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“Hello! Are you two going to hang out in the hallway all night? Some of us have plans other than trying to eavesdrop.” Octavia’s voice rings out from the room down the hall, and Lena grins and shakes her head.
We follow the voice and end up in the formal parlor. This house is essentially a mansion, one of the larger ones on the island. Most of the decor models the era it was built, but over the years it’s been toned down a bit. There’s still wallpaper on the walls, but it’s more muted than the brighter colors of the period, and less arsenic I’d imagine as well. Thick Persian rugs cover the dark wood floors in lighter colors, and the furniture is both comfortable and expensive looking. The Smithe family has taken a lot of care with their home.
Except it’s no longer the Smithe’s house. It’s Colton’s. How the hell did he get them to sell this place? They’ve sworn up and down it would never leave their family.
The parlor has a couch and a pair of chairs facing each other in front of a large fireplace with an ornate white marble surround. A gilded mirror sits above the mantel where Serafina is checking her reflection, running her finger over her bottom lip like she’s correcting her make-up. I catch her gaze through the mirror and internally groan at the delighted look in her eyes. Colton is standing next to her, a bored glaze to his eyes as they roam all over Lena. A knowing grin lights up his face when he turns his gaze to me.
Cocksucker.
Ben, Julian, and Octavia are sitting around a large game table in the corner of the room that must seat at least ten. Serafina spins around with a dramatic flair, her white-blonde hair tumbling over her shoulder like a shampoo commercial. Exactly as she planned.
“Archer, you’re here. We can finally get started.”
No mention of Lena whatsoever. Serafina sweeps across the room, dressed like she’s attending a cocktail party and not a meeting for the Wild Haven activities committee. Her gold dress sparkles with a thousand tiny beads and is so short she should have worn it as a top.
Her dagger nails press into my arm through my jacket in the next second, as she wraps her hand around my bicep with utter possession. Lena tries to pull away from my other side, but I hold on tightly to her hip, tugging her against me. The annoyed puff of breath and the glare she sends me have me smiling down at her.
“Let’s take a seat, then.”
I guide Lena over to the table and pull out a chair, ignoring the hemorrhoid clinging to my arm as best I can. Summoning my inner eel, I escape Serafina’s clutches, and grab a seat between Lena and Julian. The corner of Lena’s lips tip, but she doesn’t look at me or Serafina. Julian coughs and smacks his chest like he’s got something stuck in his throat, but he’s just being a shit and trying to hide his laughter.
“Well, the whole team is here. Anyone want to share why we’re at the Smithe’s rarely used weekend getaway?” Octavia cuts to the chase and I love her for it. Let’s get this show on the road.
Serafina slinks into the seat across the round table from me with a pout. Colton takes his time pushing away from the fireplace before crossing the room and resting his hands on the back of Lena’s chair. Her shoulders tense and it takes everything in me not to shove him away.
“Actually, this is now my home. Welcome, everyone. I’m thrilled to have this dynamic team be the first to grace my house with your company.” His eyes drift down to the top of Lena’s head, the rigid set of her shoulders a dead giveaway that she’s uncomfortable.
“I doubt a more… beautiful, graceful, and composed group will ever cross the threshold.”
I drop my arm over Lena’s shoulders, aware that I’m being obnoxiously possessive. Octavia is grinning at me like the sly old bird she is. I might be proving a point, but my arm placement is also practical. Colton can’t touch her shoulders if my arm is there.
“The Smithe family sold their house?” I can’t keep the frown from my face or the surprise from my voice. This house has been in their family forever. It’s not the kind of place that goes up for sale. It’s the type of house that gets passed down, generation after generation.
Colton gives me an awe shucks face. “So sorry, Archer. I know you didn’t get the commission, but it worked out for us to do a private sale.”
I could give two shits about the commission. I just don’t understand how he got them to sell. Considering we’re unlikely to become friends, I doubt I’ll ever find out.
Ben raises an eyebrow and gives me a look that I interpret as, who the fuck is this guy? Octavia, God love her, does the dirty work and gets right down to it.
“Who the hell are you?”
Serafina chuckles into her glass of wine. Looks like it’s not her first. Probably not her second either.
Colton finally leaves the spot behind Lena’s chair and rounds the table, taking a seat next to Serafina. Pressing his hand over his heart, Colton smiles, making sure to make eye contact with each person at this table like he’s been trained to do so in a public speaking course.
“I’m so sorry. How rude of me. I’m Colton Zima. I’ve only recently relocated to this enchanting island. There’s just something here that calls to me. You know?”
“Not really,” Octavia deadpans. I know she fucking loves this island. She simply has zero tolerance for assholes, and she’s got Colton pegged from the get-go. “Where did you come from?” She smooths a hand over her hair, even though there’s not one strand out of place. Her sharp eyes are as cunning as the rest of us watch her with rapt attention.
“I want to be Octavia when I grow up,” Lena whispers to me, and I lean in to murmur low in her ear.
“I want to marry her. I guess that means I’ll be marrying you.” Well, shit. That’s not at all what I meant to say, but the words popped out of my mouth before I could analyze their meaning. Lena’s cheeks flush a tantalizing pink and I find myself leaning in even farther to inhale her fresh spring scent. My eyes go half-lidded at the same time my dick gets hard. I force myself to put some space between us, because this is the last fucking place I need to be getting a boner.
Jesus.
I’m only listening to Colton and Octavia’s conversation with half an ear. Colton has traveled and moved extensively. No, he doesn’t have any family nearby. Yes, he knows Serafina from way back. That last bit isn’t all that surprising, but it does make me wonder how they know each other. I don’t know much about Serafina besides the fact that she lives with Anthony. She’s lived with him since she showed up on Wild Haven Island a few years ago. Does that mean she knows of his history with the Axis and all the business with magic and the Fae? There’s a good chance.
Colton claps his hands. “Should we get this meeting kicked off? I’m ready to help plan some pagan festivals! What do you do at these events? Virgin sacrifice, howl at the moon?”
