No matter. Elian was a high-speed, hot mess express, and even though I maybe, possibly, very probably still had feelings for him—stupid ones, obviously—that didn’t mean I had to act on them. I hadzerointerest in climbing aboard that train-wreck-in-waiting.
Restraint. That was my word of the year.
For Elian, I mean.
Jax and Hudson? I’d have to figure out different words for them.
“Well,” I said with a bright smile, “he’s covered in tattoos and his very presence seems to be irritating the fuck out of Elian, so obviously Hudson’s one of the good guys.”
Hudson raised his beer and smiled. A tiny one, barely peeking out from behind the facial hair, but the sparkle in his eyes said it all.
I trusted him immediately.
“So you three were… friends?” I asked. “In Midnight?”
“Were,” Jax said, at the same time Elian said, “more like brothers.”
I glanced at Hudson, who nodded but still hadn’t said a word. So far, he had my vote for the sanest guy of the bunch, but for all I knew, that would change the minute he opened his mouth.
I was starting to get the sense theyweren’tfriends—not exactly. Especially Elian and Jax. But clearly, something still bonded them, even years after they’d escaped Midnight. There was a deep loyalty there, a ride-or-die current running just beneath all the sniping and heated tension.
That, at least, was comforting.
“Hey,” Elian said softly, and I jumped. He was close now—so close his breath tickled my neck. I hadn’t even heard him approach. “You know we’re going to see this through, right?”
I turned to face him. Searched those silver eyes. Searched my own heart.
Once, Elian had been that guy. The one who could make a promise like that without hesitation. A promise that could carry me through anything.
But now?
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly tight. “How do I know I can trust you?” I whispered. “All of you? I still don’t even understand why Jax and Hudson agreed to this.”
“Well, Jax is a demon,” Elian said, “and demons don’t like being in debt. He’s essentially doing this for me. Ergo, if he fucks you, he fucks me, and then—”
“Not literally, of course,” Jax added, coming to stand beside Elian.
“—and thenhe ends up back in my debt,” Elian continued. “So, for the sake of self-preservation, Jax can absolutely be trusted. And Hudson? He’s a gargoyle. You couldn’t ask for a better guardian. Strong, loyal to a fault, mean as hell in a fight, and he’salwaysgot my back, which means now he’s got yours, too.”
The gargoyle crowded in next to Jax and put his giant hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
I still couldn’t explain it, but something about him made me feel instantly safe. Protected, just like I’d felt in the garden.
Maybe it was all part of his gargoyle vibe. Before tonight, I’d never actually encountered one.
I put my hand on top of his. Squeezed him right back.
Sometimes you spent every day with a person for years, yet you really never knew them.
Other times you spent five minutes with someone and it was like you’d known them a lifetime.
That’s how I felt about Hudson. Like I’d just been reunited with my oldest friend.
To Elian, I said, “I notice you didn’t rattle offyourqualifications for a position in our circle of trust.”
This got a smile from both the demon and the gargoyle. Even Elian himself grinned, crooked and sexy as ever.
Damn it, thighs. Enough with the clenching. You’re going to chafe.
