When we got in the house, I was welcomed to the sound of Zelda scolding Xander about sneaking a taste off the stove of whatever she was cooking. It felt comforting and familiar. Damn it, I really was getting used to this place.
I peeked in the kitchen to say hello and then walked to the living room. No Luca.
I felt a hand on my back. Yosef. I could tell by his musky bourbon scent. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “Where’s Luca?”
“He went out for a bit, but he’ll be back.”
“I need to give him his room back.”
“He likes you there.”
“I can stay in your study.”
“There’s no bed. Although, I can set it up for you to make it your own. However you want it. Not that any of us will let you sleep alone. Now that you’ve bonded with Xander, he’ll be moving into the guest room permanently. Hope you don’t mind living with the three of us.”
I looked up at him, his face careful and neutral as if he were handling a fragile bird. Where was all this sensitivity when we first met? Yosef had to have read my mood. He knew I wanted them all here for as long as was feasible.
I got on my toes and moved his head to me, giving him another kiss on the forehead before climbing the stairs.
“Another damn forehead kiss. What is the meaning of this?” I heard him mutter.
I really liked annoying him.
* * *
Imeant to take a nap, but I didn’t. Instead, I stared up at my ceiling, trying to think of a way to capture some big, bad leaders. Strategy was never my strength, but I wasn’t going to wait around for the Prinaths to make something happen.
One thing I did know was that the green-haired bitch, Nigel, wanted me. I was no longer in disguise, so there was a good chance of him finding me, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. He had access to the town, so he could get in and find me. We could set a trap with me as bait, but would that pull any Nodoorian leaders? I highly doubted it.
I kicked my feet in the air like a spoiled child. On the one hand, I desperately wanted to be home. I could be out of business. My house could be sold and all my worldly possessions because people thought I was dead. That gave me plenty of anxiety.
On the other hand, I kinda, okay, a lot liked these guys, and something about the affairs of the heart and all that had a girl thoroughly caught up. These three men had taken root in my soul, and just thinking about leaving them actually made me queasy. I bonded to all of them. How the hell could I leave? Would I be able to come back? Opening the portals at any time while they were in a war was clearly a problem. I couldn’t just come and go as I pleased.
I heard a knock at the door, and I sat up on my bed. “Come in.”
Luca walked in, and my stomach clenched at just the sight of him. Damn, he was gorgeous. Those sea-green eyes against the caramel-colored skin just entrapped me. “You don’t need to knock. This is your room.”
He paused and starred at me, eyes momentarily startled and then settling. What was his deal? Oh, that’s right, I was back to my real look again. I waved at him. “Hey.”
He walked over and sat down at the end of the bed, not speaking but still staring at me. Nice.
I waved my hands in front of my face. “Okay, so your staring is making me uncomfortable. Say something.”
“You look beautiful,” he whispered.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I thought I wouldn’t care, but I guess I did.
“I heard you might be staying for a while. Should I pretend to be upset?”
I laughed. “Not if it’s a lie.”
He scooted further back on the bed and leaned back on his elbows. He seemed so much more relaxed now. Understandable.
He glanced over to me, brows knitting together. “You know, when you go back, I’m coming. You’re my mate.”
I crawled over to him and stretched out beside him. “If the court will allow it, I’m game.”
