He chuckles. “Why do I get the impression you’re looking forward to this?”
“What do you think I could possibly enjoy?” I question, teasing him a little.
He grins and then slowly, or I imagine it slowly, pulls his shirt over his head. Holy shifter. The alpha’s son is ripped as-F. His well-defined abs grab my attention until I force myself to drift my gaze up over his rock-hard pecs and muscular arms. The red pendant rests in the middle of his chest, and it jolts me out of my stupor.
“So, umm…” My voice cracks, and I clear my throat. “Break a leg.”
“I believe I just found my answer, Lil,” he says, and my cheeks burn a little bit from the nickname. My mouth turns dry when Eziel leaves me to jog down to the start of the assault course on the left, in front of the first three rock climbing towers. That’s when I see his back, and my smile drops. In the centre is a circular burn mark, and I know what it’s from right away.
I’ve seen the same markings on the medallion around the Stormfire alpha’s neck. Oh my goddess! He branded his own son with it. Just when I thought I couldn’t hate Rizer anymore than I already do.
Eziel doesn’t look back, but he must know I’ve seen it. I try to blank my expression just in case he does glance over at me. Any sorrow I feel for Eziel would just embarrass him, I know it. He’s a proud wolf of royal descent.
His father’s cruelty may have branded his flesh, but it doesn’t mark his soul.
A whistle goes off somewhere, and I watch Eziel run towards the first rock wall and jump halfway up it in one single leap. Damn, son. The prince has got some moves. He grabs the hinges carved into the rocks and throws himself up each one like a damn monkey before climbing over the top. He hurdles effortlessly off the top of the rock tower onto the next one, not pausing. He climbs the rest of the way to the top of that one next. My mouth pops open as he makes quick and sexy work of the last tower. After jumping off, he lies flat, crawling fast under the net, through the mud that smothers him. I’m never racing him in this because I don’t stand a chance.
Within minutes, he has done the entire course, and he swims out of the water at the end. Water droplets fall down his chest when he stands out of the pool, and I gulp when he heads my way.
“My time was three minutes. I expect you to do this in ten or we will keep doing until you do.”
“There is no way in he—”
“Get on with it,” he snaps.
My body aches in protest before I’ve even made a step towards the assault course. I am so royally fucked.
“You have a demon gnome in your kitchen eating nachos,” Dove whispers to me. She sits on the sofa, her hair bouncing around her shoulders. “Did you know? Is that why we always have dinner at mine? Want some help demon hunting?”
“I told him to hide.” I sigh. “But yes. I also have a demon dragon in my room snuggling a hot water bottle. Don’t even ask.”
“I’m not going to.” She laughs.
I rest back and take a long sip of my lemonade and vodka Dove made for me.
“So tell me about your family?” I ask her. We never discuss her life when we hang out, it’s always stuff anyone could know about her, and it bothers me. She regularly calls me her best friend, and I know more about Knight than I do about her life.
She takes a drink and places her glass on the coffee table. “I have a sister, and my father brought us up when my mother died.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“Don’t be,” she responds. “My mother betrayed the alpha and nearly got us all killed. It was a mess, and I don’t know why she did it. I just know it left me and my sister as outcasts to everyone. It’s kinda how I became friends with Caspian because he was an outcast, too, with his demon side. He stuck up for me.”
“He is a good guy like that.”
“So… what is going on between you two?” She’s quick to change the topic. “The sexual tension is insane, and I’ve never seen Caspian this interested in anyone.”
I look down into my drink. “He makes it very confusing. One second I think there is something and the next it’s gone.”
“Okay, so tell me about the Rivermare wolf?”
I blush and keep my focus on my drink. “I needed an escape, and it was just a kiss. Alaric is a mystery to me.”
“But fucking hot. You are one lucky bitch,” she replies with a grin. “And I don’t even like guys.”
“Their loss,” I say around a small laugh. “I’m glad we have become friends, Dove. I hope you become a professional demon hunter.“
“Me, too. I have to become one before my sister enters next year. She’ll never let me live it down otherwise.”
“Is your sister a redhead like us?” I question. “If she is, we would have enough numbers for a cult.”
“Knowing her, she would be down for that, but she is sadly blonde.” She sighs. “Like, bright blonde and so stunning. I’ve always been jealous.”
“She must have a downfall?”
Something crosses her eyes, and for a second I’m sure it’s fear. It vanishes quickly, though.
“She has terrible taste in men, and one day it will ruin her.”
“I’d like to meet her one day,” I say just as the door slams open.
Knight runs in so fast I just about see a blur of movement that lands on my cushion.
“You must be Dove.” Knight nods at her. “I expected you to be a bird, and I am disappointed.”
Dove laughs, as do I.
“This is Knight,” I say.
She smiles
