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"Um… Yes. I am. I'll go after Charlie," I say firmly. I’m not weak, I can and will contribute to my group’s safety.

  "Not happening, badass. You need sleep." Crossing my arms over my chest I stare open-mouthed at Crowley. How dare he?

  "Yeah, not happening, big guy. I go after Char. You can suck it if you think I'm backing down." It's his turn to stare in shock. I back down to no one. Not even my promised. Sitting down next to Baby, I give him a pat on his head and proceed to shovel food in my mouth. Crowley remains stock-still as I eat, his mouth still hanging open. "Might wanna close that, unless you want flies with your rabbit." A chuckle behind me lets me know Connor was back in the room.

  Without turning I say, "Sit, Connor, better eat before I eat yours too.” Shaking his head, Connor walks across the room and sits next to me. Turning to me with a mouth full of rabbit meat, he laughs.

  "He did nickname you, badass, yet he thinks he can boss you around." He turns to Crowley. "Can't make her do anything, brother, didn't you learn that yet?" Letting out a huff, Crowley carries on eating.

  That's right boys, Kayla’s her own boss. The power is mine, always

  "So, Charlie, huh?" Connor asks as we stand outside the building watching Chris talk to a group of Panda. It's dark now, the moon big in the sky, casting just enough light to see by.

  Looking up into his mismatched eyes a silly smile on my face, I reply, "Yes." Kicking the rubble at my feet I avoid eye contact. I'm not ashamed, nervous perhaps? I don't know how the others will react.

  "Great choice, sweet face. He's--"

  "Special," I say, interrupting Connor.

  "Yeah, he is." Chuckling he walks towards Chris and his people. Following him with a smile that makes my face ache, I take my time.

  "What do you mean?" Connor gestures wildly with his hands as he speaks. When I approach them, Connor and Chris turn to me.

  "What the fuck?" Chris's face has been slashed down one side. In the last few hours since I've seen him, he's clearly been in a fight and… has he grown some hair? Reaching up I touch it; soft black locks cover his once bald head. "Um… I’m in love with your hair, Chris." I giggle like a schoolgirl as he dips his head so that I can reach better. "The fuck happened to your face?"

  "City men attacked my people over there." He jerks his chin towards the middle of town. City men? "They left but killed some of mine." He sounds so broken. I cup his face in my palm as sadness fills my heart. Will we ever convince the world not all Panda are flesh-eating monsters?

  "Ok. Go back and tell Crowley, he's chomping at the bit to get out here. Connor," I tell them all as Chris murmurs something to the Panda at his side. Still freaky having them so close. Chris is so different I barely see the blackness around his eyes anymore. "Wake Charlie."

  Nodding, Connor walks back into The Middle. Turning back to me, Chris strokes a finger down my cheek.

  "I smell him on you." Well shit. Right to the point huh. "Did he… take care of you?" The small smile on his plump lips gives me chills. He’s sexy for you know… a dead guy.

  "Chris." I look down at my feet, the holes in the toes of my boots suddenly very interesting. "Charlie and I, we have… a bond like nothing I've felt before. We’re connected." He wraps both hands around my face, tilting it toward his.

  "Mine, I have that for you. Bond." Softly he presses his lips to mine. His hands move to thread through my hair. Removing the piece of wire there he lets my hair loose, running his fingers through the golden locks. "Kay-La." My name slurs on his lips as he pulls away slightly, our eyes meet. His hands slide down my back to cup my arse so he can pull us closer.

  "Chris." Letting my arms drop from around his neck, I drag them down the front of his body. His hard abs flexing under the thin material of his shirt as I reach the hem of his pants. Desire shoots through my stomach.

  "Kayla!" I don't even jump as Crowley's voice rings out behind me. Moving my eyes from Chris', I look around to see his Panda have formed a circle around us.

  "Protect you always, Mine." Placing one softer kiss to my lips, Chris lets me go. Together with his people, he walks away as Crowley comes to a stop next to me. I take a moment to watch Chris leave, his butt a sight to behold.

  "Charlie’s asking for you. Connor told me about the attack on Chris'… people." Spinning on my heel, I face Crowley. As sexy as this guy is, his broad shoulders muscles upon muscles, tattoos and a badass attitude… he sure lacks in the smoothness department.

