“Spank? Who said anything about spank?”
“I believe I did,” Zhang says. Oil drips onto Zhang’s face from Merrick’s wing. He snarls. “Merrick, you need to put that away.”
Merrick grunts, but his wing tucks and then disappears. Another hand acts like a vice around my ankle. Merrick’s. “I wish I was sorry, does that count? It’s hard to be sorry when I know that freedom from that chain you put around yourself is going to be better for you.”
“It counts in my books, but only if you’re willing to put up with the same blunt honesty from me. I know you’re not okay, and so help me, Merrick, I already have a stubborn-ass brother who does what you’re doing. I’m not Gemini, and I will make your life miserable.”
“I don’t have my archangel rune anymore,” he admits.
“Oh, fuck. I’m sorry.” I didn’t even notice. I’d been too preoccupied with my own problems. I’m a huge dick.
“Don’t be. But ripping that rune from me and … all the other stuff Father did to me in an effort to remove your name from my arm was too many kinds of powers at once. The short answer is, a lot of powerful energy within me is fucked up, and it’s having a hard time balancing out.”
“Do you think he’ll give the rune back?” I whisper.
“Probably not.”
Tears blink from my eyes.
He squeezes my foot. “Do not take on my plight. I’m still a mercenary of the Garrison, I haven’t been exiled.”
Still, what a mess.
The door slides open, and such a lack of respect for privacy can only mean one person. The king enters, flanked by one of Zhang and Gem’s younger brothers, and that’s the only shocking thing. Usually, he’s carting Silva around with him.
Zhang shields me with his body, and Merrick pops a wing open to hide me from the king’s eyes. They’re ridiculous. As if the king cares to see my naked ass.
“Father!” Zhang says.
“Get dressed. We have trouble, and as usual, you three are at the center of it.”
He turns heel and struts out. Guess that’s all he came to say—send a fucking messenger next time, asshole.
“Am I the only one of the three of us who has parents who respect boundaries?” I ask.
“You were. You can’t say that anymore,” Zhang says.
“Why not?”
“You only know your cool Orion parents, god dads and king dads are a whole other thing,” Merrick explains for him.
“Easy. I reject the God one as my father. I have two, which is more than enough.”
Zhang’s already off the bed, finding clothes. Guess none of us gets a shower. The wing oil was only nice when I was dreaming of it sliding over my cock, now it’s kinda grimy.
Merrick laughs. “The same guy who’s already fucking up your life? Technically, he’s responsible for taking your sunstar away. Who do you think whispered your parentage into my uncles’ ears? Had to be him. I bet God Daddy said no more guardian for you and triggered the events that would make that happen.”
My jaw drops and I gape until I can find words. He’s probably right. “In actuality, you did. You sure that’s the path you want to go down?”
“You met my father. I didn’t have much choice. You know I didn’t want to.”
Clothes hit both of us in the face. “Get dressed, you two. We’re not keepingmyfather waiting. I know he can be difficult, but he’s not a bad father, just an impatient one.”
That was a scolding. I duck my head. Merrick scowls.
“I don’t see why I should participate,” Merrick says. “I’m a sidepiece. He’s your guys’ problem.”
He’s well enough to whack, so I do. “Sidepiece? From the guy who wants to be my mate?”
