32. Raiden

THIRTY-TWO

"Where's Brody? He was supposed to be helping us," I grind out, pacing the lounge area of my room as I wait for the most infuriating mage that I've ever met.

Kryll shrugs like it's not really a concern, earning a glare from me, but it goes right over his head like usual. How I've survived so long with these fools is beyond me. They leave me second-guessing every decision I've ever made, but somehow, I can't walk away from them.

I think that's what annoys me the most. They're the sort of family that gets under your skin, forcing unconditional love from you without your permission, and somehow, I'm not even mad about it.

It really does need three of us, but Cassian is off sulking somewhere, and Brody is fuck knows where. I can't keep up with my friends on their damn emotions at the moment. Cassian seems to be consumed by all of the shit that went down at the diner Friday night. I don't understand why he was pissed with Addi in combat class. She offered him a free pass to be rid of her and he refused. That's some bullshit right there. And to top it off, he decides she has to sit with us.

We don't need this drama. I've already got my hands full with Vallie without the added layer of some annoying fae that enjoys getting under my skin more than Brody does.

Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to calm the stress rising inside of me, but it's pointless at this stage.

The memory of the vines wrapped around my boots as she sauntered away flashes in my mind, irritating me even more. I can feel my chest tightening, which is not what I need right now. I need to stay focused.

Fuck.

"Let's just get it over with," Kryll states, as if he can sense the inner turmoil consuming me, and I shake my head.

"We need another man."

"I know that, but we don't have anyone else we can trust, so it's the two of us, or we don't show." He's so matter-of-fact it pisses me off.

"We can't not show," I grind out, and his eyes widen like he already knows that and I'm just being dumb.

"Then let's get on with it." I march to my front door, swinging it open with fury, to find Brody standing on the other side with his hand raised, ready to knock.

"Hey, you guys," he says, all calm and chill, sauntering past me to high-five Kryll, who looks at him in confusion.

"Where the fuck have you been?" I snap, my anger rising when he shrugs.

"Around."

"What's that smug fucking grin on your face?" Kryll asks, folding his arms over his chest as he assesses our friend with me.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Brody answers too quickly, a grin tipping the corner of his mouth as he looks anywhere but at us.

"Yeah, you do," I grumble, now eager to know what the fuck had him so busy he was late, but all he does is shrug again.

"He got laid. It's obvious," Kryll states, making me freeze as I whirl to find the fucker.

"Does that mean you're finally over the wretched fae bitch?" I ask, aware of the troubles he had over the weekend trying to get over her to no avail.

"Don't call her that," he snaps, turning to me with rage in his eyes. It seems I've hit a sore spot. What's that about?

"You need to get over it, man. You're fighting a losing battle with that one. She's never going to go near you," I grumble, annoyed that we're still having this discussion, but I don't miss the shit-eating grin that spreads across his face before he turns away, offering both Kryll and me his back.

I chance a glance at Kryll, who nods in silent agreement before I gape at the fucker ignoring us.

It's her.

He fucked her.

He definitely fucked her.

If the grin on his face didn't tell me that, my ears do with the wild racing of his heart.

My gut clenches, my nostrils flare, and my pulse quickens. I refuse to look any closer at the reasoning behind it, even though my subconscious knows exactly why.

"How the fuck did you make that happen?" Kryll asks, calm, cool, and collected as always, making Brody turn with another shrug.

"I don't kiss and tell." He also doesn't want to meet our gazes right now either. Asshole.

"Yes, you fucking do. Every time. It's annoying as shit," I bark, recalling every time I've had to endure one of his stories.

"Well, not this time."

"And why's that?" Kryll asks, and Brody shrugs. Again. I'm going to snap his damn shoulders if he does it one more time.

"You usually fuck them out of your system, brag about it, and move on to the next. What are we missing?" I ask, tapping my chin as I look at him. Brody runs his tongue over his lip, no answer readily available, so Kryll spells it out for me instead.

"She's not out of his system."

A burst of laughter tumbles from my mouth before I can stop it, earning me a glare from the mage in question. "Oh, fuck. Wait until Cassian hears about this," I say with a snicker, and he scoffs.

"He can thank me when he's ready."

"For what?" I ask, confused as to what he thinks the situation is, because he's clearly way off from where I'm at.

His eyes flicker to Kryll's before settling on mine. "Making her ours."

It's my turn to scoff this time. "She's not fucking ours," I grind out, my gut twisting, and I can't figure out if it's at the thought of it or the words coming from my lips. But I'm not looking further into it. Not when these assholes are here.

Brody ignores me, heading back toward the door with Kryll behind him, leaving me to blink after them.

Fuck.

Addi Reed has wormed her way under everyone's skin. It's annoying and intoxicating all at once. But one thing is certain; if she's going to fall from the pedestal she put herself on, it will be at my doing. Not theirs.