“Andrew?” Aaron says.
Andrew looks up. He sees Josiah behind us and his face drops.
“Thirst Trap?” Aaron groans but takes my hand and pulls me through.
The smell is worse on this side—alcohol soaked into wood, old smoke, sweat, human scents layered into every surface likethe walls have been marinating in them for years. I press closer to Aaron and my lion huffs inside me, offended.
“Who is Andrew?” I ask.
Andrew is already moving, flashing around the counter. He stops in front of me and bows his head. His eyes are warm when he straightens, his smile real despite the frown he just gave Josiah.
“I haven’t had a beautiful lioness in my bar in a long time,” he says.
My tail sways once, cautious. I look around.
Josiah and Layla step through behind us and the portal snaps shut. Andrew’s smile stays but it tightens at the edges, forced now, and my lion catches the change in his scent before I see it on his face.
Andrew turns to Aaron instead, looks him up and down, and his smile warms.
“You got big,” he says.
“My first time in Thirst Trap,” Aaron says, looking around.
“Must be trouble in Wintermoon if you’re here.” Andrew’s voice drops. “The children of Wintermoon don’t leave the land.”
Aaron nods, his head dropping.
“Nice to visit my old home,” Josiah says behind us.
“Must be big trouble in Wintermoon.” Andrew doesn’t look at Josiah. He points at him and Layla without turning around. “If you decided to come to him for help.”
Aaron sighs. “This isn’t on Jo. It’s me. I’m the reason Wintermoon is in trouble.”
“Is this how you greet a family member?” Josiah asks, amused.
Andrew rolls his eyes. “I’m calling Kade.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Aaron says.
Andrew studies him, then he nods. “I’ve got some rooms ready. Follow me.”
I stiffen. My tail goes rigid and I look up at Aaron. “We’re staying?”
My tail swings in annoyance, hard clipped arcs that knock against Aaron’s leg.
“Yes. For now. I need to find Eric.”
I want to say it. That I’ll put my claws through Eric’s throat myself if it means protecting my mate, that my lion has already decided and I agree with her. I hold it back.
But Josiah and Layla chuckle behind me. The sound is dark and low and perfectly in sync, and when I turn their eyes are trained on me. They caught it in my scent.
Aaron looks between them. “What is it?”
“Your mate.” Josiah’s grin is slow. “I enjoy her darkness.”
Layla grabs his tie and tugs. “Let’s go to bed. There’s some things I want to do to you before you’re busy tomorrow.”
Josiah chuckles as she pulls him toward the stairs, his hand finding the small of her back. “Oh, beautiful Layla. Are you going to torture me?” His voice drops. “I surely hope so.”
