Chapter 18—Elliana

“Gingernuts,” I called out, eyeing a lizard dashing under the pantry. “I found it!”

He meowed behind me as I ripped open the door and spotted the critter scurrying under a shelf. I dove after it, my foot slipping on my hair at my feet. I fell to my knees but grasped the critter. “Come here, you.”

The little thing wriggled in my palm. “You don’t want to be in here—trust me. You’re better off outside.” Plus, I didn’t need Gingernuts leaping over me to chase the lizard as he had the previous night, startling me awake.

At first, the commotion made me think Gage or Reed had returned from their trip, only to discover a goddamn lizard dashing over my chest and Gingernuts using my ribcage as a springboard.

For the past day I’d been sitting by the window, waiting, studying the woods for any sign. Still no men, or witch either. Had her threat been empty?

I figured Gage had gone with Reed. Besides, it wasn’t like him to not visit after everything I’d told him, our acrobatic sex act, and his promise to assist me. I didn’t doubt his sincerity, yet with each passing moment, dread crept through me that something bad had happened to the three shifters.

Two more lizards ran from under the kitchen counter and sprinted across the darkened living room. “Gingernuts! How many have you brought inside?” Or did they climb the walls? Though with the number I keep catching in the tower and now knowing Gingernuts goes outside, I would not be surprised if he was responsible. Heavens, they better not be breeding.

I sprinted after them, trampling on my hair strewn all over the room when a shadow fell over the window. I shuddered on the spot and pivoted on my heels to face the stranger. My thoughts flew to the gargoyle coming to punish me. Except I hadn’t left the prison in days. The lizard jumped out of my grasp, and my breaths ran ragged.

The figure climbed inside, except it wasn’t Gage because there were no wings.

“Reed?”

His exhales were loud and quick, as if he’d been running. When he stepped closer, the kitchen light illuminating the stranger, I realized how wrong I’d been.

“Kahlo!”

He wore a loose shirt with black trousers and boots. I was drawn to his dark-brown hair, his liquid-green eyes that glimmered with golden flecks. With his gaze on me, his pupils grew vivid and wide. His distinct cheekbones and angular jaw had me tingling to reach out and cup the side of his face, caress his shadowy stubble.

I darted toward him and embraced him, beaming with joy to see someone. “Thank the moon you’re alive.”

His muscular arms were cords around my body, lifting me off the ground, his fingers pressing into my back with an urgency that made me believe he’d missed me. He whispered, “Where can we talk without the gargoyle hearing?”

When the gargoyle had ripped Reed out of the tower, it had happened after he’d raised his voice, so if we kept extra quiet, Kahlo should be safe. I dropped out of his hug and closed the window shutters. When I turned, he picked up a fistful of my blonde hair, staring at the length from my head to all around the room.

“Welcome to my curse.” I took his large hand in mine and guided him to the farthest corner of my bedroom. I’d spent endless nights crying there after each of my beatings, and ironically, I’d transformed the spot into the most comfortable location in the tower.

A couch made up of oversized stacked cushions I’d tied together with ribbons sat in the corner. I’d covered the piece in a silk fabric the color of the sun to brighten the room.

“I keep having this stupid repetitive dream about the three of you as gargoyles.” Heavens, I’d woken up the last two nights screaming and in a sweat.

Kahlo sat on one end of my cushion stack, the pillows compressing under him to half their size, his bent knees now reaching his chest. His eyebrows pinched together as he checked behind me. I jumped on the opposite end to act as a counterweight. But my load did zilch. Instead, the fabric under me gave way, and I slid toward him. I yelped as my stomach lurched. I crashed into his side, and we both rolled out of the couch, arms, legs, and hair tangled. We landed on our sides, his arms clasped around me, one across my rear. Bodies pressed together, side by side, facing each other. My hair had coiled around us, keeping us plastered.

Heat crawled over my cheeks. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry. And that’s my ass you’re groping.”

His eyes smirked devilishly. “I know. And it’s incredibly sexy. Anyway, sitting down is so overrated.”

I couldn’t help but laugh and wriggled to unknot us, which failed miserably. “This has never happened before.”

He chuckled again and lifted his side, releasing a bundle of my trapped hair, and his grip on me slackened. We fell apart, both of us onto our backs, staring up at the billows of fabric I’d hung from the ceiling. I lifted my hip, and he removed his trapped hand.

