Thirty-Six
GRAY
After more time and broken hearts than we could count, my rebels and I finally returned to the place we’d once called home. The place we’d decided, somewhere between the end of the Battle for Blackmoon Bay and the showers and naps at the Kingston hotel and the long drive into these woods on the outskirts of town, to call home for good.
The safe house was neglected from our long absence and partially damaged from the storms, but it was still standing, untouched by the violence that had decimated the city.
Inside, we wandered in silence, the only sounds the click-clack of the hounds’ nails against the hardwood floors as we tried to get our bearings again, each of us coping with our own pain, our own losses.
Back in one of the bedrooms, I found my old book of shadows. It was cold to the touch, no magic sparking.
I closed my eyes, a feeling of loneliness threatening to suck me out to sea.
But then a familiar scent—leather and whiskey—followed a firm touch on my shoulders. “Don’t suffer in silence, love,” Darius whispered from behind, his lips brushing my ear.
Seconds later, his scent mingled with Asher’s spicy cinnamon, followed by Ronan’s cloves and campfire, and the woodsy vanilla scent that could only belong to Emilio. Liam came last, bringing with him the ocean and the memories of our first kiss.
Slowly, they coaxed me back into the living room, where Asher started a fire in the fireplace and Ronan put on some mellow music. Emilio rummaged through the kitchen, finding enough non-perishables to put together a small feast. From his old room in the basement, Darius retrieved a few bottles of fancy French wine he’d been saving for a special occasion, knowing that this moment of togetherness, of aliveness, of love was more special than any occasion we could possibly celebrate.
Tonight, there were no battles to fight. No plans to make. No enemies to track. No blood to spill. And as we sat together to enjoy our makeshift dinner, I looked around the table and knew that in that moment, all of us were grateful for this peace.
Finishing our meal, the last bottle of wine empty, we all seemed to sense the shift in energy. Wordlessly, we rose from the table and made our way to the living room, the demons moving aside the furniture, making room in front of the fireplace for the mattresses and blankets Darius and Emilio were dragging out of the bedrooms.
Until we got a proper ginormous bed, it was the only way we could all fit together comfortably.
The only way we could do all the things we wanted to do. To feel. To love. To be.
It was the first I’d ever been with all of them together, and though I was nervous, I was excited, too. Happy. It felt right, all of us. It felt like home—a reminder of everything we’d fought for.
The fire crackled and popped, bathing the room in a soft orange glow, and I looked at my men and smiled, slowly stripping out of my clothes and kneeling before the flames.
I was about to invite them to join me when Liam cleared his throat, raising his hand in an adorably awkward gesture. “I just wanted to say that I’ve completed my research and feel much more prepared.”
“What research,” I asked, and poor Liam’s cheeks turned the color of apples.
“There were some… films…” he stammered, scratching the back of his head. “It was suggested that I might watch and take notes…”
He trailed off, and I looked at the rest of the guys, trying not to laugh.
“You made him watchporn?” I asked.
“Made him?” Ronan said. “That’s not exactly how I’d describe it.”
“I can’t believe you guys!”
“To be fair,” Emilio said, “he did ask for our help.”
I looked to Liam for confirmation.
He gave me a sheepish smile, the tips of his ears turning bright red to match his cheeks. “I thought perhaps they could direct me toward learning different… different skills.”
“By watching porn?”
He ducked his head, clearly mortified. “My understanding was that watching such… films… I thought it was tradition for males on the earthly plane to prepare for events such as these.”
I glared at Asher, knowing full well he was the ringleader in all of this. The incubus was covering his mouth, his shoulders shaking with the laugh he could barely contain. He refused to meet my eyes.
“Liam,” I called, gesturing for him to disrobe and join me by the fireplace. He did as I asked, more nervous about admitting to watching porn than stripping naked in front of four other dudes. As he knelt beside me, I pulled him in for a kiss, then glanced up at Asher. “Since you boys like watching so much, that’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
