He was grasping at straws. They all were.
“It’s meant to protect Freya. Not him. Besides, we don’t know if it’s going to fade the longer he lives in his non-familiar form. I’d rather not count on it when it’s a variable we have no idea about.”
Caspian nibbled his lip, and I wanted to swoop in and kiss him. Bossing people around got me horny, and it was what I’d been doing for the past few days without much rest. He squirmed as I stared at him, my focus single-minded as I talked myself into taking an early day today.
The door slamming behind a pair of new arrivals shattered my ideas of sex and a full eight hours of sleep.
“Get out,” I said, glaring at Altair as he strode into the room.
Sky was no doubt with him, invisible.
Altair grinned, his French braids swinging back and forth as he shook his head. “No, thanks. I thought I’d come and observe, see if I can help you become assassins as skilled as I am.”
“I’m already as skilled as you are.”
“You think so? I’m not convinced, but your cockiness gives me some confidence in your abilities.”
Nolan sighed, leaving Oswald where he was pressed on his back against the floor. We’d all wanted to stop with the training for today, apparently. There was a bulge in Ozzy’s pants. Being held down did it for him; I wasn’t surprised. He’d dared me to choke him during Freya’s heat.
“Altair, it would be better if you didn’t antagonize my guests.”
“Guests? They’re more like your pack, aren’t they?” he asked, curiously glancing between Nolan and Oswald.
Rumours had been going around since Ozzy had regained his human form, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. According to Amabella and Clement, the only ones left at this point were fiercely loyal to Nolan and the company. The downside was that left us with… well, not many fucking people. Freya and Ama’s wards were the only reason we were secure enough to stay here as opposed to dropping everything and going on the run.
“Oswald is my mate but that doesn’t make Freya’s pack mine, not that it’s any of your business. If you’re only here to snoop and irritate me, leave.”
Shrugging, Altair glanced over his shoulder. Sky materialized a second later. “We were hoping to join your practice. Feeling a bit rusty, some tight muscles. Are you up for some two-on-two bouts?”
I grit my teeth but kept my mouth shut. The idea of a fallen angel anywhere near Freya made my skin crawl, but I was getting better at letting her keep herself safe. I’d heard from Emmett these two had already tested her, and she’d passed. I could absolutely count on her to keep protecting herself.
Totally.
My fingers wrapped around Caspian’s wrist and I yanked him to me, his back to my chest. He let out a little squeak but didn’t protest. My mate knew I was trying to restrain myself, and he knew I was fucking bad at it. Shakily I inhaled a deep breath of his pine scent, finding calmness in the familiarity.
“How about we do… Freya and Caspian against Sky and I?” Altair asked, a glint in his eye.
Freya snorted, finishing the exercise she’d been in the middle of with Emmett. The growl rumbling in my chest would have drawn attention to me if they hadn’t all been expecting this response. “Not going to happen, but you know that. Em and I will go against you. We’ve got to work on our teamwork. What are the ground rules?”
“No magic,” Altair said.
“Obviously, because I’d be able to whoop both of your asses with it.”
“Sky is stronger than you think.”
“So am I. You haven’t seen me since I’ve been mate bonded, and I’m feeling back to my normal self,” she said with a smirk, lifting her wrist to show off the twin marks where Emmett had bitten her.
Emmett’s gaze landed on the marks and he shifted on his feet. They’d been spending more time together over the past few days, both during training and being touchy during our time in the suite, but hadn’t consummated the bond yet. I hoped their cuddling was enough to strengthen it, and the lack of sex wouldn’t harm her or him.
“Hm, I’ll admit I didn’t consider that development. Either way, no magic. Let’s limit ourselves to one weapon each, and try to avoid blades touching skin. Not all of us are undead like I am,” Altair said, smirking.
I stiffened.
Freya raised an eyebrow. “Undead?”
“Hasn’t your angel told you? The Null stories have got it all wrong. Angels are way more undead than vamps are. We don’t need to eat, breathe, or do any of those mundane human things, and our bodies are near indestructible. Being an angel is the last stop for the soul. They wanted to give us the best chance to make it last.”
“There’s a reason that knowledge is kept secret,” I said, huffing Caspian’s scent again. It could only do so much to calm me. This fallen asshole was exposing secrets that had been closely guarded for millennium. “I should kill you for saying that.”
