Wolves at the Door - Lidiya Foxglove Page 0,23

humor. “Tell your masters I am not amused.”

“Do you know their master?” I asked Byron.

“Do you think I could tell you if I did?”

I sighed. “I know it’s not your fault, but no one likes an enigma.”

“Not true. I’m an enigma and you like me very much. Even Graham likes me and he’s trying hard not to.”

“All right,” Graham said, trying to move on. “So you don’t need me to dig any graves or heave the covers off of vaults with my strong arms.”

“Thankfully no. It seems like we’re good.”

“So…when we can we go back to the Airbnb?” he asked, in a just-for-me voice, glancing at Byron, who kept a not-that-polite distance.

But they were getting along. Huh. It was one thing for Byron not to care because he was clearly down for whatever, but Graham had the morals of a human—or a normal, non-demon wizard. It seemed like he was trying to adapt to Byron’s presence.

This was giving me some very enticing fantasies.

Two men. Can I handle two men?

And what about the Sullivan brothers, then?

The whole situation was so beyond what I was used to that it was giving me a panic attack. I hadn’t even had a proper date in years. Maybe I should go back to just being alone all the time and not even seeing men who weren’t like, sweaty middle-aged plumbers and roofers and exterminators.

“I thought I’d just sleep here so I can get back to work,” I said, but I could already tell this was a disappointing answer.

“I have to head home,” he said. “At least let me treat you to a nice evening.”

“Just…us? In your Airbnb?”

“It’s a beautiful house,” he said. “I thought you would enjoy a real bed in a house that doesn’t need work, just once in a while.”

This was the part where he really should be assuring me he wasn’t going to try anything, and the fact that he didn’t set a fire in my loins. If I went off alone with him tonight, there was no way I wasn’t going to succumb to temptation. There was something surprisingly sexy about watching Graham slowly come into his full demon nature. Alas that he couldn’t take on a demon form in the normal human world.

“I said I wasn’t going to make things too easy for you,” I said.

“Well, I look forward to finding out how difficult you’ll be tonight,” Graham said. “Facing challenges is one of my best skills.” He swept his fingers through his hair, a gesture that oozed confidence, and said, “Wrap up whatever you need to do around here.”

I veered toward the house, feeling very thrown off by these new developments. I didn’t expect Graham to tolerate Byron. I didn’t expect Billie to be here. And I didn’t expect all five of them to agree that they were willing to destroy Etherium.

Billie was coming down the staircase as I walked toward it. “So what’s your deal, honey?” she asked me, and I was disarmed. Was she being nicer to me by calling me honey, or was this aggressive? I couldn’t tell with this girl. She seemed equal parts tough and soft. “You know what you’re doing with all these men?” she elaborated.

“Uhh…heh,” I replied, in a great show of confidence.

Billie crossed her arms, leaning against the naked lady at the post, and gave me a look that made me feel naive. “You better find out quick or I wouldn’t mind peeling off their attentions.”

“Excuse me?”

“Come on, it’s fair, if you’re just going to string them along. If you’re a one-man woman, shouldn’t you decide now? Otherwise this project is going to turn into drama, and I don’t have time for that.”

“I definitely don’t want drama! I’ve never had any boy drama in my life. I don’t have time for it either.”

“Never?” Billie made a face. “Well, you gotta make time for boy drama at some point in your life before you’re old. I’ve had my share. No wonder you don’t know what to do.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t know what to do! I’m just…deciding.”

“That is what not knowing what to do means, isn’t it?” Billie plucked at a few strands of her hair. “Why not try for all of them? We’re already about to break all the rules. It’s clear they all like you and they even sort of get along with each other.”

“Why would you want to help me if you’re interested in them too?”

“Okay, part of me just likes the idea of you entering into a scandalous