Page 16 of Monsters (Vengeance #3)

Gray

“ Y ou need sleep.” Adyen commented.

Sleep was for losers.

Also for actively functioning adults that were, as a result, able to focus on their shit.

So…totally not me!

I looked back down at the massive map I had of the three kingdoms. We were in my quarters, but I hadn’t slept since the night before.

Instead, my entire defensive plan was spread out in front of me as I played through scenarios of what they could do.

I wasn’t tired. In fact, I was so far from tired it was ridiculous. The espresso may have helped.

“ You need to sleep,” I chided and pulled my rubber band tighter as strands of hair fell out.

I could see him eyeing my ponytail but I had left one of my loose day scarves on the couch nearby to distract him. My lips pressed together once I realized it was gone. Such a little hoarder.

“Hey, big guy?” I asked, having noticed something.

“Yeah?” He wondered.

“What is this?” I pointed towards a small clearing of trees that were darker, and surrounded by a stream of water like an island.

“That,” he tilted his head, “is the oasis for Pixies.”

My nose scrunched. “Fucking Pixies?”

“They get a bad reputation,” Adyen stated with humor, “honestly, they aren’t even that terrible. Although they get a kick out of spreading rumors and causing mischief.”

“Dude,” Athens chuckled, looking sleepy and sexy with his eyes a bright metallic sheen. “They literally set fire to a passing carriage just for fun.”

I snorted. “Any chance they would fight for us?”

Both men frowned and shrugged. “I mean, you could ask.”

Athens nodded. “They may say yes. Who knows?”

I sighed and my lips twisted. Then without a second thought, I turned towards the bathroom to get ready for the day.

My hair was darker and thicker than normal so I had to pull it back to make me feel more awake.

I washed my pale features with soap and water and when the smell of coffee hit my nose, I finally perked up.

I smiled as my handsome mage offered it to me with a cute smile. Athens. My handsome Athens.

“Baby, you look so cute.” He teased.

I narrowed my eyes but suddenly Esme was laughing. I looked at my friend who had entered the room. She smiled broadly.

“What?” I frowned.

She shrugged. “Just nice to see you all cute and girly.”

“Fuck you.” I tossed up a tall finger.

“Are we doing that uniform thing you mentioned today?”

Oh!

“Yes,” I smiled and looked to Adyen. “Can you contact Byron or Edwin? I want to see Vegas today if possible. ”

He kissed my shoulder as I shivered. Esme raised a singular brow and I bumped her hip as the two of us left the room. My boys followed behind but I could feel how sleepy they were. Me, though? I was suddenly good-to-fucking-go. I finished my coffee and began talking in a more upbeat tone.

“What if we changed the uniforms?” I looked at my friend. “Like, I love leather, right? I mean, who doesn’t? But, still. I want, like, something more shiny.”

“Yeah, and you could end up looking like a superhero,” she chuckled.

“Oh.” I frowned. “That would be weird.”

“Marabella!” I greeted her, as my other friend entered the hall. She offered me a smile while ignoring the two men following her. Both of them talked quietly and narrowed their eyes at the guards on each side of the passage. My friend barely noticed as she stood next to me with an excited smile.

“Do you know how many different materials you ordered?” She asked with honest shock.

I cocked my head. “That was totally after a day of logicistical planning so I was feeling like I needed a change from all this fucking leather.”

“What happened to Henry the VIII vibes?” Esme asked.

“I need it more chic though,” I explained as we entered into a massive work room. My face split into a smile as I looked over all of the fabrics. Then I looked at my two friends. Both of them cringed realizing how long of a day it was going to be.

“Come on! That silk won’t try on itself.”

Athens

I could see the tension rolling off her from across the room.

She was sprinting around enthusiastically, but I could see the stress.

I worried about her getting too worked up.

It didn’t help that Vegas and Byron had just walked in along with two other women.

My magic told me they were new mages and I could feel my mom’s ink magic floating across their skin.

I was happy to see the community was growing and not with assholes like our father.

“Baby,” I drawled, “you’re going to give yourself a heart attack with how excited you are.”

Gray tossed me an eye roll as she continued to float around the room.

Honestly, it was pretty cute and I found myself watching her intently.

If I thought I loved Gray before there was no comparison now that the two of us had bonded.

I could feel our magic intertwining with ease and I felt lucky that my brother and I would never have to be separated again.

“Any word on the border crossing yesterday?” Adyen asked as I shook my head.

“Nah,” I sighed. “I have no idea how he did it. Except for crossing the wards at the border, his path was completely masked.”

“He wasn’t even that strong of a fucking mage,” Adyen sighed.

Guilt surged through me because I knew the fucker had become radicalized and worked up due to my father.

That family essentially almost died because of the asshole that created part of me.

Sure, it probably wasn’t super logical to feel that way, but I couldn’t help it.

The bastard was causing even more problems than we already had. Then Gray already had.

“What about this?” She opened up a long purple silk.

I shook my head. “Baby, you know that wouldn’t work.”

Her mouth pinched as she narrowed her eyes at me. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.” I grinned as her eyes lit up .

“Oh?” She put her hand on a popped hip. “And please tell me, Athens, why this wouldn’t work on the battlefield.”

