Page 77 of Broken Shadows

“Perhaps.”

My brother’s gaze drifts to the doorway as Aiden walks over. “What’s up? Why are you guys staring at this thing?” Aiden hums, stepping in front of us and flings the doors open so hard they crash into its sides. His squeal of delight lacerates my brain as he pulls armfuls of nonsense from the cabinet, his smile nearly shattering his face with its brilliance. “Dudes, do you know what this means!? The house wants us to play beer pong!”

Rosa laughs, then shrugs. “Why not? But first, I want to try it.”

“Me too,” Evie agrees.

Everyone steps back as Rosa takes her place at the head of the group, then opens the cabinets.

I massage my temples. “For fuck’s sake, woman.”

Evie elbows me in the ribs as Rosa struts by carrying the most massive, bright pink dildo I have ever fucking laid eyes on.

A growl issues from Ezra’s throat. “Godsdamn, Sweetness.”

Evie’s lips smooth over my stubbled cheek. “My turn.”

I wrap my arms around her as she waits for the two doors to close before she walks forward and opens them once more. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the booze,” my witch says as she turns around, arms laden with beer and spirits. Part of me uncoils as I realize she could have easily wished for benzos instead.

Aiden, Rosa, and Ezra cheer. Then I help Gideon shove the furniture against the walls as the others move the table from the kitchen into the living room.

I relax onto the couch and run a hand through my hair, surveying the group. Like me, Gideon has no interest in playing the foolish game, but he hasn’t removed his stare from Aiden since the moment he entered the room.

Aiden waves around the foam finger,TEAM Heathen Misfitsprinted in bold letters, that he received from the magic cabinet as he splits them into teams: Evie and Rosa on one side, Ezra and himself on the other. I chuckle quietly. I can't deny it's rather amusing, and endearing seeing Aiden completely in his element. He’s blending into our group extremely well.

My gaze narrows on Evie’s best friend as she tosses the small white ball.

It seems as if a fog of lust floats over the entire group. Everyone exudes some level of fuck me vibes, even if they're not obvious about it. Well, my witch definitely isn't subtle, but I’m not complaining. I’ll never tire of those sultry looks she casts in my direction as she arches her back and tosses her ping-pong ball across the table.

I hold her heated stare and growl down the bond.If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll shove my cock into your cunt right here and fucking now in front of everyone.

Evie responds, but I don’t hear her as something tingles in the back of my mind. My eyes scan the room, and I count the bodies present, but there's two missing. “Has anyone seen Gideon and Aiden?”

As if the question summons it, an ear bleeding scream rattles the windows.

I sprint out the door and race through the candid grass to the riverbank within seconds, Gideon’s growling warrior cry piercing my ear drums and his body trembling with the ferocity of his rage. His sword glows as he unsheathes it from across his back, slices it through the air and into a water wraith half curled over Aiden’s struggling body. However, because of the ever-changing shape and consistency of water wraiths, it’s difficult to tell where he injured it.

More water wraiths creep to the surface as their brethren’s noxious green blood leaks into the water. Aiden screams and claws at the bank. Gideon’s biceps bulge against his rolled sleeves as he roughly clamps a hand around sopping wet Aiden’s forearm and drags him onto the bank, stabbing another wraith directly in its skull-like face as it appears out of its drifting body. The skull shatters into hundreds of pieces and drifts down to the bottom of the river.

I lift Aiden’s arm over my shoulder and help him onto the gray grass near Ezra and Rosa. My eyes track Evie as she steps past Ezra and Rosa and walks over to me. “Make a cut on my hand, please.”

“Evie?”

“It’s time I release Gideon from the binding. He’s more than proved himself.”

I pause and glance at Ezra. He nods, gesturing toward Gideon like he’s a fucking game show host. I extend my thumb, cut it shallowly into her palm, then press a hand to the small of her back as we go to my brother. Gideon crouches at the water’s edge and cleans his sword with the bottom of his shirt, but stands as we approach, holding out his wrist.

“Thank you for saving him,” Evie says and smears her blood over his cuff, then hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Lorcan

My shoulder taps the doorframe of the porch on the second floor as I lean against it and trace Evie’s curves with a searing gaze.

I inhale my next breath sharply as undeniable, primal lust squeezes my veins, forcing nearly all the blood in my body sprinting toward my cock faster than the white water tickling my ears further down the river. I want her. I always do, but this insatiable drive to devour my witch right here and fucking now is on a level I've never experienced.

A groan slips past my lips as a lash of Hell fire coils around my balls and tugs.

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