“Maybe don’t tell him that,” Benji said with a wry chuckle.
“This isn’t going to end well,” Aleksey sighed.
“Why?” I asked him. “He already knows what I am and I know all about witches and the supernatural. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“You end up killing him,” Aleksey said.
“No, he won’t,” Benji said with a smile. “Look at him. He’s all dopey and practically has love hearts in his eyes. When have you ever seen him this animated?”
“When he’s torturing someone?” Damyr snorted.
“Or talking about those picture book he likes,” Vlad added.
“Hey. They’re not picture books,” I snapped. “They’re graphic novels.”
Bishop swatted my chest and chuckled. “They’re teasing you, asshat.”
I knew that, but I was already wound up about Wilder and something about the teasing was plucking at my stability.
“Just be careful,” Vlad said softly. “I think Wilder is more fragile than he portrays and you aren’t exactly known for being gentle.”
“I’ll only break him if he asks me to,” I replied. Then I’d put the pieces back together and make him stronger, if that’s what he wanted. I didn’t think these guys were understanding how much power Wilder had over me. I’d currently do anything for him if he just asked. If he didn’t ask, well, I’d just take what I wanted from him. And that thought sparked something inside me and made me feel all warm and…gooey.
Would Wilder bend and break for me? Would he trust me to put him back together again afterwards?
“I think you’re right, Benjamin,” Damyr said, his voice a dark whisper. “He’s besotted.”
Benji snorted. “And to think, I was worried he’d developed an obsession with me, but this is something else. His eyes are all glassy and unfocused. This isweird.”
“I can hear you, you know,” I shot at them.
Vlad let out a chuckle filled with mirth, and I had a hard time keeping my hands relaxed. I was seconds away from punching someone in the face.
“Doesn’t anyone else think this is dangerous?” Aleksey asked but everybody just blinked at him. “Oh, come on. Byron finds torturing people amusing and is happiest taking out targets. He doesn’t pay attention to anyone or anything that bores him because he finds it beneath him, so he only focuses on like five percent of the world. Wilder is either going to end up mad or in pieces. I mean, do you even have anything in common?”
I grinned. “I can hold his magic without exploding. Does that count?”
Aleksey pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered something under his breath before standing from the table. “Well, this is about as much weirdness as I can handle for the day. I’m done.”
“We’re off too,” Benji said as he stood from Damyr’s lap. “My husband is taking me out for the day.”
“More shopping?” Bishop asked.
“Nope,” Benji replied, a mischievous grin in his face. “We’re going to talk to our event planners about the Christmas party.”
“Don’t remind me,” Damyr groaned, but he had a warm smile curling the edges of his mouth.
“It won’t be that bad,” Benji said as he kissed Damyr softly. “We only need to go over the final details. Don’t worry, you won’t have to make any decisions.”
It still surprised me that there was going to be a Christmas party. Damyr wasn’t one to celebrate human festivities, but I guess love really could change a person. I’m glad I couldn’t fall in love. I was pretty fucking perfect as I was.
“Straight into planning another event?” Vlad asked Benji. “Don’t you want to take a break?”
The little ray of sunshine smiled wide and shook his head. “I really enjoy this and it’ll be the last event I do before I start my new job at Misthaven hospital in the New Year.”
I wasn’t sure that was going to work. A vampire in the emergency department? Sounded like madness to me but Benji was keen to try it and Damyr was irresponsibly indulgent.
“I expect all of you to be there and dressed in your best Christmas outfits,” Benji said as he stared at me sternly.