"I was beginning to wonder if you'd lost your fucking mind."
"I'm not as innocent as everyone likes to think I am."
"So I see."
"Which means you will leave this alone about my wings, yes?"
"Why, Simon? Having your wings doesn't change who you are, only how you appear."
"And I don't deserve to appear as an angel, so end of discussion." He was silent for a few minutes. "Guess you know my deepest, darkest secret now."
"Several of them, apparently." I toyed with a lock of his hair and watched the expressions of joy play across his face with my touch. "You're one of a kind, angel."
* * *
After a quick shower, Simon left me alone in the bedroom. I sat at the desk for a long while and brushed out my hair as I contemplated the entire encounter between us. He'd obviously thought that he could shock me into forgetting about this thing between him and Rhys&and his wings. But all it did was make me more determined to get his wings back for him.
He would be pissed that I interfered, even after he asked me not to, but it was something I was more than willing to risk. He thought he deserved to be punished for eternity and I just couldn't accept that.
The door opened and I glanced over, surprised to find Nikolas walking in. He shut the door and started over to the bed, but then stopped and looked over at me in shock.
"What the fuck are you doing awake?"
"What the fuck are you doing in my room?"
"Bite me." He flipped me off but came over and kissed me on the top of my head anyway. "You're fucking glowing, princess."
I tilted my head back and grinned up at him. "I kinda feel like I'm glowing."
"So where'd you get the high-octane?" He leaned down and pressed his face against my neck, inhaling deeply. "It's not wolf and it's not demon&"
"Angel."
"How the fuck did that happen?"
"Long story, babe." I reached up and tugged at a long lock of red hair covering his eyes. "What are you up to?"
"Just thought I'd sneak into bed with you and be here when you woke up."
"Not pissed at me anymore?"
"Yes and no." He huffed and sat on the edge of the desk, tucking his long, red bangs behind his ears. It made an almost perfect line of red and black where his long and short hair met at the top. "I understand where you're coming from, I guess, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow."
"That's the one thing I can still give Lucien that's all for him. The same way you won't suck me off because that's something that you choose to be just between you and Sabaan."
"It shouldn't be this way," he said softly.
"Then how should it be, Nikolas?" I put the brush on the desk beside him. "If you've got any ideas, I'd love to fucking hear them."
"Oh, I got lots of ideas, but I'm not sticking my foot in my mouth this time. I told you what I wanted and you refused, so&" He shrugged. "I think I'll keep my mouth shut from now on. I hear Lucien will be home this evening."
I nodded.
"Great."
"Weren't you just saying how it'd be good to have him home again?"
"For you, princess. Not for me."
"Have you two fought like this the entire time you've known each other? Or is it because of me that you're always fighting now?"
"So tell me about this shit with you and Simon," he said, attempting to change the subject. "Why'd . how . did he pull you out of your sleep so early?"
"He just wanted to talk."
"Just to talk, huh? I see." He got to his feet. "Well, since you're not going to tell me anything interesting, can we go talk to the two werewolves that were brought in last night?"
"Why are you so interested in them?"
"I just want to know who they are and where they came from."
"Right." I rolled my eyes. "Call Adam and see if he can have someone bring Ethan and Noah to the study. I'll be there as soon as I put on some clothes."
"We'll be waiting."
* * *
When I walked into the office, Nikolas was pacing the floor behind the desk. Ethan and Noah were sitting on one of the couches, watching Nikolas. I went to the desk and sat down in my chair.
"Quit pacing, Nikolas."
He growled and continued pacing anyway. Realizing he wasn't about to stop, I attempted to ignore him instead. I looked to Ethan and Noah. They'd eaten, that much I could tell. The scent of steak was strong and was one of the things that could coax my wolf out faster than anything.