“No,” I snapped, pulling back. “It’s not.”
I practically spun in my seat and wrenched the door open, jumping from the car to get as much space between us as possible. How could I have been stupid enough to ignore the obvious? I was more frustrated with myself than I was with him.
Bandit perched himself on the edge of the driver’s seat and jumped towards me, wrapping his paws around neck. I put one arm underneath to support his weight and used the other to grip the car door.
Rysten tilted his head to the side as his glamor settled now that I wasn’t so close. A boyish smile appeared on his lips as he said, “It’s going to happen whether you like it or not, Ruby. You’re ours to protect, and we take care of what’s ours.”
I slammed the car door and strode away from him as the reality of what it meant to have the Four Horsemen after me truly set in. This was going to be a long week. They would protect me from anything they saw as a threat because of who they thought I was.
But who would protect me from them?
Chapter 8
I was just closing shop for the weekend when the bell on the front door rang. I peeked my head around the corner and groaned when I saw who was standing there. It was none other than my lousy ex holding the sad makings of another apology in the form of a bouquet.
Why me?
“What are you doing here?” I asked. Bandit took one look at Josh and let out a growl. He held his head up higher at the sight of my raccoon. His posture couldn’t have been straighter if someone shoved a pine tree up his ass.
“I came here to apologize for Sunday night.” He motioned to the flowers in his hand. “I brought you daffodils. They’re supposed to stand for forgiveness and new beginnings.”
It took all my self-control not to gag. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Please, Ruby.” Devil save me, not the whining again. I didn’t have the patience for it today. I knew that it wasn’t the loss of me that had him obsessing over our split. I knew it was the dormant succubus within. He had cheated on me claiming it was because I wouldn’t sleep with him, but he also came groveling back every few days. It was exhausting. But sleeping with someone that didn’t really give two shits about me, and had no choice, felt a little too much like rape. This is what I get for having morals.
“Please what?” I said, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “We broke up, Josh. I don’t know what to say.”
“That you’ll forgive me and give me another chance—”
I held my hand up to stop him. “No. We are never, ever getting back together.” I cringed as soon as the words were out, knowing I sounded like a bad Taylor Swift song.
“Is it because of those guys I saw with you? You have a”—he struggled with words for a moment, anger clouting his brain—“a harem now? Is that it?”
A harem? Now that’s a thought. I was equally intrigued by the idea as I was pissed off by his attitude, given that he had absolutely zero reason to feel any sense of entitlement towards me. After all, his actions were what brought an abrupt end to our relationship, but with all the whining he was doing, I couldn’t say I was sorry to see it end. At least I didn’t have to feel bad about being bitchy this time.
“They have nothing to do with what happened between us, Josh. You are the one who cheated on me.” I was beginning to sound like a broken record. This conversation was getting old, and fast.
“You wouldn’t have sex with me! I waited months for you! Now you’re sleeping with, what—three, four guys? But I’m willing to forgive you for your transgressions, if you can look past my small lapse in judgement.”
Wow. I didn’t even know how to respond. Unfortunately for him, he chose to be a total dick at the exact moment Laran was walking up. The door opened behind him, and he took one look over his shoulder and paled.
“I don’t need your forgiveness because I don’t want to be with you. Leave me alone,” I said, hoping that Laran’s presence would be enough to get him to go away.
Josh swallowed hard and uttered, “This isn’t over. I will win you back.” Delusional wasn’t a strong enough word.
“Actually, you won’t,” Laran said darkly. “Stay away from Ruby, boy. My patience has an expiration, much like your life span.” The menace in his voice wasn’t soft or cunning. It was bold, and edged with a danger that just seemed to radiate from Laran. I’d only spoken with him briefly, less than the other three, and he scared the crap out of me. Josh would probably piss his pants if they kept this up.
“Are you threatening me?” Josh demanded. His face turned pink as he spluttered out his indignation.
“Yes.” Laran stepped out of the way of the door, a not-so-subtle hint that it was time for him to leave.
Once again, Josh let out a string of curses, but did indeed storm off. The shop door slammed behind him, leaving me and Laran alone.
“Are all your exes this crazy?” he asked me. I guess at this point it was the closest we could get to small talk.
“Mostly,” I responded. The ghost of a smirk crossed his lips, gone before I could tell if it was real.
“I guess that means I have my work cut out for me.” He strode towards me like he owned the earth we walked on. Unapologetically and unequivocally male. My mouth dried as he neared me, but I didn’t back away. The last thing I needed these demons thinking was that they could bulldoze me around.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, fidgeting with the corner of my sleeve. Strangely enough, Bandit stayed quiet as he approached me. Unlike Josh, whom he had always disliked, he didn’t seem to care one way or the other if Laran was near me. I wasn’t sure if I should find that comforting, or worrisome.
“It’s my turn,” he said proudly.
“Your turn?”
“To spend time with you,” he clarified. I frowned. They were taking turns on who—
“Who says I want to spend time with you?” I didn’t particularly care for being told what to do or who I would spend time with.
“Would you rather Allistair or Julian?”
“Um…” My non-answer must have been answer enough.
He smirked and held out his hand. “Come. I promise not to bite. This time.”
This time? I licked my bottom lip at the promise in those words. I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to them, or at the very least, not playing out my fantasies, but I couldn’t help but wonder what Laran might taste like. Just a bite. He was a full-grown male demon, well into his prime, and the things he could teach me…
My wishful thinking stopped as memories knocked me back to reality. It’d been a long, long while since I got laid, thanks to what happened last time. Seeing as I had no immediate plans to fix that, I just accepted that I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “Fine, but I need to drop Bandit off at home first. He doesn’t like people, and humans are prejudice dicks.”
Laran gave me a savage grin. “Who said anything about humans?”
I wasn’t sure if I should be excited or concerned at the prospect of whatever the Horseman of War had planned. The demonic glint in his eye should have been all the warning I needed.