“I was hoping for more real diamonds. I don’t remember those women getting nail polishes,” I state absently, even as I admire the pretty colors and decide to start painting my toenails.
I have no idea what to do, so I put a pin in it until I can Google a tutorial. I’m not sure how I know how to work Google to its fullest extent just yet, but I’m really grateful for that knowledge. Makes life easier.
“I figured we’d start with the basics, since you don’t really own anything yet,” Ezekiel says with a shrug. “Besides, every real girl needs nail polish.”
I’m not sure why it makes me grin, but it does.
“Thank you,” I finally tell him, and he rolls his eyes before turning over.
“We don’t really like gratitude around here,” Kai tells me. “It just makes shit awkward.”
“You’d prefer for me to be ungrateful like the lot of you?” I muse.
“Exactly,” they all three say with a smile, not looking at me as they stare at the TV.
Just as my smile spreads wider, Jude pokes his head in the doorway, leaning against the frame as he rakes his eyes over the three traitors.
I subtly adjust, closing my robe, trying not to make it obvious I’m wearing my Team Comoara Trădătoare shirt a little prouder now.
“Harold called and said there’s no word on the trial results yet. I didn’t give him the details of the new angle we’re working on, just in case,” Jude says.
I say nothing. I’m determined to make it look like I’m not interested in his attention.
My leg is draped over Ezekiel’s waist, and the other two are pressed up against my sides as I grab some popcorn from Gage’s lap.
“Lake wants to meet with us in the morning. She says she might be able to sneak us into hell to get a look at what’s going on,” Jude continues.
“That’s a hell of a risk,” Gage says on a low whistle.
I swallow my really curious and irrational jealousy down and refuse to ask Jude who Lake is.
“I can do this on my own,” Jude tells them. “With just one of us, it’d be less likely for us to get caught once she gets me down there.”
“How about I just go and all of you stay safe and sound up here?” I ask them, hoping that is going to be the new plan of action.
“You can’t siphon there on your own, and Lake would never take you whole,” Ezekiel tells me absently as he starts massaging my foot with one hand.
My eyes almost roll back in my head because it feels incredible. I might even like it almost as much as an orgasm. I didn’t even know to ask for this, because I’ve never seen them do it to the other girls over the past few years.
“Then I’ll follow her around until she siphons below, and I’ll hitch a ride without her knowing. I’m positive I could siphon out of hell,” I prattle on, suppressing a moan while Ezekiel makes the rest of my body envious of my foot.
“Too risky. Lake knows how to navigate Lucifer’s illusion in the royal wing. Her father has served directly under him for years. He’ll sense her if she goes snooping, but he won’t know I’m there because I’m not yet pledged,” Jude says dismissively.
He glances around at the three of them, a hint of something flashing in his eyes too fast for me to discern what, before he schools his expressions.
“Then I’m coming with you. You’re not going alone,” I tell him.
“He’ll be with Lake,” Gage says, grinning at me like he sees me already failing at my attempt to pretend not to care.
“Lake can’t snoop, which means he’ll be on his own,” I say carefully, not admitting to the outrageous jealousy he’s weirdly trying to provoke. “I’m going.”
Jude doesn’t even argue, much to my surprise.
Why do I feel like I’m being played all of the sudden?
“Then be ready by lunch tomorrow,” Jude tells me before backing up.
Just to pretend it’s no big deal he’s leaving instead of joining us, which I know we’d all really like, I lean over and tap Ezekiel’s shoulder.
“Mr. Magic Fingers, am I a virgin?”
Confusion crosses his features as he seems to think about that. “I’m not really sure. We’ve never had a virgin before, so I’m not entirely certain what to look for.”
“See? It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Kai tells Gage.
The entire room dissolves into laughter, and the conversation changes. The dynamic shifts before my eyes as Kai’s arm drops around my shoulders, and Gage’s fingers twine with mine.
Ezekiel continues to gently hold onto my foot, as the three of them talk and laugh about things I’m not completely understanding.
I glance up, noticing Jude at the very end of the long hallway that I can see, since he left my door open.
He stands in front of an empty room that has no purpose, just propped against the frame like it’s his room, as he simply stares at us like he’s studying the image and trying to place it somewhere.
I’m distracted when Kai draws my attention.
“Tell us something memorable about the days you were watching us before we knew you were watching,” he says casually.
“You don’t have to make it sound so creepy. It’s really not.”
He just grins.
“I always sat at the end of the table. One of you on my left, and one of you on my right. But it always changed, because you never all stayed in the same seats every time. It often felt like you were rotating so you could take turns being the closest to me during our table-dinner nights,” I say distractedly, my attention snagged on the weird cat on TV as he tries super hard to get some lasagna.
