Jet knelt on my other side, thumb wiping blood from my cheek. “I don’t know how to exist in a world where you’re not in it.”
Those words from Jet stole my ability to breathe.
Zane dropped to his knees behind me and slid his arms around my waist, pressing his forehead to my shoulder. “I’mgoing to kill everyone who held you here,” he murmured. “Never again will I be without you. I swear it.”
Zeke’s hand went to the back of my neck, grounding, gentle. “We should never have let them take you.”
Then out of nowhere, my beautiful Pantar appeared and wedged his enormous body under my free hand, rumbling protectively, tail thumping the ground.“I was at the ready in case the men you’ve picked for your Faction did not measure up. They are on probation after letting you be taken in the first place.”
I’m surrounded.
Smothered.
Loved so fiercely it hurts. And for a moment, I let myself melt into them.
Oren’s fingers shake against my cheek as Nathan kisses the back of my hand.
Jet’s nose brushes my temple.
Zane squeezes me tight enough to steal breath, only letting go when Zeke cups my jaw and whispers, “We’ve got you, precious.”
I smile, shaky. “I missed y’all so very much.”
Five sets of hands tighten at once.
Then Oren’s entire body goes still. “Someone’s behind us.”
The men unfold around me in a heartbeat—Jet in front, Nathan and Zeke flanking my sides, Zane rising slowly with fire crawling up his arms.
Oren disappears in a blink.
I twist around.
Torren stands at the edge of the clearing.
Stormcutter lowered.
Bloody.
Breathing hard.
Watching me.
Not the men. Me.
Oren reappears in front of me, voice low and lethal. “She’s safe now.Leave.”
Torren’s gaze flicks to Oren—measured, cold. “You’re welcome.”
Nathan scoffs. “Welcome for what? We were the ones to get her out.”
Jet grabs the knife at his waist. “We don’t know you.”
Zeke’s eyes narrow to icy slits. “We don’t trust you.”
Zane just grins, enjoying the tension.
Torren doesn’t flinch. “I don’t need you to.”
