Page 68 of The Last Aether

I arched a brow. “Define fun.”

He chuckled, squeezing the back of my neck. “A three-letter word that most of this house has completely forgotten existed.”

Kai had a point there. We had been far too focused on killers, power-hungry plots, and mean girls. It wouldn’t hurt to have a night of relaxation. I should’ve probably worked on the homework that was piling up, but I just didn’t have it in me.

Instead, I smiled up at Kai. “Find us some fun.”

* * *

“She cheats!” Phoenix shouted as I leapt to my feet and shook my hips back and forth in a victory dance.

The warm buzz of a cider Atlas had poured coursed through me as I tossed my cards onto the ottoman. “Nope. Just damn lucky.”

And as Riven chuckled, staring up at me with tenderness in his eyes, I felt that luck. It was in the warm affection that had swirled around me all night. In the fierce protectiveness and gentle care of all these men.

Atlas shook his head, amusement lacing his features. “She’s a card shark.”

Kai frowned at me. “I never would’ve taught her the damn game if she was going to win every hand.”

“You’re just pissed that your reign is over,” Riven shot back at him.

Kai huffed. “Beginner’s luck. She won’t keep it for long.”

My eyes narrowed on him. “I’ll take you on any day, any time.”

“Oh, really?” Kai leapt up from the floor, diving for me.

I shrieked as he tossed me over his shoulder and started for the stairs, tickling my sides. “Beg for mercy.”

“Never.”

He charged up the stairs, the rest of the guys on our heels. “Last chance…”

“I’ll never give in,” I cried in between fits of laughter.

A second later, I was sailing through the air. I landed with an oomph on Kai’s ridiculously fluffy bed. Pressing up on my elbows, I scowled at him. “That was rude.”

Kai grinned that cocky smile that had my insides twisting into delicious knots. “Have to show you who’s boss around here.”

I arched a brow. “Boss?”

Atlas snorted. “There’s only one boss around here and she’s lying on the bed, covered in feathers.”

I plucked a white feather from my hair that had clearly come from a pillow I’d landed on. “Oops.”

Phoenix strode towards me, his powerful form eating up the space. “Now that we’ve got you here, what are we going to do with you?”

Heat pooled low in my belly at the rasp in his words. “I bet you could get creative.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Creativity is my middle name.”

Atlas moved then, rounding the bed and taking my mouth in a kiss that stole my breath. I pushed into it, needing more of his taste and feel. When I broke away, I was breathless.

My gaze cut to movement in the doorway. Riven hovered there. Such want in his eyes. It cracked something deep in my chest.

“I can go,” he said quietly.

I shook my head. “Stay.” My voice shook on the single word. “I’m not ready for everything, but I want you here.”