“Think there’s a flaw in my couch creation.” I didn’t move as we remained on the floor, and it was nice to lay alongside the sexy tiger shifter. “I need a frame to keep it sturdy. Anyway, how’d you get past the gargoyle?”

Darkness concealed his expression, but his eyes gleamed.

“I snuck in here super slowly, using the shadows. It helped that you made a racket in the tower, calling after someone named Gingernuts and something about lizards.”

“You heard that?” Fire crawled up my neck. What else had I said? “My pet cat keeps bringing bugs and reptiles into the tower. And for some reason when I sleep, all the critters insist on jumping into bed with me.”

Kahlo arched a brow, and I expected a smartass comment, but he said nothing. Yep, someone had more restraint than me, so I changed topics. “Have you heard from Reed?”

He shook his head. “But he and Gage are fine. If there’s one thing you can count on when it comes to Reed, it’s that he’s a natural-born leader and knows how to tackle any situation. He has this way of always coming out of predicaments unscathed. Lucky bastard.”

“Then I guess no news is good news,” I said.

Kahlo rolled onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow, the kitchen candlelight illuminating his face. His dark hair sat off his brow, revealing the healed scar running from his temple to his jawline.

I gingerly reached up and trailed the pad of my index finger along the smooth wound. “What happened?”

“Poacher caught me in a trap and thought it funny to cut me up.”

“Fuck! Sure hope you ripped him a new one.” Being a shifter came with dangers from every angle. Other races, jealous animals, and poachers hunting down their next trophies.

Kahlo clasped his fingers around mine and brought my palm to his lips, kissing it. “And don’t worry. That human will never harm anyone again.”

I preferred not to know how it had ended. My attention landed on Kahlo’s lips, imagining myself falling under them, fantasizing about being with such a huge tiger shifter. What was it they said about men with big hands? Or was that feet? A spark rekindled down below, and it buzzed with such delight, I feared I’d moan out loud if he made a move to get closer.

Do you have any control?

Zilch. So I diverted to a distraction. “Have you been watching the mansion these past two days?”

“After checking on Reed’s pride to ensure they arrived safely up north with the wolves, I traveled into the Darkwoods forest and tracked down the collector’s hideout.”

My stomach clenched, and I waited with bated breath. “And?”

His expression fell, as did my hopes. “The place had been ransacked. Someone had torched the bunker, everything in sight burned to a crisp. I searched for any sign of the knife, but I’m sorry, Elliana. I couldn’t find it. It’s either been destroyed or stolen.”

Heaviness sunk through me. “That sucks.”

“Been asking around for a dragon-tooth dagger too. No luck.”

I forced a smile, even if it felt strained. “Thanks for checking. Guess it all comes down to whether Gage and Reed have luck tracking down Vanore.”

His lips curled up. “They will, you’ll see. I trust Reed with my life, and he’d risk his life for those he cares for.”

Our breaths sounded through the silence, followed by tiny footfalls hitting the floorboards. Gingernuts chasing the lizards, no doubt.

Kahlo’s chin jerked up, his eyes widened, and he froze.

I laid a palm on his chest; his muscles might as well have been rocks, they were so hard. “Relax. That’s just my cat, Gingernuts.”

His narrowed eyes said so much, but I didn’t want to get into it. “Has the witch returned to the tower?” he asked instead. “My trip to the collector took longer than expected. I should have visited earlier.”

“No, but the hooded man came last night.”

Kahlo’s nose wrinkled. “Did he harm you?” He scanned my body, as though searching for bruises.

Just remembering the incident had me squeezing Kahlo’s arm. “The bastard is not only an albino lion, but he has freaking bullhorns and a scorpion tail. I think he’s using magic to siphon other shifter’s abilities for his own.”

Kahlo’s demeanor darkened, eyes hooding, and the bridge between his eyes wrinkling.

I stiffened. “And he’s the fuckhead who killed my father thirteen years ago.” My eyes itched with tears. So many years had passed since I’d lost my dad, yet finding the creep who’d destroyed my life had reopened the wounds. Rawness etched into my heart. I blinked my eyes fast to drive away the tears.

“Sorry about your father. Reed told me about your tragic past.” He lowered his gaze momentarily, and I appreciated his respect. “I visited the mansion and found it empty. The ward had been removed, and I checked inside the house. Empty. All that remained was the heavy stench of a barnyard, blood, and the bitter stink of magic.”

