Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“I don’t suppose you sell them?” Ransom said as he finished the last bite of his. “I’d love to take a box home for my wife and our little boy.” A charming grin. “I’d be the favorite forever.”
Giulia’s whole face softened. “I’ll make a new batch for you.” She waved off his surprised response. “It’s so nice to have young men around again. Marco’s friends, they always filled up my house. They still come, but…we’re all so sad.” A rough exhale. “We don’t know what to do with each other without him.”
Turning toward her apartment at that, she invited Janvier and Ransom inside to shift the boxes. Once the two had carried them outside, Aodhan took one, Illium the next, and they flew them to the Tower before returning for the remaining two. Ransom and Janvier were still there, waiting just outside the main entrance to the building—a position from where they could keep an eye on the boxes.
“Giulia got a call from a friend.” While Ransom still had long hair he wore in a queue, was sleek with muscle, and had weapons close at hand like any hunter, his eyes bore a few more lines at the corners than they had when Illium had first met Elena’s hunter friend.
His new laugh lines, however, far outnumbered those.
The other man had fallen in love, sired a son with his beloved wife, Nyree, and was content in his skin as he hadn’t been back then.
Janvier wore the same air of contentment. He’d always been laid-back with strong family ties, but after winning the heart of the hunter with whom he’d been in love since the moment he’d met her, Janvier was just happier. While he remained as unhurried in speech and manner as always, his eyes lit up when his Ashblade was nearby.
“There’s my cher,” he’d murmur, before strolling over to talk her into a kiss.
Illium wanted that kind of settled forever with Aodhan, the kind that sounded boring on paper…but that was multiplying laugh lines and eyes that glowed with happiness, picking up treats just because and coming home to arms beloved today, tomorrow, and all the days to come.
But his and Adi’s ground was rocky yet, their path uncharted.
“Thanks for swinging by when I called,” he said to both men.
Janvier shot him a lazy salute while Ransom straddled his bike, his arms braced on the handlebars. “We were discussing putting the word out on the streets about Marco and Tanika.”
Illium would’ve been a fool to turn down the offer. Between the two and their associates, they had the gray heart of the city covered. “Appreciate that. We’re working with limited material.”
“We’ll send you anything we discover.” Rising to a seated position, Ransom bumped fists with Illium, nodded at Aodhan.
To Illium’s surprise, Aodhan held out a fist, too.
Eyebrow raised, Ransom bumped his fist to Aodhan’s, then inspected his own knuckles with a frown. “I half expected the shine to rub off…Sparkle.”
While Janvier tried to hide a laugh by ducking his head, Aodhan made a rumbling sound in his throat and turned to Illium. “Sleep with one eye open, Bluebell,” he warned solemnly.
“Smoke’ll protect me,” Illium replied as the other two laughed, even as his heart kicked at this further sign that Aodhan was dead serious about overcoming his dislike of touch on every level. Adi was done with the past, would allow no nightmare to anchor him in time.
The realization opened a door inside Illium he hadn’t even known was locked.
* * *
* * *
Despite the pastries they’d inhaled, they were both hungry by the time they got the last of the boxes into a large conference room at the Tower. Leaving Marco’s belongings there for the time being, they locked the door, then headed out to one of Illium’s favorite rooftop vendors. The morning clouds had drifted farther inland, New York once more doused in sunlight.
Spotting the crowd around the vendor from above, Aodhan said, We eat on the bridge.
I’ll get the hot dogs, Illium responded at once—because there was a big difference between one-on-one contact and being stared at by fifty people who weren’t used to you.
I should— Aodhan began in a teeth-gritted way.
Nope. I’m putting my foot down. Illium wove steel into his voice. You’ve never liked crowds, Adi. Not since you were a kid. Don’t torment yourself just to prove a point.
Aodhan’s glance held not anger, but relief intermingled with affection. That’s an avatar I haven’t seen for a while. Ball-busting Illium.
Illium bowed even as his entire body melted at the open affection in Aodhan’s tone. Now stay put and look pretty while I—
He dove out of the way before Aodhan could throw a bolt of power at him, was still grinning when he landed.
Several of the junior wing he often trained were waiting for orders, and it ended up an impromptu gathering after he’d placed his and Adi’s orders. He’d been planning to drop by their training area later today regardless, but it was good to see them whole and healed from their wounds.