Chapter 16 Come With Me Now
Come With Me Now
ARCHER
Rogue can handle herself—not that the two ‘alpha’ dudes in our new family group get that.
Reb and Ang are riding their instincts hard, and I think that’s because of their personalities rather than their designation as top-level beings in their species.
Obviously, ‘alpha’ is a shifter thing, and they’re Fae and demon, but someone who fits that description accurately, they give me a headache.
My lion wants to protect her, too, but I know better than to saddle a wild stallion.
We fell for her as a wild girl and that’s who she’ll always be—I’m sure as fuck not going to change it.
“We didn’t really ditch you, man,” I say to D with a sheepish expression. “Wheels had a feeling, and we went to check it out. No one was alone, so it wasn’t dangerous.”
He looks frustrated by my logic, as if he’d like to argue, but knows he can’t.
Our detour wasn’t approved by the group and I’m sure that lit Rebel up once he realized the three of us were gone.
But Damon is far more susceptible to reason than Rogue’s stepbrother.
“Yeah, okay. But you said nothing, and we got worried.”
“Not to mention Angelo was pissed as fuck,” Reb mutters as he cuts his gaze to our girl, pacifying the elder twin. “He didn’t even tell us what he found out because he was too focused on finding you dummies.”
Rogue blinks and pulls back from Angelo with a frown. “Then tell us now, baby. We need to know what you found out when you were spying.”
The vengeance demon sucks in an annoyed breath, then sighs in acquiescence.
“Fine, but don’t assume this isn’t earning people some red asses later.
I don’t like finding my mate and my brother missing in a place like this, Princess.
Remember, I know what kinds of things go on here and how bad it can get. ”
I rub the back of my neck, giving D an apologetic look when I realize how upset he probably was knowing Angelo was off doing risky shit, then finding Rogue and me gone. “Shit, I’m sorry. But…”
Reb frowns as he glares at me through slitted eyes. “But what, Archer?”
“You and Angelo have to let our girl breathe, Reb. She trained with you; you, more than anyone else, know how capable she is. The stupid ambush at the club has made you guys treat her differently than we ever did before—and not just in good ways.” I clear my throat, my thoughts gathering steam as I continue.
“She’s been trying to tell you that one bad incident doesn’t make her helpless and you’re not listening.
Before she was with us, we didn’t have a clue where she was or what she was doing every minute of every day, but no one panicked. ”
My radiant girlfriend practically lights up from the inside as she moves from the grumpy twin to me with a smile so wide it has to hurt. “You, Archer Glaser, are my favorite as of now. Triple points to you, baby, for saying that.”
Suck on that assholes—I’m the favorite.
“Damn it,” Angelo grumbles as I wrap my arms around Rogue and smirk at the others. “I just can’t keep from picturing you how we found you on the ground, Princess. I bet Reb can’t, either.”
The green-haired Fae nods, his expression stormy. “No, I can’t. Nor can I stop feeling that blank moment when your voice stopped, and we had to track you down. It killed something in me to feel you were gone forever.”
Pulling back, Rogue looks at them both and then makes a face. “Okay, I get it. But that will not work forever, boys. We are all going to move on from that night by dealing with those responsible. That means all of us, and not just you guys playing cowboy. Got it?”
They both nod, and I tilt my head. “So, are you gonna share this hot goss or what, Angelo?”
The elder demon rolls his eyes at me, then drags his lower lip through his teeth as he thinks.
“I could hear that Luca’s having some sort of secret gathering after the big meeting.
He’s invited folks from below to attend and mingle with ‘new talent’, according to what the idiots I heard talking said. ”
“Hey, we heard about that, too,” Javier says. “But not the ‘new talent’ part. However, the Cubi over there isn’t high enough in the Lust line to really know much. He’s got power because he’s old, not because he’s gifted, I think.”
Damon arches a brow at our friend. “How do you know that, Javi?”
“The bird senses his age, but dismisses his magic outside of the feeding. When he does that, I know the person is less threatening than they are projecting.” The phoenix looks around for a moment, then murmurs, “There’s a lot of that in this outer section, by the way.
I’ve sensed a few strong supes, but not as many as I would expect at the lowest level of this nonsense. ”
“Agreed.” Angelo sighs as he follows Javi’s gaze to the beings he’s clocked as actually having the ability to be threatening. “We need to get moving. This isn’t where we’re going to find out the nitty gritty.”
Rogue groans as she steps away from me, her gorgeous eyes flashing with annoyance. “I want out of here, so if you think we need to keep going? Let’s do it. I’d love to leave for the meeting without once seeing your parents’ stupid faces.”
Angelo and Damon shrug, unable to argue with that sentiment, and Rebel pinches the bridge of his nose.
I, however, am less hopeful about Rogue’s desire being a possibility; my gut says we won’t have a choice.
Our journey further along the path is filled with demons and supes fucking, plus various tents that I’m pretty sure I do not want to know what’s going on in.
Angelo was adamant that we shouldn’t explore the closed-off spaces, and while Rogue challenged him, she ultimately backed down when he said there are things for sale that we don’t need to see.
