Page 5 of The Magic of Destiny
“Yeah, yeah. I think that's a good idea,” Hunter agreed.
Cam turned to me and pulled me against him. “We'll just go for a walk around the property. I want to catch him up on things,” he whispered into my ear, and I nodded. I didn't miss the questioning look he gave Fischer, though I didn't get time to think on it further before his mouth was on mine, and I was drowning in everything Cam.
I squeaked as his tongue swiped against mine and he held me in place by the nape of my neck, knowing I'd try to pull back. I wasn't so sure his brother appreciated the PDA that was happening in front of him; he’d seemed shocked at the idea of our poly relationship. Cam broke our kiss, and I shivered at his stormy, heated stare. “We'll get Sloane, wherever he is. I promise, baby girl.”
“He's right, Firefly. And when we do, I call dibs on spanking him for his insolence!” Faris called out from across the room, breaking the tension and causing everyone to laugh. He was honestly everything I never knew I was missing.
Cam led Hunter toward the back door, their voices fading.
“I still can't believe he's alive. Like, what the hell? How does something like that even happen?” Kai mused, going back to eating. He chewed a few times before swallowing and adding, “Why wouldn’t he have reached out to one of us, especially if he thought Cam was dead?”
“He was so young when it happened. Maybe it was just too painful to think about opening those wounds up again once he was old enough to contact you,” Bram replied.
“I guess you're right; it feels like such a mindfuck, though. Gods, do you remember how Cam was after that whole thing happened?” Fischer asked Kai and Faris. They both looked stricken. It was as though the memory of Cam's pain was physically hurting them to even think about.
“Honestly, I try not to think about it, but yeah. I remember everything. He didn't speak for months after. Not a single word,” Kai told us, a low whine slipping from his throat.
My heart broke for teenage Cam, and I found myself pressing a palm to my chest.
“Is he trustworthy, brother?” Faris asked, his gaze on Fish.
“From what I could pick up, yes. He was wary when you popped up like a damn jack-in-the-box though. We need to work on that, by the way. You can't be zipping around all nimbly-bimbly and scaring the shit out of people,” he scolded Faris, running a hand through his dark curly hair. “Then when Cam told him what Bram is, all I got was curiosity and maybe a hint of apprehension. Hunter was overjoyed to see Cam—and us—so unless he's shielding or really good at projecting false emotions, he's legit. Though I will do a more in-depth look to make sure. There’s too much at stake right now to be naive.”
My shoulders relaxed at the clarification. The last thing Cam needed was heartbreak. He was so strong and brave, just a damn good man. Realistically, the trauma and pain we all go through in life changes us—nobody is immune. The person you were before is gone and it’s up to you who you become afterward. All of my men were a bit scarred and a little flawed, but they were wholly mine and everything I needed. Their individual struggles had shaped them, and they’d survived, rearranging the broken pieces of their souls into versions of themselves they could be proud of.
“Come sit, princess,” Bram suggested. “You should eat some more. It’ll probably be a long day.”
I headed for the table and was promptly intercepted by Faris, who’d swiftly sat himself down in the chair Bram had scooted out for me, arranging me on his lap. I smiled when Bram shot Faris a dirty look. Those two were hard to be around without laughing at their dynamic.
“What? It looked nice earlier when you were holding her like this. I wanted to try it. Bite me,” Faris said, sticking his tongue out, the stud flashing at the big demon.
“Stick that out at me again and I will, Baby Fang,” Bram replied, his voice dropping to a deep timbre that made my hips twitch.
“Supernova nipply nippets,” Faris groaned, as his cock woke up at the movement of my hips.
Kai barked a laugh. “What the fuck does that mean?” Faris snorted. “Fuck if I know. My brain left the building two seconds ago.”
Gran hummed thoughtfully. “That reminds me of a certain scoundrel—Leather Larry, I called him. Anyway, we were at the bar and I was playing pool with the gals. He came up behind me like a thief in the night. A prince of thieves, if you will. Felt his pool cue straight away. That's when you know a fella isn't fucking around—he lets you know upfront what he's working with.” A fork clanged as it hit the table. “He could've broken the triangle... and not just mine, if you know what I'm saying,” Gran continued, waggling her eyebrows.
“What is happening right now?” Kai whispered, eyes wide.
Bram had a look of horror on his face. “I don't know, I'm scared,” he answered.
“How exactly did that remind you of Leather Larry?” I asked Gran in exasperation.
“Oh yeah, sorry. I got off track. He had lovely nipply nippets,” she clarified, sitting back in her seat and taking a sip of coffee.
A beat later, Faris was roaring with laughter beneath me.
“Okay. Time to figure out where the hell Sloane went and why,” I announced, standing up and clapping for emphasis. I couldn't idly sit any longer while Annie was missing and Sloane's whereabouts were unknown. Not happening.
I really hoped he wasn't hurt. But I also really hoped he hadn't run away from us, from his family.
Damn, it was weird as hell seeing Hunt walking beside me. It was like no time had passed and yet, we'd lost so fucking much of it. Brothers who were robbed of getting to grow up together and knowing each other the way we deserved. That time could never be returned to us, but we could at least remedy our relationship now—our love as brothers had never been lost.
We were the same height, though his tight curly hair gave him an extra inch. Where I was covered in colorful tattoos, he was marked in black.
I gestured toward the gardens, which had now returned to their normal size after Saige had inadvertently turned them into a jungle.
