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“No, I definitely can’t, and also, don’t drag me into this.” Frowning, Fritz curled into his mate’s side. “I would be really happy to never see dead people again.”
“Oooh!” Wren leaned across the table and asked in a loud stage whisper, “Are there any ghosts here now?”
“No.” Kol banged his fist down on the table. “I do not want to know if my house is haunted.”
“Okay, fine.” Undeterred, he addressed Fritz again. “Just blink once for yes.”
“Faeren.” Thorne chuckled and ruffled his mate’s blond hair. “Behave.”
“Why are you so calm?” Vander asked. It was the first time he had spoken since Erus’ arrival, yet he addressed Thorne.
“You mean about Erus?” Thorne shrugged. “I met this asshole back when I was training to become a Guardian. He packs a hell of a punch, and he fights dirty, but he’s actually pretty decent once you get to know him.”
“Told you.” Reaching under the table Orrin took his hand and linked their fingers together. “Even Thorne thinks you’re a good guy.”
If people didn’t stop slandering him, he was going to prove exactly how wrong they were. He might have a sharp tongue, but his bite was far worse than his bark.
Since he had hopes of getting naked with his mate later, he kept the thought to himself and smiled. “I’m just a big, cuddly teddy bear.”
“Not bloody likely.” Orrin chuckled again as he lifted a glass of red wine to his lips. “I’m just saying you’re not as scary as you think you are.”
Before he could decide on an appropriate argument to that point, Orrin turned his attention to the other side of the table.
“Where are the usual suspects tonight?”
Kol glanced at the empty chairs around the table. “Most of them are visiting family for the holidays. Ruger will be here next week.”
“Remi’s brother,” Orrin explained.
“Elliot is visiting for New Year’s,” Fritz added.
“Famous necromancer who helps police find dead bodies. He’s also teaching Fritz how to control his abilities.”
While Erus appreciated his mate’s effort to include him, he really couldn’t have cared less. He didn’t know the people sitting on the deck—with the exception of Thorne—let alone the faceless names being tossed around. Besides, there was a good chance he would never see any of them again after that night.
Not unless he could find a way to convince Hades to release him.
“Orrin, you look different.” Remi propped his elbows up on the table and rested his chin atop his clasped hands.
Erus didn’t know what his mate usually wore to these gatherings. Probably something plain and stuffy. That night, however, he had asked Erus to dress him in a pair of artfully ripped skinny jeans and an oversized knit sweater in a bold shade of red. Erus had only braided the top half of his hair this time, leaving the rest of the long, silvery locks to cascade down his back.
He looked absolutely edible, but more importantly, he appeared comfortable and relaxed.
“Oh, I don’t…” Orrin stammered. “I just…I thought—”
“I like it.” Dropping his hands, Remi gave him a million-watt smile worthy of his status as an international rock star. “The clothes, yes, but mostly, I like that you look happy.”
A chorus of agreement went around the table, and Erus had to turn away to hide his grin when Orrin’s face pinkened. His mate was too damn cute.
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything, asteraki.”
“But you were thinking it.”
Well, the prince had him there.
He felt a shiver of energy in the air, and he frowned as Pepper materialized at his elbow. Trying to work out why his assistant would even be there, he hadn’t been thinking about how the others would react to a fully grown man suddenly appearing on the deck. They didn’t disappoint, though.
