Page 76 of Bent Out of Shade
The trouble was, although Zev’s anger made my life a million times more difficult—or just shortened it entirely—it didn’t change the fact that he was still my best option for dealing with Vincenzo.
The devil I knew or the devil I kind of knew?
“I’ll go,” I said softly, wringing my hands. I flashed back on the empowerment I’d felt when I’d stood up to Zev before the estrie humiliated him. The certainty that I was stronger than I gave myself credit for and that my strength stemmed not simply from my magic but from my relationships.
Zev had betrayed Tatiana once and he might do it again. He might even go so far as to compel her into killing me. Yet, his desperation during their last visit had been because his best friend was dying of a vampire contagion. Zev and Tatiana had history that might tip the scales in my favor.
I shot my boss a hopeful look. “Would you come with me?”
She opened her mouth, then sighed. “Yes. We’ll get him to swear a blood oath not to take his displeasure out on you for Sabrina. Or for anything else.”
Laurent’s finger brushed over my skin where the puncture marks had been. “You think he’ll agree?”
His touch sent delicious shivers up my arm. Well, Laurent’s touch and the thought of making Zev swear a magic vow. How much could I get him to agree to?
Tatiana fiddled with her bracelet. “We’ll force his hand.”
“How?” Laurent said.
“With a good plan,” I said.
“And an insurance policy,” Tatiana added. “Between us, we’ll make sure Zev doesn’t hurt you.”
“Damn straight he won’t hurt her.” Laurent waved a hand loftily. “You’re not dying before experiencing my excellent dating skills.”
I hiccuped a laugh.
Once we had both those items in place, Laurent stood up. “That’s enough for tonight. Tatiana, you can have my room, and the rest of us will bunk out here since my place is the only one Zev can’t access.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She pushed herself off the sofa with a yawn. “I’m sleeping in my own bed.”
We argued with her, but she was adamant that not only would she sleep at home, but she was perfectly capable of driving her and Emmett back. She roused the grumpy golem, and I bid them goodbye with a knot in my belly.
Laurent and I opted to stay by the fire instead of moving into his bedroom, since the sofa was more than wide enough for the two of us to lie side by side, and it was cozy and warm here.
I pulled off my socks, rolled them into a ball, and tossed them onto the floor. “You got injured when you went after Sabrina, but you didn’t let Juliette heal you.”
“I’ve had worse.” He pulled me into the crook of his arm and threw the blanket he’d grabbed over us.
I poked his biceps. “That just means you’re stubborn, not that you aren’t hurt.”
He burrowed his nose into my hair. “Then you should do whatever I want to make me feel better.”
Snorting, I relaxed against him, drowsily watching the flames.
The list-making part of my brain kicked into high gear as it always did right before bedtime: get the Ascendant back from Gehenna for the Leviathan, find a way to wake Sabrina up, and touch base with Nora.
Laurent turned onto his side and tucked his arm under his head, causing a curl to fall into his eyes. He puffed out his cheeks and blew on it, looking like an annoyed little kid when it fell right back into his face.
I pushed the stray lock off his forehead and was rewarded with a sleepy smile. For once in my life, I didn’t want a list. I wanted to take casual touches for granted and not memorize them in case they were my last. I wanted to put my freezing feet on Laurent’s ridiculously warm legs when they got cold, shrieking in laughter when he retaliated with tickling and kisses. I wanted to sit here painting my toenails while Laurent played DJ and Sadie lounged on her phone with Boo snuggled against her.
All of it was possible, offered up on a silver platter even, so long as we made it past vampires and Lonestars to the finish line.
Lulled by Laurent’s slow, deep breathing, I let sleep pull me under, settling for sweet dreams until they were made reality.
