AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I climbed onto the bed. “Yeah. I remember when you said that the first time.” I flopped down on the mattress and yanked the edge of my blanket over my body. “And part of me is wondering if you’re just saying that to justify holding me captive. But what do I know? I’m just a faerie living in my own privileged world.” I rolled to my side, turning my back to him.
I woke up the next morning relieved to see Ansel already gone for the day. Not that I expected him to be running late. After being here a week, I quickly learned his schedule was the only thing I could rely on; he was gone before the sun came up and returned late at night, hours after the sunset. But after the heated words last night, I didn’t want to risk having to talk to him again. Not yet. I still needed time to cool off.
He didn’t say anything else after I told him off last night. Just turned off the light and went to bed. I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning as I replayed the conversation over and over in my head.
I didn’t like his implication that I was bigoted. I was not bigoted, not like my neighbors and family members who couldn’t even walk on the same side of the street as an orc or a goblin without switching sides while they clutched their purses and wallets in a death-grip.
News flash to Ansel, the world wasn’t fair—it didn’t matter what species you were. Because if life were fair, I wouldn’t be locked up in some abandoned warehouse. I would already be happily married to Carter living in a new townhouse with a white fence with at least one kid, maybe the second one on the way.
Worst of all, when I was positive Ansel was dead asleep, I reached my hand down into my sweatpants to touch myself. Even spitting mad, I was still achingly wet. Like Ansel’s body gave off a pheromone I couldn’t resist on a biological level, even though I hated the orc. It was the only explanation . . . that or the fact that after all this time, I had finally figured out the cheat code to make myself orgasm, and now was desperate to make up for lost time.
In the end, it didn’t really matter, because after rubbing myself until my clit felt raw, I still wasn’t able to come. It was the cherry on top of my shit sundae and for some reason, even though it was completely illogical, I blamed Ansel for my metaphorical blue balls.
My stomach growled, reminding me Liam was late with my breakfast. Why couldn’t everyone be as punctual as Ansel? Today was not the day for Liam to be slacking; I needed to eat so I could get started working on the window. The sooner I finished removing the bars from the window, the sooner I could go home.
I reached the bottom of the stairs, surprised to find Demie, not Liam, standing in the kitchenette. He was shirtless, his lean torso dotted with stick-and-poke tattoos that had faded against his green skin. Though he was naked from the waist up, thick, plastic goggles and a gas mask covered his entire face. A large metal pot covered all four burners of the portable camping stove that was used to cook meals. Demie stood in front of the pot, slowly stirring the contents with a long wooden spoon.
I took a step backwards, climbing back up the stairs. “What are you doing?”
Demie shifted his gaze towards me and said something muffled that I couldn’t hear. I took another backwards step up the stairs. Where was Liam? Demie was an adult, and yet he had the chaotic energy of a person who should never be left alone without proper supervision. Responsible adult supervision.
Demie placed a lid on top of the pot and stepped towards me, ripping off his rubber gloves and mask. He left the goggles on and pushed them up to his forehead. His short black hair stuck up in all different directions like he had been electrocuted. If there was a sexy calendar for mad scientists, he would have been Mr. January.
“I’m making more chloroform,” he said brightly, stopping to lean against the railing of the staircase to smile up at me. I was about halfway up and still climbing.
“Am I getting a new roommate soon?” I asked dryly.
He laughed, despite my tone. “No, not at all. I just like to keep the supply up. You never know.”
Right. You never know when you might need to chloroform someone. “Where’s Liam? Did he have to run to the store because his protein powder was running low?” What I really wanted to ask was:Where’s your handler? Don’t tell me I got left with babysitting . . .
Demie snorted. “Actually, Ansel took Liam out with him today. They’re following up on a possible lead. Very exciting.”
I bit down on my lip to hide the smile slowly creeping up my face. Did Ansel actually take my leadership advice to heart? “Wait, did you say a lead?” I asked suddenly, gripping the handrail tightly. Demie nodded. “Seriously? That’s great!” I cleared my throat, pausing to mentally tell myself to tone it down. The only reason I cared about a lead was because it meant this would be ending, and I could go home. But none of that mattered, good lead or not, I would be home before next weekend. “What’s the lead, do you know?”
Demie shrugged. “I don’t. Robbie called Ansel this morning and told him he has some info to give him, but he couldn’t give any details over the phone. They had to meet in person. He brought Liam as backup because, as you probably remember, the last one ended up being an ambush.”
That was right . . . my dick appointment—MuscleMan69—said he had some business to take care of before he met with me. It was strange to think that business was Ansel. I gripped the handrail even tighter. “Do you think they’ll be ok? What if it’s another ambush—”
Demie raised his brows, his mouth slowly turning upward into an evil grin. “Are you saying you’re worried about them, Skye? Because the fae doth protest too much.”
No . . . Yes? I don’t know. I could give a rat’s ass about Liam, but Ansel . . . I sighed. “I’m just curious. Okay? That’s all.”
He held my stare for a moment but finally spoke with such nonchalance that it was unnerving. “Danger is just part of the job, unfortunately. We’re used to it. But I wouldn’t worry, they’ll be fine. Liam and I are beginning to think Ansel’s bullet proof because he’s been doing this mostly on his own for a year and he’s still alive.” He shook his head softly. “Nothing can keep a good bastard down, I guess. Anyways, enough shop talk. I can make you breakfast, I think. I just need to move the chloroform somewhere—”
“Hell no. I am not eating anything in that kitchen after your science experiment. I’ll probably get second-hand poisoning.”
He looked relieved. “Oh thank the Gods, because I actually don’t know how to cook anything other than frozen pizza in a microwave. I think Liam has some protein bars stashed away we can eat—”
“Wait.” I held up a hand, stopping him. “You know how to make chloroform, but you don’t know how to cook?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I never really got the chance to learn.”
After watching Demie rummage through Liam’s gym bag, we sat on the lumpy brown couch eating chalky protein bars. “So, I know you guys have the family bond,” I motioned to my right bicep, where Demie’s family crest was tattooed on his body. “But is Ansel your actual brother?” I knew there was no way Liam could be related—he was an elf. But it wasn’t so far of a reach to think Ansel might be Demie’s actual older brother.
Demie chewed and swallowed. “No. Not blood related, just bond.” He waved his bar at me. “But in my opinion, bond is thicker than blood, because even family can turn their backs on you.”
It was no stretch of the imagination to know he was referring to Gregor. I stared down at my half-eaten bar before looking up at Demie again. “So, how did you join this family? What happened to your real one?”