I stood up and walked towards her as those eyes flamed with fire. My hand shot out to grasp the fabric as I brought it in front of me. Then I ripped it with a quick movement.

“Shit,” Vegas laughed.

Gray groaned, tossing her head back. “But you can do that with, like, anything. You are crazy strong.”

I totally preened like a fucking peacock. My hands looped around her waist as I leaned down to her ear. “As much as I love the idea of ripping silk off you, I would probably suggest wearing something a bit more durable.”

Her shiver enticed me to nibble her hair as her eyes flicked up at me. I wondered if we could sneak away without anyone noticing. Was that possible in a room that had only one door?

“You’re distracting me.” She tried to pull away but I didn’t let her. Mostly because I was ridiculously hard. Instead, I turned her so she faced the room and sat down with her small frame planted in my lap.

“Have them try on stuff instead,” I rationalized as all the women offered me grouchy looks.

“Oh, good point!” Gray exclaimed and began directing them.

I took the time to gently comb through her hair and braid it to expose her back and shoulders.

My finger traced where my rune was. She wiggled as her magic caressed my fingers like a playful wind.

My eyes traveled the expanse of her back and shoulders.

I wanted to kiss each scar there but I wasn’t positive she would let me.

Instead, I placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder.

“Could you give me a massage?” She asked, rolling back her shoulders .

I was glad everyone was distracted because I turned her chin and raised a questioning brow. I would have to touch the area she was really sensitive about to do that. Her eyes warmed considerably.

“Please?” She asked, granting me permission.

My large hands practically enveloped her shoulders as their rough texture slid across her scars.

Instead of tensing, she leaned back into me and I began to gently massage them but with enough force to cause her to break out in goosebumps.

Her voice was light and happy, as if this wasn’t a massive fucking deal. Adyen watched her carefully.

I think he wanted to make sure she ate because he kept pushing her tray closer and closer. It was going to end up on her fucking lap if he wasn't careful.

As the afternoon proceeded, I could see her growing more and more tired, something that seemed to be a general consensus.

Vegas, the woman who oddly looked like our girl, had dark circles under her eyes, too.

I felt like the poor girl was about to fall the fuck over.

Byron had his eye on her and he continued to shift himself so that he was only inches away.

I think that Edwin and Byron’s relationship with Vegas struck me as the most odd.

You have to understand, because of Taylor and the mage community, I had known both of them essentially since childhood, Byron far more than Edwin.

The blood mage had earned himself a rather sadistic reputation.

While my brother and I had substantially more power, there was something to be said about the danger of fucking crazy people.

The brothers qualified for that description completely.

I hadn't confirmed it but I was fairly positive they killed for fun rather than necessity.

So to see them treat someone with such affection and gentleness, was very odd.

“Athens?” Gray looked back and I offered her a soft smile. “Vegas is about to head out, but her sister and partner are going to get a tour from Esme and Marabella. Is it safe, you think, to leave the castle?”

Was it? Probably for most people except Gray.

I looked at Palo and he drew his eyes away from Marabella to meet my gaze. “Palo, can you go with them?”

Taylor stood as well. “I’ll join. I need to talk to you about something, brother.”

As everyone said their goodbyes, Rhodes shared a look with Adyen.

I frowned and Neo nodded towards Gray, her frame still as she looked out the window, indecision on her face.

My gaze followed her own but I knew it was on the border.

An intense and determined look came over her face that made me smile because I knew Gray would be just fine.

She just needed to keep her spirits up and believe, without a doubt, that she would be able to defeat that bastard, Mario.

“Can we go see the Pixies?” She turned to look at the three of us.

“I should stay here,” I sighed. I really didn’t need to but I figured that both Adyen and Rhodes would appreciate some time alone with her. They were always so busy trying to keep things from imploding on us, they deserved a break. “Why don’t you two go with her?”

Neo must have been thinking the same thing. “I wanted to check on a few things as it is.”

Gray looked at both of us and nodded, seemingly having decided we were actually okay with it.

She pressed a kiss to Neo as my brother’s hand grasped her shirt just a bit tighter than normal.

Talk about someone who needed more time with her.

I knew damn well that he’d been the cause for Rhodes finally snapping.

I also knew he would say it was about breaking or punishing them.

I didn’t buy it. I think Neo wanted our family to be happy and he knew she was the key to that .

The asshole was one of the best guys I knew and he didn’t even allow himself to think that. I looked at my brother and came to the decision that it might do us some good to spend time together anyway.

“Will you be up when we get back?” Gray asked, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“Of course.” I kissed her gently, “Now, go see those asshole Pixies.”

I smirked as the three of them left. Neo walked over and he let out a tired sigh. I shot him a look and spoke quietly.

“I am worried about how biased the mage community has become.” I muttered. “If people start to view this as a war between non-natural and natural born mages there will only be more internal fighting.”

Neo sighed. “I know. We need to get an understanding of how they actually feel.”

I froze and looked at him. “We should hold a large assembly about it.”

My brother smiled. “That sounds like something mom would fucking love.”

As we left the room my smile grew. He called her mom. I know he had before, but this time it was different. This time it seemed normal.

I wasn’t lying when I said Gray was mending our family.