Page 9 of Emerald Treats
We shared a conspiratorial giggle, our eyes darting back to Cam every few seconds. He was oblivious to our attention, busy helping a group of young trick-or-treaters with their candy.
"You know," Kai mused, leaning in closer, "I bet if we asked nicely, he'd do that thing with the hammer."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What thing with the hammer?"
Kai's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You know, where he holds it out and says, 'Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.'" His impression of Cam's deep, resonant voice was spot-on, and I had to stifle another laugh.
"Oh gods," I snickered, "now I can't get that image out of my head. Do you think we could convince him to do it for real?"
Kai's grin turned wicked. "Only one way to find out. Hey, Cam!" he called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Saige and I have a special request for Thor!"
Cam's brow furrowed in confusion as he made his way over to us, his muscular form cutting an impressive figure as he moved.
"What's this about a special request?" he asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.
Kai grinned widely. "Well, Thunder Daddy, we couldn't help but notice how... snug... your costume is." His eyes roamed appreciatively over Cam's body, lingering on the areas where the fabric strained against his muscles.
I felt my cheeks grow hot, but I couldn't resist joining in. "It's true," I added, my voice a touch breathier than usual. "You're practically bursting out of those tights. Not that we're complaining, mind you."
Cam's eyebrows shot up, a slow smirk spreading across his face as he realized what we were up to. "Oh? And here I thought I was being subtle," he chuckled, flexing his arms just slightly—enough to make the fabric stretch even tighter across his biceps.
"About as subtle as a lightning bolt," Kai quipped, earning a laugh from both of us.
"So," I ventured, emboldened by the playful atmosphere, "we were wondering if you might do that thing with the hammer. You know, the whole 'whosoever holds this hammer' bit?"
Cam's smirk grew wider, his green eyes twinkling with amusement and something darker, more primal. In one fluid motion, he stepped forward, wrapping an arm around each of us and pulling us close. The heat from his body enveloped us, and I could feel the solid muscles of his chest pressed against me.
"Oh, I plan on doing some hammering, alright," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "But that's for later, you deviants. You'll just have to wait and see."
His words sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I could feel Kai shiver slightly beside me. Cam's gaze was intense, promising all sorts of delicious things to come.
"For now," he continued, giving us each a gentle squeeze before releasing us, "we have trick-or-treaters to attend to. But don't worry, I won’t forget about your... special request."
With a wink that made my knees weak, Cam turned and strode back to a group of children waiting for candy, leaving Kai and me breathless and more than a little flustered.
"Well," Kai whispered, a slight tremor in his voice, "I think we might have bitten off more than we can chew this time."
I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from Cam's retreating form. "Maybe," I replied, "but I can't wait to find out."
As Kai and I stood there, still flustered from our encounter with Cam, a high-pitched voice cut through the crisp autumn air, calling my name with unbridled excitement. I turned my head toward the sound, my eyes widening as I spotted a small blonde girl racing down the street, her princess costume bouncing with each step.
"Annie!" I exclaimed, my heart swelling with joy at the sight of her. I knelt down, arms outstretched, ready to catch the little ball of energy hurtling my way.
Annie crashed into me with the force of a tiny tornado, her arms wrapping tightly around my neck. "Auntie Saige! Look atmy costume!" she giggled, pulling back to show off her adorable pink princess dress.
"Your Highness," I said, booping her nose gently and earning another peal of laughter.
As I stood up, I saw my best friend Miranda and my father, Khol, making their way toward us at a more sedate pace. To my amusement, Miranda was also dressed as a princess, but my dad, he was dressed like a knight.
"Well, well," I heard Sloane's voice behind me. "If it isn't the knight in shining armor!"
“At least I’m in costume,” Khol replied, giving Sloane a once-over.
I turned to see my mates struggling to keep straight faces as they took in the sight of my father—the demon who trained supernatural spies—dressed in a suit of shiny armor.
Khol's eyes narrowed dangerously, shooting a death glare at the group of men who were now openly snickering. "I'd be careful if I were you, boys," he growled, though I could detect a hint of amusement in his voice. "I still sign your paychecks."
“Just until the academy opens next week,” Kai replied, winking. All of my mates and my father had been hard at work preparing their next business venture. They’d purchased a large warehouse on the outskirts of town and had converted it into an academy. The plan was to use it for rehabbing, educating—or in some cases, reeducating—troubled mages and witches.
