Bodhi tilts his head, studying him with mild curiosity.“Blond hair, pale complexion, and I’ve never seen you in anything but black.”
Azriel doesn’t flinch but keeps his gaze steady.
“It’s his eyes,” Prophet says, his voice quiet but firm, a sudden chill running through the room.
Bodhi squints.“They’re blue.So what?”
Prophet exhales slowly.“Azriel only reaps the natural deaths.If he had red eyes, he’d be reaping those who’ve been murdered.Hell, I’ve heard they sometimes whisper in your ear, urging the filth to commit their acts of depravity so they can feast on the souls who cross over.Meanwhile, Azriel...he convinces you it’s your time to go in your sleep.”
The room falls silent, the weight of Prophet’s words hanging in the air, but Azriel isn’t done.His voice is a low growl when he speaks again.“You think you know me, angel?Or should I say, one who was cast out?”
“Enough,” my voice cuts through the tension, sharp and commanding.
Prophet turns to me, his jaw set, eyes dark with the weight of the moment.But Azriel lingers a beat longer, a flicker of something between him and Prophet.
“You two will not lock heads again over this bullshit,” I continue, my tone leaving no room for argument.“We are all here because we have nowhere else to go.We are all here because none of us want to be alone.We’re dangerous on our own, but together, we’ve got each other’s backs despite our differences.”
The room goes quiet, the weight of my words hanging in the air as each man processes what I’ve just said.
“Did anyone get a sense of who fired that bean bag at my home?”I ask, my voice cutting through the stillness.
Chrome, sitting near the end of the table, speaks up.His voice is low and rough, as if he doesn’t use it often.“There’s no scent on the bag.Maybe it was just kids fucking about.”
I glance at him, watching the way his golden eyes gleam in the dim light.Chrome has always been a mystery—one of the quieter ones in the club, but when he speaks, it’s with purpose.His reddish hair is tied back neatly at the nape of his neck, the strands catching the light in a way that makes him look more dangerous than he lets on.He has the build of a predator, and despite his lack of words, his presence is imposing.
He’s not one for socializing, that much is clear.His transition into the club wasn’t easy—he’s always kept to himself, preferring the solitude of his thoughts over the camaraderie of the group.But I’ve seen the way he defends the people he cares about without a second thought and how he reacts when one of us is in danger.When it comes down to it, Chrome will always have your back.
Like all of us, this is his last chance for a life.The kind of life that doesn’t end in destruction or regret.And I respect that more than anyone knows.
Vex holds up a hand and I nod at him.“Chrome is right there was no scent on the bag or around Hannah’s home.It’s weird.It’s as if they can mask their scent which means it could be someone like us.”
“You think it’s another supernatural being?”I ask.
“Maybe?”Vex answers.
Prophet shakes his head.“We’d feel it if another of our kind was in the area.They wouldn’t be able to hide from us for this long.”
“Prez, you mentioned the boyfriend was leaving Hannah gifts.Did she actually see him leave anything, or did she just assume it was him?”Scout asks, his voice steady but curious as he leans forward.
“Ex-boyfriend.And no.”My response is sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.
“Sorry, Blade.We all know you’ve chosen her.I meant no offense,” Scout adds quickly, his gaze dropping slightly, clearly aware of the weight of his words.
I hold up a hand to dismiss his concern, a casual wave of the wrist that signals I’m not bothered.“It’s fine.Are you thinking it was someone else?Hannah hasn’t mentioned any other friends up here or even a neighbor.She keeps to herself.”
“Like us,” Prophet mutters from his seat, his voice low but carrying a note of agreement.
“Is she staying permanently?”Rooster asks, his voice slightly more cautious than before, as if he’s testing the waters.
“She’s staying for as long as I deem it necessary,” I reply, leaning back in my chair, keeping my tone firm.The room falls quiet for a moment.
“It’s just we’ve never had a woman up here before,” Rooster continues, shifting his weight.Then his eyes dart to Vex.“Apart from Tessa, and that was different.”
“Tessa isn’t your concern,” Vex growls, his voice low, almost a warning.
I can feel the tension spiking between them.
Rooster doesn’t back down.“You know I don’t want to piss you off, brother, but she’s all of our concern.”Rooster crosses his arms over his chest, glaring at Vex.
