my forehead with my left hand. "Jeez, Otis. I haven't seen your rude, angry ass for a month and all you can do is—”
Cool lips silenced me. I wasn't sure how to respond, thoughts of happiness and worry intertwined in my mind.
Happy to receive Otis's affection and worried that it'll vanish just as fast.
His lips parted, my heart sinking as that worry deepened, but he tugged my bottom lip with those sharp teeth of his, and I swore he only let go because he didn't want to actually bite me.
That would lead to the release of blood, and things could go in a totally different direction.
"I'm sorry." His sudden apology stalled my words. "It was stupid of me to tell you what was happening at the restaurant instead of doing it together with the others when we were home and safe. I knew how important this information was, and it was an even bigger mistake to not tell you sooner. You had every right to be mad at me. I'm the reason you fell into their plot to kidnap you. I'm so sorry. All this is my fault, and you deserve to hear my apology for all your suffering in this hell of a dump. I am sorry, Cassandra."
I really didn't know what to say, standing there dumbfounded. It could have been due to the chill that clung to my lips from his kiss, but to get an apology from Otis — the always angry vampire — was like winning the lottery after finding the ticket at the bottom of a dumpster.
"I haven't seen him apologize like that since the time he borrowed one of Everett's magic books and lost it in the forest because it turned into a tree and he couldn't decipher which one it was," Adonis noted.
"RIP book," Dominick whispered. "Wait. Why didn't he ask me to help?"
"You were at some modeling gig at the time and Everett came back from his trip early and asked for the book. He was doomed if he didn't apologize like his life depended on it," Tristan noted.
I gave him a hopeless look as I tried to fight the waterworks that threatened to leave my eyes. Instead, I walked into him, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging tightly.
"Dammit, Otis," I whimpered, choking on my tears that I couldn't fight any longer. "I missed your lack-of-anger-management self."
"That's all she remembers me for," Otis grumbled, sounding unsatisfied, but his arms wrapped around me, hugging me tightly back as he whispered, "I've never thought as darkly as I have this past month. I also didn't realize how much I cared about you. Please forgive me."
I knew him bringing up forgiveness meant he really felt bad about everything and wouldn't let go until I wholeheartedly forgave him. Their decision was what had triggered this fiasco, but I wasn't going to solely blame them.
If I hadn't run away like a coward, I would have never landed in that car. He didn't deserve to feel guilty for both our actions.
"I forgive you, Otis. It takes two to tango, and I'm not going to foolishly act like I didn't contributed to this. Please don't beat yourself up about it," I mumbled into his chest, hoping he took my words to heart.
He held me for a long minute before he pulled back and nodded.
"Okay." He gave my cheeks an affectionate brush with his hands, something he did to ensure I was okay and remove any tears that stained my cheeks.
Without another word, he moved to the side, allowing Dominick to be the next to hug me. His huge arms swallowed me as he took a deep inhale and let it out.
"I missed you, Princess. You scared us."
"I missed you, too," I confessed. "Please tell me no natural disasters happened this past month."
"Five earthquakes, a hurricane, and a flood hit Manhattan like God had a bucket hovering above it and it tipped over. Totally random. Thankfully no one got hurt." Adonis spelled it out before Dominick could say a word.
Dominick glared his way, and Adonis was suddenly interested in the key in his hand while he hummed a quiet tune as though he was in singing practice.
"The news was hard for me to accept and triggered multiple disasters, but the recurring earthquakes were for all the times we heard you almost died or got hurt, or couldn't do anything to get here faster."
"Dominick." I placed my hand on his cheek. "Thank you for caring."
"You really don't realize how