A Crown Of Smoke And Ash - Sloane Murphy Page 0,63
this land is his.
“It’s all mine.” He winks. “And this is only a very small part of it. The thing about the population around here, is it’s very small, and my family has owned this land since the country was founded. We never relinquished it. So, we have a good chunk of space, but we need it, for times like this. This used to be where everyone would live, before the packs grew and split up. So there are houses, and a huge gathering hall with a kitchen, which is where we feed everyone. And believe me, you’ve not seen a feast until you’ve seen a Lycan gathering.”
His eyes practically glitter as he talks about his people, and it hits me how much he loves them. They are his family, each and every single one of them. The thought makes me nervous, because how many of these people have I faced in the past, how many of their loved ones have I fought, even as rogues?
“Stop it.” He bumps my hip with his as we enter the hanger and climb into a Jeep waiting there for us. I shake my head at how easily he can read me. Its uncanny. Theron sits in the driver’s seat, face like a slapped ass, and glares until the doors are shut.
“Theron,” Roman growls the man’s name, and his eyes drop from mine in the rear view mirror. “Are we going to have an issue?”
“No,” the Lycan says, almost growling back.
“Did I do something?” I ask Theron directly, who snarls and turns on the engine ignoring my question.
“Do not disrespect her, Theron,” Roman barks, and Theron’s shoulders go taut. He nods his head once in acknowledgement, and drives us across the compound. We sit in silence, my hand in Roman’s. I look to him, and go to ask him what is up with Theron, for real, because that isn’t just him being a moody bastard, but Roman shakes his head with a soft smile, so I don’t say a thing.
Instead I sit back and take in the beauty around us. The compound is built up a bit, but there’s still so much beauty here.
We keep going and I see the house in the distance, prominent, in the middle of the compound, with a huge building to the back of it, and I realize this is his home. The white brick house looks like it belongs on a plantation, but it takes my breath away. The huge columns along the front of a wraparound porch, and the lush green lawn leading up to it. It’s enough to overwhelm my senses.
“This is beautiful,” I gasp, as we pull up out the front.
“Yes, it is,” he says, staring at me, which causes me to blush. He tucks a strand of my hair back behind my ear, where its escaped from my ponytail, and kisses me softly. “Wait here a second.”
He jumps out of the car and comes round to my side. He pulls open the door and lifts me from the car. I laugh, and tip my head back at his craziness but wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. Its tender, and quick, but I know he feels how much I love him from the way he lights up.
“Let’s get you inside,” he whispers against my lips, and practically runs from the car and up the steps, carrying me across the threshold.
“Hey guys!” a voice calls out, and a geeky looking guy, tall but widely, with a mop of blonde hair and thick black rimmed glasses walks towards us. “Glad you made it here okay.”
“Hey Tobias. Everything on its way to being prepared for everyone’s arrival tomorrow?” Roman asks, still holding me in his arms as if I weigh nothing. Tobias looks at me and holds in a laugh, and I try not to blush but fail.
“Yeah, everything’s ready boss. I made sure this place was aired out and sorted first, don’t worry.” He winks at me, and I about die, but refrain from burying my head in Roman’s neck. “Kitchen is stocked, beds made, usual stuff.”
“Stop being a jackass, jackass. Theron is outside.”
“Is he still in a fabulous mood?”
“Oh yeah, he’s a freaking delight,” I say, unable to stop the words falling from my mouth, but Tobias just laughs at me.
“Don’t mind him, he’s just a grumpy dickhead. Plus, his brother was in that group that ambushed you. He’s still pretty torn up about it.”