“Why would they run?” My head hurt trying to make sense of lunatics. “They discovered something else…” I pushed myself onto my side and faced Kahlo, our knees touching. “The hooded guy fought the gargoyle. He’s one mean fucker and strong because he hurt the creature with his bare hands. But he also got hurt bad in return. And that’s when a strand of my hair fell out of my head.”

Kahlo’s brow creased into a dozen lines; it was clear he didn’t understand the significance.

“My hair is uncuttable, and I’ve never lost a strand—ever! Except at night. My magic is connected to that fucking monster who tortures others and can take on a gargoyle. He’s taking strength from my magical hair. I’m beginning to believe I’ve been locked up this whole time to keep this damn hair alive for him.”

“Shit!”

“I know! If we kill him and the witch, then not only do we stop the kidnappings, but it will break my hex.”

Kahlo nodded and his expression resembled that of a man ready to head out to battle—focused and barren of emotions. Just get the job done.

Thinking back to my time in the mansion, I added, “Those underground tunnels could lead to anywhere in the realm. The question is how the hell do we know which direction they traveled?”

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his rough skin tender against my skin. “We visit other shifter colonies to determine who went missing from their packs and when. We might find a pattern to follow.”

I nodded. The only thing that kept me together was having these three men in my life, offering to help me, studying me as if I might have put a spell on them. They’d shown me what it was to have someone close to care about, who looked out for me. While I was still getting to know Reed and Kahlo, they’d been kinder than people I’d known for years.

Kahlo could have been a jerk and not visited the collector’s bunker, but he had—and then he’d come to check on me. Now with the newfound revelation that my problem was linked to Reed’s, it only made sense that we worked together.

You sure that’s the only reason you want to work closely with them?

I rolled my eyes and refocused to find Kahlo studying me with curiosity. “You comfortable here on the floor or do you feel like a cup of tea? We can sit on the scattered cushions. You keep your voice low, okay?”

“Agreed.” He climbed to his feet, untangling himself from my hair, and took my arm. He drew me upright in no time. “Nice place.”

“Thanks.” I padded barefoot across the tower toward the kitchen and set the kettle with water on the stove. With a few more pieces of wood tossed into the flames, we’d have hot water soon enough.

“Milk?” Kahlo strode past me and opened the pantry door.

Gingernuts twirled around his legs, meowing. “Think you have a fan. Funny, as he hissed at Reed.” I grabbed the milk from the pantry.

He leaned down and picked up the cat, then stroked him against his chest. “Animals have always been drawn toward me. As I grew up, I’d have injured, abandoned, or scared animals visit me often. My mother would say I had a kind soul.”

“So you’re like an animal whisperer. Do you help them?” Knowing he spent his time aiding critters in need made me all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

“Of course I do.” He patted Gingernuts’ head, yet the cat was purring, pressing himself against Kahlo’s chest. He never snuggled with me, and I chased him around the house for a hug and kiss, yet with the tiger, he was all smooches. I eyed Gingernuts suspiciously, but he was too busy ogling up at Kahlo. Traitor.

Still holding my cat under an arm, Kahlo removed several jars from the pantry and placed them on the kitchen counter. He reached for a pot hanging off the metal rack on the wall and set it next to the milk, spices, and tea. He spoke softly and said, “I’ll make my famous spiced chai tea?”

Curiosity burrowed through me, as I’d never had someone in the kitchen making tea for me. “Hell yeah.”

He busied himself placing all the ingredients into the pan before retrieving the sugar and brushed past me. My skin hummed with a delicious tingle from his touch. Just thinking back to us tangled and bound in my bedroom had me buzzing. Kahlo had made no move, yet the intensity in his eyes had screamed the opposite. Not that I expected every man I drooled over to fall head over heels in love with me, but had Reed told him he intended to claim me?

“Gingernuts, are you going to sit there all night?” I scratched his head, and he pushed me away with a paw. “Oh, I see. That’s how it is.”

Kahlo chuckled under his breath. “My father used to make us this chai growing up.” He placed the pot on the stove. “The smell reminds me of my parents.”

“Where are they now?”

He shrugged but didn’t elaborate.

“Do you live close to Reed?” I asked.

