Page 78 of Donovan
“Shall we?” I asked.
Finn’s mouth curved into a small smile. “I already started a fire.”
And for the first time inyears, standing among my brothers, I felt like I was coming home.
The cabin door creaked open as we stepped inside, the warmth of the flickering fire greeting us after the bitter cold outside.
Behind us, we left our vampire mates standing in the dark. No doubt, they were still too wary of each other to step into a shared space without it ending in bloodshed.
I glanced back over my shoulder.
Declan’s body was rigid with tension, his dark eyes locked onto Gael like he was waiting for the perfect excuse to drive a knife through his chest.
Gabriel stood just as stiffly beside him, radiating his own brand of barely restrained hostility.
Finn, always the one to ease tension with humor, flashed me a grin. “I hope they don’t kill each other.”
I snorted, shaking my head. “Fat chance. Declan still sees Gael as the enemy.”
Finn chuckled, crossing his arms. “Gabriel might beat Declan to it first.”
“It’ll be fine.” Asher’s voice was steady, unbothered. “Our mates will behave.”
I let out a quiet laugh. “You sure about that?”
He smirked. “No. But I like to pretend.”
I sighed, rolling my shoulders before turning back toward the warmth of the cabin. “Our mates know how to keep it together when it counts.”
Finn hummed in agreement as Asher took charge, gesturing toward the worn leather couches in the corner.
“Sit,” Asher commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking as I sank into the couch. “Bossy as ever.”
Finn, of course, jumped on the opportunity. “Yeah, but I wonder, does he boss Gael around too? Or is it the other way around?”
Asher shot him a look, the kind of look that used to make us shut up when we were kids.
But now? I could see the amusement flickering just beneath his stern expression.
Asher was enjoying this, and I found myself enjoying it too.
We all settled in, the firelight casting long, flickering shadows on the wooden walls. The air smelled of aged pine and old books, the scent of home even after all these years.
And we talked.
For hours, we talked.
We shared everything. The battles we had fought, the losses we had suffered, the choices we had made that led us to this moment.
Finn told us about his life after leaving the Guild, about Gabriel, about the impossible decisions he had been forced to make.
Asher filled in the gaps of his own story, of how Gael had turned him, of what came after. I told them about the village, about the sparrow shifters, about Declan.
By the time we finally ran out of words, the fire had burned low, its embers glowing soft and red in the dim cabin. Only a few hours remained before sunrise.
I exhaled, leaning back against the couch. “We’ll stay in contact,” I promised, my gaze moving between them.