  "Ok, it's my turn to take watch so you guys plan tomorrow's journey. Whoever's up can tell me the plan in two hours," I demand. He won't talk me out of this. I’m not the weak link here. Lifting my hand, I place it on his chest. Immediately, he covers it with his own.

  "Kay I…" Shaking his head he runs his other hand through his hair roughly. "I've never been so affected by a woman before. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a little lost when it comes to you." He blows out a breath, frustrated with himself.

  "Crow, you're doing better than I am! Listen, things are in that weird starting out stage my mum told me she hated so much. Her and my dads fumbled around for months trying to work it all out. Things like this," I raise my hand to indicate The Middle, then to him and myself, "Takes time. It won't happen overnight." Slipping my hand from his I hold his face. "Be patient with me big guy." Crowley growls low in his chest. Picking me up, he throws me through the air towards The Middle, and I crash to the earth in bone-breaking fashion. The breath leaves my lungs in a rush and I'm left panting in the ground as the world around me burns.

  All I can see are flames as I open my eyes. The ground around me is on fire but none of my clothes or skin is burnt. Lifting my hand, I check my hair, still there. Pushing myself off the ground, I try to find Crowley through the smoke. "Crowley!" I scream at the top of my lungs as I search, but I don't hear myself. All I can hear is the ringing in my ears. I nearly jump out of my skin when a hand clamps down on my shoulder. Spinning, I throw my fist out and it collides with a face I know well. I immediately pull back before I whip the legs from under Charlie.

  His mouth is moving, gesturing wildly while looking at the carnage around us. "Find Crowley!" I shout so loud my throat burns from the effort. Squinting through the darkness and smoke, I see a body lying prone on the ground. I rush to it and drop to my knees. Using both hands I turn him over. Tears spring to my eyes as Crowley's burnt face is exposed to the sky. "Crowley! Oh shit." I turn and scream for Charlie, "Help! Come here, Charlie, Crowley’s hurt!"

  Turning back to Crow I check for a pulse. Finding none I press my lips to his and blow air into his lungs. His chest rises then falls, but he doesn't take the next breath. I repeat the process as Charlie skids to a stop next to us, the ringing in my ears quiets a little. "He's not breathing. Please heal him." Without hesitation Charlie places his hands on Crowley's chest, grunting with concentration. Connor rushes over as I lean down to blow into Crowley's mouth again.

  "The fuck?" Turning he screams out, "Chris! Kayla, you're bleeding." Connor tries to touch my head, but I bat his hand away. My focus solely on bringing Crowley back to life. His face is almost fully burned down one side, black and red streaks across the skin, making him barely recognisable.

  "Charlie?" I ask, tears roll down both our faces as our eyes meet.

  "It’s not working…" Shaking his head, Charlie looks down at Crowley. Leaning down further, he plants his lips to Crowley's, attempting to heal him with a kiss as he had me. Moments later, he comes up for air with a gasp, I watch as realisation dawns on Charlie's face and that's when I lose my shit. Pushing off the ground, I stand as red and gold flames spread across my skin. The earth beneath me crackles and burns.

  "Who did this? I will fucking burn them to ashes!" My gaze lands on the buildings in front of us, shadows play tricks with my mind as the flames on my body blaze brighter. Men from the city. They did this. They killed my Crowley and now they will fucking burn.

  Rage, pure and unadulterated, runs through my veins as I walk away from Crowley’s body. Ven
geance. I will avenge Crowley's murder. The person who killed him will beg for my mercy, but I will give him no quarter.

  "Kayla! No!" Charlie's voice rings out, echoing off the walls of buildings. Faces appear in front of me, but I cannot see them. The world blurs through the heat of my flames.

  Connor's voice rings loud and true in my mind, Baby girl turn around. Look!

  Turning my body to face the fool who dared to interrupt my wrath, my mouth poised to scream at him. My whole-body freezes. Because standing on his own two feet, his face no longer black and red, is Crowley. The fuck? Our eyes meet across the distance as my flames disappear completely.

  He's alive sweet face. Healed. Come. Connor's voice vibrates through my head.

  Digging my heels into the ground I sprint back to Crow in mere seconds and throw my arms around him. My face buried in his neck, my lips against his smoky skin, I sob.

  "You were dead! Oh my God Crowley." Between sobs, I look up at his face. It's then I see the scar. The spiderweb across his cheek and forehead on the left side. The other side of his face is mark free. Dropping kisses over the marks, I show him how happy I am he’s alive. "Who did this? What happened?"

