Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

MORGAN

K laus stops Emmerich from hand-feeding me protein bars and coaxes his worried roost mate to let go of me so that I can put on a shirt he offers me. It's long enough to cover my ass, very wide in the shoulders, and has slits in the back—for the wings. But it does the trick and lets me feel a little less exposed. I put my towel over a chair near the fire to dry, then root through the food that Arielle and her new kraken boyfriend sent for me.

Then we sit in front of the fire, warm pieces of toast over the flames, and I get both of them to try peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the first time. Predictably, Emmerich loves them and demolishes two before he stops himself, looking guilty for eating my food, but Klaus scrunches up his nose and declares that peanut butter is vile, coating his mouth.

I only remember it's Christmas when I take my phone off silent mode and see my mom's unanswered call.

"Oh, wow, I forgot," I murmur, curling up in the armchair. I glance back at the guys to find them watching me closely. "I have to call my parents. Is that okay?"

I'm not exactly sure why I'm asking. It's not really permission I need. I could go out into the stairway for some privacy, but I don't want Klaus and Emmerich to think I'm hiding something from them. Then it occurs to me that I can't do a video call because my mom and dad would see the tower room, which would lead to questions about where I'm spending my Christmas—and with whom.

"Of course," Klaus says smoothly. "Come on, Emmerich, let's give her some privacy."

Emmerich hesitates, then moves away, and they settle on the couch, talking quietly. Guilt gnaws at me at the thought of keeping them a secret, but we haven't talked about this yet—and as much as I want to trust my parents, there's no way I'm telling them about the supernatural community until I get the green light from the guys.

"Hi, sweetie," my mom chirps as she answers the phone, then yells, "Robert, come quickly, it's Morgan!"

I hold the phone away from my ear, cringing at her loud voice. "Hey, Mom, sorry for not picking up. I forgot to switch off the silent mode this morning."

"It's fine," she says. "We only called to say Merry Christmas and to ask how you're doing. Did you have a good time last night?"

I think hard, trying to remember what exactly I told them—then it comes to me. "Yeah, it was good to spend some time with Arielle. We had a nice dinner."

"Honey, how much snow did you get overnight?" Dad asks. "You need any help shoveling the driveway? I could come up when the roads clear a bit…"

I imagine him leaning over Mom's shoulder, his face creased with concern.

"Um, several inches for sure," I tell him, "but it's fine. I saw a couple of neighborhood kids making the rounds with shovels, I'll pay someone to help me if I can't manage on my own."

"You could ask that neighbor of yours," Mom says, her voice turning sly. "You said he was good-looking."

"Stacy," Dad admonishes.

"What?" Mom goes on the defensive. " She's the one who said he was handsome. I'm just worried, Nick. She's all alone, hours away from us. I'm her mother . Am I not allowed to worry about my daughter?"

I cover my eyes with my palm, holding in a sigh. "I'm fine, Mom."

"I'm sure you are, Morgan. But you're supposed to be better than fine . You're young, baby. You're supposed to be out with your friends, doing wonderful stuff, being carefree, and falling in love." She pauses, then adds, "And I know we said we wouldn't press you about your breakup, but it's been months. Don't you think it's time to move on?"

At the gentleness in her voice, my throat closes up, and I glance at Klaus and Emmerich, sitting on the couch. They're both staring at me, still as statues, and I realize they've stopped pretending that they're engrossed in a conversation of their own—and they're likely listening in on my conversation.

Embarrassment wells up in my chest, a dark swirl of emotion. Now they'll know that I've been so pathetic, my mother is seriously worried about me. Am I ready to move on? Before coming here, I distracted myself with work, then following the lead Arielle told me about—the story of mythical creatures haunting an abandoned tower. Now that this mate bond had snapped in place between Emmerich, Klaus, and me, I feel amazing, but before I met them, I wasn't in a good place. I put myself in danger by traipsing through the woods in a snowstorm just to feel something—and to stop myself from thinking of how miserable my life had become.

Am I even in the right state of mind to start a new relationship? What if I'm being massively unfair to Klaus and Emmerich, promising them things I can't deliver on because I'm still stuck in the past? Maybe our connection will fizzle out like everything else in my life, and they'll see through the pheromone-induced bliss to the real mess that's hiding underneath.

"Morgan?" Dad's voice comes through, concern radiating through it. "Are you still there?"

Now both gargoyles are frowning at me. Emmerich's nostrils flare, and he tenses, his big body primed to spring forward. But it's Klaus who stands first and walks over to stand in front of me.

"Yeah," I croak. "I'm okay, I promise. I'll—I'll come visit soon."

My mom's sigh is shuddery, as if she, too, is holding back tears. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I didn't mean to say all that out loud."

"It's all good," I force myself to say, struggling to keep my voice level. "I miss you."

