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Kheir liked to think he was a patient man. Training with his father's army had taught him discipline and control, how to master his rage so it didn't muddy his thoughts. But he wasonemore comment away from breaking Isak Sintali's already crooked nose.
He exhaled a slow breath of relief when Maia, Azrail, and Ark appeared at the bottom of the stairs into the bar, bringing the scent of sex with them. Kheir was instantly hard, his eyes fixed on his mate, but he kept his expression neutral.
"Have a nice morning?" Isak asked, leaning back at the table they shared, his eyes sparkling as he speared a sausage from Jaromir's plate and bit into it. "Sausage, dove?" he asked, holding it out to her.
"Hilarious," she replied deadpan. "Truly, you are the height of intelligent humour."
He sketched a half bow, nearly dipping his long hair into the pint of ale in front of him. The kid had issues if he was drinking this early, but Kheir wasn't going to comment on it.
"That wasmysausage," Jaro complained quietly, his back straight and face utterly neutral. Even his eyes were bright, as if he'd learned to hide emotion there, too.
"Sorry, bro," Isak replied with a shrug, eating the rest of it. "Don't remember the last time I ate."
Well, that was pitiful.
"We felt everything, you know?" Isak said, flicking a grin at Maia as she sat beside Kheir, and any sympathy Kheir had felt dried up. "Everything," he emphasised.
Alright, that wasit.
Kheir snapped his hand out and closed it around Isak's throat, squeezing just enough to make him dizzy.
"I suggest you watch your tone," he commented mildly. "Another remark about Maia, and you'll find yourself with your throat ripped out by men who have far less patience than me."
He squeezed harder and let go, watching Isak slump against the padded booth.
"You should be honoured to feel her pleasure," Kheir added, and passed Maia the plate they'd had made up for her. "Here you are, my star."
Maia was watching him with wide eyes. "How do I keep forgetting you're an army badass?" she asked with a laugh.
"Good question," he replied and kissed her cheek. "Eat—you must be hungry."
"Mm,quitean appetite," Isak joked, but he shut up swiftly when Azrail growled low, teeth bared. Even if Isak respected none of them, he was at least wary of the Sapphire Knight. Kheir nodded, satisfied, and angled himself towards Maia as Ark strode to the bar, presumably to get the rest of them breakfast.
"Can you please be polite to my family?" Jaro asked Isak quietly, sounding tired already. "They've done nothing wrong to you."
"I can't be polite to anyone," Isak replied with a shrug. "It's not my personality type. Are you eating that bacon?"
"Yes," Maia bit out. "Heis. Eat, Jaro," she added, softening her voice. "Don't let this fucker bully you."
"This fucker," Isak replied with a delighted grin, "is here to answer your prayers. I thought you wanted a murder island tour guide?"
"We do," Azrail agreed, arms crossed over his chest. "But you're on your final warning."
"Oooh," Isak said under his breath, bringing his pint glass to his mouth and smirking as he drank. Did he ever stop smirking? Kheir wanted to throw him through the window, but that would only cause trouble for his mate and their family. "Not a final warning."
"Eat, Jaro," Maia repeated quietly, noticing what none of them had: that he hadn't touched anything. "If you want me to kick his ass, just say the word."
Jaro shook his head, but he began to eat, and they all seemed to exhale at once. Well, not Bryon, who was staring at a spot on the opposite wall and pretending he wasn't here, or Isak, who kept drinking until his glass was empty.
"Has he told us where the island is yet?" Ark asked, striding over from the bar with two plates in his hand, passing one to Azrail.
"Better," Az replied with a dark smile. "He's going to lead us right to it."
Isak opened his mouth, his glassy eyes darkening with something close to fear.
"Unless you'd rather meet the Wolven Lord's full power," Azrail added, smoke floating dangerously around him. "It’s your choice, Isak."