CHAPTER 19
Rue
What do three shifters, a vampire, and a witch do at night when they’re attempting to do something other than fucking their brains out?
Watch Dracula, obviously.
The scent of freshly popped popcorn wafts through the air as Rhys lifts another piece to my mouth. My eyes are glued to the screen as I watch in rapt fascination at how different real vampires are compared to movie ones. I mean, sure, there are similarities, but I’ve never known a real vampire to fear a crucifix.
As Dracula disappears into a cloud of bats, Slade lets out a long sigh. “Out of all the traits vampires got, that couldn’t have been one of them? I’d never endure a socially awkward situation again. I’d simply poof.” He clicks his fingertips together before spreading them wide. “Like that. Gone. Goodbye.”
I groan, feeling his pain all too well. “Ugh. That would be the dream, wouldn’t it?”
“Definitely,” Slade replies, his voice tinged with longing. He leans back on the couch, running a hand through his raven black hair.
Kathan chuckles. “Imagine not having to deal with petty territorial disputes and pack hierarchy bullshit. Although, I guess I do have the option of turning into an animal and disappearing into a predator, not a bat.”
“Consider yourself lucky,” Slade grumbles.
Rhys shifts beside me, his knee rubbing against mine. I glance at him, catching the impish glint in his blue eyes. “What about you, Rhys? Any abilities you wish you had?”
He smirks, his lips curling up playfully. “Oh, I don’t know,” he says, his voice dripping with mischief. “I think being a shifter gives me enough perks already. But if I had to choose, it’d probably be teleportation. The thought of being able to go anywhere in the blink of an eye is intriguing, but there’s nothing like running somewhere as a wolf.”
Caylix raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “I can already picture the havoc you’d cause if you had that sort of free rein. Hell, the first thing you’d do is probably teleport into a high-security vault somewhere and make away with all the gold—without breaking a sweat—simply to prove you could.”
Rhys laughs. “You know me too well, brother.”
“What about you Kathan?” I ask.
The grumpy shifter narrows his eyes at me, contemplating the question for a moment. “I guess I’d like the power to control time,” he finally says, his gruff voice rumbling through the room. “Imagine being able to slow down or speed up time whenever you wanted. Or go back in the past and change things. It’d come in handy, that’s for sure.”
I sense the extra meaning there too and I reach a hand out, squeezing his arm softly. I know he regrets the way he treated me and not being able to save Kallie, but the fabric of time isn’t something you mess with. You’re not you without the past and the things you’ve been through. I send some comfort along the bond, hoping he feels it.
I miss whatever Rhys and Caylix said next, and I barely catch the tail end of their conversation. “Yeah, but knowing you, Rhys, that’s an ability you’d use simply to sleep in an extra couple of hours every morning.”
Rhys throws his hands up in defense. “I never claimed to be a morning person.”
“Ugh, I’m right there with you,” I reply.
The movie continues playing in the background, but our attention is now focused on each other. We laugh, tease, and share stories of what adventures we’d have if we had an array of powers at our disposal. And my heart has never felt so full.
As the credits of Dracula roll across the screen, we all sit in contented silence, basking in the warmth of our bond. The popcorn bowl sits empty, our cups drained. I smile when Rhys cracks a joke that causes Slade to double over in laughter. Despite our deep-seated differences, it’s heartening to see how love can bring us together.
Our lives may be filled with constant dangers lurking around every corner, but it’s moments like these, when we can forget about the troubles and enjoy each other’s company, that make it all seem worth it.
The low rumble of thunder outside interrupts the lighthearted conversation, drawing our attention to the window. Raindrops splatter against the glass. The storm seems to mirror the turmoil that often surrounds us, but as I gaze out into the darkened sky, a sense of calm washes over me. The storm may be fierce, but inside this small haven we’ve created, we’ve found refuge. These men have rapidly become my anchors, securing me despite the roughest of waves.