At that, Klaus suddenly swoops down and yanks me into his arms. A moment later, I'm being carried across the living space and straight into the nest, so I clutch my phone to my ear and grasp Klaus' arm to keep from pitching to the floor. But he holds me safely and hands me off to Emmerich, who is already kneeling in our nest of blankets, somehow still naked. He settles me in his lap, his wings flaring out to create a canopy around us. Then Klaus is there, huddling close. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes lightly, then settles at Emmerich's side and takes my feet into his lap. He kisses the sole of my left foot gently, then massages the spot, his warm touch so comforting. Emmerich puts his chin on top of my head and rumbles quietly, as if everything is all right in the world now that I'm back in his embrace.

It's only then that I remember my parents and realize Mom is still speaking, her voice tender.

"…love you so much, baby, we just want you to be happy."

I clear my throat, some of the pressure in my chest lessening. "I love you, too. But you don't have to worry about me. I'm okay. In fact, I met someone new."

A pause from the other end has me smiling—I can picture Mom and Dad exchanging surprised glances, communicating wordlessly. They're one of the lucky couples who met in college and fell so deeply in love, they've been together ever since. Dad still brings my mom flowers every week, and she blushes every time, thanking him with a kiss. It's adorable—if a little difficult to watch when my love life hasn't been this great.

But all that is changing now. Emmerich and Klaus are right here, and even though this is all still so new, I know it's built to last. The glow in my chest tells me as much. Klaus' presence is currently stronger than Emmerich's due to us sharing that bite, but I know it'll grow into a balanced, steady love.

"You have?" Mom asks tentatively. "When?"

"Just recently," I admit. "It's still a very new thing, but I have a good feeling about it."

Emmerich squeezes me closer to his chest. The warmth of his naked body permeates through the thin fabric of my borrowed shirt, and that helps, too. Klaus gives me an approving look, his gray gaze soft.

"That's great, honey," Dad says. "Is he treating you well?"

"Yeah," I say immediately. Then I take a deep breath and add, "They both are."

Now Klaus full-on smiles at me, and my breath catches in my throat. He's so handsome, I can't believe I thought he was a demon when I first saw him.

"B-both?" My mom's voice turns squeaky. "Oh. That's nice, Morgan. Uh, when will we get to meet them?"

I press my lips together, fighting a grin. I told them about my two mates because this is actually the lesser of the surprises—eventually, I'll have to tell my parents that Emmerich and Klaus aren't human. But we'll work on that.

"We'll see. Like I said, this thing is still pretty new, but I'll tell you more when we see each other next, okay?"

"Okay," Dad says quickly. "As long as you're happy, we're happy. We love you very much, like your mom said."

I get the feeling he's speaking up so Mom doesn't pepper me with more questions.

"Thanks, Dad. I love you, too, and I can't wait to see you soon."

We say our goodbyes, and finally, I end the call and set the phone down. I take a moment and just breathe, leaning on Emmerich's chest, and neither of my gargoyles forces me to speak. They seem to know I need it, and they don't pry, somehow sensing my mood better than anyone ever has.

"I'm not hung up on my ex anymore." I glance up at Emmerich. "I swear this isn't some rebound strategy. I genuinely l-like you and want you and I'm serious about making this work."

I stutter over my words, because something else tried to force its way out my mouth, but I don't think any of us is ready for those important words just yet.

Emmerich nods, his beautiful eyes serious. "I know. I feel it in you." He pauses and brushes my hair away from my face, studying me, then adds, "I don't think you would have connected with us so easily if you still had feelings for someone else."

Klaus circles my ankle with his large hand and gives me a firm squeeze. "And I feel your emotions through the bond, Engel . You are hiding nothing from us, and I respect that so much."

I chew on the inside of my cheek, one question still bothering me. "You don't think I'm pathetic?"

Emmerich rears back, frowning at me. "Pathetic? Why?"

I shrug, trying to make it seem like it's no big deal. "Because my parents are so worried about me." I pause, then force myself to tell the truth. "I was pretty sad about the whole breakup thing. It got to a point where my parents were really worried about me because I couldn't get off the couch some days, but I worked through it." I lift my chin, defiance surging through me. "I went to therapy and got my life together. It's not much—my apartment or my job, I mean—but they're enough for me."

Klaus hums deep in his throat. "We would be pathetic, Morgan, if we judged you for mourning a relationship lost. You are strong, and I am glad for whatever happened in your past because it brought you right to us."

Emmerich is nodding vehemently, his chin bumping the top of my head. "Klaus speaks for both of us, as always. I'm sorry you were in pain, but you ended up here, so hopefully, it will all be worth it in the end."

I sniffle as a wave of relief crashes over me. I wrap my arms around Emmerich's broad chest. "It already is."

He rumbles out a laugh, his hands going to my waist. "What do you want to do now? Are you hungry again? You haven't eaten in a while."

