Page 53 of His Curse

"You're fine.” I laugh a little harder, to which Khaos joins in with his own raspy chuckle. "I don't want your neck, Beta, just your ear and maybe some of that fast food I haven't even sniffed in almost fifty years."

Ronny's eyes go wide. "You want myear?"

"Not literally. Gods.” Now I'm cracking up. "I just meant I want you to listen to what I'm going to tell everyone else, listen to my thank you for saving me when you could have easily dumped me in the parking lot of that motel. You didn't have to help me, and if you hadn’t, I wouldn't be standing here right now."

"It's no problem, Luna.” Now the boy is blushing and rubbing the back of his neck, and tugging the dirty blonde strands of hair that curl around his ears.Adorable. "I couldn't leave you there and... well, I'm just glad I was there when I was."

"Me too.” I smile and decide instantly that I like Ronny so much, and not just for saving me. He's sweet and obviously kind, and thinks quick and clear in stressful situations. I can tell he's wise beyond his years, responsible but still young, and hopefully he's living a good mix of all that. Something I'm sure he is without knowing him for more than a few minutes.

I get similar vibes from him that I got from Colton when we first met and that warms my heart—it makes me proud that he's my mate’s Beta. Something else that shines through his enormous build and handsome face.

"Ok, let's sort out food so we can talk while we eat,” Cora says as she straps Dizzkord into a high chair. "I'm starving and I'm sure our Lark is ready to put a hurting on some burgers."

She is not wrong.

Which is why we do just that.

Havok and Cora work together in an adorable unit to get the twins situated while Frankie sets out tons of fries and burgers, and hands out chocolate milkshakes.

Ronny and Zan pull multiple bar stools up to the island for all of us to sit and when we do, I find myself seated between them, the young wolf to my left showing me way more respect than I deserve, along with a slightly protective quality to his presence. To my right, the demon sits close enough to keep that weird recognition stirring within me but not too close, which is fine because if he was closer while he stared at me the way he keeps doing, I'd probably crumble from that alone.

And to make matters worse, but also better, the second I take a sip of my milkshake I basically groan like I'm orgasming—something that definitely holds the number one spot on my list ofShit I Haven't Done in Years—close my eyes and inhale half the shake before anyone has even picked up their own food.

"Good?" Zan smirks as my skin heats in embarrassment.

I nod and swallow hard. "It's been a long time since I've had anything like this."

"How long, exactly?" he asks, french fry suspended in the air, purple high beams lasered on my face the same way everyone else is staring at me.

"Forty-five-years, five months, three weeks, and two days."

"Jesus.” Frankie gasps. "You've kept track?"

I shrug and take another sip. "Didn't have much else to do, and one of the few things I had was a notebook. I made tally marks for every day I lived there so I knew exactly how much pain to cause when I left."

"Oh, I like you.” Havok grins at me from across the island. "Your need for vengeance is something I can relate to."

"Thanks?" I giggle because I'm a little uncomfortable and a lot hungry. "But vengeance has to wait. I need to get everyone else out before I can properly repay Kentworth for my extended stay."

"Is that where your scars came from?" Zan throws me off while asking with a slightly knowing grin. Something that makes me think he already has the answer but still wants me to say it.

So while Frankie and Cora both scold him, I turn, meet his eyes, and narrow mine. "They happened a long time ago. Long before I was taken.” I lift a brow, and search his amethyst gaze. "But you already know that, don't you?"

Zan just grins and pops another fry into his mouth.

Jerk.

Kind of.

I actually like how he doesn't beat around the bush, how he comes right out and says what he's thinking, but I already planned on avoiding that topic so there's nothing he could say that would change my mind.

"So, are we waiting for our lone wolf or are we just going to get right into things?" He turns from me with the most sardonic grin I've ever seen. "He's back from his journey but I have yet to speak to him."

My heart sinks and suddenly I have no appetite.

Once again my mate proves that he has no desire to be around me despite the carving and the stupid hope it brought me.

And since I don't want to hear the answer, hear anyone say that Colton isn't coming because he can't bear the idea of being in the same room as me, I just jump right in head first.

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