by Janie Marie
An excruciating sting pierced Kylie’s heart, and she let go of Maura’s hand to hug her. “I’ll teach you.”
Her sister stared at her like she was the greatest thing ever. “Really?”
Kylie pushed down Maura’s red hood, nodding. “Yeah. Let’s go set up our room.”
“Okay.” Maura went for her bags, but she stopped, looking up at Ryder. “Thank you.”
It was nerve-wracking to watch him stare down at her without emotion, but he eventually nodded. “Just keep fighting, and you’ll pay me back.”
Maura smiled shyly. “I like your story, by the way. With your moon.”
Now Ryder smiled, stepping away as he addressed all of them. “You’re welcome to come down for lunch, or you can push the intercom button labeled for the kitchen, and they can bring food.” He pulled open the door, revealing the huge guy Kylie remembered from the hospital. “This is Sin. He’s your guard for part of today. If you leave this room, he’ll follow you. He’ll call another to take post if the rest of you stay behind.” He patted Sin’s shoulder. “Give them their phones and run them through the protocols. Logan, come with me.”
Sin pushed back his long curly hair, smirking at Ryder. “Tell your goddess I have a new batch of apples.”
Ryder flipped him off, not saying anything as he and Logan left the room.
Kylie blew out a deep breath. She wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or saddened that Logan didn’t stay, or even say goodbye.
Lance chuckled, helping Lorelei with a few bags. “Ryder’s making sure he doesn’t do anything foolish. He knows you need time, and we know Logan has a poor record of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.”
She smiled, grabbing her things. “Yeah, we both have a habit of blurting things out that we regret later.”
“Maybe Logan asked him to help make sure he doesn’t repeat his mistakes with you.” Sin winked, making her aware he had a scar over his left eyebrow. He turned, heading for the door. “I’ll be out here if you need me.”
The door shut and Sin locked it from the outside. Kylie sighed, giving Lance and Damon tight smiles as they quietly carried the different bags to the two rooms.
“Is Sin short for something?” Maura asked Damon.
He laughed as he passed her. “Best if you think of it as a code-name. You’re not ready to know more about the Wolves—not that they’d let you know, anyway. He’s one of the more approachable ones, believe it or not.”
Maura followed him like a loyal puppy. “Why do you keep calling them wolves?”
Kylie chuckled, catching Lance’s eye. She remembered when Logan first told her about the Grimm Legacy, and she had even thought he might say he was a werewolf. Wait . . .
It was like he knew exactly what she was thinking, and he smirked a very Logan Grimm like smirk and slid his sleeve up to reveal a tattoo of a werewolf howling at a half moon. “The Big Bad Wolves are real.” He tugged his sleeve down.
“Are you messing with me?” Kylie realized she was alone with him in the sitting room. “You’re saying you’re a werewolf?”
A wolfish grin spread over his face. “No. Perhaps in my next life I’ll howl at the full moon, though.” He had that twinkle in his eyes he’d get when she knew he was holding some secret back.
“Well, don’t bite my mom. I like her the way she is.” Kylie hadn’t meant to say it, but now that she had, she stared at him and added seriously, “Hurt her and I’ll kill you, Mr. Grimm.”
He held his hand over his heart. “I swear to you I will never harm her. I’ll die for her.”
“Well, hopefully it won’t come to that,” she muttered, knowing Lorelei was Kevin’s greatest target. “Can I ask you something? About your tales?”
“Depends on what you ask.” He waited for her to continue.
“Well, it’s just that Maura believes they’re real. She reads them all the time, like Lorelei. I just—I don’t have a problem with them escaping reality, but do you think it’s dangerous? Obviously, you know what’s real, but you honor the stories differently because the American tales involved your family. But it won’t hurt Maura if she believes in it, right? Like, if she believes in the Little Moon and whatever she thinks about Ryder.”
“Believing in our fairy tales doesn’t differ from a soul believing in God,” he said. “It’s up to each of you to decide what you believe. Maura can believe in the Little Moon, and you can let it all rest in fantasy.”
“What happens if you believe in the fairy tales?”
“I suppose you see what happens when you fall down her rabbit hole.”
