Page 74 of Bellamy

“I didn’t choose to have a mate.” I stopped in place, my hand on the door handle. “But it’s how the cards played out for me.”

And truthfully? Knowing I had someone waiting for me at home felt… good. Despite the eons of sex, I had always been so lonely.

I didn’t feel that way anymore.

Raiden had come to Krave with me and followed as I exited through the front entrance. We took flight. The summer night was warm as we rose above the treetops, soaring beneath the starry sky. Autumn was on the horizon though. I felt it in the air. A change.

“So your dude was tellin’ the truth about the reapers,” Raiden said, flying beside me.

“My dude?”

He flashed his famous toothy grin. “Hey, I still don’t like Phoenix. But ya know? I’ve never seen you like this, Bell.”

“Seen me like what?”

“Happy.”

“I’m not happy.”

“Yeah, okay.” Raiden dove down before shooting back up, tucking his wings around him as he did a fast spin. He then spread his wings and leveled back out, gliding on the air. He gently knocked against me and grinned again when I rolled my eyes.

He was like an oversized kid. Thousands of years old and he still liked to play.

Gray greeted us in the foyer as we arrived at the mansion. His blond hair was messy from sleep, and he wore one of Mason’s T-shirts that almost reached his knees. Blue-and-pink-striped socks were pulled up over his calves. The musk of sex came off him. He and Mason must’ve fucked right before his evening nap.

“Welcome home,” he told us with a sleepy smile, rubbing at his eyes. “I just woke up.”

“I can tell,” Raiden said with a laugh. “You wanna snack? I could go for some pizza rolls.”

Gray nodded and padded behind Raiden on their way to the kitchen. “Do we have ranch dressing to dip them in?”

“Duh.”

Moments later, Mason and Galen walked down the hall, both shirtless and sweaty. The two of them worked out together every day. A bromance at its finest. Though, both males would pitch a bitch fit if anyone called it that.

“Did you meet with Taeden?” Galen asked once spotting me.

“Yeah. What Phoenix said about the reapers is true.”

“Good.” My big brother nodded once. “I suppose he can live another day.”

Mason wiped at his face. “Some of the reapers Asa tricked might be willing to help us now too. Or give us intel.”

“I already got some intel,” I said. “Is Al in his study?”

“His room, I think,” Galen answered. “Give me a minute to clean up, and I’ll join you.” He jogged up the stairs, probably to take a quick shower. The guy needed it after all that sweating.

“We need to talk,”I told Alastair telepathically as I ascended the staircase toward my bedroom.

“Very well,”he replied.“Come to my room when you’re ready. Bring the others.”

Meetings usually happened in his study. The change in routine was unlike him. He loathed change. Everything had to be organized and predictable. At least at the mansion. Maybe because it was the one place he felt in total control, and he’d built his life around that control.

Whatever. I wouldn’t worry about it now.

When I reached my room, the balcony door was open, letting in the summer breeze.

Phoenix leaned against the railing outside and stared up at the moon. Black horns curved back from his dark auburn hair, and his tail slowly moved behind him. He’d stopped hiding it in his pants, mainly because it was too uncomfortable for him. I preferred it this way, him not hiding himself.