CHAPTER 46

GRIFFIN

"You don't want to give him a chance?" Venus asked when we got back to our room and started changing for bed. I stopped in the middle of the carpeted rug, pulling my shirt off and tossing it onto the nearby ottoman.

"No." My jaw was set, the only sign that I was not fully composed. "It's not like he ever cared about me. I didn't get one birthday card. Or a Christmas present. Even a fucking phone call. The only time he ever cared was when he was checking in on my progress with Thea. Making sure I'd be a respected and skilled enough warrior to take over the Knights and carry the name. So I'm not going to be sitting on his lap asking him to tell me bedtime stories or sharefamily anecdotes anytime soon."

She walked up to me and laid her palm on my chest.

I let some of that tension go, absorbing some of her calming, compassionate energy.

"That's understandable Griff. I don't blame you. It's not like I actually know the man or what that was like for you not having any family in your corner."

My eyes softened. I knew she saw the best in people. That was something I loved about her. And he was decent last night—more than I ever expected him to be. He also seemed quite fond of Venus, which I had to admit, gave him a few brownie points because she was amazing and I was glad he could see that. Maybe he was getting soft in old age.

But I still didn't care for him. No matter how much supposed effort he was putting in now.

In the end, he raised Thea. And I blamed him for how cold she turned out too.

Not once did the old man enquire about my wellbeing unless he was checking in on my progress as a Knight and journey up the ranks. I was just a soldier to him. A good one. But that was it.

Likewise, he was just a general to me. No matter if he had my goddamned eyes. That didn't make us anything more.Blood meant nothing to me.

"I don't need them to be my family. You are my family," I held her beautiful gaze, letting her see the emotion in my words. The truth to them.

My family was made up of the people I chose. And I sure as fuck had chosen her. It wasn't a large group—not by any means. Only four people in this world could say they held that title. But I had to admit, the number of people I trusted was gradually increasing.

I mean, I had faith in all my New York compound Knights to do what I needed them too and have my back in a fight, but there were a handful of Knights—and maybe even wolves now—that I could say I truly trusted and saw as more than just comrades.

She melted into me, kissing me fiercely and passionately and giving me every single bit of emotion she had.

I knew it was so she could show me just how much I was cared for and loved by her.

She was all I'd ever truly need in this world.

"Hey Griff?" She asked when she pulled back for air.

"Yes, Supernova?"

"Tell me you love me again."

My brow arched up.

"I know you're new to this, but females like to be reminded," she told me, tracing little circles across my chest and watching her fingers as she did so, as if she was nervous I wouldn't say it again or some bullshit like that. But I'd tell her as much as she wanted.

I'd tell her forever.

My features softened again and I cupped her face, angling it up towards my own. I searched those hazel green eyes. "Then I'll keep reminding you, baby girl." My own silver ones bored into hers. "I love you, Venus Stone."

"I love you, Griffin Gray."

I really could get used to hearing those words.

We'd been staying at Aconite Hall for the last six days and I was getting antsy.

I was avoiding Theo as much as humanly possible. The only time I'd allow myself to be around the old man was during dinner, and that was solely because I not only had Venus to buffer, but the rest of the Knights that joined. I made a pointed effort to get to know them—the way the academy here ran and what information they knew about the rogues.

When I wasn't doing recon and learning everything I could about the headquarters of The Gray Knights, I was training. Making the most out of the fucking insane armoury they had here.

Tomorrow was the partial lunar eclipse and we would be ready. Everything was in place, and I'd been working closely with Theo's patrol and security team to observe the setup of thermal cameras and organise the front lines.

A part of me suspected the General was letting me take the lead as some sort of test of my abilities; or a haphazard and unsuccessful attempt at winning me over. He had plenty of officials that could do what I had been doing—not to mention, he could do it himself. And while usually I'd hate to be the pawn in someone else's game, I was getting exactly what I wanted from the exchange: to be in charge and to eventually see the rogues come down at my hand.

Tonight was likely the last training session we'd get in with the four of us, especially considering Carter had pulled himself away from the lab in the Glass House to join, now that he'd essentially perfected the formula. Or was at least extremely close to it.

He and Major Harper had been working their arses off day in and day out since we arrived. The sanctuary of the Glass House—a mix between a greenhouse, growing every plant and herb known to man, and a technical lab, with every specialist alchemy expert and Healer the Knights had—was a haven for the two of them.

From what I'd gathered, they had learned a shit load from their fellow peers, and what should be the final formula for the Restorer was currently doing some weird concocting in a high-tech machine to test its potential success rate. The Healers—a magically gifted group of people hidden in plain sight—added their own special magic to the amalgamation which, in theory, should give it the boost it needed. For whatever reason, a handful of these Healers offered their services to Aconite Hall and worked with the Alchemists to help our cause, which was part of the reason the technology and research at our headquarters was so advanced.

Safe to say they were all extremely impressed by what my friend and the major had brewed up and would use it here too whenever possible. It wasn't in the Knight's usual interests to try such mediating tactics, but they were intrigued. And my girl did some good fucking convincing of the benefits of working with the packs instead of against them. Theo seemed to have a soft spot for the Stone heir and was taking it into consideration.

I was extremely fucking proud of her.

We entered the massive room that was my version of heaven with its contents of weapons, bullets and various devices, and I smiled wickedly taking in the walls stacked high with them. Almost like a library, but for weapons.

The Armoury was the one place in the manor that truly did impress me, and my heart pulsed with excitement as I contemplated which one I'd try today. I'd definitely be stashing some of these in my bag to take back to the NYC compound—airport security be damned.

The hall had a large arched window on one end, letting in the last of the purple-hued light from the rapidly disappearing sunset.

I spotted a silver-tipped whip in a high corner of the wall of weapons and used the giant rolling ladder to get it down.

Finding a spot on the expanse of black sparring mats, I located a target dummy and let the whip crack.

"Just call him Trevor Belmont from House Belmont," Carter said with a light chuckle as he browsed the contents of the room for his own item to trial today. My lips pulled up into a pleased smirk.

Kit bellowed out a laugh. "He's so Trevor. He's got the brooding and grumpiness down to a T."

"Trevor's a badass, so I'll take it," I deadpanned. I didn't bother to turn away from the target to look at Kit as I replied. But then an idea sparked in my mind and I whirled to see Venus eyeballing a pair of Japanese war fans.

My dick hardened at the sight. And then hardened further at the thought of her using them—at the visual that flashed in my head. My girl was a Mortal Combat wet dream.

I bit my lip as I soaked in the view.

"You into some SM, baby?" I asked with a grin, pulling the whip tight between my hands.

Her mouth gaped. "Umm, maybe not right now?"

"Oh, come on, Cosmo. I'm sure the gang would love to watch."

"I have no qualms with it," Carter called out from his spot on the ladder that he'd climbed, raising his hand.

Kit's eyes lit up suggestively at our words and my girl whacked her as a result.

"Don't encourage him," she hissed. Then she turned back to me and said, "Absolutely not," looking at the thing in my hand like it was poison. I would never hurt her, of course. I'd rather die than cause her pain. I'd take off the metal tip or find one without it.

Better yet, I'd let her use it on me. Fuck, yes.

When I gave her a look that said, "You sure?" she furiously nodded her head.

I pouted.

"Well, at least I'll get to play with my new toy tomorrow," I rasped out. "I'm sure the rogues will be more than happy to indulge me."

She rolled her eyes incredulously. "Sure they will."

Without any further distractions, the rest of us trained like our life depended on it, ready and eager to face whatever came our way.