Page 68 of Friends With the Monsters
“As you can see, Nemean, she has nothing to fear,” Grim comments, sounding a little peeved.
“It’s been a few days since I’ve seen Aeson.” I think back to the last night she was here and I ran off without spending any real time with her. I step back from Samson as an icy thought fills my veins. “You don’t think it was her at the club?” I reach for Grim’s arm, half to hold myself up, and half because Ineedhim to tell me no. That there is no way Aeson could have been the one murdered at Rumors today.
Grim pulls my hand and wraps his arm around me. “I don’t know, Damiana. I wasn’t called to collect the soul, but the magic didn’t feel strong enough to be a Brownie.” He searches my eyes before promising, “We’ll find her.”
I nod and cling to him, he’s solid and strong. I peer over at Gunnar and Calix who are only a few feet away, neither of them looks bothered that I’m wrapped in Grim’s arms. I already can’t imagine what it would be like to lose one of them.
I push myself away from Grim, unable to meet his eyes. I can’t let him or the others know just how much I’ve already come to enjoy having them around. I need to focus on Aeson and finding out where she is, not be worried about these three disappearing on me. “We need to find her. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she’s missing, and Vanessa’s been siphoning Charmed powers.” I turn my focus back on Samson. “Do you have any information that would help me find her? She’s always been so secretive about where she spends her days and nights when she’s not here.”
The Brownie lives among her kind. One of her warriors reached out to see if we could contact you. They know of you, but not how to reach you.
“Shit,” I curse, rolling my lips together.
“What’s he saying, who’s missing?” Gunnar demands, his voice rough.
“The Brownie assassin,” Grim mutters. “We need to find her. If they get that kind of power…” He lets the sentence trail off.
I grab a hold of Grim’s arm and squeeze. “If they hurt her, I will hang them with their own entrails after I shred their souls.”
“She’s perfect,” Gunnar whispers softly.
“We will find her, Damiana,” Grim promises again.
“Samson, tell her warriors, people, whatever… that we’re going to find her. Make sure they know where I am. Please,” I add as an afterthought. He doesn’t deserve my irritation, but I know who does.
I release Grim’s arm and stalk over to Gunnar. “I want to know where Vanessa is, Kitten, and I want to know right now.” I pat my hand over his impressive chest, stroking over the muscles concealed under his shirt.
“I’ll find out,” Gunnar assures me quickly. “Give me an hour.” He grabs the back of my head and fuses his mouth to mine. All my pent-up energy and anger coils out of me as I dig my fingernails into his heavy shoulders, and kiss him back with just as much aggression as he’s offering.
Our teeth hit more than once, but I don’t even care. When he pulls away, I bite his chin roughly for denying me, then shove his chest. Gunnar stumbles back, drawing his hand over his mouth and chin with a feral sneer on his face.
“Go, now!” I order, even more pissed because I let him distract me for those few precious seconds. In the next breath, he’s gone, nothing but his lingering scent to tell me he was even here.
I face the others, daring them to say a word about the kiss. Grim has his head tilted to the side, while Calix has his hands shoved deeply into his front pockets. Their faces are smooth without any sign of censure to be seen.
I was expecting some kind of disapproval, instead, Calix asks, “Where should we look for her?” My thoughts go right back to Aeson. She’s just so tough, I can’t imagine her ever letting Vanessa, or someone from her coven, get close enough to be a threat.
I grab my hair and tug it backwards. “I don’t know,” I reluctantly admit, and suddenly feel guilty, because I don’t know enough about her. “We talked all the time, but she always kept it vague. I know she has a penchant for leather and never has less than five men in her life at once, but I don’t even know where she lived.”
I’ll get word to her band that she isn’t here. Her disciples are already looking for her. The veterans are conducting business as usual so as not to draw attention to her absence.Samson steps forward on one huge, black paw, preparing to leave.
“Thank you, Samson, for coming to me,” I tell him earnestly.
You’re welcome, Dami. I will return if I hear anything. Try not to worry about the Brownie; I don’t know many fiercer.Samson lumbers out of the living room to disappear the same way he arrived.
“I think I should check in with Rocky and the guys. I’m not sure if they’ll know anything, but it couldn’t hurt. Will you be able to stay with Damiana?” Calix looks to Grim for an answer.
“I don’t need anyone to babysit me.” My hackles rise at the implication that I would.
“I will not leave her unless one of you are present.” Grim ignores my comment and answers Calix.
“Okay, I won’t be long.” Calix drags a small set of keys from his front pocket and tosses them on the counter, then tugs his t-shirt off.
I forget about my argument of not being treated like a baby and watch as he drapes the fabric over one of my chairs.
“Uh, not that I’m complaining, but what are you doing?” I question, when Calix reaches for the button of his pants.
“I can travel much quicker if I shift,” he replies, not missing a beat as he drags the zipper down.
