average human’s Reviews > All Hail > Status Update

Aodhan glances over his shoulder at me butterflies start up in my stomach.
I guess someone is enjoying the effort I’ve put in.
“Holy shit,” he mutters and Illi huffs at him.
“Wipe your chin, for fuck’s sake. I’ll call Ash to come kill you if you pop a tent in your pants right now. I’ll fucking do it, just for funsies because I don’t wanna see that shit.”
I level a savage glare at him but he grins and shrugs at me. “You look like you’re about to kill your husband for his oil fortune, Queenie.”
I grin and wave a hand in his direction. “That was the exact look I was going for so my job here is done. The suit is perfect, by the way. You should wear one more often, catch your enemies unaware.”
He huffs and kisses my cheek, a hand on my elbow in such a brotherly way that I feel a pang in my chest again for Ash and Harley and even Morrison with his mopey ways.
Aodhan finally finds his words. “You look fucking stunning, don’t listen to Illi. He’s blinded by his love for his wife, he can’t see just how fucking—“
“Did I not just say I’ll call the cavalry home? Keep running your mouth about her and you’ll be waking up in the morning to Ash gouging your fucking eyes out with his bare hands. I’ve seen him kill, you know? I’ve seen just how Beaumont he really is when you fuck with one of his girls and there’s a reason I trusted him with the Wolf’s safety while they prance across the country.”
I snort at Illi. “I thought you trusted Harley with her safety? He’ll be devastated to find out you replaced him.”
He shrugs. “That’s a given. Arbour is a Mounty, of course he can take a swing and shed a little blood. No way you can breathe the air down there and not be a little fucked up.”
I roll my eyes at him and then with a pointed look shoo him off so I can speak to Aodhan without his threats. He waits until Aodhan isn’t looking and then grins at me like this is all just one big joke to him.
Asshole.
“You really do look fucking beautiful, Queenie.”
The way his voice dips low makes me believe him too. “If I didn’t have the lipstick on I’d let you kiss me, O’Cronin, but I need to look my best. What are you doing here, anyway?”
He huffs out a breath and scrubs a hand over his face. “Illi mentioned you guys were heading out and I thought it would be best if someone was here to keep an eye on the place while you’re gone, just in case they wanna drop off another clue. Now I’m fucking glad I saw you before you left… fuck me.”
He says it like a prayer but I lean up into his space and enjoy the way he stops breathing. “If you’re here when I get home… maybe.”
I smirk as I turn and walk away, enjoying the muttering he does under his breath and the way he clutches at his chest like I’ve stabbed him.
Again.
Illi helps me into the BMW and shuts the door behind me, ever the gentleman, and then he gets us onto the highway. I can wear a seatbelt without ruining my dress but when I mention this to him, he shrugs.
“I already told you you’re safe with me. Just sit there and enjoy the drive, we’re close to two hours away so maybe get a nap in, kid.”
There’s no way I can sleep with all of the planning and mind games and plotting happening in my head.
No rest for the wicked.
My phone buzzes with a text from Aodhan and the butterflies start a riot in my stomach.
I can’t wait to strip that dress off of you when you get back.
My thighs clench together and I have to remind myself that I’m not wearing underwear and the fabric is very thin. Probably not the best idea but too late to reconsider now.
My phone buzzes again and I find a message from Lips there.
Illi sent me a photo of the dress. Try not to run away with Atticus when he sees you in it.
I scoff at her but before I can reply she sends through a photo of her own. They’ve stopped into a bar in some little town on the road. Blaise has an arm around Finn and a grin on his face while Harley scowls at them both with a beer at his lips.
Ash is staring into the camera and there’s no doubt that Lips is the one behind the camera. He doesn’t give anyone those soft eyes but her, the smirk on his face a loving thing rather than the one that he gives everyone else that drips with acid.
His hair has grown out a little, curling at his temples and, sitting at the bar in a pair of jeans and an old Vanth tee, he looks like a normal teenager. He looks happy and tired and in love and so at peace with everything and I’ve never been so fucking thankful to the little lost Mounty girl we tormented through freshman year.