side.
I looked him in the eyes. “Yes, Lucian, he’s seen what I really look like, who I really am. I’m sorry.” I flinched at his wounded look.
He paced back and forth, his anger and frustration was suffocating. “I’m out of here. I need some fucking air.” He turned and stormed from the room.
I shook my head. This couldn’t have turned out worse. I knew sleeping with him would end up slapping me upside the head.
I straightened my shoulders because at least Lucian was back to his normal self. Too bad, that wasn’t going to be strong enough to withstand a relationship with me.
I looked out the window, utterly miserable. Lucian had my heart but Seth was the only man strong enough to hold it. Well, that wasn’t entirely true, but no way was I even going to consider Lucifer as a potential suitor! I stood, feeling like total shit, I entered the living room.
The front door was wide open but no one was in sight. Great, everyone just abandoned me, fine! Just what I wanted, solitude to dwell on my newest serving of shit. I went to the door and slammed it shut, twisting the lock. I turned ready to zap myself to the roof when a soft knock sounded at the door.
I turned and opened it, expecting to see Seth or Jamie but it was neither of them.
Patrick Camden stood on my stoop buried to the eyeballs behind at least five dozen white roses. They were huge and billowed from his arms. He looked at me and smiled. His face free of burns, his eyes filled with gratitude.
I stepped back, allowing him to enter. I swept the flowers from his arms and buried my face in them. Their fragrant petals were velvety soft against my skin as I inhaled.
“They’re beautiful, Patrick,” I smiled, motioning for him to sit.
He shook his head and laughed, “I can see why.” He looked at me.
“What are you talking about?” I busied myself with arranging the buds and fully bloomed blossoms into a large vase.
“Why Lucifer will never give you up.”
I stopped and looked at him. “If you’re here for him…”
Patrick held up his hands, “No, no.” He shook his head. “God, no! Don’t you see? You gave me a second chance. You surrendered to him for me and yet, instead of lashing out at me in anger and wailing at your sorry lot in life, you invite me in and delight at the smell of flowers.”
I chuckled. “Oh, don’t read too much into it, I’m still pretty miserable and probably a little crazy, too. Besides, I can kick Lucifer’s ass on most occasions, which I think he lets me do, and all of the rest? Well it will just have to work itself out.”
He laughed and then became serious. “Grace, I wanted to say I’m sorry. I was a little crazy myself. I know that Voltaire was pumping me full of lies and the feelings I had when…” He trailed off at my blank expression. “Right, well, anyway, I wanted to tell you that you have the respect of my entire pack, which thanks to you is pretty vast.” He smiled sheepishly at me and then jumped. “Oh!” he held up his finger and jogged outside. I watched him from my porch, shaking my head in wonder at what he had up his sleeve. My jaw dropped, Patrick was bringing back my blood.
He hefted the heavy ice chest off the back of the truck and I watched as he lugged it up my steps. Yeah, I could have helped him, but he did steal it in the first place.
“Well,” he sighed. “Sorry that it’s not all there. We thought we had sixty some odd bags, but there’s only twenty-two.” He looked at his feet and then at me. “Well, Voltaire took a bunch and few went to Lucifer. We used a bag when we gave the wolves a small taste.” At my frown, he shook his head. “Not all of them.” He looked sorry. “What can you do? We’re assholes.” He laughed nervously.
I eyed him. “Speaking of assholes. I think the practice of hunting down and killing runaways needs to stop. You date women, you don’t eat them.”
Patrick sighed. “Alright, Grace. We’ll figure something else out.” He turned to go and I stopped him. “Hold on, Patrick.” I leveled him a look. “Just remember that Lucifer always finds a loop hole. You pretty much got something for nothing so watch your back.” He