Page 36 of Slaying With Sylphs (Haven Ever After #6)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DIRK

O ne minute we’re standing on Main, and Morgan’s reassuring us she’s taken care of the buildings, and the next I’m swooping my mates into my arms. I dissolve us into pure air and whisk them up to the wards. I dance along the sleek surface, finding the fastest path back home. This day has taken us on a wild ride, and I need them alone.

I need to talk with them. What Connall said earlier about working with them instead of planning everything myself has been bothering me. Lou just saved everyone , but this whole thing with her power could’ve been easier if I’d been forthright with my suspicion.

There’s something else I haven’t told them, something I kept from them so they didn’t have to worry until I knew exactly what was happening. But I need to tell them now, because he’s right—they deserve truth, partnership. I’m no longer the male pushing them across a chessboard to ensure we end up together. We’re together now. I can’t think about things the same way.

My secret consumes me as I swirl us through the back door and into the living room. I drop my mates gently on the sofa. They cling to each other, laughing as Louanna buries her face in Connall’s neck. They chuckle and snuggle as I watch.

I love their love.

I love our love.

And I’m still learning how to love them the way they deserve.

“I need to talk to you both,” I say as they settle down.

Connall shifts upright, pulling Lou into his lap. She nestles between his thighs, resting a hand on both of his knees with a wicked grin at me.

“Go on, mate,” he encourages, bringing his lips to Louanna’s neck. His eyes flash emerald as his wolf pushes forward to be with us. When he nuzzles her and nips, my body flushes with heat. I pant as I watch his mouth trail a path over her skin, kissing every freckle, worshiping every inch. By the time he gets to her shoulder, sliding her tee down for better access, I’m desperate.

“It’s serious!” I blurt out.

Connall stops on a dime and returns Louanna’s shirt to its original position. Her smile falls. As they stare at me, uncharacteristic nerves stab my belly. I don’t get nervous. I’m a hunter. This is…terrible.

“There’s something I’ve been dealing with regarding work that I didn’t want to burden you both with because I don’t know what the outcome will be. But Connall suggested that, when something’s wrong, I need to talk to you both. So, this is me talking, because I want to be a good mate, and…” My voice trails off. I look back at them. I didn’t even realize I’d looked away when I started speaking. “I love you and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Connall’s eyes are soft at the corners, a smile tugging his lips upward. Lou looks dead serious as she rises from his lap. She reaches for me with both hands and pulls me onto the sofa next to them. We fall into a pile with her on top of me and Connall by our side. Their presence soothes me.

I pull in a steadying breath, my upper half resting in the pillows. Lou’s lying on my chest, staring up at me.

Forcing air to fill my lungs, I focus on them. “I’m probably going tae be sacked soon for my part in helping Richard and Lola reunite. Evenia’s not mentioned what I did, hasn’t even revoked my portal access. But I suspect she’s waiting fer a time when she can embarrass me publicly. I don’t know what’ll happen after that. I’m a hunter, but if I cannae go back to work, I’m not sure what I’ll do. And I don’t know if I even want tae go back, because it requires so much travel…” My words trail off again. I glance at my mates. “What do you think?”

Lou sits upright and trails her fingertips over my chest to my jewel. When she strokes it, all my lightning zings toward her and sends pleasure searing outward from my chest.

“I think Evenia can go fuck herself, per usual, and if she fires you, it’ll be her loss. You don’t need that job because you have us. But if you want that job, or any other job, I’m in full support of you.”

“Och, Louanna.” I rub her forearm as she strokes me.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Connall says quietly. “Lou’s right. Evenia can go to hells for all I care, although I don’t want her to publicly embarrass you.”

“Might not be that.” I give them both a wry look. “I could simply get a summons to appear at Belcastle Prison.”

“What?” Lou gasps, her fingers curling into my skin. “She’d imprison you?”

“It’s possible,” I say. “Unlikely, but nothing surprises me about my boss at this point. I broke quite a few laws, if yeh remember.”

Blue flames curl up Lou’s forearms, snaking up into her hair as it begins to float around her head. Blue shines from her eyes.

