Page 62 of Death Warden
She shook her head sharply. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit, what is it?”
“If you weren’t Spectre’s mate, I’d have said you were perfect for Curo.”
My stomach fluttered and I covered it with a mock gasp of horror. “You take that back.”
She chuckled. “Seriously, though. You two work well together.”
“You mean the jibes? Yeah, that’s fabulous.”
“It’s called banter, and some may consider it foreplay.” She gave me an arch look.
“Or it’s just banter.” I picked up a top I had no interest in, just to have something to look at other than Riley’s knowing face.
We’d caught the shifters who’d been breaking into the wholesale goods warehouse, and it had felt good. Hanging out with Curo felt…natural. Yeah, he was still obnoxious and up himself, but that was just him and it took my mind off Spectre. Unfortunately, it also put my mind firmly on Curo himself. I’d gotten way too comfortable with having my arms around the lich, too familiar with his cool, crisp scent and the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Eyes so different from Spectre’s fiery ones but just as compelling.
I hadn’t heard or seen my mate for almost two weeks, and although the gnawing, clawing sensation in my chest had ebbed, there was an empty ache inside me that only he could fill. But when I was with Curo, the ache that Spectre’s absence had created was a little less poignant.
“Hey.” Riley nudged me with her shoulder. “I was just kidding. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
I shot her a smile. “Nah, I’m good.”
Toni joined us with a pair of sexy boots clutched in her hands. “I need these.”
“You have fifty pairs of boots,” Riley reminded her.
“Yes, but I don’t have these.” She stroked the soft leather.
“They’ll get ruined in the snow,” Riley warned.
“I have a special spray to protect them,” Toni countered, lifting her chin mulishly.
Riley grinned. “Of course you do.”
We headed for the counter to pay. It was my first night off in two weeks and I was going to enjoy it with the girls. Drinks, dancing, just letting my hair down.
We paid and headed out of the store.
“Jessie says she’ll meet us at the coffee shop,” Toni said, looking down at her phone. “Fuck.”
“What?” Riley asked.
“Chrissy is with her?”
Riley groaned. “Why?”
“Beats me,” Toni said.
The girls didn’t have much time for Chrissy. They loved Logan like a brother and thought he could do better. I didn’t know her well enough to have an opinion. My last interaction had been while I was under duress. Fin had been in a mystic sleep, and I’d lost my shit with her.
We hadn’t spoken since and I was fine with that, but Logan was my friend. We’d become close the past couple of weeks. I’d spent most mornings in his office filling out inventory sheets or cataloguing information on Frostgate species. Logan loved his spreadsheets and his digital library was immense. The hellhound was a fountain of knowledge and the conversation was never dry.
He'd made me look forward to waking up and I’d even started writing again, although my novel was far from done, which reminded me that my vacation time would be up soon and my agent would be on my ass about a first draft.
We hurried down the street, past an antique store and a bookstore that I’d been dying to explore. I’d have to pop in before we headed back to the house.
“How’s Finley?” There was a snide edge to Toni’s tone and I caught her flick a glance Riley’s way.
