Covet (Crave)

“Big trouble,” Lester tells me as he grabs my hand with his free one and brings it to his lips. But then he sniffs me for one long breath, and his eyes go big. “You didn’t tell me who she was,” he reprimands Remy.

Remy doesn’t answer, just kind of smiles a little even as I wonder if it’s so obvious that I’m a gargoyle.

Lester must figure out that Remy’s not going to answer, because eventually he turns back to me and says, “There is only one path for you, my queen.”

“My mistake,” I say with a laugh as I duck out from under Hudson’s arm. “By all means, hustle away.”

“I intend to,” she says with a waggle of her brows. Just before she slaps Hudson right on the ass. “Move it or lose it, partner.”

And then she dives down the steps.

“Did she…” Hudson looks at me with bemused eyes.

“She did,” I tell him. “I think it was a teammate thing. You know, like how football players smack each other on the ass right before they go into battle.”

“I know. But I think that’s the first time anyone has smacked my bum since I was…” He pauses to think about it, then shakes his head. “No, that’s the first time anyone has ever smacked my bum.”

But Flint pulls away, wraps his arms even more tightly around himself, and stares anywhere and everywhere but at me. When our gazes do glance off each other’s by sheer luck, I can’t help but notice that the bags under his eyes could take up half the cargo area on a 747.

Eventually the red lights click back to normal.

The dots on the wall reset themselves to green.

And Hudson’s lashes finally flutter open.

I’ve never been more relieved to see someone wake up in my life. At least until he looks at me and whispers, “I don’t deserve to ever leave.”

Next to me, Calder is laughing like she’s on a ride at Disneyland. My stomach didn’t get that memo, though, and it twists and churns as the chicken from earlier threatens to make a very unpleasant reappearance.

Just when I’m sure I’m going to turn this into a real-life version of the Vomitron, we grind to a stop.

How A Prison Cell
Became the Room
Where It Happens

For a while, Hudson just stares at her, nonplussed, and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to laugh. Because the truth is, my mate is a lot of things. Brilliant, funny, self-deprecating, sexy as fuck.

But he is also used to being the biggest diva in any room.

He’s right. It’s not so bad. It’s horrible. Especially when I think about the fact that he did nothing to get here. He’s spent his entire life locked up in this prison simply for the crime of being born.

Actually, it’s beyond horrible.

“I’m—” I break off, not sure what to say.

But Remy just shakes his head. “Please don’t tell me you’re sorry.”

“It’s hard not to,” I respond.

“It shouldn’t be. Not for you.”

I don’t understand. “Why not?”

“Because, cher. You’re the only thing I’ve been living for for the last couple of years. And hearing you say you’re sorry about that would plain break my heart.”

I’m having trouble figuring out exactly what Remy is all about, in general. Yes, he looks scary and cold and intimidating, but you know, we are standing in a prison. Also, how the hell did he know my name? That might be the scariest thing about all this, despite something inside telling me I don’t have to be afraid. That he feels familiar. And more, that he feels safe.

Which makes absolutely no sense.

Everything about him screams run scared—except his eyes. His eyes are too watchful. Too careful. Too…needy.

And that’s when it hits me. I know exactly why he feels familiar.

He’s not the first guy I’ve met who pretends to be a psychopath so no one looks closer and sees his pain… Been there, done that, currently mated to him.

And that’s it; I can’t help it. I burst out laughing. Men. They really are simple creatures sometimes.

I can tell it’s hitting Nuri exactly as it should: in all the wrong ways.

“Next time, please don’t make a decision like that for me, Cyrus.” She glances down at the writ in his hand. “Who else has the Circle decided to arrest?”

“Who else is guilty of a crime, you mean?” he answers silkily.

“Yes, of course.” She shoots my uncle a steely look. “Apparently, Katmere Academy has become a hotbed of crime over the past several months.”

Uncle Finn doesn’t react, but he does look like he wants to turn her into a toad.

“The writ of arrest is for Flint Montgomery, and the charge is attempted murder of the last gargoyle in existence.”