  "A grenade. Thrown by a lone city dweller. Chris and his people dispatched him. But not before he told them his troop had been killed by Panda. They're all dead or Panda now," Charlie mumbles while he lays on his back in the dirt. He must’ve given everything he had to heal Crowley.

  "I checked the area, none are left. We’re safe again," Chris tells us all. Thank fuck.

  "Crowley, don't ever fucking do that to me again!" I smack him lightly on his chest then pull him close once again.

  Chuckling he answers, "Sorry darlin. Are you ok?" He wraps his big hands around my face, using it to move me this way and that, inspecting me for injuries.

  "No. I mean yes. I mean…" My mind’s scrambled. I almost went full-on fuck shit up for a minute there. I wanted to burn the world down in order to avenge his murder.

  "It's ok darlin. I'm fine, see?" Grabbing my hands, he rests them over his heart so I feel it beating. "I'm fine."

  "Your face… I…"

  "Don't worry about it, it's just a face, besides," he grins down at me, a cheeky glint in his green eyes. "Isn't it my sexy body you love most?" Confusion rolls through me.

  "No." My brows draw down in a frown, and I shake my head at him.

  His expression matches the look on mine as he says, "Oh?" He looks a little sad at that.

  "No, Crow," his eyebrows raise at my use of his nickname. "It's what's in here I really like." I tap my fingers above his heart. He blinks, long and slow like he's trying to make sense of what I'm saying. "Your heart, Crowley. You may think you've got everyone fooled, but I see you." Turning away from him, I look at the other three men surrounding us. To Chris, Connor and Charlie I say, "I see you all."

  Reaching out a hand, Charlie takes it. Connor holds his other and he grabs Chris' who joins hands with Crowley. Standing in a circle, our hands joined, I realise then I'm falling for these men. Faster than a lightning strike, they've entered my heart and broken down my walls. It's not love yet, because I'm not really sure I'm capable of that, but I really like them all.

  "I'm in like with all of you." I giggle nervously at my own version of "I'm in love with you." I look around at them, hoping no one freaks out at my admission. Chris speaks first, and I almost cry at his words.

  "Kayla, you saved me. I'm in like with you too." He leans across and kisses me softly, his eyes glowing brightly as our lips meet. When we move back from each other Connor clears his throat.

  "Kay I... I like you too, sweet face. Although," he chuckles looking down at his feet, "that should be obvious." He looks down and my eyes follow his, to the large bulge in his pants. Oh, bloody hell.

  "She means something deeper than your dick, Con," Crowley lightly admonishes him while shaking his head.

  "What? My heart's in my cock, big guy." That cheeky grin is back on his face as Crowley takes my hand in his.

  "Darlin, I'd move the earth for you." He lays a sweet kiss on the back of my hand and steps away, Connor moves forward.

  Looking into my eyes Connor tells me, "I really do like you, Kay. But I also find you sexy as fuck. The two things are connected for me."

  Shrugging my shoulders, I let a quiet laugh out. "I know Connor. And it's Ok."

  "Kayla?" The uncertainty of Charlie's voice makes my head whip around to meet his brown eyes.

  "Charlie?" Is all I can think of to say because the emotion I see there floor me.

  "My heart tells me I'm in love with you." Drawing in a lungful of air I sway on my feet. "My body tells me I want you." Slowly, he walks towards me. "My soul says your mine." Reaching me, one of his hands cups my face, the other snakes into the base of my hair until our foreheads rest against each other. "Kayla, I’m yours. Wholly, irrevocably. For eternity. I love you, Kayla." Silence surrounds us as we kiss with a punishing passion.

  "Fucking Charlie, way to outdo us all," Connor comments with a chuckle. Everyone bursts into laughter. Charlie moves back and laughs along with us. This is the first time I've seen Chris and Crowley laugh. It's a beautiful sight. Once we've all regained control of ourselves, we walk back into The Middle. Holding Crowley’s hand, we enter the living space as a group.

  "I don't know about anyone else," stretching my arms above my head I yawn loudly. "But I'm exhausted. Time for sleep. It's almost light out, no watch needed."

  "Yes, I agree. To bed everyone. In three hours, we restart our journey to the city," Crowley orders. I find myself being turned on when he's bossy like this, I like it. Connor drops a kiss to my forehead and walks off to the room he chose.

