He knows what it’s like to not want to close your eyes after a panic attack,but you’re so tired you can hardly do anything else.
He takes the book with anoof(it’s as heavy as it is boring) and puts it back—because he has a much better idea.
“Actually, I’m working on this song, and I was hoping you’d listen. Just let me know if there’s anything you’d change, okay?”
“Really? Is it for the new album?”
Finn lies down, turning toward him, and places a hand on Luca’s waist, grounding them both.
Luca’s breath catches, and he’s so glad he can be a comfort to the person who has always been a comfort to him. His eyes burn with unshed tears of gratitude.
Thank you for letting me love Finn Merritt,he prays.
“No, I think it’ll just be for me, and now you. Ready?”
He hears a tiny huff behind him; it sounds like Tsuki is ready, as well.
“Mmm. I’m going to close my eyes so I can really listen.”
Finn’s voice is already faint with sleep, so Luca kisses his forehead.
“What’s it called?”
“I think I’m going to call itWhen the Shadows Close In.It’s about love.”
Finn is asleep before the last note, so Luca closes his eyes, too.
Chapter Eight: Gideon
“Again, kitten. You can’t hesitate. Give me everything you’ve got—I can take it.”
Gideon pulls Nix to his feet and takes two steps back. He braces, and Nix throws his shoulders back with a nod.
But where Gideon had expected a moment where Nix prepares, instead, he gets tackled to the floor on his back. Both hands dig into Gideon’s sides in good, solid hits. The move is intended to be made with claws out, which will result in Nix’s opponent’s entrails on the floor.
He executes it flawlessly and is standing six feet away in the blink of an eye.
They’d been practicing for almost three hours, and, by Gideon’s estimation,thatshould be enough to disembowel Dawson Hayes. Short andoh-so-sweet. They’d practiced so many ways Nix could end this—and several counterattack combinations, too.
But this take-down move had been the hardest for Nix. “Fuck, if he grabs me like that, I’m going to freak out. It’s ingrained in me.Heingrained it in me.”
So they’d made this the new muscle memory. Gideon had pushed, and Nix had gotten faster and faster. Take the tackle on his terms—with claws and teeth out. Rip and tear, and then get the hell out.
Gideon hopes it’s a last resort. He wants Nix on offense, to use his speed up front before Hayes can get his measure—because Hayes may be a glorified office worker, but his team will no doubt make sure Hayes has some training of his own once they’ve had warning.
To Gideon’s shock and awe, Nix has taken to combat like a duck to water, and it’s horrifying to realize that his sweet sunshine would make an excellent killer. In some other universe, Nix Rena is a hired killer, or a super spy, or a warrior on a field of battle.
When he’s not scared of hurting anyone, he anticipates Gideon’s every move.
“Okay, kitten. Let this old man rest. That was…”Scary-good.“Adequate.”
Nix has him pinned in an instant while Gideon laughs.
“What you meant to say is,‘Kitten, you are so good.’ Right?”
Nix digs his fingers into Gideon’s ribs. His giggle bursts out—light, delighted, and wicked.
“Yes. Yes. Kitten is good. Kitten is purrrrrfect.”
