Page 43 of He Who Sleeps

Chapter 18

“Leo should be hereany minute,” Emerson said to her from the bathroom door. Their time together, their appointment was over. Dawn was literally breaking in less than fifteen minutes, and then...then it was very possible she wouldn’t see them again, ever.

“So what happens now?” she asked as she slipped from the bed, tender and aching, in severe need of a spa day, but she would see this through. “Normally I’m bundled off by now to the car.”

“Clearly that’s not happening this morning.” He smirked. “You have unmasked us, so things are going to be different.”

“How?”

He went to answer when Leo walked in, in his robes, carrying his mask.

"Hey, gorgeous," he said with a soft smirk. "I came to check up on your back. It feeling okay?"

She nodded and went to him, turning to show him. “Whatever is in that tea you guys leave for me helps.” Looking over her shoulder at him, she smiled. “See? I’m okay.”

Emerson walked out of the bathroom in his own robes. “And she’s relaxed, which feels different, doesn’t it? Last time, you didn’t feel like this.” He looked to Leo. “Are the others at the well?”

"They're heading that way," Leo said. "Devil got a call in the office, but the others were on the way down. You heading that way?"

He nodded. “We gotta finish this, don’t we? Pet, you wanna see something cool?”

She blinked at them. What happened after they were done with her was a complete mystery to her, so it seemed she was about to see behind the curtain. “I...sure? I mean if you don’t think it’s a problem.”

“Personally, I think you should see this, see what the night brings for us.” He looked to Leo to corroborate.

"Uh...sorry, dude, but we should speak to Devil before we just let her come on down. There might be some sort of rule about it." He at least had the grace to look sorry about it.

“Like we haven’t broken every rule this cycle?”

“It’s okay, I should... I should get dressed and get going.” Petra didn’t want to disturb the tenuous new bonds she’d formed with both of them by setting them against each other.

"No, stay," Stitches told her. "I'll go speak to him right now. It would be good for you to see this so you don't have to wait a whole year." He grinned and slipped out of the room.

“Emerson...” Petra looked to her lover. “What happens after this? I mean, I know who you all are...”

“And we know you.” He grinned and helped her into a black terrycloth robe. It was warm, and fluffy, his scent on it. It had to be his normally. “If you think any of us are going to be able to stay away now...” He shook his head. “You are too important.”

“It’s nice to hear that, but...”

“But nothing. Things are changing, that’s more than clear. I can’t begin to understand it or what it means over all, but I trust Finn. His decisions are always in our best interests.”

“He’s the leader?”

Emerson nodded. “Ever since we were kids. His dad was the leader of our dads’ group. He just...I don’t know. He just makes you want to follow him. And he’s good to all of us. Always makes the decisions based on what’s good for all of us.”

“And me?”

“I honestly don’t know. I know he wants you, same as the rest of us, but things are complicated.”

Leo slipped back into the room with a broad grin on his face. "He said yes," he told them. "You should definitely come down and watch this—see what it's all about."

“See? Told you.” Emerson winked. “Go with Leo; I’ll be just behind you.”

Taking Leo’s hand, she left the room with him, traversing the hallway and then out into the pre-dawn, the air cool, but not cold thanks to Emerson’s fluffy robe. She squeezed Leo’s hand.