“Easy, Sweetheart,” Connall murmurs. “We’ll figure this out.”

“There’s a lot tae figure out,” I admit. “Because I don’t know that we can hide what happened with Leighton from her. If she finds out yer a blue witch, Louanna, she’ll want to press yeh into service for Hearth Headquarters.”

Louanna scrunches her nose. “She can try, but I’m not beholden to her.”

Connall twirls the end of Lou’s braid. “There’s a reason most blue witches don’t live within the haven system. Dirk is right… Evenia will do everything in her power to get you to work for HQ.”

“Then maybe I will,” Louanna says cautiously. “Dirk and I can hunt baddies together.”

Connall visibly pales, mopping at his brow. “I’m going to need therapy if you two take on those roles and travel all the time.”

Lou shimmies against him and looks up, the back of her head resting on his broad chest. “I’m kidding, my love. I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime. All I want is time alone with you two.”

“We’ll get that,” I say more to myself than anyone.

Whatever I have to do, I’ll make sure we do.

A ringing sound echoes from the wall.

Connall’s communication disk.

We share a look as he rises and grabs it off the wall. Evenia’s name hovers above it, flashing insistently.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Lou gasps.

“Well, here goes nothing,” I mutter, directing the disk to answer my boss as I pray for her to be lenient for once in her fookin’ life. I set the disk down next to my mates as a life-sized Evenia hologram rises up from the piece of tech.

Haughty as ever, she looks from me to a neutral Connall and scowling Lou, then back again.

“I think you know why I’m calling, Mister Zefferus.”

“Och, a bit early for a check in, isn’t it?” I keep my voice steady. “I’ve not used up all my vacay days yet, boss.”

She sighs. “You used your security clearance to override the shifter king’s shutdown code for the Santa Alaya portal. Deny it, I dare you.”

I look at my mates. Connall’s expression is impressively neutral, but Lou’s chest rises and falls rapidly, blue flames flickering from her fingertips.

Easy , I mouth at her.

“I did,” I confirm. “To save a life. It was a judgment call.”

“I’ve always liked you, Dirk,” Evenia says with a beleaguered sigh. “But I consider this not only a fireable offense but a personal affront. I headhunted you. You’ve worked for me for a very long time, my best hunter. Even so, I can’t be lenient. Not even for you. Report to Belcastle Prison in two days’ time and do not even think of running.”

“Prison?” Lou shouts, rising from Connall’s lap to glare at Evenia. Blue flames rise from her skin, her hair lifting as fire envelopes most of her body.

“Shit,” Connall murmurs, pulling Lou toward him as he attempts to cover her with his much larger frame.

“How fucking dare you!” Lou screeches, shoving away from Connall to point a finger right at Evenia’s face. “Leave him alone you heinous bi?—”

Evenia lets out a joyous laugh, crimson eyes locked onto Louanna’s flames. “A blue…finally. Well, well, well, Louanna Hector. This is interesting.” Dark eyes flick to me. “It doesn’t change what Dirk did and I can’t let other monsters think abiding by our laws is optional.”

Lou’s expression falls, morphing into something desperate. “Leave him alone and I’ll consider helping you on occasion.”

“Lou!” Connall barks.

“Easy, my sweet,” I caution. There’s no fookin’ way I’m getting out of Evenia’s sentence.

Lou’s expression grows fierce again. “I’m serious, Evenia. Leave him alone.”

Evenia smirks, not deigning to answer. She looks back at me. “We’ve got a lot to discuss, Dirk. Report to Belcastle in two days or else.”

She doesn’t wait for me to respond, signing off with a click. Her hologram disappears into the disk as I stare across the space at my mates.

Lou’s eyes well with tears as Connall slumps and pulls her into his arms.

She rests her head against his chest as she stares at me, the first tears falling. “What are we going to do, Dirk? I refuse to let you go.”

Crawling over to them, I straddle Connall’s legs and crush her between us.

“‘Twill be fine, my sweet. I’ll do this, because the sooner I go, the sooner I can return to you both.” I look from Lou to Connall and back again, drinking them in. “I promise I’ll be back.”