Page 28 of Galen

“That’s Alastair,” Galen told me. “Pride.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said. Knowing he wasn’t happy about me being there made me feel awkward. Like a trespasser. But it wasn’t like I forced myself on them. None of it was my fault.

“I’m sure it is,” Alastair responded before grabbing a kettle from the bottom cabinet and filling it with water.

Arrogant son of a bitch.

Then again, he was Pride.

“No offense,” I said, glancing between all six of them. “But I don’t know if I actually believe any of this. I can’t explain what attacked me in my shop or how quickly I healed from said attack. But demons? The seven deadly sins? It’s crazy talk.”

“Your belief doesn’t matter,” Alastair said. “The truth is there regardless if you believe it or not. So. You can be a whiny little mortal and waste all of our time as you try to wrap your head around all of this, or you can just accept it.”

“Damn, Al.” Castor shook his head. “That’s a little harsh. The guy got attacked by shades and woke up surrounded by all of us. Give him some time to process things.”

“We haven’t the time,” Alastair snapped. “We need him to open the box so we can figure out what the hell we’re dealing with.”

Open the box?

“Yeah, but—”

“That’s enough,” Galen said, his gruff tone cutting through the noise. He looked at me. “Eat. Rebuild your strength. We’ll talk more later.”

The kettle whistled on the stove, and I jumped at the sound. Alastair removed it from the burner and dropped tea bags inside a teapot before pouring the hot water inside it. He was clearly the head of the household—their leader—but he didn’t argue with Galen. I wouldn’t have either.

Alastair placed the teapot, a mug, and cream on a tray before leaving the kitchen.

“See?” Castor told me. “He’s like a grandpa with his little tea set. Just as grouchy as one too. Don’t let him get to you.”

I tried to smile but found it too hard. I felt like I was seconds away from having a severe mental breakdown.

The meal was awkward and quiet at first, but then Raiden and Castor started talking about a new action movie they’d just watched and how “unrealistic” the fight scenes were. I relaxed a bit and ate my eggs and bacon as I listened to them. Afterward, I rinsed off my plate and set it in the sink.

When I turned around, Galen was right in front of me.

“Jesus,” I said, my ass bumping the counter as I jumped back.

“Walk with me.”

He didn’t give me a chance to respond before he turned toward the archway. Thinking it unwise to argue, I followed him out of the kitchen. He slowed his pace so I could catch up, and then we walked side by side down the hall.

The bite in my leg hurt a little, so I limped when I walked. Nothing too bad though. He slowed the pace even more, as if noticing my discomfort.

“You can rest more if you want,” Galen said as we walked past rows of windows, his body passing through sunbeams. It’s one thing I noticed about the mansion. Windows were everywhere, making the place feel open and bright. Welcoming.

“I’m okay. I’ll go crazy if I stay in bed.” I considered my situation. “Well,crazier.Because this is probably all in my head. Who knows. Maybe I’m actually lying in a hospital right now in a coma, and this is a dream or something.”

“It’s not a dream.”

“How can I know for sure?”

Galen backed me up against the wall. He placed one hand beside my head and gripped my waist with the other. “Doesthisfeel like a dream?”

I… forgot how to talk. I forgot everything as I stared into his stormy gray eyes and felt the heat coming off his body. It was a lot like the night he broke into my shop and pushed me against the wall. When he was close to me, my brain stopped working.

“Simon?”

“Um.” I swallowed the thickness in my throat. “What was the question?”