Why have I not seen this cartoon sooner?
I don’t realize they’ve gone silent until I look around to see them all studying me with indecipherable looks on their faces.
“What?” I ask, worried I’ve just taken steps back again.
Ezekiel’s smile starts slowly spreading.
“We used to always sit in the same spots. For centuries,” Kai says, almost as though he’s thinking aloud.
“Until about five or so years ago,” Gage adds quietly.
There are totally butterflies right now, because it almost sounds like they’re saying they sensed me without ever realizing it and gravitated toward me the way I always have them.
Gage sighs as he drops to his back. “Jude better come around soon. I’m not sure how much more I can take. I’m only so fucking strong,” he tells the other two.
“Why did you wear combat boots with your tuxes?” I ask, as though this is the perfect time for that forgotten question.
Laughter follows that, though I’m not sure what’s so funny about it. No one even bothers to answer me. They tend to laugh when I’m actually being serious, and stay serious when I’m trying to be funny.
When I remember Jude watching, my eyes dart up to see the vacant spot where he was. My heart squeezes a little bit, because even when he’s an ass, I still can’t stand the thought of him feeling left out.
With a sigh, I curl up closest to Kai’s side, since I haven’t had nearly as much close time with him, and let his arm drape around me. He doesn’t kiss my head, but his hand stays fixed to my ass.
We stay up late, watching cartoons, laughing at stupid jokes, and drinking more alcohol.
The entire time, I can’t even enjoy it as much as I should, and they all feel it too. After all, Jude’s a much bigger piece of their lives than mine.
One person is missing.
Chapter 10
A smear of red polish goes along the side of my toe, and I curse as I wiggle on top of the bar. Apparently, the skill to paint one’s toenails is not in my arsenal of hidden talents.
“Damn it, that girl made it look so easy on the tutorial. I’m tempted to find her address and go slap her across the face for misleading me,” I growl, streaking the side of my toe again.
“The kitchen bar is usually used for something other than painting one’s toes,” Kai says idly from beside me as he drinks his coffee and sharpens his sai.
It’s almost noon, and I’m supposed to be ready by the time Jude returns from soul collecting with the other three. Kai overslept.
Kai. Overslept.
It was a first for him. So he stayed in bed with me all morning and into noon. I was beat.
“Can you keep a secret?” I ask on a sigh.
He mimes the motion of zipping his lips, never glancing at me, and I go phantom, imagine my toenails painted the exact same shade of red, and all colored inside the lines. Then I turn whole and wiggle my toes in a pair of snazzy sandals that showcases them best.
Kai glances over at my feet and smirks.
“It was actually a very thoughtful gift, but I’m apparently terrible at such girly things when I have to actually do them physically.”
“You’re saying you’re spoiled,” he suggests.
“Just don’t tell Ezekiel,” I say on a sigh as I screw the lid back on the nail polish.
The guys appear in the kitchen, and Ezekiel flashes me a grin when he sees me holding the red polish, while showcasing my pretty new red toenails.
However, he looks a little unimpressed when he sees my toenails, and looks over his shoulder as Jude jogs up the stairs.
I expect Kai to sell me out and tell him I’m a cheater, but he just keeps sharpening his sai.
“How bad was it?” Kai asks absently.
Ezekiel shrugs as he props up beside me. Gage goes to pull out sandwich stuff.
“More than usual but not too many for us to handle, even the day after the third trials. It almost feels like today’s task was just to test us and see us after the trials—energy levels and all.”
Kai flicks his gaze over at me. “I bet Jude didn’t look as well rested as the two of you,” he quips, smirking when he hears Jude stomping back down the stairs much harder than necessary.
I’m too busy preening and trying to get Ezekiel to tell me how awesome I did at painting my toenails for my very first time. He doesn’t know I cheated, after all.
“You ready?” Jude asks me, his gaze not meeting mine as he pulls a black masquerade mask from behind his back.
“Are we going to a party?” I ask, edging my foot over the counter, pushing it closer to Ezekiel.
“I’d rather no one see my face, and a masquerade mask isn’t too uncommon in the royal part of hell,” he tells me without ever glancing my way.
Ezekiel is paying him more attention than my freaking feet.
“For fuck’s sake, so what if she cheated? She spent an hour trying to paint the damn things just because you bought her the fucking polish. Give her a compliment already,” Kai says, confusing me, until I realize he’s angrily directing that toward Ezekiel.
“It’s that obvious I cheated?” I ask dryly, as Ezekiel’s grin grows to take up his entire face.
“First timers make a mess,” Ezekiel says with a shrug. “But yours look perfect.”