Apollo rolls his eyes. “Hell if I know. Two things I’m sure of, though.” He raises a hand, forefinger jutting up. “One, he can’t stay.” I start to complain, but he cuts me in. “We’re on the run, mate. We can’t adopt a dog.”
“I’m not leaving him.” I insist, and gods help me, no one is taking Oreo from me without a fight.
“Two,” Apollo goes, turning to the door, “he’s not shitting in this room. I refuse to sleep to the smell of dog shit.”
“Where are you taking him?” I try to approach Apollo, but Ren’s arm keeps me in place. “I swear, Apollo…”
The dragon merely winks in my direction. “I'll take him around, empty his bladder, and I’ll make sure that rat shifter behind the reception gets scared enough he doesn’t call any authorities." The sound of the door closing hurts me. I let myself sink against Ren.
"He won’t lose the dog. He's just jealous," he says, walking me to the bed. "He'll come around. He always does."
I plop down on the mattress and Ren sits next to me. Tristan stands there, watching between the door and us. "Jealous of me?" Tristan asks, arching an eyebrow.
"Jealous Cass now has another man to take care of her," Ren says with that smile that melts me. He pulls me to his lap, hands on my hips. “Apollo’s an alpha, he just doesn’t know it.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, he behaves like one. I wonder how badhisalpha is.”
Ren’s smile falters. “About that. Someone in the clan sold us off. His alpha showed up to kick us out. Apollo’s exiled now.”
Shock makes me jerk away. “What? Are you serious?” Ren nods. “His alphaexiledhim? Right when he needed it most?”
“That’s what I said!” Ren releases a sigh. “And I told Apollo we have each other now, but he’s still upset. I think you could take some one-on-one time with him later.”
I nod. “Of course. I will.”
Ren buries his face in my neck and hair, brushing his cheek against mine, his hard jaw stroking mine. “I missed you so much,” he repeats in a soft whisper. I almost purr. He pulls away, too soon. “Tristan,” he starts, turning to the gargoyle still standing there, “what are you, anyway? I can’t pinpoint what you smell like. Dew, maybe? Moss?”
“Moss?” I slap Ren’s shoulder, and a chuckle starts out of my throat.
Tristan raises an arm and sniffs his armpit. “I smell?”
I crack up. Ren laughs too, and it feels so good I want to freeze this moment forever. “Ren is a wolf shifter,” I explain. “He has a better sense of smell.”
Tristan doesn’t look convinced. “I’m a half-gargoyle.” And his face grows taut as if he expects Ren to react badly at that piece of info.
He doesn’t know how sweet Ren is. Soon, he’ll learn.
Ren smiles. “Gargoyle. That’s amazing.” He looks at me, eyes glittering, hunger growing on his face. “Fate knows, Cass. Fate knows exactly who you need, and who needs you the most.”
I arch an eyebrow, his warm breath coating my tongue, making my mind grow fuzzy. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you see a pattern? The exiled, the lone ones. They come to you, as moths to a flame.”
And burying his fingers into my hair, Ren pulls me to his mouth and kisses me. The taste of him explodes on my taste buds, making me groan, my eyelids fluttering closed. Gods, I missed this. I prop my hands on his shoulders, exploring his arms, tugging on his shirt.
I need him. I need him as bad as I need air. His warmth soaks into me, his tongue teasing mine until I mewl.
Tristan's steps go for the door. I break the kiss, just in time to catch him gripping the doorknob. "Where are you going?" I ask, voice rough with desire.
He looks back at me, blinking in confusion. "To give you privacy."
Ren chuckles and motions for him to come back. "She doesn't care about that." And I shoot a smile at Tristan right before Ren seals my lips with his again. Heat licks at my body, the mattress dipping with Tristan's weight. And I let myself fall against him. I let myself fall because I know they'll catch me.
CHAPTER 18
TRISTAN
When Cassandra told me about her mates, I expected they would act as a group to protect her, not to please her. I haven’t read enough on romantic relationships to know that was possible, but I don’t see a problem.