Page 61 of Peacemaker

Shane leaned forward. “They will see us as leaders.” And though he wasn’t exactly a supernatural, he was part of them.

We had a plan—but only for the demons. There was still the coming night. There were still the rifters.

“I’d like to contribute,” Leo said, and I realized how quiet he had become. Left out, as usual. Leo, like most of us, just needed to belong.

His broad, plain face was expressionless, but his eyes were soulful, beautiful, and full of longing.

“You will, my friend.” Angus’s voice was steady, but there was something there—something like a reluctant warning. And Leo knew him well enough to know that whatever Angus had planned for him was not going to be an easy task.

I looked up from Clayton in time to see a look pass between Leo and Angus—a private look, and one full of knowledge that the rest of us were not privy to.

Leo nodded. “I’m here for you.”

I straightened and tried to breathe past the uneasiness that tightened my chest. “Angus?”

He met my stare, impassive. “Don’t worry.” He smacked his hands together, more eager than I’d seen him since his return from prison. “Let’s get started. Tonight, when Amias is awake, we will gather here with our ingredients, rob Trin of her blood, and mix the potion.”

As if he’d been waiting for his cue, Jin appeared, a hammered gold pot in his grip. “I will donate the receptacle.” He set it down, then began gathering up the lunch dishes that still littered the table. “Supper will be early since lunch was barely touched.” His tone was full of disapproval.

Angus grabbed me into his arms and squeezed half the life from me. “I’m going home for a while, and then to the shop. I’ll see you tonight. If you need me…”

“I’ll call.” I took his face between my palms, then pressed my lips to his, shutting out everything else as I took possession of his mouth. I wanted to taste him, so I did. I sucked his bottom lip, slid my tongue across his, kissed him like I might never kiss him again.

I felt him growing hard against me, and he tightened his arms. “Tonight,” he said, into my mouth. “Tonight you’re mine.”

I pulled back, just a little. “I’m always yours. Tonight I will fuck you.”

He threw back his head and roared with pleased laughter, and it lightened my heart to hear it. I would have done anything to chase away the eerie, unmentionable darkness the Byrdcage had created inside him.

That darkness was part of him now. I had to find a way to accept it, because there would be no way to defeat it.

Clayton stood. “I’ll go fetch the foam.”

“You left it in the woods?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes.”

I gave Angus a last quick kiss, then stepped away from him. “Hang on. I’ll go with you.”

“No. I’ll go alone.”

“Why?” I was quickly angry at the thought that he didn’t want me with him.

“Because,” he said, simply, softly, “Fear lingers inside me, and I won’t allow fear to rule me. Because I am afraid, I’ll go alone.”

I was afraid for him. If Seamus and Miriam cornered Clayton when he was alone, he wouldn’t have a chance in hell at escaping them.

I put my hand on his arm when he would have walked by me. “Be careful.”

But Angus wasn’t satisfied to let Clayton face danger alone. “This is a justified fear. You’re not afraid because you’re a weak man. You’re afraid because of the very real possibility that the demon and his vicious bitch sword will be waiting for you. Trin is going with you, because none of us will ever have to face shit alone again.”

I put my hand to my full chest. “That’s exactly right.”

“I’ll go with him,” Leo said, eagerly. He got to his feet and as much as I wanted to accompany Clayton, I didn’t have the heart to deny Leo.

Neither did Clayton.

The house emptied quickly as everyone slipped away to do his thing.