Ascher cleared his throat and immediately stepped back.
How was it possible to be pussy-blocked by a siren who lived on sex?
So unfair!
When neither man offered her their arm, Morgan couldn’t hold back a grin. They were both too afraid that if she touched them, they wouldn’t be leaving the bedroom anytime soon.
While she was more than happy to oblige them, they were pretending to be virgins trying to hold onto their virtues or something. She would be pissed if she weren’t so amused.
As they headed toward the kitchen, she saw the stairs to the basement creak open.
Morgan stopped, but when the boys followed, she knelt to retie her shoe and waved them off. “I’ll be right behind you. I just need a second.”
When neither of them fell for her ploy, she mentally rolled her eyes.
Then, much to her shock, they both nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
Not waiting for them to change their mind, she jumped to her feet and scrambled for the basement door. Atlas and Caedmon had taken over the basement, working with plants and creating potions and medical supplies. They’d built a glass wall at the far side of the room and created a laboratory with beakers and vials,Bunsen burners and tubes. Some of the materials looked ancient, while others had a modern, sleek touch to the machinery.
She loved watching them work when she swam laps. The rest of the room remained an oasis, a piece of an alien rainforest come to life. There were plants and smells that she didn’t recognize. It was stunning, and she was amazed at what the two guys had built. Every week they changed it up, keeping her in awe.
At night, the basement came to life, the whole area glowing with different bioluminescent plants, leaving the pool looking like a sensual retreat for lovers, one that Atlas loved to take her to when he wanted a moment alone.
She reached the pool and glanced around the room, not surprised when Séamus, a small leprechaun whom she’d inherited with the house, pushed his way through the shrubbery. She was a little more surprised to spot Loki and Stanley emerge next. Stanley’s orange fur looked like he’d been dragged through the foliage backwards, while Loki had broken branches stuck under one wing.
“What’s wrong?” Because they wouldn’t have lured her away from the guys unless it was something important.
Séamus paced a few feet back and forth before he stopped, planted his hands on his hips, and faced her directly, his green suit and shiny buttons almost blending into the background. “Ye cannae trust the fae.”
Her lips twitched with amusement, and she tipped her head to the side. “Aren’t you fae?”
His bushy eyebrows lowered as he glowered at her. “Exactly me point.”
Any amusement fled, and her gut churned with dread. “Do you know what they’re planning?”
Leprechauns were annoyingly fast and almost impossible to catch. If Séamus didn’t want anyone to see him, he would remain invisible.
“Nae.” Séamus began pacing again, practically kicking theground in his annoyance. “But the fae dinnae care for anything but Faerie. They’ll be comin’ for ye.”
Morgan shouldn’t be shocked that he was worried for her. He’d come to her rescue more than once. He was just so curmudgeon at times that she forgot that he had a heart of gold underneath all the blarney. If he was warning her, Morgan would take him seriously. “What do you suggest?”
He shot her a hard look that made his hairy eyebrows look like they were wiggling up his forehead, trying to see if she was serious. When she didn’t laugh at him, he ran a hand down the front of his suit and stood straighter. “The coven is secured. No one is getting in the house without your approval.”
“I can’t stay inside forever.” Morgan rejected the idea out of hand. She was in charge of the coven, which meant that it was her duty to protect the territory and keep people safe. She couldn’t do that being a virtual prisoner. “We need a solution, not a band-aide.”
“It ain’t hidin’, it’s smart.” He huffed in annoyance, clearly affronted, since it was his method of staying safe. He had taken refuge here when the wendigo took over the grounds. Since Morgan had moved into the house, it had now become his home.
“Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. People depend on the coven to keep them safe. I’m not allowed to stay indoors when danger comes calling.” Though Morgan would admit it would be nice to have a day off now and then.
“Bleedin’ heart,” he muttered but nodded in understanding. “Ye need a protector, someone bigger and stronger to keep ye safe…or yer own army. Go be with yer boys, we’ll work the problem.” He waved her away like she was an annoying pest before he disappeared back into the vegetation, barely disturbing a leaf with his disappearance.
As she headed up the stairs, she came to a stop when she spotted Atlas standing at the top. She wasn’t surprised that he’d come after her and just stood watch instead of interfering. She continued up the steps until she stood before him. “You heard?”
“Yes.” He moved to the side, allowing her to pass. “It’s not a bad idea.”
When she went to go around him, he placed a hand on the doorjamb, blocking her. With the other hand, he tipped her chin, until only inches separated their lips. His umber eyes were splintered with green, the intensity almost hypnotizing, and she couldn’t look away.
“You won’t run off alone.” It was both a plea and a demand, his voice gruff. He looked determined to follow her to hell and back if needed.