  "I… I actually do feel the need to sleep," Chris says looking and sounding surprised. "I haven't slept since I was," he indicated the black over his eyes. "Until earlier. Sleep well angel," he says as he softly kisses me. He disappears into the room next to Connor's.

  Turning to Charlie and Crowley I wonder aloud, "If he hadn't slept, I wonder if all the Panda don't need sleep?"

  "That's interesting. So… where are you sleeping, Kay?" Crowley edges.

  Hmm is he asking me to sleep with him? Am I ready for that? Charlie and I had sex just hours ago, it wouldn't feel right to do it with Crow right after. He must see my thoughts on my face because he says, "I am exhausted too. But I'd… well I’d like the opportunity to hold you." Turning to Charlie he asks, "If that’s ok?"

  A smile on his face Charlie responds, "That's up to, Kay. Not me, brother."

  I take a minute to answer, mostly to keep Crowley guessing. "Of course, you can sleep in my room Crow." I turn to meet Charlie's earthy brown eyes. "There’s room for both of you, you know?" Smiling shyly at them I twist my hair around my finger. Without saying another word Crow and Char each take one of my hands and pull me towards the room where all my rags are.

  I take off my boots and place them next to my chains and lay down. I watch in rapt fascination as Crowley and Charlie strip off their t-shirts. Admiring Crow's tattoos as they both pull off their pants I ask, "Do those things hurt?" Indicating the ink across his chest.

  Looking down at them he replies, "Nah. It’s more of an annoying sensation than pain." Charlie's body is ink-free but just as sexy. Once their pants are off, I cock my head at the material covering their crotches.

  I ask, "What are those?"

  "Boxer shorts," Charlie replies as he lowers to the floor next to me. "Males in the city wear them. Like the male version of knickers."

  "Oh. I like them," I reply as Crowley lays at my other side. Sandwiched between two of the hottest males I've ever set eyes on, I wiggle down until I'm face to face with Crow. The new scars on his face look gnarly, but I barely see them as I stare sleepily into his eyes.

  "You're so beautiful Kayla. Could you ever love me now?" He lifts a hand to touch the marks left behind by the explosion.

  "I'm not sure I could ever love anyone, Crow. I'm sorry. But you're sti
ll just as handsome to me." Sadness laces my voice. If only I wasn't so broken, I could absolutely see myself loving these four men, but I’m broken. Charlie's arm snakes around my waist as he snuggles into my back just as Crowley's hand rests on my hip. I fall asleep almost instantly.

  I come awake in my usual fashion, immediately, and I jolt upright. I'm alone, cold and refreshed. Which isn't usually how I feel. Voices float down the hall to me. Attempting to speak in quiet tones, the guys talk about how today's trip will be handled. But the walls are thin, and I can hear everything they say.

  "We need to get there by morning, it's Tuesday and my contact will be on guard duty Wednesday morning." Crowley, in charge as always. What's Tuesday and Wednesday? Are they his contacts?

  "Are you sure we can trust him, Crowley? I mean… I know you trained him but it's Kayla's life we’re putting at risk with this move," Charlie counters. They've totally lost me now, so I stop listening. Climbing over the rags, I pick up my chains quietly as I stand, wrapping them around my body once more. The cold metal feels good against my heated skin.

  Sprinkling a little water from my canteen into my hand, I wash my face and essentials. Using a smaller spare rag, I dry myself. A small piece of looking glass remains in a frame in the room. I stand in front of it and look at myself for the first time in what has to be months. My long golden hair sticks out at all angles, blood and dirt streaks across my pale skin. I look tired but there’s a smile on my lips. I can’t remember the last time I smiled so much.

  Things went from Baby and me to a full house quicker than a speeding arrow. When I was trapped in that shack with Connor, more scared than I'd ever admit, I would never have guessed that in just a few short days I would have four boyfriends. Running my fingers through my hair, getting caught up and pulling apart the tangles, I wonder if they’re actually my boyfriends. Maybe Charlie is. We’ve had sex after all. But what about the others?

  Do kisses stolen here and there constitute a relationship? They've all made it pretty clear they like me. But how do they all feel about me being with the others too? While almost every woman left has multiple partners, it doesn't mean it always works out. I've seen the way Crowley looks at Chris as if he'd like nothing more than to part his head from his body with his bare hands. Connor’s still frightened of Baby, but we’re a package deal, he and I.