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"She's fucking gone," he snapped at them, voice more demonic than human.
It should not have been sexy.
And yet.
Grabbing the cups, I rushed back down the hall, moving into the doorway to find the others assembled, watching Ace as he seemed to almost flicker in and out of the Change.
"I, ah, yeah," I agreed, seeing all their heads turn in my direction. "To get coffee," I added, holding the mugs up.
I would never forget the look I saw cross Ace's face right then. It was the look I'd seen on faces of family members who came rushing in after hearing their loved ones were in some sort of serious accident, when they'd learned it was all going to be okay.
It was raw, undiluted relief.
Because I hadn't left.
Ace's eyes closed as he took several slow, deep breaths, trying to control the Change.
Feeling oddly like that was a private struggle, my gaze slid instead to Minos, whose gaze felt like it was melting through my skin, it was so intense.
I didn't understand the look in his eyes. I wasn't sure I wanted to. But whatever had caused it to be there made him sigh, shake his head, and walk back out of the room.
"So, we are letting the puppy off her leash?" Daemon asked, shooting me a boyish smile.
"We had a talk," Ace said, looking at him. "She is free to move around as she pleases."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Drex snapped, making Ace's brow rise.
Granted, I hadn't known the man long, but I knew him well enough to know that look on his face was not one you wanted shot in your general direction. Drex appeared un-cowed, though.
"Jo," Lenore said, using the name I'd told her to call me by since literally everyone in my life always had. Except for Ace. And even when I was trying to deny my irrational connection to him, a stubborn little part of me only wanted him to use my full name like that. "Why don't we go check on Red?" she suggested, turning to me, giving me wide eyes, a universal 'the guys are being ridiculous' look.
"Yeah," I agreed, almost feeling a little sorry for Drex, but only a little. Since he wanted to keep me caged like an animal.
"So, you and Ace," she said, eyes bright. "Sorry, I know. That's private. I just... I've never gotten to talk to a woman about her relationship."
"Ever?" I asked, turning to face her as we moved into Red's room.
"I, ah, didn't Ace tell you about me?"
"Not really, no."
"I come from an all-female coven," she explained.
"You're a witch?" I asked, almost feeling a little star-struck. I'd been obsessed with witch TV shows and movies as a teenager. A small part of me always wished they were real, and that I would someday learn I was one myself.
"Partly, yeah. I'm a little bit demon now too," she told me. "Since Ly. So I can live on with him," she explained. "Witches are like humans. Mortal. Longer-lived, but mortal. But anyway, if the women wanted children, they went out into the world and got pregnant, but none of us had relationships."
"So you haven't had anyone to talk to about you and Ly?" I asked, feeling sad for her. I had fond memories of all-night talking sessions with friends and even my mother about boys and men I had been dating, or had even gotten serious with. It was an important part of me learning what I did and didn't want, what was and wasn't behavior I wanted in my life. I couldn't imagine never having had that.
"No. Red... Red left before she and I could really connect. It's been just me and the men since," she said, giving me a look that was both warm and frustrated at the same time. And given what I knew about these men, I could totally understand that.
"Okay," I said, moving to the couch, patting the space next to me. "Tell me about you and Ly," I offered.
She launched into it.
And then asked me about what was going on with Ace.
Before we knew it, it was late, and the yelling down below had stopped.
"That would be Drex heading off to his kinky club," Lenore explained when the front door slammed so hard it sounded like it might have cracked. His bike roared to life a moment later. "I should go check with Ly. Make sure no one is bleeding."
"They actually physically fight?"
"Men," she said, rolling her eyes at me.
"That's fair enough," I agreed, smiling as she made her way to the door.
"This was nice," she declared.
"It was," I agreed, getting up and making my way over to Red, going through the motions of checking her over.
"I can't figure out why she hasn't healed," Ace said, making me jump, turning to find him leaning in the doorway.