Kahlo leaned a hip against the counter and set Gingernuts on the floor before patting down his own chest of fur. “I live all over the land and often visit Reed.” He raised his voice for a fraction of time, and a footfall struck overhead.

I froze, my heart banging in my chest, and exchanged worried stares with Kahlo. Neither of us moved. After the longest excruciating moment with no further footsteps or the gargoyle charging in here, I exhaled. “Okay, be extra, extra quiet.”

I took the kettle off the stove and set it in the sink to stop it from boiling.

Kahlo stirred his pot with a wooden spoon in slow motion, and before long, he poured his brew into mugs and served me one.

The warm drink smelled heavenly, all cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger sweet. I sipped the chai, hot and creamy on my tongue, and the spices filled my senses. “This is incredible. I may hire you as my personal tea maker.”

He smirked and swallowed another gulp before heading across the room, right past the table and chairs, and to the open section where I set up my bedroom, sitting on the edge of my mattress. Okay, was he being presumptuous?

“In case you tangle us in your hair again, we’ll end up somewhere more comfortable,” he whispered.

There wasn’t a trace of flirting in his words because he was serious. Okay, the desire was all in my mind.

Dirty hound dog.

“Whatever,” I mumbled to myself as I joined Kahlo. Both of us sat on the bed, our slurping and gulping the only sounds. Gingernuts hopped up to join us.

With the last drop running down my throat, Kahlo took my cup and placed it along with his on the bedside table. He then turned to me and drew me onto the bed to lie down next to him, face to face, and a strange inkling hummed at the base of my gut. The kind that expected more from Kahlo, like his hands all over me. I almost laughed out loud. At my core, I found him all adorable and sexy as hell, but the more time I got to spend with him, the more I caught glimpses of what made him more than that.

“Tell me who Elliana is,” he said, his head resting on a bent arm, and I lay on my side, on my pillow, lost in his deep green eyes. Was this his way of flirting with women? Because I was into it. If Gage were here, he’d already have me stripped, while Reed…I hadn’t worked him out, but considering our last couple of times together, I suspected we’d head in the same direction. But Kahlo was different. He was in no rush, as if auditioning me to fill a spot. Or was he keeping me company in case the witch turned up? And nothing more. But what would he do against her? Then again, who wanted to be alone if she returned? Not me.

Gingernuts crawled in between us and lay on his belly, gawking up at Kahlo, who stroked him. I rubbed Gingernuts’ ears. “Okay, where to start?” I said.

“From the beginning. Reed told me only snippets. I want to know what makes a beautiful woman like you tick. What you like, your favorite foods, what turns you on.”

I arched a brow. “That last point might be controversial. My likes change.” I smirked, remembering Gage’s comment about him planning to watch me with Reed or Kahlo. How my pulse raced when one of the three men was close, and how for the life of me I couldn’t work it out how I was attracted to Gage, Reed, and Kahlo at the same time. Had I misread the signs? Then why did they stare at me as if I were theirs?

His fingers grazed mine as I caressed Gingernuts, the corners of his mouth lifted. There was something special about a powerful, laidback man wearing a mischievous grin and having eyes only for me.

“Now you’ve got me super curious,” he said.

“I have one question,” I said, living dangerously here, my stomach in a swarm of jitters. But lying next to Kahlo, chatting, I felt drawn to him and damn, he was sexy. And I enjoyed flirting with him. “Would you ever share the woman you loved with another man?”

He studied me as shadows fell across his face. “Do you mean specifically what I would do or from a man’s perspective in general?”

“You.” I chewed on my cheek, butterflies swarming my gut.

Emotions lit up on his handsome eyes. His lower lip twitched, as if he fought to control himself from kissing me. “Funny you ask. I had this exact conversation with Reed the other day.”

“Oh, spill.” Forget the humbleness that came with patience. I grinned wide and gnawed on my lower lip, eager to hear more, while my stomach did somersaults.

“You must know Reed intends to make you his own, but he also understands Gage is with you.” His fingers intertwined with mine, warm and strong. “I told him that if I ever had a woman like you, I’d move a mountain to hold on to you for eternity. If you loved me with unyielding passion, I’d accept other men you brought into our bond. It would make us a stronger family, each of us looking out for each other.”

My breaths floated into the air like smoke, and the world might as well have stopped, leaving just the two of us together. His stare pierced into me, as if declaring he had every intent of being with me too.