My face grew ten times redder, and I tried to scoot down the pew. He loosened the arm that was around me, and he darted his head back to me in confusion.
“Little human, what’s wrong?”
The words cut me sharper than they should have. I should have realized we were loud, but Grim liked it. He said he wanted to hear me when I came and how hard I wanted it. He was always checking on me, always wanting those reminders he was doing a good job.
“I’m sorry we were loud. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Sizzle tilted his head, blinking his golden eyes. His pupils dilated, and my eyes could only concentrate on his. I could see the speckles of red inside.
“Did you hear me?” He breathed. “You heard what I said?”
“Yeah, loud and clear.” I scooted further down the pew.
I couldn’t hide from my embarrassment because I was blocked in by another member at the other end of the pew.
“How the hell did you hear me? And, Journey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that.” He ran his hand through his hair, and a hissing noise left his throat. “I just won’t ever have that.”
“Since when do you hiss?” I asked, completely forgetting his pity party.
More displeasure ruffled him. He shot up from his seat, his hands pushing against the seat in front of him. The knocking of the wood against the floor hushed the crowd.
Locke hammered at the pulpit once with the gavel.
For a gentle knock it should have created, it rang in my ears. It echoed, and I held my hands over them to stop the roaring. Someone laughed in the far corner of the room, and another pound of the wooden mallet echoed again.
Once the ringing stopped, and Grim’s smooth voice came over the pulpit, speaking about our bond, I pulled my hands away.
Drops of crimson red fell on my fingers.
I checked the other side of my head; more blood was coming out of my ears.
I kept silent, watching as Grim continued to speak. I pulled my hair over the red drops so Grim wouldn’t give up the speech just yet. Unfortunately, it was a worthless endeavor because Sizzle and Locke had seen my bloodstained fingers.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Grim
Lockedroppedhiscigon the floor. He stomped it out, his nose huffing in irritation.
“You don’t have to tell them anything,” Locke reminded me. “In fact, I don’t know if it’s such a good idea. We don’t know for sure–”
“What happened to the leader that said shit whether or not we liked it?” I interrupted. “What happened to the leader that wanted what was best for his members?”
Locke growled, running his hands through his hair. “I don’t think they will be very receptive to this, Grim. Don’t want to get your hopes up.”
“Who says they wouldn’t be? Unless you give them a chance?”
We didn’t know if a human had to pray for a miracle or if it was us that needed to. All I knew was that the men and women needed something to hold on to, something to believe in rather than walking in these hollow shells.
“It will do them some good to believe that hope is coming,” I argued.
Locke rolled his eyes. “Since when did you become such an eloquent speaker? Doesn’t your tongue hurt?”
I chuckled, slapping him on the back. “I’ve had nothing to say, not until she came into my life.”
We both looked at her from afar. She was speaking with Sizzle, and he had his arm around her haphazardly. He hated women because he was a pussy magnet with the face he had. But he knew with my bond with Journey, she wouldn’t have any interest in him.
It still didn’t sit right that his arm was around my woman. I let off a low growl, ready to stomp down to the congregation, but Locke had already hit the gavel on the pulpit.
