Bound to Earth

4: I'm First Place, Always

"The logical thing to do is leave before she wakes up." Malachi's voice was muffled by the door. His fear wasn't.

"I'm not leaving my mate," Alistar hissed. "You can leave, though. The door's right there."

I flipped over, shoving a pillow on my head. I still heard everything.

"You'd pick someone you've knows for less than a day, over your brother? She held a knife to your throat and shot Rune."

"I thought it was hot."

"Both of you shut up. No one is leaving," Brynjar grumbled.

"You are all insane. She doesn't even want you and you're pinning after her."

I couldn't stand Malachi's whining anymore.

In less than five minutes, I was changed into leggings and a t-shit, tying up my hair. Valentino had woken and joined their small argument. The testosterone was too much for me to handle without any alcohol in my system.

I opened my bedroom door as Malachi said, "Well maybe I don't want a human for a mate."

Valentino let out a low whistle. "This is going to be entertaining."

I felt out of place in my own home. "I'm going for a run."

"You're not going to eat anything?" Brynjar frowned at me. A small patch of his beard is still missing, the wound was gone.

Shit. "I'll eat something while I'm out. Did you want me to bring anything back?" I'd bring them food regardless of their answer.

"No, we're fine. Maybe one of us could—"

"I'll be back in an hour or two. If you need anything while I'm out, talk to the receptionists downstairs. All you have to do is tell them my name." The door slammed shut behind me unintentionally. Well, subconsciously it may have been deliberate.

I wedged my way to the bar of my restaurant, ignoring the closed sign. I'd go for a run after a drink.

"This early, Mistress?" Diane slipped behind the bar, her green hair tied into a messy bun. She was the manager of my hotel, restaurant, and club. A master multitasker. "How many drinks do we need to get you through the day? From the scowl on your face, I'd say the entire bottle but we'll stick with one, for now."

I took the ale from her gray hands, downing half the glass. "I'm going to need our entire shelf if I want to make it through today."

"You can't drink all our alcohol stash before we even open. How was that boy from last night? I heard you landed yourself a sexy fae."

"You know about that?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Uh oh. I think it's gonna take more than a bottle to get you through today." She innocently whipped at the counters. "And yes, I know about it. I'm the manager of your club and restaurant for a reason."

I sighed. Diane was one of the few people I could trust, and talk to about a few problems. "There's four of them and they're still alive in my home."

"You didn't kill any of them?" She stood, arms akimbo. "Are you torturing them? I don't mind cleaning your messes, but there's only so much gore I can handle."

"None of them are majorly injured."

"Oh my. You slept with them all. Good for you." She grinned, her gray, matted skin wrinkling.

"No, I didn't sleep with them. I only gave them a place to stay, and did some ice breaking." Holding two of them at gun and knife point for information could be considered ice breaking.