Chapter 149

Andrew's voice was hoarse, wet, and pathetic as he looked at Arielle like she was some kind of angel.

“You—you saved me from that monster,” he blubbered, his words slurring from pain. “I owe you—”

Arielle struck him hard enough that teeth flew. Then, she grabbed him by his hair. She crouched just enough to be level with him. I didn't know what exactly expression she was making, but I could see the way he tensed.

She must have looked terrifying. To be fair, she was terrifying.

“You have nothing to be thankful for,” she said, her tone so calm it was almost gentle. “By the end of your life, you’ll wish I’d let Neil drown you.”

Arielle straightened, gesturing sharply to two of the Mountainhowl enforcers.

“Remand him to Mountainhowl’s highest-security prison. And make sure he’s in the wing with all the loyalists.”

Andrew cried out, pleading for mercy, but it fell on deaf ears. The guards moved in without hesitation, yanking him to his feet. The click of the restraints was loud against the night air.

Neil was already moving toward us, the shadows that had clung to him now fading, his eyes still holding a faint, dangerous glow. Without a word, he dropped to his knees beside us and pulled Dominic and me into his arms at the same time.

The embrace was tight, grounding and overwhelming all at once. His mouth brushed my hair, then Dominic’s temple, lingering there for a heartbeat. I could feel the tremor in him from the sheer restraint it was taking not to turn around and finish Andrew off.

"We're okay," I said.

Dominic nodded shakily, but said nothing, leaning into Neil's strength as he held us both.

"You service to the crown is appreciated."

Neil let out a wry, watery chuckle.

The emergency blankets were scratchy, but I didn’t care. I was too tired to be picky. Someone from Mountainhowl was taking our statements, jotting everything down while Dominic lay out beside me, his skin still pale from the wolfsbane. Neil stood a few steps away, arms folded, watching every movement in the park like the threat might still be lurking.

That’s when I saw them.

Tyler and Maya, a few yards off. She was curled into his arms, her face pale but steady. She caught me looking, and her expression softened into an almost sheepish apology. I managed a small shake of my head.

“I’m still on the fence about whether I’d even accept a wedding invitation,” I called over to her. "Just a heads up."

Her lips curved into a grin despite the bruising on her cheek. “Too bad,” she said. “Near-death experiences are the cornerstone of every great friendship. You’re in the bridal party whether you like it or not.”

That actually made me laugh, tired and shaky as it was. By the time Dominic, Neil, and I made it back to my condo, exhaustion was tugging at me, but sleep wasn’t anywhere close. Dominic had been ordered onto a strict regimen of potions to make sure the wolfsbane didn’t linger in his system, and Neil had been given a thick crystal necklace by Arielle to keep his magic from literally breaking the building. Most of that magic seemed to be bleeding into Dominic anyway, a low thrum I could feel as we all sat close together in the living room of my condo.

The flicker of city lights caught on their features and every stray drop of water from the showers we'd taken. I could tell he was replaying Andrew’s words. His jaw was set tight.

I could only imagine the depth of betrayal he was feeling and still coming to terms with.

Neil, on the other hand, was buzzing. His eyes were still glowing and there was an edge to him, a coiled energy like he was one bad thought away from going out into the night to find where Arielle had locked Andrew up and finishing the job.

“None of us are sleeping,” Neil finally said, his tone lighter than his expression. “So, we eat.” He stood and headed toward my kitchen like he owned it, muttering about carbs and protein and something that would “keep everyone from brooding themselves into an early grave.”

I glanced at Dominic. He hadn’t moved, his hand still curled loosely over the mug Arielle had left for him.

“You okay?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t answer right away. “No,” he said finally, voice low. “But I will be.”

I wanted to believe him.

From the kitchen came the sound of cabinets opening, the clatter of pans. Neil’s voice floated back, dry and sharp.

“Depressing things later. Food now. How about steaks?"

