Night Unbound(125)

I think we’ve seen all we need to see, Seth said. Can you teleport to David’s place?
Not without changing forms first.
Seth fluttered down and landed beside him. Brushing a wing across Zach’s back, he teleported them to David’s front lawn.
Relief rushed through Zach as he retook his usual form, instantly teleporting on the leather pants he had left in the forest several miles away when he and Seth had initially shifted. The burning pain in his shoulder began to fade. The bleeding, at last, slowed as the wound began to close. As long as he had to focus the bulk of his energy on maintaining another form, there wasn’t enough left over to heal injuries, which was best not done until he was in his natural form anyway.
He sighed. Much better.
Also clothed, Seth motioned to the front door. “Shall we?”
Nodding, Zach followed him inside.
 

 

Tension thrummed through Lisette while she waited in David’s living room for Seth and Zach to return.
Richart crossed to her and looped his arm around her shoulders.
She looked up at him.
“So,” he said.
She arched a brow. “So?”
The room darkened and fell away as a familiar weightlessness engulfed her and she found herself teleported to the quiet room Étienne and Krysta had claimed as their own. Étienne lounged in a chair, waiting for them.
Lisette glared up at Richart. “You know I hate it when you do that.” If she wanted him to teleport her somewhere, she’d tell him.
“We wanted to speak with you privately,” he responded with a shrug.
“About what?”
The twins shared a look.
“How are you?” Richart asked at length.
“I’m fine,” she said, puzzled. “Why?”
Étienne rose. “You’re hiding something from us. You’ve been shielding your thoughts for weeks.”
Lisette took a moment to ensure her mental barriers were well in place. “If you want to know what I’m hiding from you,” she said, “ask Richart. He and Jenna both got an eyeful.”
Étienne laughed. “I heard about that. Made me glad I can’t teleport.”
Richart grumbled something.
“So, what are you hiding?” Étienne repeated.
“That’s it,” she said. “That’s what I’m hiding.” And technically it wasn’t a lie. Yes, she hid all of the things she’d learned about Seth recently. But she also hid her intimate relationship with Zach, because it was none of their business.
And because she had been raised in a time when such things were not discussed. Ever. They were kept private, a sentiment that had remained with her.
“If I opened my thoughts to you,” she told Étienne, “you would be flooded with details of my relationship with Zach that I wish to keep private. You don’t need to know all about our lovemaking.”
Étienne grimaced and looked at his twin. “I can see why you asked Jenna to poke out your eyes. I don’t even want to think about it, let alone see it.”
Lisette rolled her eyes. “Then stop trying to read my thoughts. Your relationship with Krysta is almost as new as mine is with Zach. How often do you think about making love with her?”
“Constantly.”
“Then there is your answer.”
Again the twins shared a look.
Lisette sighed. “Just say it.”
“Does he treat you well, Lisette?” Richart asked, his face grave.
She smiled, affection replacing exasperation. “Very well,” she assured him. They just wanted to make sure history wouldn’t repeat itself. “I love him. He makes me happy. And he would do anything to keep me safe. Zach would never hurt me the way Philippe did.”
The two smiled, mirror images of each other, though she had never had difficulty telling them apart.
“That’s all we wanted to hear,” Étienne said.
“Then can we go back upstairs now?”
“Of course.”
 

 

Zach followed Seth inside and closed the door behind them with a thought. David’s house was still crammed full of Immortal Guardians and their Seconds.
Lisette and her brothers emerged from the darkened hallway on the opposite side of the living room. As soon as she saw him, Lisette raced forward. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Grimacing, Zach clutched his bloody shoulder.
Concern flooded her pretty face. Taking his uninjured arm, Lisette draped it across her shoulders and wrapped an arm around his waist. Had he been younger, he likely would have needed to lean on her. He had, after all, lost quite a bit of blood. As it was, however, he just reveled in her form pressed against his own.
He issued a faint moan.
“Come on,” Lisette said. “Let’s get you to bed.”