Well,theywalk. I simply hold on to Krystian for dear life.
“Why didn’t you guys take a car or something?” I grumble, fiddling with the collar of Krystian’s shirt.
I like the feel of the fabric sliding against my fingers.
“Because you can’t drive a goddamn car through the forest,” Everett snaps.
He doesn’t seem to like me much.
“And we were following the hellhound,” Zaid adds. He, too, isn’t walking. At some point, his legs morphed into shadows, and he simply floats above the forest floor. “We had to be stealthy.”
“Does Everett even know the meaning of that word?” I ask seriously, regarding the large, sexy shifter.
He’s a mountain of muscle, and each footstep he takes makes the ground shake and tremble.
Everett tosses me a dirty look over his shoulder and then turns away with a scoff.
“Tough crowd,” I whisper in Krystian’s ear.
The elf shivers.
“So…when you’re not hunting monsters, what do you like to do in your spare time?” I ask, flicking my gaze from face to face.
When no one immediately answers, my smile fades.
Oookay. Awkward.
Then Zaid clears his throat and flashes me a timid smile, one that makes him appear boyish and innocent. I decide I like him the best. He’s the nicest.
“I have a collection of books I love to read, though I haven’t had the chance in a while.” Color crawls up his neck and settles in his cheeks.
“Oh my god!” I squeal and tighten my grip on Krystian instinctively, my arms digging into his neck.
He sputters and stumbles, and I release my chokehold. Oops.
“You like to read? Iloveto read! What are some of your favorites? Are you in a book club? I’ve always wanted to join a book club, but…you know…there’s a lack of opportunities where I’m from.”
Zaid absently scratches at the back of his neck, still seeming embarrassed.
But why would he be? Books are amazing.
“Errr. Thrillers, mostly.”
“And romance.” Krystian turns his head to stare at me, waggling his eyebrows. “He loves a good smutty romance.”
“I don’t blame him,” I respond seriously. “Some of the best plots and character development I’ve read were from romance books.”
Zaid’s lips begin to twitch at the corners, and he ducks his head.
“She’s right, you know.”
Of course I am.
Zaid and I will totally have to set a time where we can discuss all things books. I have a shelf in my bedroom that changesconstantly—new books coming and going faster than I can read them. I don’t know if the magic in the room is responding to my mood somehow or if there’s something else at play.
“So Zaid likes to read. What about the rest of you?” I lower my chin so it can fit snugly on Krystian’s shoulder. “Let me guess. You like archery?”
Krystian’s chuckle reverberates through me, and liquid heat infuses my veins.
