Page 61 of Suspicions on the Stage
“No,” Slade says quickly, his cheeks flushing. “I don’t want to be indebted to anyone again and?—”
“What debt? He wouldn’t even notice if you never paid him back.”
The siren gives Lucas a look, then sighs. “I refuse to let him do it. Being his roommate and handling the household stuff is as far as I’m willing to go.”
“It’s true,” Iggy says with a shrug. “Trust me, I havetriedandtriedto get him to let me help more. The kid’s stubborn as a mule in a well.”
Walking over to Slade, I take his hands and look into his eyes. “It’s really admirable to take care of things on your own, but you need to let us help you. I hate that you’re stuck in that shop with people treating you like crap, and I guarantee if any of the guys saw what I did the other day? You’d definitely be fired once they dealt with the problem.”
“But… I don’tmind…”
Lucas claps him on the shoulder with a bright smile. “And neither do we. So be a good little family member and let us get you out of that cappuccino scented bullshit. You can keep the other stuff if you enjoy it; how’s that?”
Slade pushes his glasses up, looking between me, the bear, and the professor. “I don’t know…”
“Slade, if you make me create a damn position to hire you for, we’re going to get caught.” My lips twitch as I try to keep from grinning. “And I will, because I‘ll get Channing to help me.”
He frowns. “You just hired Dixie. You can’t do that.”
“Uh, she runs this place, and compared to the previous dude in charge, her tiny bit of nepotism wouldn’t even register, I bet. Don’t count Lady M out, bud.” Lucas winks and I cross my arms over my chest, hoping I look serious.
Obviously, I’m already in deep shit with the Dixie thing, but I trust Channing will figure it out for me.
“Fine. I’ll put in my notice at the cafe, but I’m keeping the music adjacent stuff so I can contribute. Is that fair?” Slade looks at me, his features full of uncertainty. “I don’t want to make anyone mad, but after my parents, I justneedindependence. Okay?”
“Deal,” I say as I come over to hug him tightly. “I’m proud of you for standing your ground, but also for accepting help.”
His face turns a deep red and the other two men laugh. Before this gets further out of hand, I cock my head at the back door. “It’s time for us to go to the HQ, right?”
“Right. We have a shit ton to discuss and it’s not getting any earlier,” Iggy says, as he grabs one of the trays. “Come on, big man. Let’s take this out, so when the prince and the dragon arrive, we’re ready for them.”
I watch as the three of them maneuver out the back door, feeling the weird sensation of happiness flow through me. This is such an unexpected boon, that I have to stop myself from swooningsometimes—and I amnota swooner. But after Magnus, I’d sort of planned to be purposefully unattached and find my pleasure in short-term flings rather than get involved with anyone who could hurt me again.
I guess the Fates had other plans—those bitches.
truth
LIAM
“Idon’t imagine this will be comfortable for you, old friend,” I say as Kaspar parks parallel to the professor’s car. “You are not the most communicative soul with emotions, other than anger.”
The dragon gives me a sardonic look as he turns off the SUV. “Perhaps that has been because I was harboring so much resentment and fury within, that it was all I had room for.”
He has a point, but I doubt that’s the whole truth.
I nod, though, even with disagreement thrumming in my veins. “Maybe, but you cannot continue to let it eat away at you now that we have the facts, Kas. When it was just us, I could live with your inability to heal because I am simply that old and powerful. Our new family cannot withstand that force running through the bond—even Morgana, who is not so young, will be affected.”
Sighing, he cracks his neck, staring into the night sky through the windshield. “I don’t know what possessed me to agree to this shit.”
“I do, but I can’t force you to come to terms with something you’ve been rejecting out of fear.” I put my hand on the door handle, my expression serious as I look at his profile. “I am completely open to you, my friend, and I believe the others will be as well if you can wrangle your darkness into healing. But you have to do it for you—not for me or anyone else. You know that.”
Kaspar grunts, and I know that means he’s done with our conversation. Chuckling quietly, I open the door to the SUV and hop out, heading up the stairs to the front door. It only takes a moment to enter the security info, and I head for the stairs to change as soon as I enter. I want to see my new mates, but the club left me feeling dirty and covered in metaphorical ick. I’d rather grab my spare clothes from the bedroom, then go find the others once I feel less… contaminated.
I hear footsteps behind me, and I’m surprised to see my friend following me, ostensibly to do the same thing I am. “You’re changing, too?”
“I was there far longer than you, Prince, and with even less reputable people.” He smirks, looking satisfied with himself for making my question seem silly.
Too bad I know better; he’s been uncomfortable with this sort of casualness at Morgana’s from the beginning.