My sweet gargoyle, always taking care of me.

"I'm all right for now," I tell him. "What would you be doing if I wasn't here?"

They exchange a look, and Emmerich shrugs, then jerks his chin at Klaus as if to pass the question to him.

"We would be resting," Klaus says. "Cleaning the tower, hunting, reading by the fire. We'd just finished our last assignment the day before you arrived, and we don't have anything scheduled until after the New Year."

"Ooh." I squirm in Emmerich's lap, curiosity flaring up. "Were you guarding anything important?"

"As a matter of fact, we were," Klaus says, his smile turning smug. "But I'm not sure you're ready for a revelation of this magnitude."

He's teasing me, but it's totally working.

"You can't say something like that and not tell me." I bat my eyelashes at him.

Emmerich lowers his head and whispers into my ear, "It was the sea dragon king from Norway and his witch queen. They spent a week here in Boston, meeting with the local coven, and needed a neutral party to watch over the negotiations."

My eyes bug out, and I stare at him, unsure if he's joking or not. "A-a dragon? There are dragons , too?"

"A sea dragon," Klaus corrects me. "Though there are some regular dragon clans still living in Europe, but they're not very fond of witches. They were all involved in several bloody wars over the last century and a half, and the witches nearly eradicated the dragons. Hence the need for negotiations and enhanced security."

Wow . I have so much to learn. I want to ask them about so many things, but I also don't want to treat them as walking, talking encyclopedias, so I swallow my questions for the moment.

"Can I stay with you tonight, too?" I ask instead. "I was planning on spending the holidays alone, but I'd rather be with you."

Klaus leans close and touches his forehead to mine. "If you think we'd rather send you away to stay close to your handsome neighbor, you're mistaken."

It takes me a moment to remember what my mom said during our call. "Oh my God. My neighbor isn't even that handsome. He's younger than me and can barely speak up when I say hi to him, and besides, I only told mom he was handsome because she asked about him. I mean, I guess he's objectively good-looking, but he's not my type at all."I realize I'm babbling, so I snap my mouth shut and offer Klaus a sheepish grin. "Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. So if this is your only reason for keeping me here…"

"It's not." His eyes glow with a banked fire, his powerful will tightly reined in. "Tell me, Morgan, what is your type?"

I squirm in Emmerich's lap, trying my best to ignore his growing erection pressing up against my thigh. He must be scenting me—my belly is warming, my heartbeat picking up, and I know it's only minutes before I'm slick and ready for them. It's the effect they have on me, and it's good to know that they're equally turned on.

"I guess it's guys with very large…wings," I say, purposefully drawing out the pause. "And horns. I've been really into horns lately."

"Hmm." Emmerich slips his palm under the edge of my shirt. "How do you feel about tails?"

"Love them," I breathe. I think of how he used his to make me come just last night and barely hold back a sigh. "Tails are surprisingly great."

Klaus puts his hands on my knees, and I let my thighs fall open, my instincts taking over. He shudders, then draws in an inhale, and I know he's scenting my pussy, which is getting wet in anticipation of whatever they have in mind for me.

"That's good," Emmerich says, his large hand splayed on my belly. "Because my type is tall human women with golden curls and beautiful brown eyes. I'm especially interested in those who have a habit of walking through snowy forests alone."

I can't hold back a moan when he slips his hand lower, brushing over my mound, so close to where I need him but still too far. "That's great to hear. So cool that our interests align."

Klaus watches us, his focus intense. Then he purposefully closes my thighs and moves away from me.

I whimper, then flush, embarrassed at the needy sound, but damn him for pulling away right when I thought we'd take another step together.

"What are you doing?"

He offers me his hand, palm up, looking very gentlemanlike, even though he's still shirtless and no Victorian gentleman ever sported such impressive muscles, let alone wings, horns, and a tail.

"It's Christmas," he says, smirking.

Emmerich hums but doesn't stop me from putting my hand in Klaus'.

"What do you have in mind?" I let Klaus pull me to my feet and straighten my borrowed shirt. "I didn't think you guys celebrated human holidays."

"We didn't until now," Klaus confirms. "But we have a human mate, and we want to make sure you're not deprived of any experiences."

I'm about to protest and say that they don't need to make a fuss out of this. I'm not a kid anymore, and I don't mind not having a big celebration. I like Christmas as much as anyone, but I'm not about to demand they change their habits because of me.

But Emmerich jumps up, his wings carrying him a step farther than us because he's so excited.He smacks his hands together and asks, "Where do we begin, Morgan? What do humans do for their Christmas?"

I think about my family's traditions. A lot of them won't be feasible because of where we are at the moment, snowed in and essentially trapped here in the middle of the forest. But surely there's something we can do…?

"We will make a list," Klaus declares. "But first, Emmerich should put on some pants."