“Crazy things happened to Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole.”
He nodded, heading toward Lorelei’s room. “Yes, but what an adventure it was.”
✦✦✦
Kylie stretched out across her new bed. It was comfy, for sure, but she swore she occasionally smelled Logan. It did pleasant yet disturbing things to her mental state. Physically, too. He was still everything she wanted—nothing she could have.
“Why don’t we go down?” Maura asked.
“Because,” Kylie said, closing her eyes and hiding her key under her shirt. It had been six hours since they arrived at Ryder’s, and they were all unpacked. But Lorelei had shut herself in her room after Lance left two hours ago. Her stepmom slept a lot during the day because she didn’t sleep well at night. She had a feeling that’s when Kevin was his cruelest.
Kylie shuddered. She was close to asking Mr. Grimm to stay with her, just to see if it would help. Lorelei had lived through so much horror with every man in her life. But Lance seemed to bring her peace. There were many times she’d caught Lorelei crying in her sleep, and once Lance had been on duty inside the center. He’d been dropping off cookies for them late. She told him about Lorelei, and he asked for permission to sit with her.
It had been like watching a child calming in its parent’s arms. He just held her hand as he spoke in a language Kylie didn’t dare try to understand, and Lorelei slept peacefully. It reminded her of Ryder finding Janie crying in her sleep; bad boys were magic for some girls.
The bed shifted, alerting Kylie Maura had come over. “You said you didn’t want to be a chicken.”
Kylie sighed, opening her eyes. “I chickened out.”
Maura smiled at her. Her smiles were rare, so Kylie reveled in it. “I’d like to see the others. You can hear them cheering from somewhere. Maybe they’re having a party.”
“We don’t need to be at a party.” Kylie sat up, pulling her legs close as she leaned against the wall. “You know Ryder will be all over Janie—Logan might be all over her too. And those girls might be there—the ones dating the brothers, and who knows what types of women are around these wolf guys.”
“None,” came Ryder’s deep voice.
Kylie yelped, grabbing a hold of Maura as he placed two of the prettiest flower arrangements on a dresser. “How did you get in here?”
He glanced around the room before answering, “My house. I have a key. Those are from Janie, to welcome you to our home.”
“Well, don’t just barge in.” Kylie rubbed her hot cheeks. He still made her uncomfortable yet excited. Plus, it was weird as hell to have Ryder being hospitable.
His eyes gleamed with mischief. “Don’t act like that isn’t your number one fantasy.”
“Stop being so full of yourself.” Kylie sighed, realizing Maura was seeing stars.
Ryder chuckled, tossing a bag toward them. “Only if you stop making me feel like I’m keeping you all prisoner. I expected you to hide for an hour, tops. Not half the day.”
“What is this?” Kylie snatched the bag, her jaw dropping as she pulled out two swimsuits.
“The one piece should fit you, Maura,” he said. “You’re about Janie’s height. But, Amazon Blondie, you’ll have to wear one of her bikinis. Otherwise that’s going to be uncomfortable up your ass.”
She ignored his comment about her height—he was tall, too. “Why would we need t
o wear swimsuits?”
“To swim, obviously.” He pushed himself away from the doorway and reached for the handle. “Hurry up. Unless you want to let Logan stare at Janie in her bikini for the rest of the night.” He chuckled, shutting the door before Kylie could say anything.
“What are you doing?” Kylie asked Maura when she unzipped her hoodie.
“I’ll put my clothes over the top.” Maura took the red one piece to the closet. It always embarrassed her to show her body now.
“Maura, we can’t go. God, why is he goading me with Janie and Logan?”
Maura gave a muffled response. “I want to be around them. It’ll be stressful if we wait until Monday. And you know them more than I do.”
Kylie groaned, knowing Maura was right. They’d be returning to school with the Godsons and Janie on Monday. They all agreed it was best to provoke Kevin and Trevor sooner rather than later. But she hadn’t really let herself think about being around any of them.
“Do I look okay?” Maura shyly lowered her hands from shielding her chest. It was a cute retro halter-top swimsuit.
