Chapter 8 #2
I averted my eyes to my empty bowl. “What about him?”
“I saw how you looked at him.”
“How did I look at him?”
“Like you could go another round of him scooping you up.”
My eyes snapped back up. “I don’t want him to scoop me up again.”
He threw me an unconvinced look.
“Okay, maybe I do a little bit. He’s definitely my type. But he also has the personality of a boulder covered in moss. No, not moss. That would give him too much sparkle.”
The troll chuckled, the sound a rumble of thunder. “What the fuck are you on about, mate?”
“You know, he’s just a boulder. Cold, so imposing a bird wouldn’t bother landing on him.”
“What about taking a shit?”
Ha! “Not even that.”
He chuckled some more, shaking his head. “Interesting analogy. I’ll grant you he’s moody, but he seems solid.”
“Maybe. He’s the odd one out.”
“Because of his responsibility? I’ve met a few pack alphas in my time, and the weight really is on their shoulders. Two boulders for each one, if you like. He probably doesn’t have time to think about being jolly. His personality might not get that high anyway.”
“James makes up for it.”
“Exactly.”
I drank some water. “You’re right. And we don’t know them to make any snap judgments. Anyone living on this planet has a right to be miserable.”
“It’s only natural to judge.” Great. Guilt nibbled at my soul. “And he saved us, is letting us stay here. He didn’t have to.”
“Yeah.”
I propped my elbows on the table, steepling my fingers. “I don’t know why his moodiness bothers me.”
“Because you fancy him.”
I glowered at him. “Paige.”
His turn to blush. “Paige?”
“There were very clear looks between you two.”
Trev straightened, coughing. “Hey, it’s day one. Let’s not make this into a thing.”
“Oh, now the sandal is on the other foot?”
“You mean shoe.”
“Close enough.”
He wiped the side of his mouth with his pinky finger. “Touché, mate.”
“I know.” There. Put him in his place.
Only… “What does touché mean?”
His roar of laughter almost burst my eardrums.
“What’s so funny?” I huffed.
I paused in the open door of the stairwell to the second floor, holding a flashlight now the sun was down, ears pricked to pick up any sound of the alpha.
Would he come down for a drink and a get-to-know-you session? Probably not. Even if he did show his face, he’d brood in the corner. All the same, I wanted to see him.
I really needed to shake off this misplaced attraction. It was simply my body responding to him. Nothing more.
Right?
The pack gathered in the recreation flat by candlelight.
A rainbow of beanbags were spread across the living room, so colorful and inviting in the flickering light.
A bottle of gin sat on a table along with some board games, their boxes battered, and three bowls of snacks.
There were plastic beakers neatly lined up in a row, and a jug of water.
I hadn’t expected such a spread.
Paige sat at the table with Trev next to her—him in a sturdy armchair. Cate and James occupied a couple of beanbags, being all cute with each other.
I took a chair on the other side of the table.
“Miko said we could use the peanuts and hoop crisps for tonight,” Paige said. “All still in date. All delicious.” She picked up a hoop-shaped crisp from a bowl and sucked it off her finger.
Trev watched the action closely.
“Help yourself,” she added, making eyes at the troll.
“Thanks.” I took a hooped crisp. Salty. Crunchy. Perfect.
“Is Miko not joining us?” I asked, casually reaching for a peanut, ignoring Trev’s eyebrow wriggle.
James stood up. “We’ll see. He’s not really one for too much socializing.”
“A thinker,” Cate added.
“Likes to keep himself to himself.”
“Okay,” I said.
James came over, throwing an arm across my shoulders. “Try not to worry about him. He’s a good man beneath the prickly armor. And he’ll look after you. We all will.”
Paige and Cate agreed.
“Am I the shortest one here?” I asked, getting to my feet. If we were going to relax, why not be a bit silly?
Silence.
“Well?”
“I think so,” Cate said. “Not by much, but… Why did you ask?” She smiled.
“Why not?”
Paige broke into giggles, laughter rippling through the room moments later, becoming hysterical. It wasn’t particularly funny, but the laughter really felt good. So good it hurt my insides.
James slapped my back. “You crazy fae!”
I stumbled forward, about to crash land into the table.
Strong arms caught me in time.
“Careful, James,” Miko said, moving me to stand beside him.
James straightened like a soldier greeting his commander. “Sir.”
“I’d like to keep those snacks off the floor.” Miko nodded at the goodies.
“Never mind my face,” I countered.
He ignored me. “What were you laughing at?”
“Orion,” Cate answered. “He pointed out how we all tower above him.”
“I wouldn’t say tower,” I said.
Miko glanced down at me. “I suppose we do.”
I sidestepped away from him. “Or maybe you’re just overly tall. Stop eating those raw eggs and steaks.”
“I don’t like steak or eggs,” he said.
“What? How is that possible for a strapping wolf like you?”
He turned to face me head on. “Tell me, Orion, what is your idea of the best werewolf diet to make them tall and strapping?”
Silence in the room again.
Stars, the awkwardness ran hot through my veins. “I, erm, I…” I had no answer.
