@SaintSinAlwaysMine.The one who said he’s ‘going there today’. Fucking fuck.
“How wrong are we talking?”
Bishop, sitting in front, turns around grimly. “Security said his last known location was within five miles of our hotel. And he’s said some more stuff online. Said he’s ‘claimed’ you.”
My stomach drops into my shoes.
“We’re taking you somewhere secure,” Zane says, sliding his hand over mine, clenching it possessively. “You’re not going back to the hotel. Ever.”
The SUV winds through dirt hills and desert roads of Santa Fe until we pull into a gated driveway surrounded by high walls, cameras, and trees thick enough to hide a small army.
A safe house. Mega props to Freddie for spiriting this up in record time.
Zane’s hand never leaves mine.
Inside, everything is quiet, expensive, clinical. Too clean. Too empty.
Too… watched.
“Ruby,” Zane murmurs, turning me toward him after security scour the three staggered floors of the sprawling, ultra-private Santa Fe estate carved into the red cliffs, all glass walls, desert silence, and enough acreage to swallow a band—and every paparazzo—whole. “You’re safe.”
I’m about to reply when a familiar voice drifts from behind a column.
“He’s right. You’re safe here. The house has good bones.”
I jump.
Mama Draven moves forward in a long silk robe, hair in braids, hands full of crystals.
“I…I didn’t know she was coming with us?” I whisper, then feel a twinge of guilt for wanting Zane to myself.
“She’s sticking around for a while,” Zane mutters. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course she doesn’t mind,” the older woman answers, gliding toward me like she’s floating.
I’d love to be able to move like that.
“The energies were vibrating violently today. The frequencies were unstable in that hotel. But we’re here now…” She touches my cheek like I’m a priceless relic. “You lit him up. You liteverythingup.”
I blink. “I don’t?—”
“I wasn’t sure at first, but now I see it clearly.”
“See what?” I ask, nervous as hell.
She tilts her head, as if I’m a little stupid. “Why, that you’re a siren, dear.”
Zane groans. “Mom.”
She pats his arm. “The real kind. Not the mythic kind that drowns sailors. The kind that pulls a soul into harmony…and ruins him if she leaves.”
I swallow hard. “Umm, I’m not ruining anybody. Zero ruining,” I whisper.
Mama smiles serenely. “Oh, sweetheart. You already are.”
I glance at Zane.
Despite his half-protest a second ago, he doesn’t look in the least bit perturbed. Hell, he looks…elated. I’m shaking my head when he rubs his nose over mine, just pulls me closer, then buries his face in my neck, his breath shaking.