I’d prefer the answer to that be ‘black market kidneys’ rather than people—or worse—but I’m not stupid enough to push the topic.
The demon realm is not a place for non-demonic supes and this little territory proves it by one hundred percent.
“You okay, my furry king?” Rogue whispers as she grabs my hand and laces our fingers together.
I like that she’s more affectionate than she used to be; the comfort level she’s exhibiting with us is promising.
Reb hasn’t gotten much of it yet, but he’s still earning her forgiveness for being such an ass.
I don’t blame our girl for making him prove that he will not change his mind before she gives everything to him.
Rogue’s been hurt enough lately and Rebel fucking up would be an absolute disaster.
“I am,” I reply as I frown. “I seriously hate this place, though.”
She smirks, squeezing my hand comfortingly. “Yeah, it sucks a lot. I guarantee this shit won’t go on when the twins take the reins. I mean, maybe some of the normal demon shit, but this… grossness? No fucking way.”
“Planning your edicts for when you’re the queen of the Gemini?” I ask, and she laughs softly.
“Perhaps.”
Her mischievous grin is enchanting, and I want to duck forward to kiss her. I know I can’t because we’re trying to keep up appearances in case we’re being watched. But that sucks and I hate it, especially right now. “I second your desire to get the fuck out of here, you know.”
“Poor Archie,” she whispers, her eyes full of understanding. “This is a bit too much for your taste, huh?”
Giving her a sour look, I snort. “You don’t like it anymore than I do, Wheels. You’re just better at putting on the mask of indifference because of work.”
“You got me, babe. I have to ignore things I’d rather not all the time, so Reb and I don’t get in trouble. We’re not supposed to mete out justice unless assigned or asked to seek law breakers. It’s annoying as fuck to let shit like this go, though.”
Damon sidles up to me and mutters, “Plus, it would be a violation of the seven realms’ treaties. For all intents and purposes, this is Hell’s territory. You know that, Sparkles.”
“Ugh,” she groans as she rolls her eyes. “I know. Just like all the other places belong to whomever and that sucks, too. I don’t get why we have to let these perverts break all the laws of our realm just because they planted a flag and a fence around a section of land, though.”
“Because we occasionally have visitors down there or to Faerie or whatever… and we don’t want people fucking with them?
” The studious twin gives her a reproachful look, and Rogue makes an annoyed sound again.
She clearly gets it, but she’s irritated, nonetheless.
“You’re just being pouty because you can’t beat the shit out of demons who dearly deserve it down here. ”
“Bingo,” I interject. “Rogue will never be happy on a leash.”
Her brow quirks, and she tilts her head. “Archie, however, might enjoy it, methinks.”
My eyes widen, and Damon does the same as we all consider that. “That is a topic for much later,” I grumble. “Don’t distract us with sex stuff.”
“You can distract me with sex stuff,” Angelo offers as he winks at Rogue. “Though I suppose this isn’t the best spot for it.”
Rogue stops, turning to look at the entire group with a stern expression.
“I have zero issue with exhibitionism. But… I’d love to avoid doing anything here that could be broadcast all over the seven realms and the fucking supe-net.
It squicks me out to imagine your fuckhead parents watching,” she says as she wrinkles her nose. “The twins, I mean.”
I snort, covering my mouth as I try to contain my amusement at Sariah and any of my dads seeing that by mistake. “Fucking shit, Wheels. Luckily, we weren’t doing anything with a choking hazard. Man, my mom is so ridiculous that she’d probably yell at me for not taking care of you well enough.”
Reb arches a brow. “Then you should up your game, Glaser. If I thought Graciella would—”
“Do. Not. Finish. That. Sentence,” Rogue says sharply as she slaps a hand to her eyes. “I can’t even with you, Rebel Elvis Kelly.”
I grin because when Rogue uses full names, she’s pissed as hell.
That means the emo boy is on the outs and I’m still golden, Ponyboy.
That’s fantastic. “Okay, so no sexy stuff down in Sticky Surface Land. But I’m gonna be honest, Wheels…
that dress doesn’t help us stay away from the topic.
You look delicious, even when there’s bullshit everywhere we look. ”
Her fingers move to her temples, rubbing lightly as she closes her eyes. “Archie, you’re still doing good on points, but I swear to fuck…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be good—promise.”
Damon shakes his head, and Angelo rolls his eyes, but they also nod. “Us, too.”
That leaves Javi and Rebel, only one of whom is a potential issue. Javier winks at our girl, and she smiles, accepting his quiet promise. Her gaze moves to her recalcitrant stepbrother, putting a hand on her hips as she gives him an annoyed huff. “Reb, come on.”
He stalks closer, standing within centimeters of her as he replies, “Rogue, I don’t want anyone watching anything to do with our family, but unlike the others, I have less certainty about what it will take to get our asses out of here if we’re caught.
So I promise that I’ll fight to the absolute death if I have to, but if there are easier ways to save our bacon, we’ll take those before any of us get hurt. Got it?”
If that’s not ominous, I don’t know what the fuck is.