Page 96 of Havenfall Harbor
The momentI reach the third floor, I realize her scent is far too strong for her to be in the room behind a closed door. I stomp up the hall and find Quinn sitting cross-legged on the floor next to Westly. Her head is thrown back as she laughs at something the fucker said.
A snarl leaves my lips, which has Quinn sucking in a breath and her laughter dying when she sees me. “Is everything okay?” She pushes herself up off the floor and takes a few steps closer to me.
Anyone else would have gone in the opposite direction, but she inches closer to the monster. I don’t know if I should applaud her bravery or kneel, humbled by her reaction. I reach my hand out to her and tug her closer. “Why are you out here?” I ask Quinn, but cut my eyes to Westly. He’s now standing too, but he definitely didn’t come closer to me. At least he’s not stupid.
“I was going to go looking for you two.” Quinn pokes my side, pulling my attention from Westly. “Where’d you guys go?”
Purposefully ignoring her question, Evan inquires, “Anyone come by?”
“No one,” Westly reports quickly.
Evan nods. “All right. Thanks for tonight. We can talk more tomorrow,” he says, dismissing the man.
“Bye, Wes. Tell Alice I said hi. Remind her I’ll be down for lunch tomorrow.” Quinn allows me to tow her into my room while she’s talking. “And thanks for keeping me company,” she finishes over her shoulder.
“Why are you even awake? You should be sleeping.” I bring her all the way to the couch and sit down.
Quinn lifts her delicate brow and gives me a droll look. Maybe I phrased that wrong. Evan comes out of the kitchen with a beer in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. He hands the water to Quinn, who takes it happily.
“How long were you out there?” Evan tilts his head toward the door.
“Not long, half an hour maybe. Where have you guys been?”
“Down getting Michelle settled.” Evan drops down on the other side of Quinn.
“What about the man, what was his name?”
“Leo.” I grunt. “He’s an idiot, but not the instigator. He’s down in a containment room too.” I lean back, wondering if I should have pushed Michelle harder. Maybe I should have just forced her to talk. I look over at Quinn, half tucked into my side, and realize I’m not willing to risk Quinn getting mad at me just to get the girl to talk. Eventually I’ll find out what she knows, but until then we just need to be more diligent in making sure Quinn is safe.
Quinn chews on the corner of her lip. “Do you think her story makes sense? Michelle’s, I mean. It seems kind of harsh—hit first, ask questions later.” She must realize something about the whole story is off too.
“It’s hard to say why she’d do something like that. Might just be because she thought she could get away with it.” Evan lifts his arms to the back of the sofa, relaxing.
“But you’re right, something about this feels off, especially with all the other shit that’s happened. It’s too coincidental,” I add.
“Not a great way to round off my first few weeks,” Quinn comments, as if anything about this is her fault. “I usually stay far away from drama.”
Evan chuckles, he’s probably thinking the same thing I am—that was before you decided to come to an all supernatural school. I don’t think Quinn Shaw has ever been ordinary, but here she’s become extraordinary, at least to the two of us. “You’re not regretting coming here, are you?” he asks.
Quinn blows out a raspberry. “Not a chance. What’s a little bump on the head and some blood?” I know she’s trying to make light of the occurrences, but the fact that any of that happened to her puts me in a position I’ve rarely had to deal with. I feel inadequate, like I’ve failed her.
Evan curls his arms around her neck and pulls her a little closer to his side of the sofa. “We’ll make sure nothing like that happens again.” I couldn’t agree more.
Quinn’s stomach chooses that moment to growl. She rests her hand over her stomach as if to hide the sound. A wave of hunger falls over me too, but the bagged stuff just isn’t going to cut it, not after tasting Quinn. “Hungry?”
“A little.” Quinn shrugs.
Evan stands. “I’ll go grab us something,” he offers before I can. Which is probably for the best, considering my taste and Quinn’s are vastly different. “Anything special you want?”
Quinn twists her lips, thinking. “Whatever they have is okay, but I’ve been wanting something sweet all day if they have any dessert.”
“They always have dessert. I’ll get you something.” Evan leans down and places a quick kiss on Quinn’s lips. She pushes up into him, catching his mouth. He grins down at her and she flushes and peeks at me from the corner of her eye. Evan has kissed her twice now—not that I’m counting or anything—yet I haven’t had the pleasure.
“Be right back.” Evan saunters out the door. His scent is so strong that anyone he runs into will know he’s mated. Food and intimacy are important to all supernaturals. For vampires, it’s because feeding on each other while fucking is as natural as breathing. With shifters, it’s more about being able to provide for your mate, to make sure they are sated in every sense.
I watch Quinn’s throat work as she swallows once Evan closes the door. She’s avoiding looking at me, probably worried about my reaction to her kissing Evan. I reach over and snag her hand from her lap, and place our intertwined fingers over my thigh. Who knew something as simple as holding hands would become so fucking important to me?
Quinn takes a chance and peeks at me from the corner of her eye. I make sure my face is relaxed. I want her to know the kiss doesn’t bother me—unless she’s not planning on kissing me too, then I might get a little sour.
