings, taking him to the top of the bar before he jumps down directly in front of this human. “Do not lie to us. We’ll bust every fucking door in this place.Where is she?” He leans over the human, his body causing the human to back up.
He pales and his eyes flick to me and Arch. I cross my arms, ready to rip this human limb from limb. I take a deep breath, trying to control my emotions.And hormones. Fern’s presence had kicked them into high gear, and now I need her near me.
“Third floor, last room,” he whispers, shame clear on his face.
A few flaps and we’re there. I take my shoulder to the door without thought.
The blonde jumps to her feet, dagger in hand, braid mussed, from a chair near the bed.
In the bed, Fern lays, looking pale. She uncurls slowly, hand digging under the pillow and she pulls a small blade too, eyes searching blearily.
Anger and fear dives through me and I’m suddenly on the bed.
“Flower,” I whisper, my hand going to her dirty hair.
She should be cleaned. I should have been here to bathe her.
Her eyes flash recognition and she drops the blade, but whimpers and curls in on herself. Theo kneels next to me, his purr kicking to life as his hand goes to Fern’s bare arm.
“Stones, she’s hot as the sun,” he mutters.
“Fuck,” Arch cusses and I see him spin to the blonde.
“We’re taking her. She’ll be safe,” he declares, brooking no argument.
The human woman argues anyway, “I don’t fucking like it, but she told me to call you. If something happens to Fern, I’m hunting you fuckers down and cutting off your balls, do you hear me? And I can do it too, Fern told me when you sleep.” A look of superiority hits her blue eyes.
Arch nods. “If she comes to harm in our care, we won’t deserve them.”
The blonde looks satisfied with this answer and she strides to the window, throwing both sides of it open.
As Theo scoops Fern up and Arch and I climb out, launching from the window frame, I immediately realize my bond-mates may not know what is wrong with our omega.
I spin in the air, cross-gliding, to yell down to them, “She’s in heat!”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Theodore
Iland as smoothly as a gargoyle of my size can, trying not to jostle my little omega.
Heat.She’s in heat.
We are not prepared for this. My mind, used to commanding a squadron, runs ahead, trying to think of all the things we might need.
Fern whimpers in my arms, her knees pulling up closer to her chest.
“Oh fuck, sweetling, I’m sorry,” I whisper to her as Arch hits the balcony running. He heads straight for his room, which has the largest bed.
“Shit,” I rasp. “We don’t have a nest for her!”
From beside me, Ben answers, “I’m going to grab our blankets and pillows now, and bring them to Arch’s. Our scent will be soothing at least.”
I nod, feeling lost. “Can we bathe her?” I ask, looking at my little mate, still dirty and bloody from the battle.Idon’t give a fuck, I just don’t think she’d like being this messy.
“After we knot her, maybe. She’s in pain,” he tosses over his shoulder.
