Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,43

noticed a sign of them. This wasn't like humans and shifters. Most humans didn't want to see, so they didn't. But we were searching. If demons were operating out there under the guise of running an investment company that spanned the globe, we'd discover them.

"No arguments here. Did you talk to Diesel?" We hadn't had a chance to discuss his suspicions. After Storri had mostly settled in the hotel, he'd made himself scarce again.

Knox winced, and my steps slowed to a stop. Storri's scent wafted in front of me; I was close. "He's still angry."

"We're all angry."

Knox shook his head, scratching the edge of his scruffy jaw.

He didn't need to say anything. I already felt like shit for my comment. "I know. He's still just angry." The type of angry that had made us all zombies for years with nothing on our minds but vengeance. Diesel had lost more than any of us. We'd all lost our family, friends, and packmates, but Diesel had lost his heart. It was easier for him to be empty or full of rage than anything else. "I'll talk to him."

"He won't spiral in the next few hours. Besides, Jazz is demanding he come down to the table for lunch. It's a surprise. You have to bring Storri too, at noon." He may have sounded irritated, but I knew the truth. Knox loved having Jazz in his life, forcing him to slow down or, in some cases, speed up and stop dwelling on the past. Knox indulged Jazz's every whim and savored each moment that made his omega happy.

Noon didn't give me a lot of time with Storri. "Who is it a surprise for?"

Knox blinked several times, staring at me like I was very stupid.

"Oh, for Storri." I had some idea what the surprise was, now that I knew Jazz had been making him something. The smells when I'd returned to the hotel had filled the whole first floor.

"Yeah, so get him down there. Don't be late." With a final order growled over his shoulder, Knox took the turn to go down the hallway, likely on the hunt for his mate.

The twins' mission and supporting my pack brother were both important, but I pushed it all down as I continued forward. I didn't want any of those issues clouding my mind when I saw Storri.

I took the last turn, pushing open the door to reveal him sitting in one of the vacant hotel rooms. We were on the first floor, which meant the room had been cleaned out enough that it wasn't a health risk, but it had sat unused since then. There wasn't a bathroom attached, so no one had wanted to claim it, and it was small, but the room had a square window on the far wall that looked out onto the sea. Storri had dragged one of the dusty armchairs beneath it and now sat curled on the cushion, a book in his hands as he lazily scratched Dog's belly with his big toe.

He was so fucking gorgeous I forgot how to breathe. He held the book in his lap like a person would hold something very precious but that you just couldn't keep your hands off of. Storri inhaled books like most people ate. The next time I went to the post office, it would be for the books I'd ordered. Hopefully by then, Storri would be able to accompany me into town, but with his face still plastered over the local coastal news, it was too dangerous. Not because I was worried about the danger Grouse presented.

Storri hadn't had anyone to protect him last time. He had me and Dog now. And if by some horrible miracle we failed, the rest of the pack would step up.

"Dog says he knows you're there and to stop staring." Storri never looked away from his book, but I smelled his sweet cherry scent all the same.

He'd let me hold him that morning, not under the guise of going to sleep, but just to hold and touch. Add that to the memory of him on his knees, and I danced a narrow line of control.

"Tell Dog I'm not staring at him, so he can kiss my ass."

Storri frowned, though his eyes shone with amusement as he unfolded his body from the chair. "I will not." His indignation was thick but playful

I strode forward, forcing Dog out of the way with a grumble.

Storri snickered, and I cupped his face gently. "What's so funny, little