“My things? When did you—oh. When you claimed you needed to step out for some cooking supplies, saying conjuring them was a shortcut you didn’t care for when it came to preparing food?”
“Yes. Precisely.”
“Devious.”
“Yes, I suppose that could be applied in this case.”
“That’s kind of a turn-on.”
“I’m sure everything at current is aturn-onfor you,wild one.”
“And calling me that is escalating it a shit-ton, Cas.”
Cas.I hadn’t thought I’d care for that abbreviation of my name. But I rather liked it from him.
“Room,” I told him, as I gathered the dishes, intending to head to the sink.
He grinned at me salaciously.
And then in a burst of speed he was gone.
I heard my bedroom door open and close rapidly, and I smiled to myself.
I used my magic to see to the dishes, needing the rest of the time to calm myself.
I didn’t want to go inhotwhen I entered my room. Not when he was already bringing that overwhelmingly.
And not only that. I was also trying to contend with what had happened to Velra and Sylas without displaying that grief and rage outwardly and poisoning those around me who required stability and solace.
But the truth was, the image of Velra’s fallen body was burned into my mind. As was the memory of the agony that had torn through me when the Soul Brand had been compromised when she’d died.
Although I was trying to focus on the fact that they were both alive and healing, the threat that had caused such damageand tragedy was still out there. They were still in danger. As was Lazriel. As were all hybrids across the supernatural world. But Velra and Lazriel in particular had been marked for death. Sylas and I had even seen that image of Lazriel—actually, alongside Warlow’s—displayed with the intent to murder by thatPuritascell that I had eradicated.
Shortly after we’d left the area beside the now ruinedVantiqeand teleported to the Guardian Compound, I had informed Cornelius of the threat to Warlow. He deserved to know, especially with what had happened making it clear other cells were now active. Of course, I hadn’t been able to disclose how I knew the information without implicating myself and Sylas in the murder of many that night. Fortunately, Cornelius was familiar with working off the radar and hadn’t pushed in that respect.
Several moments passed and I managed to stabilize my thoughts and emotions alike.
Then I made my way to my bedroom.
I opened the door carefully, not wanting to startle an already on-edge wolf-vampire.
It was clear in the very next split-second that he’d had other ideas.
In a blur, the door shut behind me, then Lazriel was slamming me up against the wall, pinning me there with two hands to my chest.
As he stood there bare.
Naked. He was completely naked, just his pendant hanging from his neck.
“Ready to let it all out, Cas?” he rumbled at my ear.
“What?” I rasped.
“You think I don’t see it? You holding all the pain and terror for Velra and Sylas inside, trying to shove it down and pushforward?” He stroked my pecs through my shirt. “I’ve got you too, all right?”
“Yes. You certainly do.”
My eyes flashed with my white power.
