Four-Letter Words by Evans, Gabrielle (best novel books to read .txt) 📕

was no way in hell Zasha would even attempt to picture his mate as a child. Perhaps that was why he’d been so slow to think of a solution. “Why is it only them, though?”

“No idea, angel.”

Zasha snorted and elbowed the man in the ribs. “You better watch that shit. You might be bigger and older, but Thane can bend you into a pretzel with just a thought.”

The funny part about it was that the nickname wasn’t an endearment. Hell, it wasn’t even a compliment. According to Raven, Zasha was the angel of death when it came to all things fun, and apparently, Thane agreed with that assessment if his earlier comment about him being a “fun sucker” was any indication.

“I think it stops here,” Kieran announced from where he stood with his brothers just a few feet from the edge of the hilltop. “I don’t feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin anymore.”

Zasha had noticed the low-level buzz, but he’d been strung tight since they’d started their trek, and he hadn’t thought anything of it. “Can we hurry this up?”

“One question first,” Raven countered.

“Fine.”

“Have you told Thane?”

Zasha didn’t mean to laugh, but it was so ridiculously absurd to think he would have announced to his chosen mate that he’d had a brief fling with the Enforcer. The entire affair had lasted exactly forty-six days, and it was actually comical how very, very wrong they’d been for one another. By mutual agreement, it was decided they were much better off as friends, and Raven had definitely been a good friend since the split.

“That was three years ago, and it was over before either of us could blink. Why would I bring that up?”

“I don’t know dick about relationships, but I do pay attention. If there is one thing I’ve learned since everyone started falling in love left and right, it’s that these things come out eventually.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t know what else to say. Truly, he wasn’t trying to be a prick, but the entire relationship—if he could call it that—hadn’t even progressed past the awkward stage. Raven was a good friend, and he cared about people much more than anyone realized. The fact still remained that he wasn’t exactly one of those “forever” kind of guys. Why he’d felt the need to bring up their so-called past was as confusing as it was irrelevant to Zasha’s current relationship.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” After that little jab, Raven finally dropped the subject and returned his attention to the game. “Okay. Simon says run as fast as you can to Kieran. The first one to touch him wins.”

Jumping out of the way to avoid being trampled, Zasha put the uncomfortable conversation with Raven out of his mind while he held his breath, waiting to see if Kieran was right about the distance. He was also a little worried that one of the overgrown children would become too enthusiastic and end up sending everyone tumbling over the side of the mountain.

Luckily, the werewolves had anticipated this as well, and they worked as a unit to herd the Braddocks away from the drop-off. There was still a lot of shoving and bickering at first, but one by one, the witches eventually began to return to their senses.

“What just happened?” Thane was the first to come out from under the spell, and he shook his head as though trying to expel water from his ears as he pulled Zasha into his arms. “I feel like someone stuffed my head full of cotton. Is everything okay?”

A smile pulled at the corner of his lips, and Zasha stretched up on his toes for a kiss. “It is now.” He just hoped it stayed that way. If that was only the first deterrent their enemies had established, he definitely wasn’t looking forward to the next. “Just so you know, Thane. You were kind of an asshole when you were a kid.”

“Uh…okay.” His brow creased and his nose wrinkled. “Wait. What?”

Chuckling under his breath, Zasha took his lover’s hand and tugged. “I’ll explain later. C’mon, let’s go.”

The hike down the side of the mountain should have been impossible without the appropriate climbing gear. With a little magical help from the witches, and the fact that most of them were blessed with paranormal strength and agility, they reached the valley below without incident.

The trek through the sand produced no further complications, either, and they reached the water’s edge much sooner than Zasha had anticipated. It did seem strange that they’d encountered no other deterrents. Maybe they’d stumble upon more enchantments once they’d crossed the lake. After all, he highly doubted they’d reached the end of their journey.

“Now what?” There was no boat in sight. He saw no natural bridge or any other way for them to reach the other side. Lost in thought, it took him a moment to realize that no one had responded to his question. “Thane?”

“Well, hello, gorgeous.” Thane sidled closer, pressing into Zasha’s personal space with a cocky leer. “These lips are going to look very pretty wrapped around my cock.”

“I beg your pardon?” Zasha wasn’t wholly against the picture his lover painted, but he didn’t feel their current venue was the appropriate place for such suggestions.

“Oh, I certainly intend to make you beg.”

“Thane…” Trailing off on a frustrated groan, Zasha surveyed the rest of their group, unsurprised to see similar situations happening all around him. “Here we go again.” He had been expecting it, but he’d foolishly convinced himself they’d been granted a short reprieve until they’d found a way to cross the waters.

All around him, pandemonium ensued. Lynk was attempting to climb October like a stripper pole. The poor leader was barely paying him attention, though. His gaze was locked on Raith, and he looked mad enough to spit fire as he watched his mate rub against his second-in-command, Gideon. Lynk’s mate, Kieran, was growling and snarling, trying to fight off his youngest brothers’ restraining hold in an attempt to get