Chapter 28
The lounge felt three times smaller than it actually was. It was all the alpha energy and angry males prowling back and forth across the space. Dash and I were propped up on the couch, but he already looked ten times better. I gave a mental thank-you to the heavens for dragon blood.
My fingers twined with Dash’s as he stared out the window. He turned to me at the contact. “You okay?”
“Yes and no,” I said honestly. Dash had made it, my bond was alive, but so many others weren’t. “What about you?”
“Yes and no.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “So grateful to have more days with you, though.”
A burn lit behind my eyes. “Me, too.”
A ding sounded, and I turned to see Declan pull out his phone. He frowned at the screen.
“What is it?” Colt asked, on edge.
“Liam. He said he needs to talk in person.”
My brow furrowed. “Sam’s mate?”
Declan nodded, typing out a text.
“You shouldn’t go alone,” Trace warned. “We don’t know who’s on our side.”
Declan looked up from his phone. “I’d trust Liam with my life. We’ve been friends since we were little.”
“I’ll go with you,” Ronan offered. “Just as a precaution.”
Declan was silent for a moment and then nodded. “He wants to meet on campus. The library.”
“Smart,” Colt muttered. “No one will think twice about both of you being there.”
“Even on a Saturday?” I asked.
“The library is always open on weekends. Lots of kids have study groups,” Colt explained.
Just the term study groups had my stomach plummeting.
Dash squeezed my hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so far behind it’s not even funny.” It would be a miracle if I had passing grades, let alone ones that would get me a scholarship at a good college.
Dash’s thumb swept back and forth across my skin. “We’ll catch you up. I’m a genius, remember?”
“I’m not even sure your genius ways can help me now.”
He grinned. “Don’t doubt my badassery.”
“We gotta go,” Declan said.
Colt reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys, tossing them at Declan. “Take the Escalade.”
He caught them one-handed. “Thanks.”
My stomach sank as Ronan and Declan disappeared out of the lounge. “I hate when we’re not all together.”
Trace crossed to the couch, lowering himself to my other side. “They’ll be okay.”
“I know.” I didn’t. Not really. But I had to hold on to hope.
Colt sighed and sank into one of the overstuffed chairs. I could see the toll all of this was taking on him. The dark circles under his eyes, the pain etched into his face.
“We should work on a list of everyone who has been here in the past six months,” Dash said.
“That’s a hell of a long list,” Trace muttered. “And it could’ve been before then, too. The guard stations haven’t moved in years.”
“That’s something I’ll be changing,” Colt gritted out. “Nothing predictable, not anymore.”
I stared at the guy who had been my best friend all my life. The guy who was now part of my everything. “This wasn’t your fault.”
His gaze lifted to mine. “I should’ve been more careful with everything that was going on.”
I pushed to my feet and crossed to Colt, lowering myself onto his lap. I curled myself around him, the only comfort I could think to give. “It’s not your fault.”
Colt nuzzled my neck, breathing deep. A shudder ran through him. “Love you, LeeLee.”
“I love you, too, and I don’t want you taking this on. This is on the shadow demons and whoever gave them the inside scoop on your property.”
His fingers trailed up and down my spine. “You’re right.”
“I’m thinking I should record you saying that so I can play it on repeat.”
Colt pinched my side. “Rude.”
I laughed. “Just saying…”
Dash grinned at us. “I think we should watch the stupidest comedy we can find until the twins get back.”
We needed that. A chance to laugh. To be close. “I vote yes.”
Trace’s gaze narrowed on Dash. “I’m not watching Stepbrothers again.”
Dash gaped at him. “It’s a cinematic masterpiece.”
I couldn’t help it, I snorted.
He turned his annoyed gaze on me. “Don’t tell me you’re against it, too.”
I shrugged. “I’m more of a Talladega Nights fan.”
Trace held up his hand for an air high-five across the space. “Little baby Jesus for the win.”
Colt chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. And relief came with it. He would be okay. We all would.
“Fine,” Dash huffed. “We’ll watch the far inferior Will Ferrell.”
I laughed and threw a pillow at him as I stood. “You’re such a sore loser.”
“Maybe because I almost never lose,” Dash shot back.
“Cocky much?” I groused.
“Confident,” he argued.
I grabbed the remote, and we all settled on the massive sectional. We sat close, and I needed it. That feeling of my guys around me. Their heat and energy. The knowledge that they were safe and whole.
We only made it halfway through the movie before the front door slammed and Declan and Ronan appeared in the doorway. Their expressions were murderous.
Colt sat up, clicking off the TV. “What?”
Declan’s jaw worked back and forth as if he was having a hard time getting out the words.
“Dec?” Dash pushed.
Declan’s gaze locked with mine, and I saw so much pain there.
Fear flared to life in my chest, digging in deep.
Declan swallowed hard, and the whole world dropped away as he spoke. “My dad knows about Leighton’s phoenix mark.”