Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Siobhan
I need to fan myself from the heated tension between Jayce and Aury. We all seem reluctant to let the date come to an end, and to my surprise, it’s Jayce who suggests we order dessert and play a game.
Hayden quirks a secret sort of smile at him, then takes our dessert orders up to the counter.
“What game should we play?” I ask, but before I’m finished speaking, Jayce is laying a box of cards on the table.
“What’s this?” Aury picks the box up and opens it. He drops the colorful cards into his palm, and I snag the folded instruction sheet. We both look up at the same time to see Jayce’s face aiming for tomato red again.
“Jayce?” I say.
“It’s stupid,” he mumbles and reaches for the cards.
“Oh look!” Aury gleefully holds a card out to me. “A cute little witch!”
“And here’s a sweet treat for the cute little witch,” Hayden says, returning with our desserts and placing a slice of carrot cake in front of me.
“Oooh, thank you,” I say. “That looks delicious.”
“Did you explain the game yet?” Hayden asks Jayce while they pass out the remaining desserts. Jayce shakes his head, his fist now clenched on the table instead of reaching for the cards.
“How do we play?” Aury says, while I’m busy salivating at how good this carrot cake is. No raisins. Cold cream cheese frosting. Perfect.
“It’s basically ‘Go, Fish, but it’s called ‘You Wish’ instead,” Jayce says.
“Aww, that’s cute,” I say. “Is it the same, seven cards each?”
Aury deals out the cards when he nods, his embarrassment slowly easing as we play. I think it’s an adorable game. I mean, it’s clearly meant for children, but the cards are so fun. Mermaids and witches, gnomes and dragons, fairies and sea serpents.
“If you were one of these cards, which would you be?” I ask all three of them while Hayden shuffles between rounds.
“Hmm, let’s see.” Aury glances at me, then each of the alphas. “Well, you’re obviously the witch. But I think the dragon might fit you, too.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, surprised. “Why the dragon?” I snag the cards from Hayden and start picking one of each out of the deck, laying them face up in front of us.
“You’re confident and fierce,” Aury says with a shrug. “Independent. Feisty when you need to be.” He tosses a crooked grin at me. “It just fits.”
I gape at him. He thinks I’m fierce? I’m still blinking in surprise, trying to wrap my head around his interpretation of me when he continues.
“I think Hayden would be the Genie.”
“On account of…” Hayden says, voice droll.
“Your gorgeous brown skin and perfectly trimmed beard, of course,” Aury replies.
Hayden frowns, and Aury rolls his eyes.
“Obviously not. You’re a care-taker. You make things happen. You ensure people are comfortable and cared for, that they have what they need and want.”
Now Hayden and I are both staring at Aury.
“You’re a wizard,” I blurt. Mostly because it feels like he’s working some sort of magic, but also because I suspect he might actually be magic.
Aury tilts his head, a small smile on his face. “Maybe.”
“No, you are. You’re relaxed but confident, and you bring magic to the world.”
“Thank you, Moonbeam,” he murmurs.
“What about Jayce?” I say, and we all turn to look at the gruff alpha.
He shifts in his seat, then mutters, “I suppose I’m the troll.”
“The troll?” I wrinkle my nose. “Why the troll?”
Jayce shrugs, and Hayden narrows their eyes at him. Aury looks at me and I frown, then we both look back at the two alphas. I don’t like the way Jayce seems to shrink in on himself.
“Hmm, I think you’d be the gnome,” I say.
“Or the fairy,” Aury adds, and our eyes lock.
I grin. “A fairy gnome.”
Aury smiles back, mirth sparkling in his dark brown eyes. “Perfect.”
We turn back to Jayce to see him looking baffled. Like someone told him the grass is pink and he can’t believe he’s been wrong all this time.
“Neither of those make sense,” he finally says.
“Yeah-huh,” I reply, then I start ticking off on my fingers as I list each reason.
“Gnomes are secret softies, kinda gruff but mushy on the inside. They’re caretakers, too, protecting the home and the things important to them.
They love gifts, both giving and receiving, and they like being comfortable. ”
Jayce glances down at his open flannel and worn jeans, then looks back up at us.
Aury is nodding along with me, and he continues when I stop for breath.
“You like leaving secret gifts. You’re pretty.
You’re courageous and curious, but not opposed to games,” Aury gestures to the cards in front of us, “or mischief.” Aury winks and Jayce’s face flames red again. “Also, your eyes sparkle.”
Jayce mouths the words ‘my eyes’ but no sound comes from his lips. I grin, feeling especially pleased with myself and Aury, and we both look between Jayce and Hayden.
“You two are quite the pair, aren’t you?” Hayden murmurs, that knowing half-smile quirking their lips again.
I beam at them, then turn to Aury and nod. “Yep.”
Hayden chuckles and leans back in the booth, slinging an arm around Jayce who is still trying to sort through the fact we’ve decided he’s a fairy gnome.
“And so confident,” they say, voice low and smooth. “So pleased with yourself, being able to wind your alpha up like that. I wonder how much trouble that spark has gotten you in, hm?”
My smile falters as heat flares through me, settling between my legs. My alpha. Trouble, said like it’s an innuendo.
Three groans hit me and I realize I’m perfuming in the middle of the cafe.
“Shoot,” I grumble. “Now look what you’ve done.”
Hayden smirks and stretches one leg out so his calf rubs against mine. “I’m not mad about it, best scent in the world.”
“Yeah, but now the whole cafe can scent what’s ou—” Jayce cuts himself off, guilt shining from his eyes when he looks at me.
What was he about to say? Scent what’s… ours? I roll my lips between my teeth and clench my knees together, trying to contain the perfume that pours out of me at the thought. Of them being mine. Any of it, all of it, is too much for me to handle right now.
“Maybe we should get going?” Aury says, his voice strangled. “Take a walk or something?”
They all leap to their feet, and I’m left a little bewildered as they bustle around me. Jayce grabs the dishes, while Aury picks up the cards and neatly tucks them back into the box. Hayden rounds the table and holds out a hand for me, which I glare at them for.
How many times do I have to tell this alpha that I don’t need their help?
They cock one eyebrow like it’s a dare, and I can’t resist a dare. I huff, then slap my palm into theirs, allowing them to “help” me slide out of the booth and stand. Then I’m surrounded by the three of them and being ushered out of the building.
We don’t make it five feet outside when Hayden’s watch starts blaring an alarm.
“Ay, mierda,” they mutter. “We need to head back, I’m on shift soon.”
“Oh, okay,” I say, trying not to pout. I don’t think I’m successful, if the way they look at me is any indication.
Hayden’s eyes soften and they take a step closer, my hand still enveloped in theirs.
“We’ll see you soon, little witch,” they murmur.
They tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, then trail their fingers lightly down my neck until I shiver under their touch.
“Okay,” I whisper. I’m transfixed by their eyes. Twin pools of molten bronze, hiding secrets I want to dive into. I’m only able to tear my gaze away when Jayce clears his throat, looking bashful next to us.
“Bye Jayce,” I say, tugging my hand from Hayden’s grip.
To my surprise, Jayce holds his arms open for a hug.
His ears turn red at the same time, and he looks ready to flee if I so much as breathe wrong.
So I reach out to him, stepping into his embrace and sucking in a deep breath of his smoky bonfire scent.
His burly body relaxes against me, and my omega preens beneath my skin.
“See you soon, pretty omega.”