6. Ben

6

BEN

“You’re coveting something that doesn’t belong to you, demon.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I lie. Even now I don’t look away from the bathroom door that Stella closed behind her. It would be wiser to keep watch of the angry gargoyle beside me.

A point that is proven when in a flash of movement, his body is against mine, his hand gripping my throat.

I’m able to work through the initial panic of the situation quickly. This is only a threat. He doesn’t squeeze.

I can easily get away from him. I could make good on my mental threat and take him to Antarctica if I want, but that won’t resolve this.

I’m a demon of solutions. Though, this situation is messier than I’ve ever dealt with before.

There’s a height difference between us that forces me to tilt my face up to meet his gaze. His hands are larger than mine as well. Nearly fulling wrapping around my neck. I may be able to teleport him to a land of snow, but he could probably snap my neck just as quick.

Stoneheart’s eyes are a light gray that reminds me of icy clouds. His expression is blank, but he’s not usually someone who lets his emotions free. His energies rest against my skin, a subtle threat.

“I understand coveting.” His voice is a measured calm that I hate. “She’s a prize, but she’s my prize. Remember that”

The skin of my face burns in a quick anger. “She’s more than a prize.”

He flexes the grip on my throat, but I still don’t vanish into the shadows. I refuse to abandon her now.

“Yes. She is a queen,” he says as if lost in thought. “She has power and influence all her own. Which makes her even more valuable. Do not try and steal my queen.”

Does he really believe I can? “Stella can make her own decisions.”

“That she can,” he breathes.

He eases his grip, and the brush of his sharp talon and callused thumb over the sensitive skin of my throat stirs an unexpected sensation. The heat of anger in my face turns into something else, and I quickly try to remove any evidence from my expression.

It doesn’t work.

Stoneheart’s eyes darken in calculation. “You can touch her through her clothing to take her to the penthouse.”

His words are so unexpected that it takes until he’s speaking again for me to catch up to the topic shift.

“Any more than that will come with a cost,” he says.

I open my mouth to rage at the idea that Stella’s affection is something he can leverage but freeze when the dark energy that mixed with Stella’s now flows over my skin with a similar taste. One of desire. The cost will not be a monetary one.

My confusion is quick, but I stuff it down mercilessly.

“I understand.” I don’t. If this gargoyle were anyone else, I’d think he just propositioned me.

Impossible.

He releases me and takes a couple steps away as if the interaction never happened. Maybe it didn’t. Maybe I’m losing my mind along with the bit of my heart that Stella owns.

“She’s not especially fond of flying.” His mouth twitches as if he’s suppressing a smile. “She will find your way of transportation much more comfortable.”

“And you wouldn’t?” I ask. It’s frigid outside.

His arched brow is amused. “I’m not in the habit of allowing myself to be vulnerable to my opponents.”

He’s definitely aware I wanted to teleport him somewhere unsavory.

Want. I’m still willing to do it. If I need to.

The water from the faucet is icy, but it doesn’t quite wash away the memories of the night before. My eyes still have dark circles under them, and I ignore my reflection as I get ready for the day.

Sleep did not come easily.

Sometime after dropping Stella off with Stoneheart’s people, I’d made my way back home. I proceeded to pace until late into the night. At first, I’d contemplated whether I could get away with taking Stella away from Stoneheart or offer her the option anyway. That line of thought hadn’t gone anywhere that Stella deserved to tread. It would only make her a fugitive if not completely undo the sacrifice she’d made for Katarina.

After dismissing all other options, the only way open for me to keep her safe would be to keep my feelings in check. Stoneheart’s people are good. She will be well protected. Eventually each step I took left my mind blessedly empty.

At some point I forced myself to lie down, but that’s where the underlying current of something in that moment with Stoneheart had caught up to me.

I scoff in the morning light.

He’s trying to throw me off my game, and it’s working. I don’t know the specifics that occurred between Stella and him, but I do know that he’s usually much better at tactics than leaving a mate alone.

Avoiding Stoneheart is the best plan of action. To allow myself to be entangled with either of them is a recipe of disaster.

With that conclusion reached, I head to the kitchen. The manor is light and cheerful even in the face of the battles we’ve fought in the last week. Now that the wedding is over, the only thing for us to do is rest.

The older couple in the kitchen pull a grin from me. They sit in the breakfast nook, tea and pastries half eaten in front of them. The budding relationship between our driver and housekeeper reminds me that good things have happened even as we’ve dealt with other challenges. The Leonid threat is all but over now that we have an ally in place.

Katarina and her baby are safe and healthy, and Kalos has the opportunity to really be happy.

“Maggie. Jensen.” I greet each of them as I pour myself a cup of coffee.

“Morning, sleepy head,” she chides me, bustling from her seat to touch my shoulder before I can argue for her to remain comfortable. Maggie is a touch-oriented person. Her motherly affection exudes from her, and the motherless wretch I am, I love it.

“I half expected that I’d need to look for you passed out somewhere on the property,” Jensen says with a raise of his mug.

