Chapter 21

Amon

Cas is an overprotective watch dog as he whirls around, baring his teeth at Ruby’s ex. “You dare let my girl’s name leave your pathetic lips?”

Drama queen.

Only the need for a united front keeps my eyeroll in check.

My approach is more subtle, staring at Johnny with a glower that makes him visibly wilt.

I don’t break our stare-off as I bend over, pressing my lips against her shoulder and nudging the strap of her dress until it slips down her upper arm. He tracks the movement, and my voice is deadly calm as I say, “Eyes up here if you want them to remain in your head.”

His eyes rush to mine before flickering over to Ruby, who leans against me with Cas standing in front of her, shoulders thrown back and chest inflated.

Johnny doesn’t know where to look, nervously darting between us, not lingering anywhere for more than a few heartbeats. The brunette he’s here with stands a few feet away, arms crossed and annoyed.

Finally, a tiny over-confident smirk curls on his lips as he focuses on Cas, deciding he is the lesser of two evils. “ Your girl, huh? If she’s your girl, why is your buddy back there with his hands all over her?”

Stupid and brave. Dangerous combination.

“Why? Jealous?” Cas returns his smirk with an even snarkier one of his own. “Ruby is mine,” he says as he half-turns, pressing into her side while still staring at Johnny. “Aren’t you, baby?”

He moves his eyes to Ruby’s green ones, softening in an instant. Her smile is sweet as she tilts her chin up, silently requesting something Cas will never deny her. “Sure am,” she murmurs, right as his lips meet hers.

The tick of Johnny’s jaw as he watches them kiss gives me endless pleasure, and I let a devilish grin spread across my mouth. “Stop hogging our girl.” Cas chuckles as he releases her, making room for me as I claim her lips.

Johnny’s gasp is loud and dramatic, and when Ruby hesitates, I grip her chin and hold her in place. “Now, now, love.” I pull back just enough to look her in the eyes. “A queen shouldn’t have to interrupt her very important business for a mere peasant like him.”

“You are absolutely right.” She flashes me a smile, and I steal another kiss while her ex stammers.

“What… what…” He scoffs, and I release her lips and wrap my arms protectively around her middle. She’s almost purring with contentment as Cas slides his arm around us both. “What is this? Some sort of sick—?”

Cas and I both tense, on the verge of pouncing, when Ruby takes a small step forward, shoulders squared.

Our rose has found her thorns, it would seem.

I can’t wait to watch her stab something.

“Sick?” Ruby interrupts, anger marring her voice as she addresses him for the first time. “No, this is a loving relationship between three people who couldn’t imagine life without each other.”

Something deep in my chest rages at her words. It thrashes and screams, demanding me to tear her clothes off and fuck her right here… claim her in front of him and everyone else in this building.

I resist the urges, if barely.

Confidence radiates off Ruby as he stares, dumbfounded. “It’s a tough concept for you, isn’t it? Given your struggle to satisfy one partner, I’m sure you can’t comprehend the idea of two.”

He recoils, and I can almost see the blood dripping off those sharp thorns from the prick.

Her attention shifts to the woman who stands behind Johnny. “Hi.” She lifts her hand in an awkward little wave, and I can’t help the grin that twitches on my lips. “What’s your name?” she asks, her normal gentle aura returning.

“Danika,” the girl says, uncertain as she uncrosses and recrosses her arms over her chest.

Ruby gives her a kind, genuine smile. “Well, Danika, I hope the two of you are happy together.”

Dredging together the scraps of his dignity that remain intact, Johnny somehow manages indignation as he interrupts. “Of course we’re happy! We’re getting married!”

Ruby ignores him.

“I understand what it’s like to think you’re the center of Johnny’s universe,” she continues, pretending her ex doesn’t exist. “Enough time has gone by that I hope he’s changed, and loves you in the way you deserve, but if he doesn’t… well.” She trails off, wearing another sweet smile as she glances up at me and Cas before refocusing on Danika. “If he doesn’t, don’t settle for less.”

Johnny is still stammering, head as red as an overripe tomato and looking like it might pop at any moment as she reaches out and squeezes the other girl’s hand, who can’t hide her surprise. “Know your worth.”

“Please,” Johnny spits, voice full of venom, and Ruby finally looks at him. “ You want to talk about worth? The dull, plain girl that is forgettable at best. Do you know what comes to mind when I think about our relationship? Nothing . You were nothing , Ruby, never anything more than a pathetic—”

A loud gurgle chokes his words as my hand closes around his neck, lifting him clear off the ground. He grabs my wrist with both hands, struggling and kicking as he tries to pull himself loose from my grasp.

“You… will… apologize.” I growl, teeth clenched as white-hot rage courses through my body.

Johnny’s terror is a palpable thing as I allow a tiny flash of power to flicker in my eyes. I bare my teeth, ready to snuff out his pitiful life, when a soft touch lands on my biceps. “Amon,” Ruby whispers, and I spin to face her, still snarling. “Amon, he’s not worth it.”

“He dares to insult you.” My lips are pulled back in an angry twist as I turn to him and shake his weak human body, but she squeezes my arm and forces my attention to stay on her.

“Don’t waste your energy on him when you could use it on me,” she taunts with a sultry smirk, and my anger gives way to a surge of something entirely different. Johnny groans as I release him and his legs buckle underneath him, body crumpling to the ground as he sucks in a rasping inhale.

I pull Ruby against me so roughly our bodies knock together, my lips colliding with hers as I push all that excess energy into a kiss that makes her gasp. “Good boy,” she murmurs, and I groan against her mouth. My zipper bites into my cock as it pushes against the front of my pants.

Cas releases a barely audible whimper, drowned out by the ruckus of the club, before positioning himself behind Ruby, pinning her between us.

It’s the best place for her, after all.

“Do you trust me?” he asks, and she turns to plant a kiss on his lips.

“Of course.”

The smile that crosses his face is full of wicked intent as he whispers in her ear, so low even my demon hearing can’t detect it. Ruby freezes, her breath catching as she pulls back, her wide eyes locking with his. She’s nervous, and I’m about to step in and tell him to back off when she nods.

“You’re sure?” he asks, leaning in and dropping a kiss on her forehead.

She nods again, but it’s not enough for him. “Words, Ruby.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Before I can ask what he’s planning, the familiar tingle of his magic buzzes in the air and Ruby gasps, her spine arching. Cas slides his hand to her ass and runs his palm across the round curves, those gasps morphing into moans.

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I glance around to find Johnny and Danika have disappeared.

Just as well.

“What did you do?” I ask, but instead of answering, Cas guides my hand to Ruby’s ass. He steers my fingers until they land on something that makes her moan again. “Is that…”

“A plug. She’ll need some time to stretch while we take her home.” He grips her chin and points her face towards his. “Do you know what we’re going to do to you when we get there?” I push on the plug again and she’s almost delirious as her mouth sags open, nodding.

“We’re leaving,” I announce, and neither of them argue as I march us straight to the exit.