BRAYDEN
THIRTY-FOUR
“Istill think there are too many ways this plan can go sideways, man,” Micah said as he got ready for the event tonight.
We’d all decided to get ready in the second-floor bedroom and leave the master for Lailah to use without us underfoot.
The morning had been spent going over the plan, and everyone’s part they were to play.
I had called Charlotte to make sure that none of them were coming, so it would just be our parents.
I wouldn’t do this if they were at the party.
“Yet none of us had a better idea,” I said, trying to get my damn bowtie figured out.
“The last thing we should be doing is poking holes in the Dark Lord’s plans while Lailah is still vulnerable,” Micah grumbled.
I paused and looked over at him. Not many people would see it, but Micah had been my best friend since I was twelve, and he was head over heels for Lailah. “She told me about you not accepting the Oath.”
He froze and slowly raised his head to look at me from where he was tying his shoes.
He licked his lips and brushed off imaginary lint from his pants before saying anything.
“I couldn’t. God, I wanted to, but I knew I wasn’t ready to make that commitment to her.
Look at all the fucked-up things that have happened since you two bonded. ”
I raised a brow. “Micah, her getting demon poison in her system is what set all this in motion. It had nothing to do with us bonding. I wasn’t even there with her when it happened.”
Micah shot to his feet and got up in my face. “That right there is the problem! You left her to be looked after by the others when they aren’t fully committed to this or her.”
“What?” I scoffed. “So are you saying I shouldn’t have left her with you the other day?”
“Damn straight. The fucking Dark Lord showed up. What good is one man who isn’t even bonded with her going to do against that? She could have been killed, but my sorry ass was frozen, suspended in time until it was too late. It’s only a miracle he didn’t want her dead this time,” Micah snapped.
I rested my hands on his shoulders and gripped them tightly so he had to look at me.
“It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been me or one of the others.
None of us would have had a chance. Each of us keep being selfish and taking on the role of being the weak link when it’s all of us.
We are all failing her. Everyone keeps telling her that we’re a team, and we need to work together if we want to beat this son of a bitch, but we don’t even follow our own advice. ”
Micah sagged in my hold as my words hit home.
“Did you know she’s feeling guilty that she kissed you and Parker?
Lailah is so afraid of causing more of a divide in our group that she is pulling away from everyone, even me.
Part of that is my fault—I shouldn’t have assumed that she would be okay with Jay watching, but I will own that.
At least they had a conversation about it, and he could share how he feels about her.
What about you? Ever stop to think how she would respond to you saying no, then making out with her?
” I took a deep breath, realizing how worked up I was getting. This wasn’t helping anyone.
“You’re right,” Micah breathed. “I need to explain that I turned it down because I do care about her, not because I don’t want her.”
“Let’s deal with this first, then we can all sit down and deal with family matters,” I said, clapping him on the back.
Pulling on my tux jacket, I met the rest of the guys in the living room, all dressed and ready to go.
Everyone looked a little nervous—well, except for Jay, but this is what he did all the time.
Then I heard the telltale sound of heels clicking on the wooden floor, signaling Lailah’s arrival.
When she entered the room, everyone rose to their feet and took in the splendor that was our girl.
Lailah’s golden curls were piled up on her head, but a few pieces escaped and brushed against her collar bone.
Simple diamonds glinted in her ears, and I couldn’t ever remember her wearing earrings before.
The black dress hugged her body in all the right places, showing off her curves.
I especially loved that the dress showed off her legs, perfectly toned from all the running that she does.
Her black heels set off the whole outfit as they glinted in the light with black rhinestones.
Never had I seen a more beautiful woman, and she was mine—well, ours—to cherish and love.
“Angel, you look stunning,” I said, walking up to her, taking her hand, and kissing the back of it, not trusting myself to taste her lips.
The blush that crept up her cheeks just added to her look, and I couldn’t hold back my grin as I saw the guys behind me stunned.