Miko looked me up and down, then took a seat, picking up a box.
Curse him for his embarrassing move.
Curse me for foolish comments.
“How about a game of Cluedo?” Miko suggested, with the warmth of the Frost Glades.
Or Antarctica.
“Sounds great, sir,” James said.
Miko opened the box, then looked around the room at the bemused faces. “Well? Shall we?”
After a game of Cluedo, Miko saying nothing as he beat our backsides, we moved onto a chat game. Someone would ask a question and we’d all take turns to answer.
Miko took a handful of peanuts, then went to stand in the corner. Wreathed in shadow, only his chin and bottom half of his body were on view.
The gin remained untouched.
Cate opened the chat from the position of her husband’s lap. How the beanbag didn’t explode under them I’d never know. “What is one indulgent or fun thing you truly miss about life before?”
She started with Trev.
“Shotput,” he answered. “Used to play all the time. Dreamed of going to the Olympics.”
“I bet you were fab,” Paige said.
The pair were sitting closer than before.
“I was pretty great,” he replied with a wink.
Cate came to me next. “Orion?”
“Karaoke.”
“You’re a singer?” James asked.
“The only talent I have really.” My eyes darted in Miko’s direction ever so quickly.
“You might have karaoke here, but you have never experienced anything like Faery karaoke. I was the king of it back home.” Tears welled, a lump gathering in my throat.
“I…” I couldn’t speak, desperate to fight off the rising sorrow. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Paige soothed.
“Take your time, mate,” Trev added.
“I feel awful for asking this question,” Cate said.
I recovered, smacking down my sensitivities. Deep breaths. Carry on. “I’m fine. Silly homesickness. If you want more of an indulgence, I’ll say sunbathing on a beach without threat of being eaten, a Vodka Flower in hand.”
James swiveled his turquoise cap around, the brim now at the back. “What’s a Vodka Flower?”
“Fae vodka served in a flower.”
He laughed. “Why?”
“Because it looks cute.”
They all laughed at me, apart from him in the corner.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing,” James answered, wiping his eyes.
“I know it must seem strange if you’ve never been to Faery.”
“No, no. We’re not laughing at your customs.”
“More the deadpan response of it being cute,” Miko said.
Ten seconds of silence.
“How big is this flower?” Paige wondered.
“About the size of a tumbler,” I answered.
“That’s cool.”
“Yes. Quite literally. It stays cold for six hours.”
“Impressive,” Miko said, still lurking in the shadows.
The conversation stayed light after that, the others answering Cate’s question with food-related responses. Apart from James, who missed going to musicals. Wicked was his favorite.
Miko didn’t answer, staying in his corner through a game of Poker, which I lost badly three times.
“I’m rusty,” I muttered after the third loss.
“Orion learned a new word today,” Trev said.
“I did?”
“What word?” Paige asked, batting her lashes at him.
He threw me a mischievous wink. “Touché.”
Assbug. “Oh. That word.”
“Good word to know for the next game,” James said. “Scrabble, anyone?”
I actually won that, Trev doing the worst.
“That’s karma for taking the piddle,” I told him smugly.
“Piss.”
“Sorry?”
“Taking the piss.”
“I know. Piddle just sounds nicer.”
They all laughed at me again.
“Assbugs. And before you say ‘hole’, assbug is a vicious insult in Faery.”
Trev pouted. “You don’t have to be so vicious.”
“Oh. It’s not that vicious.”
He winked. “Teasing, mate. We are a bunch of assbugs.”
I laughed then. “Yes, you are.”
How refreshing this was. Laughing, playing games, not drinking the gin.
“Are we ever going to open that bottle?” I asked.
Miko moved from the corner. “Orion?”
I almost choked on my hoopy crisp. “Yes…” cough… “Yes?” A gulp of water cleared the crispy shards from my throat.
“I’d like you to join me on a supply run tomorrow.”
“You would?” I got up, a blanket of silence falling over the room again.
“Yes. Be ready to leave at eight.”
I met the eyes of the group. They all smiled.
“O-Okay. Great.”
After a curt nod, he walked away.
My anxiety fluttered as I watched him leave.
Me?
Really?
Why?
I ran after him, going to reach for his arm at the bottom of the stairwell.
He turned, stopping me from making contact.
“Yes?”
What was I doing? “Oh.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I wanted to say something.”
He waited.
“Well, I wanted to ask something, really,” I said.
He continued to wait.
“About Dawn.”
He had a face of steel. “What about it?”
“I heard you were, well, determined to end it.”
“I’m sure many are.”
“I don’t think it’s a shared hope after two years, actually.”
“Is that so?”
“In my sadder moments, hope can get a bit thin.”
“Are you experiencing one of those moments now?”
“Not since finding you.” I tried for grateful, perky fae charm.
It failed.
“Well, good for you anyway,” I added. “This world needs men like you.”
I’d get more response from the floor.
“And if I can help in anyway, don’t hesitate to ask.”
He locked his gaze to me for slow seconds before answering with, “Noted.”
“Great. I—”
He jogged up the stairs.
“I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”