“You look great.” Kylie lifted the bikini up. It was the skimpiest string bikini she’d ever seen. “Why do you get one that covers up all cute?”
“Just hurry.” Maura pushed Kylie toward the closet. “You can put your clothes over like me. But at least we can go and say hello. I don’t want my first day seeing Janie again to be when we’re riding with them.”
Kylie nodded, hurrying to the closet. Janie was shorter than her by at least five inches, and she wasn’t as busty as Kylie. “Dammit.”
“Will it fit?” Maura’s voice carried into the closet.
“Barely.” Kylie sighed, managing to get it all tied. She stared down at her boobs, beyond embarrassed. “I need a sweater.”
“Is it bad?”
Kylie walked out of the closet, humiliated.
Maura’s eyes were wide. “Wow. Well, if you don’t make Logan regret breaking up with you, I’m sure the rest of the guys will be ready to take his place.”
It should’ve made Kylie happy to hear Maura compliment her, but Logan knew what she looked like, and he was downstairs thinking about Janie in her bikini.
A loud knock sounded before Ryder spoke, “Hurry up.”
Quickly putting on a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt, Kylie opened the door.
“Don’t glare at me,” was all he said before walking away. “Lance is staying with your mom.”
Kylie grabbed Maura’s hand, following him. There was a different guy guarding the door, but he had his mask in place.
Ryder nodded at him, watching the door get locked before he continued.
“Ryder, this bikini is too small.” Kylie was panicking, her breathing erratic.
“Yes, Kylie,” he said in that bored way of his, “we all know your tits are bigger than Janie’s, and her ass is bigger than yours. You got it on, didn’t you?”
“Barely,” she muttered.
“She said you’d rather it be tight on your tits than dealing with a front and back wedgie from hell.” He jogged down the stairs, and they stayed close.
Kylie’s heart raced when the yells became clearer. “We’re not swimming,” she told him.
He shrugged. “I was told to bring you swimsuits and to get you down here. Don’t care what you do after that.”
Well, so much for a nearly sweet version of Ryder Godson.
He slowed, glancing over his shoulder once they reached the end of a hall. “I’ll warn you now, this is Janie’s element—with all her men. Don’t let it get to you. They’re devoted to her in a way you won’t understand. They’ve been busting ass keeping all of you safe. As much as you two need some time to act normal, so do they. Janie just does it with a bunch of guys who call her their queen.”
“Yeah, we know.” Kylie tightened her hand on Maura’s. “Please don’t embarrass us.”
“Why would I do that?” He reached for the doorknob but waited to open it.
“I don’t know.” Kylie started breathing faster, hearing the yells and laughter.
His eyes were hypnotizing as he spoke in a more serious tone. “This is them relaxing after a day of training and reorganizing our strategies to include you here. You’ve had a big day too. Go have fun. You’ve earned it.”
She gaped at him. “What have you done with Ryder Godson?”
He grinned. “You just caught me after getting lucky with my girl.”
“Gross,” Kylie muttered. He chuckled and reached for the door, but Kylie darted her hand out, stopping him from opening it all the way, her eyes stinging as she fought to hide frustrated tears. “Does it hurt to see them together?”
Ryder stared at her hand on him and shook his head. “It’s peaceful. Don’t panic—she’s mine. He’s not getting her back.”
She took a deep breath, letting him go. “I’ve accepted things are over with Logan, but it still hurts, and even though she’s yours, it doesn’t change the fact he wants her.”
“Does he?” He smirked in that knowing way of his and took a step away. “Stop assuming you know everything. You’ll live a happier life that way.”
Howls and cheers ahead made Kylie’s breath speed up. She tightened her hand around Maura’s as Ryder pushed open the door to expose a massive pool. One filled with hunky men galore. And one girl.
“Holy crap,” Kylie whispered, her eyes glued to Logan laughing in the middle of the pool with Janie in a gold bikini on his shoulders. A pang of jealousy rose, but she couldn’t stop staring at how happy he looked as Janie had her hands locked with Sin, who was being held on Gareth’s shoulders. They were having a chicken fight.
“Sin,” Ryder shouted, “hurt her, and I’ll slaughter you.”
