Page 88 of Winter Unleashed
“Mm-hmm. Anyway, since you supposedly admire me so much, can you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” he said with a nod.
“Stop pulling your broken magic on me.” His eyes widened and his hand went to his chest. I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Don’t play innocent. You’re a handsome man, but there’s no way I want to fuck you so much I’d try to mount you in front of my mate.”
One side of his mouth pulled upward, and he clucked his tongue. “Caught me again. I’ll stop. It’s just so much fun to get a rise out of him.”
“I can’t say I disagree with you there, but find another way to rile him up, okay?”
“Yes, anything for you.”
I rolled my eyes again. “Look, as we were talking I think I figured something out, and I have to tell you.”
“Please do. I’d love to hear what you think.”
“Hear me out, don’t stop me, okay?” He nodded. “You’ve been talking about the things you think you love about me, but your eyes only lit up when Astrid came into the conversation. When you said her name, it was on a breath, like it pleased you to say it.”
“Astrid? We had a brief relationship before Artemis’ punishment. And even after that, we saw each other in secret.” He gave me a wry grin. “She’d kill me for telling you that. She’s a sexy little minx, but you think I’m in love with her?”
“Yes, I do,” I replied.
He shook his head and opened his mouth then slammed it shut. I watched as he thought. The demon was not good at hiding his emotions. Everything showed in his eyes. The denial. The possibility. The realization. And finally, the shock.
“I love Astrid?” He framed it as a question, but his eyes sparkled with excitement.
I laughed and put my hands on his shoulders. “I think so, yeah. When did you decide to make up for your transgressions?”
“I’m not sure. It started around the time you were born.” He perked up, straightening his back and widening his eyes. “Astrid caught me sneaking around your house one night. She thought I was up to no good and laid into me. I gave her one of my usual clever responses—”
“I think you meansmartassresponses,” I said.
He grinned. “Either way, they’re brilliant. After I returned home, her tirade stuck with me. Her face kept popping up in my mind. Oh! Oh my, I think you’re right. I’m in love with Astrid.” He jumped to his feet. “Excuse me, Vinura.”
“Stop calling me that,” I said to his retreating back.
I followed him back up the stairs to Isaac’s room where he strode right up to Astrid and crushed his lips to hers. She struggled against him at first, but after a moment or two her arms found their way around his neck.
“What the hell?” Liam sputtered.
I smiled at the odd couple then turned to Liam. “He thought he was in love with me, but together, we realized he’s in love with your fairy godmother.”
“For fuck’s sake, first Isaac and my sister, now Lyle and Astrid. Why? Why is the universe punishing me with these insufferable men?”
I barked out a laugh and wrapped my arms around him. “Aw, my poor Liam. I know it’ll be hard seeing them more often, but none of this is about you.”
He grunted and frowned down at me. “It feels that way.”
“I know,” I said with a mock pout. “Maybe it’s the universe’s way of telling you to make new friends.”
He growled and squeezed my waist, pulling another laugh from me. “I don’t need more friends.”
“Speaking of…” I glanced around the room. Astrid and Belial sat in their corner whispering to each other. Isaac and Ciara snuggled each other in bed. “Where are Philip and Stella? I haven’t seen them.”
“Philip is helping me with something, and you just missed Stella. She stopped by while you were with Lyle. She’s gone to talk to the kitchen staff about dinner tonight.”
The mention of dinner had a knot of worry settling in my gut. Liam and I had to leave for Ulfurjord soon. The evening with our friends could be the last one for a long time.
“Let’s take a walk,” Liam said, sensing my change in mood.