Ashlae’s gaze didn’t turn away as she stared, unfocused, at the wall.
“Twice. I didn’t want to come on this holiday, but here I am.” A deep breath filled her chest, before she turned back to her monitors. “Just go, please.”
Hours later, Astor walked into the hallway, shutting the bedroom door behind her before making her way downstairs. The earpiece pounding out the beat to Headboard by Hurricane Chris, the brunette nodded her head along to the song.
“We be in the bed, girl, gettin’ all wild,
Fuckin’ like it’s goin’ out of style.
You be like yeah, yeah, gettin’ all loud.
Fuckin’ like we tryna have a child.“
The young god moved through the dark compound, mumbling the lyrics, until she reached the kitchen. At the breakfast table, Ashlae glanced up as Astor came through the doorway.
“Got you up again the headboard,
Got your body screamin’ like oh, oh, ooh. “
The brunette grinned at the hacker, tapping the earpiece until the music lowered. “You get lucky tonight?” she asked as she passed, reaching for the fridge.
The caramelette snorted as she tapped on the laptop. “Was that you I heard? Didn’t peg you as a screamer.”
Leaning her back against the counter, Astor took a long drink straight from the carton of orange juice. Wiping her mouth with the back of one hand, she frowned at the hacker. “What are you talking about?”
Turning in her chair to face Astor, Ashlae’s face twisted into a queasy frown. “Please don’t tell me that was the Berserker-”
“Hey,” Nicolette called to the two in a breathless greeting on her way to the counter beside Astor, pulling a water bottle from the case that had been left out. “Can’t sleep?”
Ashlae stared in stunned silence as Astor gave the raven a once over- the messy tangle of black hair, flushed cheeks, men’s white t-shirt thrown over a pair of fresh boxers.
The brunette erupted in a fit of laughter, earning a half-hearted glare from the queen of angels.
“Christ you’re loud,” Amelie scolded, entering the room with Luna.
The girls pretended not to notice as Ashlae rose without a word, gathering her laptop before heading for the stairs.
Astor took another long drink from the carton of juice, nearly wearing it when Amelie snatched the container from her sister’s lips. “Civilized people use glasses.”
“Good thing I’m a skank, huh?”
“You kind of yelled it down the hall. Twice.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Nicolette and Astor replied. The brunette added, “Braxis is afraid I’ll sick Luna on him again; he won’t even sneeze in my direction.”
The raven ignored the sisterly bickering to turn to Luna, gesturing with her water bottle in the direction of the stairs. “How’s that going?”
Talyn opened the back door, steeling himself for what he might see. He’d given Evryn the past few hours to drink himself stupid, waiting until the house had settled before seeking his brother out.
Unfortunately, the warrior had been servicing his queen since Evryn had stormed out, and Talyn wasn’t brave enough to interrupt Bela when the angel could hear Astor moaning from the hallway.
On a wooden picnic table, he found the prince with a bottle in hand, eyes tilted to the dark sky above. Silently, Talyn took a seat on the table beside him, gesturing for the bottle.
Evryn handed it over without protest, and Talyn knocked back a sip that sent fire rocketing down his throat. He choked, handing the bottle back as he caught his breath.
There was a long silence between them where Talyn just sat there, feeling his brother’s pain. He didn’t try and talk him out of it, didn’t bother cheering the raven up.
Instead, he laid back to watch the stars, offering his company to the brooding angel. “My mate’s a child,” he said blatantly. “An uneducated child at that-”
“Is this the pity party?” Talyn twisted on his back to watch Jaxon Mile approach the table, coming from around the corner of the compound. The boxer cupped his hands around his mouth, lighting a cigarette-
Not a cigarette. Talyn’s mouth dropped open as he watched his sister’s husband take a long drag from the joint hanging from his lips. The lion even winked at the angel before making his way to the backdoor. Taking a seat on the concrete steps, he let out a plume of smoke.
“Don’t tell your sister, or she’ll skin my hide for new winter boots.” To Evryn, he offered the joint.
Footsteps caused the shifter and prince to turn as Braxis approached from the other side of the house, hands shoved in loose black joggers and wet hair. His black hoodie had been left open for the damp, tanned skin to brace the chilly November air.
Once he was within range, the dragon pointed to his face. “Smelled it.” He took the joint, puffed a few hits, and held his breath before handing it off to the prince it had been offered to.
“Finally escaped the queen of flower patterns?” the shifter grinned, leaning back against the back door.
The dragon nodded, jerking his chin. “Thanks for the excuse- she went looking for your wife.”
“Where’s Bela?” Talyn interjected.
It was the shifter who’s head tilted slightly- it still unnerved the prince that his sister’s mate had such acute hearing. “That should be him on the stairs. Told him to come out back when he was done with his shower.”
Braxis frowned down at the Lord of Lions. “You talked to him when he was in the shower?”
“I saw Astor leave the room, shower was on.”
The dragon shrugged. “Kinda gay. What if he was washing his balls?”
Jaxon’s grin nearly split his face as he replied. “After a round or two with that little hell-brat, I’d wash my balls too.” Braxis and Talyn nodded their agreement.
