Page 85 of Gray

I held him closer to my chest.

Galen met us in the foyer. Ever since the night he’d threatened to feed me to the sharks, we hadn’t spoken. Over the past week, we’d passed each other in the halls and eaten together at the breakfast table though. Whatever animosity he’d had toward me was still present, but it wasn’t nearly as strong. Or, if it was, he controlled it better.

“You should wait out here,” he said, then looked at Gray. “I’ll take him.”

I stepped back. “No. He’s not going in there without me.”

Galen’s jaw clenched. “Lazarus won’t even allow Simon to join the meetings. He sure as hell won’t let you.”

“Too fucking bad.”

“I know your fated mate connection makes you protective, but you need to hand him over and step aside.”

Simon walked down the stairs. “If someone said that to you, you’d bite them.”

The simmering anger in Galen’s eyes lessened with the arrival of his husband. “That’s different.”

Gray lifted his head and focused on me with sleepy brown eyes. “I’ll be okay, Mason.”

“No.” I gripped him tighter. “You’re scared. Where you go, I go. End of discussion.”

Galen’s nostrils flared. “Fine. Let’s go. But if your stubborn ass gets flame roasted, it’s your own damn fault.”

“Flame roasted? Isn’t this guy an angel?” With Gray still in my arms, I walked beside Galen and Raiden toward Alastair’s study.

“Angels aren’t like how you think they are,” Raiden said. “They’re assholes. And you’re about to meet the biggest a-hole of them all.”

When we entered the study, I felt his presence immediately. It was like a massive weight had been dropped on my chest, and my scalp prickled. A slight ringing sounded in my ears too, as if the energy coming off him sparked electric charges in the air.

And then I saw him.

Lazarus stood beside the desk, his hair white as snow and his eyes a piercing blue. He appeared to be in his early thirties, no facial hair. No chest hair either. He was shirtless, probably because he’d flown there. Everything about him was flawless, from his insanely good looks to his smooth porcelain skin.

I disliked him instantly.

“Place Sloth down and leave,” he told me. His voice matched the iciness of his eyes.

So that’s where Alastair learned it.

“I’m staying with him.”

“Mason, don’t,” Gray croaked. “I’m not scared. Promise.” But he was shaking as he said it. “Go wait with Simon in the arcade. I’ll meet you after.”

I set him on the rug in front of the fireplace and faced the angel, crossing my arms. “I’m staying. So you better start talking.”

Lazarus glared. “Such an insolent human. Alas, you’re not worth the energy it would consume to end your already short life.”

“Lucky me.”

Gray slipped his arms around my leg and rested his head on my knee. Always had to be clinging to something or someone. And I loved that I was that someone.

“I’ll call Cas,” Galen said before calling him and putting it on speakerphone.

“What’s up?” a guy answered.

“Is Kyo beside you?”

“Duh. Do I ever let my little dragon out of my sight? He’s too sexy. Someone might steal him away.”