I jumped when a hand landed on my jerking leg.
“Time to get out.”
I blinked, disoriented. How long had we been driving? Seconds? Minutes? I had no idea. I moved my hands from my lap and hugged my body, suddenly cold. I blinked, my mind fuzzy. “What?” Were we on a mission? Jeez, my head hurt. Had I been on an all-night bender again? Why were we outside a coffee shop? I peered out the window, frowning and trying to clear my foggy thoughts. “The Eazibean? What are we doing here?”
Stone blinked, his silver brows dropping into a frown that would terrify most people. “You asked for food.”
“I-I did?” I rubbed a hand over my face, trying to pull myself together as an evil wave of nausea hit. Shit. My muscles tensed, my throat clenching as I swallowed. I would not throw up in front of Stone.
“Yes.” Stone’s tone was clipped. Silence descended, his laser focus on my face making me want to hide, so I looked at my shaking leg.
“I’ll, er, wait inside.”
I jumped at the sound of Lucas’s voice. When did he get in the car? How didIget in the car? Shit. Shit. Shit. I couldn’t remember… There was something… Ava. A memory stick. She was missing. It was my fault.
I was paralysed as everything rushed back into my head, but under it all, I was terrified. I’d totally forgotten where I was or why. I’d lost memories and thoughts before, but not like this. My chest tightened to the point it was hard to drag air in.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Stone’s words were as gentle as his touch as I gasped and panted, sweat running down my spine. Once again, I didn’t slap his touch away or jerk backwards; I leaned against the rough skin of his palm as he cupped my face. He urged me to face him, and I didn’t have the strength to resist. I didn’t have to look at him, though. At least not directly. My gaze landed on his mouth. I’d always loved the curve of his full lips. Stone was both beautiful and deadly, but nothing was more destroying to me than his smile. It made me weak and yearn for things I had no business yearning for. It was one of the reasons I created distance between us. The attraction I felt for him was useless. He was way too good for me.
“Take some deep breaths.”
I tried. I really did. I’d never heard his voice so soft or reassuring, yet I still couldn’t. My chest was being crushed by the weight of my panic. My wolf whined, the sound tipping me into a spiral of terror. She was so weak I could barely connect to her, and all I could feel was fear, so much fear. I flexed my tingling fingers, digging my nails into my palms. What was happening to me? The weight of Stone’s hand on my shoulder registered just before the air changed in the car, power electrifying it.
“Look at me.”
The quiet demand wasn’t something I could resist. His wolf looked out from his eyes, his irises a stunning mix of vivid purple and silver.
“Let him help.”
Stone was powerful, and no matter how I’d fought to be seen as an Alpha wolf, I was no match for him. I fell into his gaze, allowing his strength and focus to bring me back from that stormof panic. My wolf calmed under the reassurance of his, and I was left shaking and exhausted as she settled. Stone’s hand moved around the back of my head, and I sagged forward, my forehead resting on his chest. I took a deep, shaky breath and felt my heart calm further as his scent filled me. It reminded me of a winter forest: fresh, cold air and pine. It had always done something to me, and I’d fought my reaction to it for years, believing the way it comforted me was a weakness. Especially when my wolf yearned for him….
Silence settled around us as though the car were our own bubble of reality, the outside world distant. It was tempting to stay where I was and hide, surrounded by his scent and the comfort of his solid body next to mine.
A shrill ring shattered the peace.
Stone muttered a curse but kept me anchored against his chest while his hand moved from my leg and pulled a phone from his pocket. “Yeah?”
I stiffened as Rawson’s impatient tone filtered through the phone.
“I know. I’m on my way.”
Heat filled my face as he gently put me from him.
“Let’s get you inside. I have to go.”
I nodded.
A slight smirk curled his mouth. “You have to let go of me first.”
“I…what?”
The hand from around the back of my head dropped away, and he tapped my fingers—which were grasping his jacket.
“Oh.” I let go and shot out of the car quick enough to make me dizzy. By the time he was by my side again, the smirk had gone, replaced with his usual neutral expression. He opened the Eazibean’s door for me, and we entered the cosy warmth.
Inside, it was quiet. I realised I had no idea what time or even day it was. I’d lost track, and being in Faery always messed with my internal clock. When it wasn’t messed up with booze. I glanced around, trying not to shrink under the attention of the few customers who were shooting me disgusted glances. It looked like my reputation had preceded me. It was hard not to run right back out. But in the words of Daddy dearest, I’d made my bed; now I had to lie in it.
The clock on the wall above the counter said seven-thirty. I worried the soft skin of my bottom lip between my teeth. Morning then. It would be dark if it was evening. My attention dropped to the two women making coffee from an industrial barista machine. Lorna glanced up and gave me a genuine smile. My eyes burned. She was so nice. No judgement darkened her gaze.
