Page 42 of Devastation
We stand and glance around, wondering where to go from here. A towering man with stacks of muscle everywhere within sight approaches us. He has to be around six foot nine and easily over three-hundred pounds of pure muscle mass.
Black pants are all he's wearing, leaving his ivory chest and abdomen on display. A few scabbed burn marks litter his shoulders and arms. Shoulder length black hair sways with his movements, and I have to hold back the chuckle that comes from me when I see it's half pulled into a man bun.
Totally ruins the badass vibe he's got going on in my opinion.
His glowing red eyes and the seemingly permanent scowl on his face make it easy to believe when he says, "I'm Cadmus. The same dragon who carried you. Follow me and we will eat with Kinder." With that, he turns and walks away, expecting us to follow, which we do.
We trail after him, with Hale and Lana leading the way. I fall in step with Zedd, who is looking around with continuous awe as dragons fly through the air, wolves run off, and various large cats slink away to go back to their territory. There is so much excitement in his words as he gushes, "This place is incredible."
The twins bring up the rear, and I glance back at them only to find them looking like they are conspiring to do something ridiculous. I cough and give them pointed looks, to which they respond by pulling mock expressions of innocence over their faces as Luke whistles like they've done nothing wrong.
Not yet.
Squinting at them, I warn, "I've got my eyes on you two."
Turning back around, I'm shocked when Zedd is seemingly focused on me with a soft smile.
Glancing down at myself and running my hands over my face, I question him, "What? Do I have something on me?"
Chuckling slightly, he shakes his head no and admits, "I'm just really happy to have you home."
His words hit me like a freight train, and I try to joke around the emotion, "Well, this isn't quite home."
The truth is that I didn't know how to accept his sentiment as I've always struggled with displaying and accepting love. I had worked on it with Lana a lot recently, and maybe it was time I started learning to do that with my brothers as well.
Waving a finger in the air, he says, "Ahh, that's where you're wrong. Home will always be wherever the six of us are."
I drop my fake masculine exterior and pull him in for an awkward side hug as we walk, "You're right. I'm happy to be home too."
Chapter Seventeen
Lana
We trail after Cadmus for a few minutes, and I can't help but think we look like little ducklings. I start to waddle, mimicking the awkward gait of a running baby duck. The sound of my feet shuffling causes Cadmus to look back at me, and the bewilderment on his face is just...exquisite.
Hale tries to cover his laugh with a cough next to me as his eyes crinkle with his smile. Surprisingly, Zedd jogs up on my other side and joins me in our duckling waddles. The confusion on Cadmus’ face triples as he eyes us warily, like we might come peck him to death with our imaginary beaks or something.
"Quack, quack," I say, as I flap my arms lightly to mock a ruffling of wings in tandem with the waddles.
"There is something wrong with you," Cadmus mutters before turning around, sending Zedd and I falling into each other in a fit of laughter.
Zedd throws his arm around me casually as we collect ourselves and begin to walk normally once more. The move sends an eruption of butterflies through my stomach, but I realize that this is what we had all missed out on during our relationship. My men and I had never been able to experience all the awkward firsts that accompanied the beginning of dating and had, instead, jumped straight into “soulmates with a sordid past” status.
Leaning into Zedd more, I soak up both the warmth that his body provides mine and the warmth he brings to my soul. Glancing up at him from beneath my lashes, I try to be discreet in my inspection of him. Biting my lip at just how handsome he is, I notice his hazel eyes flick to mine, sensing my gaze, and I try to act like I wasn't doing what I actually was.
Eyeing him like a meal I wanted to devour.
Naturally, in my attempt to look innocent, I do the one thing I shouldn't do while walking—I shut my eyes.
Good going, Lana. Not suspicious at all, and now you can't see where you're going.
Instantly, I trip over something small. Zedd steadies me, but I still adamantly refuse to open my eyes.
A tap on the center of my forehead accompanied by, "You were totally staring at me, weren't you?" makes me peel one eye open slowly and mutter, "Nuh uh. Prove it," which elicits a laugh from Zedd. His carefree, full smile makes me smile back and open both eyes now, giving up on my short lived standoff.
Glancing forward, I begrudgingly admit, "Okay, maybe I was. Sue me."
His arm tightens around my shoulder, squeezing me to him, "You can look at me anytime your heart desires, Lana. But if you bite that lip while doing it, I can't be held accountable for the inappropriate things I will do to you, no matter where we are or who is around."
