19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Monty
I am jogging up the driveway, the rhythm of my feet a steady beat against the gravel, when Carter’s car suddenly speeds past. The roar of the engine startles me, and I instinctively slow, watching as he swerves and skids to a stop right in front of the house. The tires kick up a spray of loose stones, one of which pings sharply against my leg.
Before I can call out in surprise or annoyance, Carter jumps out of the car. He doesn’t even glance at the mess he’s made. His only acknowledgment of me is a quick, distracted wave, an apology, I suppose, for nearly mowing me down. But it’s clear his thoughts are elsewhere. His strides are purposeful and urgent as he disappears into the house without another word.
That wasn’t the look of someone going about their day. That was the look of a man frantic with worry. A man desperate to reach his mate.
I stop jogging, my chest heaving slightly from exertion, and stare at the house. Has something happened? My frown deepens as unease creeps over me. I extend my senses cautiously, scanning for any ripples of magical disturbance, but the air is still. No chaotic energy, no bursts of raw power. But disasters are not always of the magic kind. Emotions and relationships and the everyday business of life can be just as explosive.
The thought hits me like a punch to the gut. Pink could be in danger, and I wouldn’t even know.
I’m not magically bonded to Pink. We are not mates. He could be dying or in great peril, and I would not be able to sense it.
The only reason I bolted awake when Jade was trying to open the portal was because it was such a surge of strange and unusual magic. Even then, it was only my deep subconscious that knew something was wrong. I didn’t consciously know a thing.
Am I feeling anything now? Is this prickling unease more than anxiety? Or is my imagination running away with me?
A heavy sigh escapes me. There is only one way to find out. Cautiously, I step towards the house. I’m not entirely sure I’m welcome. Pink has never officially rescinded the, ‘Contact only when and as needed’, terms of our arrangement, but I like to think that informally, we have grown closer than that.
Though that could just be wistful thinking on my part. Sure, things have grown easier between us lately, warmer, even. But I’m not entirely sure where I stand. And the very last thing I want to do is overstep Pink’s boundaries.
The front door is unlocked. Here goes nothing. I slip inside. The faint hum of voices draws me towards the kitchen. I hesitate at the threshold, the scene unfolding before me like a silent play.
Carter has his arms wrapped tightly around Lello, the kelpie’s shoulders shaking as he cries into his mate’s chest. The sight is intimate and raw, and I feel like an intruder for witnessing it.
At the table, Pink is sitting with his hands clasped tightly, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. But then his eyes shift, and he notices me. Relief floods his face, softening the tension in his features, and he smiles. Warm, beautiful, and so genuine that it takes my breath away.
I step forward without thinking, compelled by that smile and his clear welcome. I stand behind him and my hand finds his shoulder, a gesture of support that feels both natural and intimate. Pink’s hand comes up to rest on mine, his touch gentle but affirming. He is glad that I am here.
Blue and Sammy are also in the room, their presence a quiet accompaniment to the tension. Blue gives me a wary glance but doesn’t retreat, which I take as progress.
“Ned’s run away to a castle in France,” Sammy explains, his voice brisk but tinged with concern. “He might do something stupid because he thinks Morgan doesn’t love him. But Morgan showed up here with a bunch of roses, so Gray whisked him off through the shadows to try and save Ned.”
His words tumble out in a rush, and I nod, grateful for the succinct explanation. It is very kind of Sammy to fill me in without prompting. I wasn’t planning to pry. Even though I was deeply curious.
Oh heavens, this is a calamity. No wonder Lello was upset and Carter was rushing to be by his side. The boys are all very close. Understandably, after everything they went through together in the harem.
Pink calls them his family. Losing Red, Jade and Brodie must have been awful for them. Now Ned is in danger again?
How awful. All of these boys deserve a peaceful life where nothing bad ever happens again. No stress. No disasters. I wish I could give that to them. I wish I could help with this, but I’m not sure what I can do.
Suddenly, a potent wave of dark magic sweeps through the room. My breath catches, and the fine hairs on my arms stand on end. The energy is dense, oppressive, and unmistakable.
The demon appears.
Gray materializes out of the shadows, his black eyes scanning the room. The air grows heavy with his presence, a suffocating mix of power and menace.
Everyone startles. Carter’s protective hold on Lello tightens reflexively. Even Sammy, who is usually unflappable, tenses.
The scene is a frozen tableau. Gray is never exactly chatty, but surely he understands his friends need answers?
“What happened?” Sammy asks, breaking the silence, just as it is becoming clear that the demon isn’t going to voluntarily give up a single word.
Gray’s gaze shifts to him, slow and deliberate, and I suppress a shiver. “I took Morgan to Ned,” he says, his voice a low rasp. His tone clearly indicating his bewilderment at being asked to state the obvious.
The demon’s unhelpful words hang in the air, and Pink shifts in his seat, his hand twitching beneath mine. But it is Sammy who huffs out in exasperation, “And?”
The demon’s dark eyes track around everyone in the room, his expression unhurried and unreadable. It is hard not to shudder as his gaze briefly meets my own. Slowly, he turns his attention back to Sammy.
“They are fucking,” he says flatly.
A collective exhale of relief ripples through the room.
Pink sighs audibly, the tension draining from his body. Sammy grins like a Cheshire cat. Lello steps back from Carter, though he keeps a firm grip on his hand. He smiles at the demon while wiping tears from his eyes.
“They didn’t want me to watch,” Gray adds, his tone almost petulant.
Sammy lets out a loud snort of a laugh. “I’m sure Mal will take you to the sex club so you can perv all you like.”
A grin slowly spreads across the demon’s face, and his jet-black eyes light up. His dark magic surges, and then he is gone. Vanished, as if he was never here. This time, I can’t suppress my shudder.
Demons, even incubi, are terrifying. But I am going to have to get used to Gray if I want a permanent and meaningful place in Pink’s life. It wouldn’t do to be scared of one’s brother-in-law.
Pink moves to stand, and I instinctively step back to give him space. He turns to face me, his hand still holding mine.
“This is wonderful,” he exclaims, his face alight with joy.
I nod enthusiastically as my heart skips a beat at the warmth of his touch. Then I realize he is talking about Ned and Morgan resolving their difficulties, and not about us holding hands. But my nodding fits the situation. I’ve escaped a social faux pas and Pink will never know what I was truly thinking.
Pink beams up at me. He is even more beautiful when he is happy. It is enough to take my breath away. It is intense enough to inspire my soul to devotion. Pink should always be happy. At all times. For the rest of his life. I want to devote myself to ensuring that happiness is all he ever knows.
“We should celebrate!” I say as wonderful inspiration strikes.
Pink chuckles, his laughter a melodic sound that makes my chest ache in the best way. His gorgeous eyes light up with glee.
“What did you have in mind?” he teases, playing along. He clearly remembers that this is exactly how I asked him out for our first date.
“There’s a new exhibition at the museum’s art gallery,” I suggest, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling beneath the surface. “We could check it out and grab coffee afterward.”
Pink’s smile widens, his entire face lighting up. “Like a date?” He says, sticking to this script we’ve somehow created between us. It is wonderfully intimate and I am going to cherish it forever.
“Exactly like a date,” I confirm, my heart thundering in my chest.
“Sounds fantastic,” Pink says, and I couldn’t agree more.