That earned a startled laugh out of Dominic.

"Steaks… sound great."

Neil moved like a man on a mission in my kitchen. Within minutes, the apartment smelled like toasted bread, cooking meat, potatoes, and something herby that I couldn’t quite name.

I was still perched on the couch with Dominic, watching Neil work. Pans flew and seasonings danced around. He wasn't even chopping anything by hand, but had enchanted the knife to do the work.

“You cook when you’re homicidal?”

Neil shot me a look over his shoulder. “Keeps my magic busy so I don’t do something I’ll regret later.”

“That’s comforting,” Dominic said sleepily, but his gaze followed Neil still. "You bake, too? I'd kill for a whole pound of brownies."

"You would have a sweet tooth, oh Benevolent One."

Neil came back with a tray of food: a stack of steaks, grilled sandwiches oozing cheese, a bowl of roasted potatoes, and mugs of something steaming. Floating behind him was a pan of brownies. Dominic smiled lightly.

"Thanks."

He set it on the coffee table and sat between us without asking.

“Eat,” he ordered.

I took a bite and nearly groaned. The potatoes were perfectly seasoned, the sandwich warm and decadent. He'd sliced the steaks up so I could eat it with the sandwich.

“Okay, fine. I’m impressed. You're officially in charge of the kitchen.”

“Good,” Neil said, leaning back, stretching an arm along the back of the couch. “I'm glad you have an appetite."

Dominic smirked faintly, but he was eating too, silent until he finally said, “You pour this much energy into everything you do?”

Neil’s eyes flicked to him, slow and deliberate. “When it matters.”

Something unspoken passed between them. The air in the room turned denser, warmer. I set my mug down before I spilled it.

They kept looking at each other, that sharp current between them pulling tighter until I shifted uncomfortably. “Okay, you two are doing that silent-eye-contact thing. Should I leave the room?”

Neil glanced at me, then back to Dominic, a faint smirk curling his lips. “No. You should probably stay.”

My pulse jumped.

Dominic didn’t argue. He just reached across Neil's lap for me, tugging me gently between his and Neil's laps.

“You look wired,” he murmured, sliding his hand hand up my thigh.

"D-Dominic---" Neil leaned in, wrapping an arm around my legs to keep me from rolling off, dipping his head bracing a hand on the couch beside me, his scent and heat crowding in.

"Definitely wired,” he said quietly. “Tense.”

I swallowed hard. “You two--- I thought we were eating?"

"Oh, we are… And then I think we'll feed something else… or the other way around?"

"Definitely the other way around."

"It'll get cold," I said, my voice trembling.

Neil waved a hand over the food, a golden dome appeared over it.

"No, it won't. You ever heard of the four Fs, Renee?"

I didn't get a chance to answer that. Dominic’s hand slid to my waist, Neil’s fingers brushing along my jaw, and then it was all heat and closeness and the kind of restraint that wasn’t going to last much longer.

At some point, they must have decided that bed was the better option, because I barely registered being lifted until I was carried down the hall. Dominic’s arms were under my knees, Neil’s steady at my back, like I weighed nothing at all.

They set me down on the bed, and then there was no more space, no more carefulness, just mouths and hands, Dominic’s lips claimed mine one second, Neil’s the next, their combined heat pressing me into the mattress.

I groaned and shivered as their hand slid over my body, groping, cupping, twisting and stirring up so much pleasure I couldn't think around it. I could barely breathe around the heat of their bodies. The way their hard angles pressed into me, making me feel soft and warm and utterly protected. Dominic's hand slipped between my thighs, pressing up, grinding against me until I saw sparks and gasped into Neil's mouth, but they weren't tugging at my clothes, weren't moving to undress me. It made my chest tight to think that even after this crazy night, neither of them were pushing me.

"Don't ever call yourself a monster again," I whispered against Neil's mouth.

His gaze searched mine and he chuckled.

"As you wish, princess."