A dopey, demented grin works its way onto his face. "Aww, that's sweet."
"Is it?"
"I sure think so."
I wrap my arms around him—around the chair he’s slumped in and every part of him I can reach. “I love you. As soon as I let myself feel it without reservations, I Recognized you. I love you so fucking much."
His hand comes up to rest lightly on my back, like he doesn’t quite believe what he’s hearing. "Yeah?"
I pull back to look at him very seriously. "Yeah."
"Me too," he murmurs. Music to my ears.
Maybe it's not the grand declaration of romance our audience expected, judging by the way Adelaide scoffs.
He clears his throat. “I mean… You aren't just my supposed mate anymore, are you? We’ve both seen the light, so… yeah, I feel the same.”
“Pathetic,” Adelaide mutters behind us.
“I will say it. Later.” Marlow tilts his head to the side and shoots her a glare. “But I’m not saying it in front ofher."
"You're an idiot," I say fondly.
Marlow grins. "You're stuck with me."
Good.
28.No Hard Feelings?
Wynn
This is awkward.
“Would anyone like some refreshments?” Cierra’s voice is stiff, her fists tightly clenching the top of the armchair her wife sits in.
The detective opens his mouth.
“We don’t have any refreshments,” Cierra objects before he can form a request. Guess it was a rhetorical question. Or she just doesn’t like him. Probably that one.
“Let’s just move this along, shall we?” Harper voices wearily.
“Are you giving me orders in my own home?” Adelaide’s tone makes the hair on my arms stand on end. She’s sitting in the armchair like it’s her throne, making no secret of her hostility towards the detective in the chair next to her.
“The sooner we sort this out, the sooner this Alpha leaves your den,” he points out. His voice sounds strained but he’s doing a much better job of controlling his instincts this time and not bristling at being in the living room of two hostile Alphas.
A pretty big accomplishment, given how tightly wound Cierra and Adelaide are. Not only are they territorial Alphas, they’ve been hiding Dodger in this very home, protecting him from harm. Their instincts must be going haywire.
"Let’s all take a deep breath and just talk this out,” I suggest. “Nobody is an enemy here."
"Yeah, we’re all friends.” Marlow points at Harper. “The good detective hasn’t even arrested me yet.”
“Still time for that," Harper mutters.
No, nobody is arresting the demon on my watch. It’s my turn to go territorial and I place a hand on Marlow’s thigh as I stare down the detective. "What would you arrest him for? Killing the man sitting right there?"
When I indicate Dodger and all eyes swing to him, he’s watching Harper with an odd look on his face. He jumps at being caught staring, cheeks flushing crimson. He ducks his head, staring resolutely down at his lap.
"Why don’t you start at the beginning?" Harper invites him gently.
