“You made a start by eradicating all the Soldier scum from this earth,” Aeron states darkly behind me, and I spin around, Rook’s arms falling from around me.
“What the fuck, Devil Man?” I yell, anger making my pulse hum underneath my skin and helping to chase the exhaustion away. “He doesn’t need to make a start!”
“Yes, he does, Little Bird,” Knox tells me, coming up next to Aeron and looking at Rook with what looks like respect shining in his hazel eyes.
“It’s not just Tailors who recognize and pay their debts, Nightingale,” Jude adds, coming to stand right in front of me and taking my hands in his. “You know you would feel the same. Let him prove to himself he’s worthy of the title of leader.”
My mouth opens, then closes as I think over their words. Jude is right, I would feel the same, like I owed Rook something, and for years I’d felt like I’d failed him by not being able to get us out from under Rufus’s boot. Like I’d failed my mom. Taking a deep inhale, I give Jude’s hands a squeeze, letting them go to face Rook. Reaching up, I place my hands either side of his face, bringing his stormy gaze to mine.
“As far as I’m concerned, Rook, there is no debt to be paid and nothing to forgive,” I inform him softly, rushing to continue as his mouth opens in protest. “But, if you want to honor our mother and her memory, you make sure that no woman is ever hurt by a Soldier again. Swear it.”
His eyes are blue fire as he brings his hands up and copies my move. His palms are warm, they always were, although now there are calluses that didn’t used to be there.
“I swear to you on our mother’s soul that no woman will ever be harmed by another Soldier while I live and lead them. Anyone who is found to be harming women will be dealt with swiftly and brutally, regretting the day they were born. This I promise to you, Lark.” He presses a soft kiss on my forehead before stepping away and both of our hands drop. My vision wavers as I stare at him in the pre-dawn light, looking so fierce, exactly as a leader should.
He gives me and the guys a nod then turns around and walks towards Adam and the remaining Tailors. Adam casts a lookour way, giving us a wave and then placing his hand on Rook’s shoulder before leading him out of the alley.
Strong arms wrap around me from behind, followed by the spicy scent of cardamom surrounding me.
“Adam is the best man I’ve ever met. He saved me from a life that wasn’t worth living and gave me a chance to become the man I was always meant to be. He will take care of Rook,Eshgham, and guide him down his rightful path.”
I relax into his body, letting the warmth of him heat my rapidly chilling limbs.
“I know, but I can’t help worrying about him. I’ve been taking care of him for the past ten years, it’s hard to let that go,” I whisper, bringing his arms closer around me as I start to shiver and notice how the asphalt is digging into my now freezing feet. I forgot I wasn’t wearing any shoes.
“I know, Pretty Bird,” he replies, hugging me even tighter and making my ribs protest but I don’t care. I need comfort right now. “But sometimes we have to let things go to allow them to fly on their own and discover who they are.” My lips tug upward into a smile at his beautiful words.
“Does that mean you will let me go?” His arms become almost crushing then, and although it hurts my ribs more, I don’t complain, especially as a growl rumbles from his chest.
“I’m afraid that I can’t do that,Aziz-e delam. You are the Tailor’s ruin, and I think you already know who you are.”
“Who’s that?” I ask, curious to hear what he says, unsure if I do know who I am. I’m not a Soldier anymore, I never really was. My lips turn down at the thought.
“Why, you’re ours, Nightingale,” Jude simply states, sauntering around to my front and stroking a hand down my cheek. “Ours to break.” He gives me a wink, and my lips tug up again.
“Ours to destroy,” Tarl whispers against my ear like a lover’s caress, sending goose bumps to pebble my flesh.
Knox comes up on one side and his fingers grasp my jaw, turning my head to face him. His hazel eyes flash in the low light, dawn beginning to lighten the sky behind us.
“Ours to own,” he growls, dipping his head to give me a quick, bruising kiss that warms me all the way to my freezing toes. He releases me, both of us gasping and his gaze goes behind me as he lets go of my face.
I turn my head, Tarl’s arms still around me, and lock eyes with Aeron, the ocean swirling in them.
“Ours to love,” he whispers, and my heart fucking bursts, my skin no longer able to contain the organ as they surround me with their love and warmth. Maybe I have found myself after all. I just needed to run into the arms of my enemies to do it. “Now let’s go home, Dove.”
Home.
The word covers me like a blanket as Jude takes one hand, Tarl moving to my other side, taking the other, and just like a blanket, I draw it close around me, letting it comfort me and sink in.
“Motherfucker!” I hiss, as something sharp embeds itself in the sole of my foot. I hop, letting go of Tarl’s hand to lean on Jude and inspect the damage. I squeal when I’m suddenly lifted into powerful arms, motor oil and cloves letting me know it was Knox who just quite literally swept me off my feet.
“Allow me to carry you, Little Bird,” he teases, striding off to curses behind us from Jude.
“Bastard! I could have carried her, Daddy!” Jude shouts at Knox’s back, and Knox pauses, looking over his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I’ll fill that naughty mouth of yours later, little boy,” he tells him, and the way his voice dips low at the end has heat flaring between my thighs once more. Jesus, I’m going tobe in a permanent state of arousal for the rest of my life around these guys, aren’t I?
Jude doesn’t respond, but I look beyond Knox to see Tarl laugh. “Serves you right, Brat.”
