Unfettered Vessel (Found & Freed: The Unfettered #6)

10. Chapter 10

Chapter ten

Pink

I knock on Jade’s door and let myself in. I know he won’t mind. Heavens know the harem has warped our ideas about privacy.

So Jade won’t mind me barging in. He’ll smile at me and listen patiently while I gush about Monty and how wonderful he is being. I haven’t told Jade about yesterday and the whole van disappearing episode and Monty’s sweetness. I can’t wait to tell him everything. I’ll have to be quick because it is nearly time to meet Ned’s boyfriend.

I pause just inside Jade’s room. All thought of a lighthearted chat withers and dies.

Jade is sitting at his dresser, staring intently at his reflection in the mirror. He doesn’t seem to be moving at all.

Unease coils through my gut. “Jade?”

He startles and swivels around to face me. “Yes?” His voice is eerily emotionless.

“Ned is bringing his boyfriend over so we can meet him, remember?”

Jade blinks slowly, and something similar to his normal expression settles over his features. “Oh yes, let’s go meet the incestuous couple. We don’t want to be late.”

Yeah, I really don’t think now is a good time for a gossip and a catch-up. Jade does not seem like he is in the right frame of mind.

Silently, we walk out of his room together. Why is Jade being so strange? So malevolent? It is not like him at all. It is very unsettling. It is also making me feel terribly guilty. I’ve been obsessing about Monty, while Jade has been clearly going through something. I’m a terrible friend. I need to do better.

We reach the dining room and are greeted by the sight of Ned pacing frantically. It is quite the sight.

I’ve always known Ned to be a bundle of nerves when it comes to anything personal, but this? This is new. He’s pacing the dining room like the world is about to end, muttering something under his breath about sweaty palms. Sweaty palms? Ned went through hell with us in the harem and always appeared brave, but apparently, the prospect of his boyfriend meeting us, a bunch of chaotic, semi-functional paranormals, is enough to make him unravel.

“It’s going to be fine, Ned,” Lello says, his voice light and reassuring. “Everybody is going to love him, and he’s going to love everybody.”

I can’t help but smile at Lello’s optimism. The little kelpie always manages to bring a sense of hope into the room. It’s sweet, but also a little na?ve.

Jade and I take our seats quietly. Everyone else, apart from Gray and Mal, are here. The dining room, despite its overly formal vibe, is the only space big enough to host this exciting event. My gaze drifts to Jade, who’s looking at Ned with his new inscrutable expression. I really wish I knew what was going on with him.

I break the tension. “We’re happy for you, Ned. We really are.”

It’s not a lie. Morgan seems like a good guy from what little I’ve heard. And Ned? He deserves a shot at happiness. But there’s an elephant in the room, and perhaps clearing the air about it, will put Jade at ease. I’ve been such a terrible friend, this small act is the least I can do.

“But…” I continue, watching as Ned’s shoulders stiffen. He turns to glare at me, already bristling with defensiveness.

“Shouldn’t you tell Morgan that you’re his great-grandfather?”

“I’m not!” Ned snaps, his tone as sharp as a blade.

Jade leans forward, his voice calm but unyielding. “No, you’re his dead wife’s great-grandfather.”

The guilt in Ned’s eyes is unmistakable, but before he can respond, the doorbell rings. He practically bolts for the door, throwing out a hurried, “He’s here!” as if we didn’t all hear the bell.

Lello scampers excitedly after him. Carter stares after him like he is thinking he should have stopped his mate, but it is too late now.

I exchange a look with Jade, who just sighs and shakes his head. What has got in to him? I don’t believe for one second that he is genuinely this perturbed by Ned’s relationship. This disapproval has to be a proxy for some other discontent. I’ll have to get the truth out of him somehow.

From the hallway, I hear Lello’s excited voice, followed by Morgan’s warm laughter. A moment later, they appear, Lello practically dragging the poor guy into the room while babbling about everything under the sun.

Morgan looks over his shoulder at Ned, who shrugs apologetically. The smile Morgan gives him in return is genuine, and I feel a pang of relief. Maybe this won’t be a disaster after all.

“Everyone, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is everyone,” Ned says awkwardly, gesturing vaguely at the room.

Morgan’s cheerful “Hi everyone!” earns him a few polite nods, but I notice Blue pale at the back of the room. Sammy leans in to whisper something, and the two of them slip out quietly. My heart sinks. Blue’s reaction is understandable, given how scared of people he is, but it still stings to see him retreat like that.

Red steps in smoothly, guiding the conversation with practiced ease. It’s what he does best, diffusing tension, keeping things pleasant. I glance at Jade, who’s glaring daggers at Ned. Then my attention is drawn to Gray and Mal as they finally make their entrance.

And suddenly everything falls apart.

Morgan freezes, his eyes locking on Gray like a rabbit caught in headlights. He stumbles back, his face pale and stricken, and I realize what’s happening. Gray isn’t shielding his energy again. The poor little demon keeps forgetting how to do it.

“Gray! Cut it out!” Ned snaps, his tone laced with frustration.

Gray looks genuinely confused, and the sight breaks my heart. Out of all of us, I think Gray suffered the most, for the longest. It makes me wish we could resurrect Ritchie so we could kill him again.

Ned steps in to comfort Morgan, explaining the situation. “Hey, it’s okay. Gray is a demon. The reaction you are feeling is a perfectly healthy human response. Demons usually shield their energy, but Gray is not right in the head and has apparently forgotten how to.”

