“I like you,” Cierra chimes in. “But this is fun.”
“I don’t like you,” Adelaide states bluntly.
Marlow sighs heavily and pinches the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off an oncoming headache.
I can’t help but chuckle under my breath as I tug on his hand gently, pulling him toward the door before they can torture him any further. “Don’t worry,” I whisper conspiratorially as we step outside into the crisp evening air. “I’ll protect you.”
29.Puppies and Plans
Wynn
I fold a worn flannel and place it atop the growing pile in my bag. I feel Marlow's eyes on me before I even look up. Leaning against the doorframe as he watches me pack up my life and load it into boxes.
“Are you sure about this?”
"Moving out and joining Bane’s pack?" I pause my packing and offer him a wry smile. “Absolutely. Even if it technically makes you part of Bane’s pack too.”
“As long as I don’t ever have to call him ‘Alpha,’ I’m good,” he shudders. “But what about helping Adelaide renovate the cabin? In case it somehow escaped your notice, I don’t know the first thing about construction. Putting me, creatures from the underworld, and power tools together is a recipe for disaster.”
Adelaide will store my stuff, and she suggested that Marlow and I renovate the cabin. Whether it’s a stressed-out pack member or a desperate soul seeking shelter, Adelaide has decided the old cabin could serve as a safehouse. It’s a better option than using her den.
Marlow’s going to bring some creatures from the underworld to help, and I’m too excited to meet them to protest. It’s honestly debatable whether we’ll improve the place or accidentally demolish the cabin, but it’ll keep us busy until we can head to Brighton.
Well, there’s also another project I’ll be tackling.
“If fixing up the cabin doesn’t work out, we can find a place in the city. Hopefully I’ll have my investigator license by the time it’s safe for you to go back to Brighton.”
“You’re sure about joining my business?”
I continue packing, carefully folding each item and placing it into my bag. "Someone has to look out for the people the supernatural authorities don’t consider a priority.” Even though it’s not exactly the same, my tracking skills and senses are an asset for investigations. And having someone on his team actually capable ofinvestigatingsounds like a fantastic idea.
It’s a good cause, and I’ll be there to watch his back. Who could ask for any better purposes than those?
He groans and clutches his chest. "Don't make me sound so noble, Blackwood. Have you learned nothing from being stuck with me? I'm a very lazy, very sneaky demon who is always up to no good."
"Is that so? Because you and Iggy were cuddled up in bed this morning and the adorable picture I took is my new phone background. Do you want to see it?"
"Ruthless and terribly villainous," he insists. "Terrible and terribly good-looking."
I turn and catch the fearsome demon around the waist, pulling him against me. I give the very scary face he's trying to make a sunny smile. "You're also my mate."
What a softie. The menacing aura he’s trying to project fades and he wraps his arms around me. "Okay, you've got me there."
I press my lips to his. What starts as a soft peck on the lips soon becomes more intense, and he’s licking his way past my lips while helping himself to a handful of my ass. Marlow looks proud of himself as we pull apart, as if he won the argument by kissing me into submission. It isn’t really a “villainous” strategy, but whatever.
"Okay, tough guy. Why don't you help me?"
He pitches in without complaint, loading up a box with the contents from my dresser, which either proves my point about him being a softie or shows how much he loves me. Both work in my favor.
“We can still come back whenever we want. Your pack is here,” Marlow says while closing up a full box. All the details for splitting our time between Concordia and Brighton haven’t been sorted out yet, but we have time since Marlow can’t go back without being arrested. “Aside from the prisons, I like it here. Iggy doesn’t have to hide himself all the time.”
I have an idea about how to help Iggy, but I don’t bring it up now, not wanting to spoil the surprise.
In the meantime, we make some progress on packing. My bag is slung over my shoulder and Marlow carries a box as we step into the living room. My roommate walks up the path to our door, visible in the window.
I set my bag down. "Brenda is back. We should say hi."
Marlow looks out the window, spots her, and shakes his head. "I'll hide in your room. Tell me when she's gone."
