A shiver slid down my spine as I closed in on the huge tree their house was built in.My gaze whipped up and I froze.Bram stood on the balcony, blending in with the shadows.He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a dark T-shirt, and his long hair was tied back, revealing the shaved sides and all the small lines tattooed into his skull, highlighting the crow assassin’s many kills.
His eyes glittered in the darkness.“You wanna tell me why one of Lucifer’s handmaids just trespassed and is sneaking up on my nest?”
The crows were lethal, and Bram was extremely protective of his mate.The fact that I hadn’t thought about that, like at all, just showed how all over the place my head was.I lifted my hands.“Hey, I know I went about this all wrong.I’m not here to start any shit.I just…is Mags around?”
“Why are you here, Ursula?”
The sound of a door opening came from behind him.“What’s going on… Urs?”Mags and another female stood there.Mags frowned.“Are you okay?”
Anything but the truth would set off alarm bells with her mate.I’d strolled onto Bram’s territory like a fucking amateur, and now I had to humble myself not only in front of Mags and Bram but some complete fucking stranger, or risk a fight I most definitely didn’t want.“No, not really,” I said.“I don’t really want to talk about it, but I’m sure you’ve heard all the juicy details and maybe get why I made the mistake of rocking up to your place like a fucking idiot.”There was no way they hadn’t heard what had happened, the knights, hounds, and Thornhearts were all closely connected.“I’m not myself at the moment, and if you tell anyone I said that, we’ll have a problem.All I really wanted is the means to forget the shit show that is my life, for a little while, and was hoping you had something that could help me with that.”
Mags turned to the female beside her, who was staring down at me all wide-eyed.“Could you give me a minute, Temp?I’ll be right in?”
“Oh…of course!”the other female said and scurried back inside.
Then Mags planted her hand on Bram’s chest.“I’ve got this,” she said.“Can you grab my bag?”
He gave me a hard stare but did as she asked.A moment later he was back, bag in hand.Mags took it from him.“I’ll be inside in a minute.”
“Mags—”
“This is Ursula.I’m in no danger.”
His dark eyes slid to me, then beyond us, and he narrowed his eyes at something and shook his head.“What the fuck has gotten into everyone tonight?”
Mags followed his gaze.“What is it?Is someone out there?”
“Yes, but it’s nothing to worry about,” he said.“Not yet, anyway.”
I looked as well, then reached out, searching for any sign of someone else.I hadn’t seen anyone when I arrived, but if whoever it was didn’t want to be seen, it was easy enough to stay hidden.
I turned back and Bram’s gaze returned to me.“I’ll be listening,” he said.
“No problem.”
He finally disappeared inside.Mags slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way down the ladder.
She jumped the last few rungs and looked up at me.“Hey.”
“Who’s the female?”I asked.
“A new healer, Tempest, she started at the clinic a few months back.I’ll make sure she doesn’t mention this visit to anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
That’s exactly what I was worried about.“I’d appreciate it.”
“We’re having a movie night if you want to join?”
“Not really in the mood to socialize, Mags.If you could just help me out, that’d be cool.”
She gave me a small nod.“I’m not going to ask you any questions, it’s none of my business, but if I give you this, I’m trusting you to use it wisely.What I make is safe, but nothing is completely harmless.You coming to me for this stuff can’t become a habit, that’s not why I make my potions, okay?”
I nodded.
She fished around in her bag and handed me a small jar with two green capsules inside.“This should do the trick.”I reached for it, but she didn’t let go.“I know you’re a strong female, and you have sisters you can vent to, but if you ever want to talk to someone else, someone not as close, who won’t judge you no matter what you share, I’m here.”
She released the jar, and I took it.
“Thanks.”Her offer didn’t surprise me.She was a good female and a warrior in her own right.I respected her and her sisters a great deal.