I wince. Saying Gray is not right in the head, is a bit harsh.

Gray crumples against Mal, sobbing into his chest, while Mal glares at Ned with the kind of fury that makes the air hum with tension.

And then the unoccupied chairs move. All of them, sliding across the floor in a not-so-subtle display of Mal’s power.

Ned’s snarl is immediate, his fangs flashing as he steps forward. “You really want to try it, motherfucker?” he growls, his voice low and dangerous.

“Stop it!” Lello’s wail cuts through the tension, his small frame stepping between the two of them. Red joins him, his arms crossed and his expression firm.

“Ned, take your boyfriend and go on your date,” Red says, his tone brooking no argument.

For a moment, I think Ned’s going to explode, but then Morgan tugs on his sleeve. “Come on, Ned. Let’s go. We don’t want to miss our dinner reservation.”

The fight drains out of Ned, leaving him looking tired and defeated. He mutters a half-hearted apology before leading Morgan out of the room.

As the door closes behind them, I glance around at the others. Lello looks worried even though Carter has a hand on his shoulder, Gray is still clinging to Mal, and Jade’s expression is gone back to unreadable and strange. I sigh, sinking back into my chair.

“Well,” I say dryly, “that went about as well as expected.”

Nobody really responds, and that is fair enough. Everyone is processing what just happened.

Hopefully, it will all blow over. Until the next time. Oh gosh, there is always going to be something, isn’t there? My little found family is seven traumatized paranormals, freed from sex slavery in a harem, and their assorted mates and partners. Things are never going to be calm. Ever.

There is never going to be a good time to figure out my feelings for Monty. So I should stop procrastinating about it and face the music. The only time any of us has, is right now.

O ne whole night of pondering doesn’t seem to have brought me any closer to a resolution. But there is no rush. I decided to stop avoiding the question, not to make my mind up instantaneously.

I hear the soft creak of the kitchen door and glance up from my tea. It’s Ned. I flash him a quick smile and rise, closing the blinds to cast the room in shadows. I know he is a young enough vampire to be mostly okay with sunlight, but it has to be uncomfortable for him.

“Thanks,” he says as he steps in, his shoulders relaxing a little in the muted light.

“Do you want a cup of tea?” I offer, holding up my peppermint brew as if it’s some universal solution.

“No thanks, it’s coffee I’m after,” he says, heading to the machine.

I sit back down, watching him fiddle with the buttons as the machine hisses to life. A wave of calm rolls over me as the familiar scent of brewing coffee fills the room. It’s a comfort, this quiet routine. It makes everything feel... normal, which is rare for us.

“How was your date?” I ask, even though I already know the question will annoy him.

Ned doesn’t groan, but the flicker of irritation in his eyes makes me bite back a smile. “Lovely. How were things here?” he deflects smoothly.

“It all calmed down, just fine,” I assure him.

He seems relieved, though he doesn’t say anything more, distracted by the coffee machine as it spits out the dark liquid. I watch as he inhales deeply, the rich aroma clearly bringing him some small comfort. Once his cup is full, he joins me at the table, sitting across from me.

“I... um... am really happy for you, Ned. Despite what I said about the great-grandfather stuff.”

His sharp, perceptive gaze locks onto mine, and I feel like I’m under a microscope. I mean every word, but that doesn’t stop me from fidgeting under his scrutiny.

“Thanks,” he says, his voice soft but genuine, as he sips his coffee.

Relief washes over me, and I sigh. “You’re so brave.”

“What?” he says, his brows lifting in surprise.

I lean forward, resting my chin on my hands. “Letting yourself fall in love,” I say, the wistfulness in my voice surprising even me. “I don’t think I could. I’m such a coward.”

I’m not sure why I said that out loud. Maybe it’s been bubbling under the surface for too long. Maybe I have been thinking about Monty a little too hard since my decision yesterday to finally make my mind up.

I glance down at my cup, trying to collect myself, but when I peek up, I catch a flicker of amusement in Ned’s eyes.

“What are you talking about? You are the bravest person I know,” he says, his voice steady, filled with that infuriating conviction he gets when he decides to be nice to me.

I frown.

“Hey,” he insists. “You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save us all.”

Heat creeps up my neck, and I lower my gaze, fiddling with my cup. The memory of that day, the despair, the crushing weight of hopelessness, claws at the edges of my mind. It wasn’t bravery. It was desperation.

“You let yourself get shot in the head so we could escape,” Ned continues, his voice unwavering. “We’d all still be there if it wasn’t for you.”

I flinch as he reaches across the table and places his hand over mine. His touch is warm, grounding. When I glance up, his expression is soft, but there’s no mistaking the intensity in his eyes.

He’s not just saying this to make me feel better. He believes it.

The anguish I’ve carried for so long wrestles with the sincerity in his gaze. Slowly, ever so slowly, the doubt starts to crack, and I manage a small smile. It doesn’t feel forced this time.

“That’s better,” Ned says, pulling his hand away to gulp down the rest of his coffee. I finish my tea, the lingering warmth soothing in a way I didn’t expect.

“Since you’re such a badass,” he says, his lips curving into a playful grin, “wanna come with me and be my backup while I apologize to Gray?”

I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me before I can stop it. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this light. “Okay, but if Mal is still pissy at you, you’re on your own.”

“Fair enough,” Ned says with a grin.

And for once, it actually feels like it is.