Page 48 of Avaritia
As in Pinky and the Brain?
He talked a big game about taking over the world and how he’d do a better job, but ultimately his plans were pretty toothless.
Did that make me Pinky? I smoothed down my pastel pink sweater. That seemed like kismet, honestly.
“Verity, was there anything you wanted to discuss?” Damen asked before shoving a cake in his mouth.
Theon remained entirely relaxed beneath me. Maybe he was getting used to having Damen around.
“No, I don’t think so.” Being a real team with Theon meant discussing the reveal of the mating mark with him first, right? It had been a long time since I’d been part of a team with anyone, but I was determined to do it right, especially since he was clearly making an effort too.
“Anything you need from the human realm?”
I grinned at Damen. “I’ll make a list.”
He laughed. “Well, I’ll be back tomorrow with the court, you can give it to Astrid then.”
I attempted to stand to say goodbye, but Theon kept me firmly pinned in place on his lap.
Damen laughed, already letting himself out. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
We sat in peaceful silence, watching Damen disappear down the path and into the vegetation as the rain continued to fall around us. Once Damen had gone, Theon gently unzipped my sweater, pulling it out of the way so his teeth could scrape over the bite mark.
“We should tell them tomorrow. That we’re mated,” I said quietly, resting my temple against the curved edge of his horn while I stared out at the forest beyond.
Theon hummed. “Undoubtedly, many will have opinions on it. Are you ready to face those?”
My gut reaction was fuck no, but I was pushing past my usual coping mechanism of ‘hope the problem goes away on its own.’
“It’ll be fine,” I replied with more bravado than I felt, setting my empty cup down and twisting so I was sitting sideways across his lap. “You were getting along well with Damen?”
Theon huffed. “I imagine Damen gets along well with most everyone he encounters. Surely, he should have been the first to secure a Hunter bride,” he added under his breath, sounding genuinely confused about it.
“I don’t think it was for lack of trying. He just hasn’t connected with anyone yet.”
“We didn’t connect upon first meeting, and it’s turned out fine thus far. He should simply kidnap a Hunter and work it out from there.”
I laughed, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “You didn’t kidnap me, babycakes.”
“I essentially kidnapped you.”
“Still no.”
“Did I not march into the midst of the court and demand my own Hunter? Admit that you are my captive,” he demanded softly, gripping the back of my neck so he could stroke the bite mark again.
I tilted my head back, giving him better access. “No. Admit that I came willingly. Because we connected.”
He scoffed. “Liar.”
“Okay, we didn’t connect right that second, but I knew there was something there.”
“You’re still lying.”
“I hoped there was something there,” I laughed, nudging him with my shoulder. “And I was right. Right?”
It was an excruciatingly vulnerable question, and I silently braced myself for the worst. For Theon to tell me that no, actually. That this relationship was purely transactional, and I’d read something into it that wasn’t there.
It would only be my own stupid fault for expecting any more from Mr. You-Are-My-Prisoner, even with the moments of sweetness he’d shown.