Page 173 of Deadfall

“Sleeping is not quite the word I’d use.”

“Why?”

“Old habits I guess,” he mused.

I scoffed quietly. We hit the main floor and headed to the room Seven was in.

“Old habits—you mean like watching my cage?”

He didn’t answer, and I suddenly wondered if he had even slept at all the last few days. But, I didn’t get a chance to ask because we were at Seven’s door. Griffin pushed it open, and we walked in to find a very awake Seven who was throwing playing cards at a cup across the room.

“Oh good,” he grumbled. “You can pick them all up for me.”

I raised my eyebrows and looked around at the ground. “How many decks did you go through? I can hardly see the floor.”

“Well, Kyllion wouldn’t help me, so I had to find another deck,” Seven griped. “And, then Rune poked his head in, took one look at me and said absolutely not, so I had to find another one—”

I attempted to hide a smile and failed. “I see.”

Seven looked grumpy. He threw the last card and slouched back against the pillow.

“How about breaking me out of this joint? I feel fine, man.”

“Doc said another few days and you can do light activity,” Griffin said. “Meaning, you can walk your ass to the couch or the kitchen and sit down.”

Seven waved away the comment. “Why are you two awake at this hour?” His face lit up. “Oh! Did it happen? Did you kiss him? Oh God, and I missed it? Can you do it again so I can watch—”

I laughed and felt my face heat. “You haven’t missed anything.”

Seven’s eyes glistened mischievously. “That wasn’t don’t-ever-touch-me, it’s-not-gonna-happen.” He looked over at Griffin and then back at me and leaned closer. “He’s notoriously slow in that department, so you might have to make the first move—” Griffin threw a throw pillow at him. “Hey! No attacking the invalid!”

Seven sat back with a groan. “Ugh, I feel like I’m missing all the action.”

“Not really. Lachlan tried to burn down the kitchen yesterday and Emersyn got in her first father/daughter fight,” Griffin sighed and sat down in a chair while I perched on the edge of the bed.

“See, Nyx needs me,” Seven sniffed. “I could be helping him feed all you beasts.”

“With what? The five things you have in your arsenal?” Griffin asked dryly.

“Atlas made him order pizza last night,” I smirked. “He looked so offended.”

“First mistake was letting Lach in the kitchen,” Seven shook his head. “I’ve seen him burn water.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, I was very impressed,” Seven said around a breathless laugh.

His face grew serious as he studied me. “You and North? Are you guys good?”

I nodded. “Yeah. He tried to bench me, but we talked about it.”

Seven nodded. “Understandable. No one here has seen what you can do besides us.” He winked. “I’m sure this won’t be the last time papa bear comes out. I hope you know he means well.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered.

Seven turned his attention on Griffin and narrowed his eyes as though he just noticed something.

“You aren’t sleeping, are you,” he stated.