Sin laughed and shoved Janie as Logan kept a tight hold on Janie’s thighs.
“You’re a bad dog, Sin,” Janie yelled, making the men howl with laughter.
“Pull his hair, Little Moon. His hair is his weakness.”
Kylie’s jaw dropped open when she saw her principal drinking a beer. He was shirtless and more ripped than Logan.
“Don’t pull my hair,” Sin roared when Janie reached for it.
Logan suddenly darted a hand out to punch Gareth in the chest.
“Grimm, you fucking cheat,” Gareth hollered, punching back.
Janie yelped, grabbing Logan’s hair to keep herself steady. “Kick his ass, Logan!”
“Sissy!” Gareth started blocking Logan’s hits.
“Oh my gosh,” Kylie whispered, her eyes wide.
“Destroy the sinner,” Janie commanded, giving a battle cry.
The men howled, launching all sorts of floating devices at the man on Gareth’s shoulders. Even Gawain was now wrestling Gareth.
Luc stood from a chair where he had gone unnoticed. Geez, how did she not notice this man? Neck down, he was covered in the most intricate black tattoos. He grabbed a football from Than and hurled it right at Sin, knocking him back like a falling log.
The men cheered as Janie clapped before high-fiving Logan.
“Where’s my dragon?” She looked around.
“Here, my queen.” Damon was also shirtless and giving Kylie a sight she had not expected with a tattoo of dragon wings down his back as a massive dragon head was on his chest, its tail wrapping around his arm. He also had a snake tattoo wrapped around the opposite leg. Those weren’t the last of his tattoos either. The others that stood out were on his shoulders. One had the head of a ram, the other, a bull. It was startling to see him acting like a regular man as he threw a huge inflatable of a black and red dragon into the water.
“Logan,” Janie shouted, “to the dragon.”
Ryder chuckled, walking toward Luc. They seemed to discuss something on Luc’s laptop and were now ignoring the childish games.
Kylie stood there awkwardly with Maura at her side, watching Logan pushing Janie around on the inflatable as she waved to the bowing men. “What is this?”
An unknow
n male voice spoke behind her. “The queen and her men.”
Kylie and Maura whipped their heads around, gasping.
It was Logan’s older brother.
“Um . . .” was all she could say at the moment.
He scanned her slowly but stayed quiet.
Kylie held out her hand. “We didn’t meet properly before—I’m Kylie, and this is my sister Maura.”
His dark eyes went to Maura briefly before returning to Kylie. He didn’t shake her hand, but he introduced himself. “Lykos Grimm. Excuse me.” Then he went around them, heading toward the pool as he tugged off his shirt. Holy shit, he was bigger than Logan and covered in tattoos of wolves and demons. In no time, he was in the water, swimming toward Logan.
Logan quickly stopped hauling Janie around and tapped her leg. The girl fell off the inflatable so quickly, sputtering water but laughing as Lykos pulled her closer, hugging her tightly before kissing her forehead.
“Well, if that doesn’t get under your skin, I’d say you’ve truly grown up.” Damon patted her back.
“Why are they acting like they haven’t seen each other?” Maura asked.
“He’s been gone for two weeks, hunting a lead. They lost contact with him yesterday and feared the worst.” He nudged them both forward. “Go have some fun.”
Kylie pressed her lips together, silent as she took in her former enemy. Janie completely wrapped herself around Lykos, and grinned like a little girl in the arms of her big brother.
“Hello, Kylie.” Gareth swam toward her as Damon walked away. “Maura. Are you two getting in?”
Kylie glanced at Logan. He hadn’t noticed her yet. He was still chatting away with his brother. “Maybe I’ll just sit right here.”
He patted the spot beside him. “Then sit. Tell me how therapy is going for you, ladies. Anyone I have to beat to a pulp?”
She smiled, sitting and pulling up her sweats so she could dangle her legs in the water. Maura joined her, but she didn’t put her feet in. She sat cross-legged, her attention glued to the scene in the water.
“I think beating a bunch of women in recovery from abuse would go against your code,” Kylie told Gareth.
His face turned red. “I meant any male orderlies or guards.”