“Did I see you drag some random dude into a nightmare?”
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m not sure. Did you?”
“I saw nothing unusual, angel,” Alistair says, holding a serious expression without breaking. Luca can’t manage it. After making a strange choking sound, he covers his mouth with his hand to hide his grin.
Malach steps to Celine’s side and begins meticulously removing the leather wraps from her hands. She shakes her head at me, then looks at him, her expression softening. “What about you? Did you miss it, too?”
Malach kisses her knuckles and grins. “As I told you, My Truth. The demon is worthy.”
Luca groans and I laugh. I’m really starting to like this guy.
THIRTY-ONE
Unspoken rule of the Fringes #512:
If you let someone past your guard, expect to get hit.
CELINE
Ciprian fried that heckler’s brain. For me. As if casually sending a grown man to the fetal position without bothering to turn around is no big deal. That kind of power is dangerous. Sure. Whatever. I’m more concerned about how fucking hot I found it.
He followed it up by directing petty taunts at Dom.
Childish? Yes. Stupid? Definitely. But with his black eyes flashing, and his lips pressed in a thin, angry line, he was so transparently jealous that my addled brain decided to be flattered.
Jealous Ciprian is delicious.
I’ve obviously taken too many hits to the head, because Luca, Alistair, and Malach backing his ridiculous behavior made it even hotter.
Desire rolls low in my belly, joining the leftover adrenaline from the fight. It makes me want to do something reckless, liketease all four of them until they beg for me on their hands and knees.
Pull yourself together, Celine. You should be too tired to be this horny.
“Movie night?” Luca asks. His question inspires a stunned silence and implies that we’re in the habit of watching movies together as a group... which we certainly fucking aren’t.
“I’m free,” Alistair says, his tone innocent. I don’t need to look at him to know he’s watching me hungrily while waiting for my reaction.
What are they up to? And can I sit on the couch and watch a movie with them? It’s too normal. Too relaxing. Even if I only pretend for one night, there will be a cost. My equilibrium. My dignity. If I allow a timeout, I could lose focus.
“If you don’t want me there?—”
I hold my hand up. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Ciprian.”
For once he shuts up, but now I wish he hadn’t because I have no one to argue with. I need to think. Shit, they’re all watching me... waiting.
I’m too warm. I should be cooling down, but the heat... Paired with the itch, I’m crawling out of my skin. I need to get out of here.
Shoving past Ciprian, I head for the door.
Luca calls my name, but I don’t stop. I need air, and I need it now. If I get fresh oxygen to my brain, maybe I won’t feel like the fate of the world rests on my ability to make this one simple decision.
The metal of the doorknob is blessedly cool against my fingers. The valley air is not. Arid and static, it settles around me more heavily than a coat. Frantic for an outlet, I throw my head back and scream at the night sky. Cold and unblinking, the dense canopy of stars draws me in.
They don’t give a shit if I crack to pieces.
I would curse them all if I had the time.
Marching down the street, I crack my knuckles, distracted by the buzz of dozens of conflicting thoughts. Chaotic. Fractured. Disorganized. I miss who I was before I gave in to my attraction to these monsters.Liar.I wince.You miss who you were before your father found you.
