Page 13 of Truth Revealed

Frustrated with her seesawing thoughts and emotions, Daria leaned back and stepped away from Truth’s warm and comforting embrace. She needed a clear head for this conversation. “But what does that look like? There are five of you—how am I supposed to handle that?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but it was the only show of nerves he gave. Casually, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants and shrugged. “It looks like whatever you want it to. But I think a good place to start is to examine what it looks like now.” Truth moved closer, holding her gaze until Daria was lost in his ocean-blue eyes, her head tilted up to him like he was the sun. “Just think—you come home from work every night and we’re here waiting for you, either together or off doing our own thing somewhere in this mansion you’ve bought us.” His laugh brushed across her skin like a caress as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Hope is reading a book in the recliner, just like he does now, except when he sees you, he might greet you with a kiss instead.”

“Okay,” Daria breathed, envisioning every word he spoke, her chest warming with every scene he planted in her mind.

“Death is attempting his first cooking lesson from none other than yours truly—and when you walk in the door, he’s so captivated by seeing you for the first time in hours he obviously burns whatever it is we’re working on.”

She breathed out a soft laugh as he pulled his hands from his pockets and drifted them from her shoulders, down her arms to her hips, and pulled her closer. He continued while she floated along on the rush of the fairy tale he was spinning.

“Betrayal is cursing Misery over a board game—you know how competitive they are with each other. But as soon as they realize you’re home, they drop the pieces and clamor for your attention.”

“Except you know Betrayal is going to turn right around when Misery’s too distracted to move his game piece ahead.”

Now Truth chuckled, knowing damn well she was right.

“It’s not so scary. We’re patient demons, and nothing has to change.” His hands came back up to frame her face, thumbs tracing small circles over her neck and cheek. “Us together, all of us, looks exactly like it does now, without the tiptoeing around each other.” He dropped one of his hands to the small of her back, meshing their lower bodies together, and Daria sucked in a breath at the hard length pressing against her stomach through his sweatpants. His blue eyes bored into hers until she was drowning. “Without fighting the attraction.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, and she followed him for more, but he pulled back. “Without worrying about jealousy or judgment.”

Then both of his arms wrapped around her in a simple embrace, his lips by her ear as she buried her face in his chest, wanting to believe in the tale he told. “Without us having to worry if we’re going to lose you or not. Daria, we want you.”

A deep, shuddering breath tickled her neck before he pulled away completely, and she missed his warmth, his soft touch, and his sweet voice instantaneously.

“But we don’t want you to be uncomfortable or stressed or worried about any of this. It’s completely your decision. And we will still be here no matter what.”

Daria opened her mouth, and nothing came out—but it didn’t matter because he stepped forward to brush his lips over hers again, and she wrapped a hand around the back of his neck before he could disappear. Deepening the kiss, she tilted her head, sliding her tongue over the seam of his lips, and with a low groan he opened. His own tongue darted out to taste her and they dueled until Daria was as drunk from his kiss as she was from the idea of having all of them to herself.

After long, drugging moments, Truth pulled back with a lazy look in his eyes. He shook his head and frowned down at her, even while a smirk tried to tug at one side of his lips. “Don’t do that,” he chided.

“Do what?”

“Distract me from trying to do the right thing. No.” He stepped back completely, holding his hands out in a show of innocence. “I’m going to my own room, because you need space to think about it. I won’t be responsible for swaying you one way or the other.” His tone took on a serious note and Daria pushed away the disappointment that he wouldn’t be sleeping beside her tonight.

“Now,” he started, before shifting uncomfortably, and Daria hid a smile in the back of her hand even though she, too, would be going to bed frustrated. “Do you need anything before I go?”

“Thank you,” she said. “For always being truthful with me.” Then she smiled. “That’s probably not fair, considering what kind of demon you are—but it means a lot to me anyway.”

Truth smiled so brightly at her that Daria couldn’t help the way her heart flipped over. Gorgeous was the only word to describe her beach boy demon.

As he walked to the door and sent her one last smoldering look over his shoulder, Daria realized she’d already made her decision.

Chest light, she sat on the bed and sighed, but it wasn’t long before her other worry crept up on her with clawed fingertips.

There was still so much work to do, they still had so far to go before they could finally take care of the one person in the way of Daria’s happiness. One person with a centuries-old vendetta. One person still hunting them.

Pandora.

TRUTH

After leaving Daria’s room, Truth breathed out a soft sigh, his chest both lighter and heavier than it had been since the warehouse.

By the time he made it downstairs, Betrayal was entering through the front door, keys jangling in his hands.

“Perfect timing,” Truth offered as a greeting.

“Have fun, man. It’s a blast out there,” Betrayal bit out dryly.

Yeah, surveillance was never as fun as it looked in the movies. Truth grabbed the keys from Betrayal and a snack from the kitchen before he headed for the car with a wave.

Then, several moments later, Truth threw the car into park and hunkered down for a long night of… watching.