Three Trials (The Dark Side Book 2)(28)
“Then I’ll follow her around until she siphons below, and I’ll hitch a ride without her knowing. I’m positive I could siphon out of hell,” I prattle on, suppressing a moan while Ezekiel makes the rest of my body envious of my foot.
“Too risky. Lake knows how to navigate Lucifer’s illusion in the royal wing. Her father has served directly under him for years. He’ll sense her if she goes snooping, but he won’t know I’m there because I’m not yet pledged,” Jude says dismissively.
He glances around at the three of them, a hint of something flashing in his eyes too fast for me to discern what, before he schools his expressions.
“Then I’m coming with you. You’re not going alone,” I tell him.
“He’ll be with Lake,” Gage says, grinning at me like he sees me already failing at my attempt to pretend not to care.
“Lake can’t snoop, which means he’ll be on his own,” I say carefully, not admitting to the outrageous jealousy he’s weirdly trying to provoke. “I’m going.”
Jude doesn’t even argue, much to my surprise.
Why do I feel like I’m being played all of the sudden?
“Then be ready by lunch tomorrow,” Jude tells me before backing up.
Just to pretend it’s no big deal he’s leaving instead of joining us, which I know we’d all really like, I lean over and tap Ezekiel’s shoulder.
“Mr. Magic Fingers, am I a virgin?”
Confusion crosses his features as he seems to think about that. “I’m not really sure. We’ve never had a virgin before, so I’m not entirely certain what to look for.”
“See? It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Kai tells Gage.
The entire room dissolves into laughter, and the conversation changes. The dynamic shifts before my eyes as Kai’s arm drops around my shoulders, and Gage’s fingers twine with mine.
Ezekiel continues to gently hold onto my foot, as the three of them talk and laugh about things I’m not completely understanding.
I glance up, noticing Jude at the very end of the long hallway that I can see, since he left my door open.
He stands in front of an empty room that has no purpose, just propped against the frame like it’s his room, as he simply stares at us like he’s studying the image and trying to place it somewhere.
I’m distracted when Kai draws my attention.
“Tell us something memorable about the days you were watching us before we knew you were watching,” he says casually.
“You don’t have to make it sound so creepy. It’s really not.”
He just grins.
“I always sat at the end of the table. One of you on my left, and one of you on my right. But it always changed, because you never all stayed in the same seats every time. It often felt like you were rotating so you could take turns being the closest to me during our table-dinner nights,” I say distractedly, my attention snagged on the weird cat on TV as he tries super hard to get some lasagna.
Why have I not seen this cartoon sooner?
I don’t realize they’ve gone silent until I look around to see them all studying me with indecipherable looks on their faces.
“What?” I ask, worried I’ve just taken steps back again.
Ezekiel’s smile starts slowly spreading.
“We used to always sit in the same spots. For centuries,” Kai says, almost as though he’s thinking aloud.
“Until about five or so years ago,” Gage adds quietly.
There are totally butterflies right now, because it almost sounds like they’re saying they sensed me without ever realizing it and gravitated toward me the way I always have them.
Gage sighs as he drops to his back. “Jude better come around soon. I’m not sure how much more I can take. I’m only so fucking strong,” he tells the other two.
“Why did you wear combat boots with your tuxes?” I ask, as though this is the perfect time for that forgotten question.
Laughter follows that, though I’m not sure what’s so funny about it. No one even bothers to answer me. They tend to laugh when I’m actually being serious, and stay serious when I’m trying to be funny.
When I remember Jude watching, my eyes dart up to see the vacant spot where he was. My heart squeezes a little bit, because even when he’s an ass, I still can’t stand the thought of him feeling left out.
With a sigh, I curl up closest to Kai’s side, since I haven’t had nearly as much close time with him, and let his arm drape around me. He doesn’t kiss my head, but his hand stays fixed to my ass.
We stay up late, watching cartoons, laughing at stupid jokes, and drinking more alcohol.
The entire time, I can’t even enjoy it as much as I should, and they all feel it too. After all, Jude’s a much bigger piece of their lives than mine.
One person is missing.
Chapter 10
A smear of red polish goes along the side of my toe, and I curse as I wiggle on top of the bar. Apparently, the skill to paint one’s toenails is not in my arsenal of hidden talents.
“Damn it, that girl made it look so easy on the tutorial. I’m tempted to find her address and go slap her across the face for misleading me,” I growl, streaking the side of my toe again.
“The kitchen bar is usually used for something other than painting one’s toes,” Kai says idly from beside me as he drinks his coffee and sharpens his sai.