“You know me. I’m just a party animal.” My smile is wry. If Stella hadn’t called me last night, I may have very well been drunkenly passed out somewhere.

Maggie’s face softens, and she presses her hand to my cheek. “Of course.”

There’s a tingle of her healing magic against my skin, and the worst of the weariness fades. I make a small sigh of gratitude.

“I’m glad to see you pulled yourself out of bed,” she continues. The words are simple. She doesn’t go into any details, but it’s not like she missed my crush on Stella even if for the longest time I had.

“The day has to start sometime,” I say, my bravado false. The air in the room is of understanding. These people are the family I never had. I don’t like to worry them, but there’s comfort in knowing there’s someone to worry about me.

Maggie taps her palm against my cheek in comfort before pulling away. “Kalos was up early. He’s already in his office.”

I wince and grab a granola bar for a quick breakfast. With how that dragon has been with me lately, I don’t want to keep him waiting.

“He seemed in a better mood this morning,” she says.

“For my sake, let’s hope he is.” I pause after a gulp of coffee. “How is Katarina doing?”

“She hasn’t been down yet, but she must be doing better if Kalos is willing to smile.”

They are mates. Their bond isn’t strong yet, but Kalos is devoted to her happiness, and only she can break him from his usual grumpiness.

Maggie mothers me, but Kalos has been the only father figure in my life. He pulled me out of a bad situation and offered protection in exchange for my loyalty. He’s the reason I’m alive today.

And I almost lost him.

I would have died for him if I had to, but I didn’t have the ability to save him. Only his mate did.

And I endangered her to ensure it could be done.

I’ll understand if he never forgives me.

When I make it to the study, he sits on the windowsill, swiping through the tablet in his scaly black hands. Kalos almost never takes full human form. For the longest time, I thought it was to remind the people around him what he is, but now I think it’s to remind himself. He is an ancient creature who lives in modern times. The world is new and messy, but his connection to the dragon part of himself is constant.

“Morning.” My voice has a hoarse quality. I hate that he’s angry with me.

Instead of making me wait on his imperious mood as he’s done for the last couple of days, he responds immediately.

“Ben.” There’s no derision in his voice, and there’s a lightness to him today. The stress that had lined his body last night has lifted.

“Katarina?” I ask, though I’m hopeful that his good mood is because of her.

“She’s doing well.” The relief on his face is stark.

“Good,” I breathe. After the close call that endangered her child, she’s been…off. I’m glad that she’s healing. A little bit of the guilt that surrounds my heart leaves me. “I’m glad.”

Kalos nods in silence. There’s a moment where I relax. Everything had really worked out. Everyone in our family and territory is safe and whole. We did it.

He clears his throat. “I’ve received a message from Stoneheart this morning. He has an interesting proposal that I thought you may want to look at.”

I take the tablet from him, and the warmth in my heart douses as I read the message. The wording is sharp and direct, making me think the gargoyle himself drafted this up. The offer is a surprise, but the real surprise is that Kalos is entertaining it. “What is this?”

Kalos frowns. “Stoneheart says that it would be temporary.”

“Do you want me to leave?” I swallow the knot in my throat. I don’t need a pity assignment if I’m being dismissed. If Kalos doesn’t trust me anymore, I’m useless. “I know that I?—”

“Ben. Of course not,” Kalos interrupts me, standing.

The hurt still settles in my chest and makes it hard to speak.

Kalos takes a breath before he continues. It’s the only indication that he’s struggling. “I’m sorry I’ve been taking out my anger and fear on you.” The statement is one that he’d never have given before gaining his mate. Katarina has opened the part of his heart we all knew was there even if he never exposed it. “Of course, I don’t want you to leave.”

I blink and nod, the relief powerful. “Okay.”

Kalos continues, “I thought you may be interested in the arrangement because you were…concerned about Stella. But it would make sense to deny the offer. I can tell him that the current terms of our alliance stand.”

“I am concerned about her.” Concern is what makes my heart ache…

He tilts his head. “But would it be wise for you to be around her?”

No. But I did this. It was my strategy that led her to this life. Even with my determination to keep my distance, I can’t deny my need to ensure her safety. She needed me last night. She could need me again.

The offer seems too good to be true. Since it’s Stoneheart, it’s definitely too good to be true. He must have some sort of plan with this, but my suspicion won’t keep me from stepping into his snare.

“I can keep it professional,” I say. “What about my work here?”

Kalos’s golden eyes observe me carefully. Is anyone ignorant of my feelings for Stella? Have I walked around with a neon sign above my head titled “demon heartsick for the witch who insults him”?

“You are invaluable,” he says. “But if this is what you want to do, I can move people around and hold down the fort. You’ve put so many systems in place that much of the work isn’t something that has to manually be done.”

He’s not wrong. I’m good at coming up with efficient solutions to problems. It’s my forte.

This type of a position with Stoneheart isn’t, but with my skills, I feel confident that I can remove Stella from any bad situation.

“Just until the territory is stabilized. It’s the least we can do,” I say, a small part of my heart cheering even as the rest of me is sure I’ve signed my own death warrant.