“Brother, she’s fine.”
“Mate, take it easy.”
“My friend, all is well.”
They say simultaneously—only to one another, unaware I can hear.
Silly boys.
But the darkness persists, cool slivers reaching out in desperate touches, curving around my jaw, gently coaxing me to turn.
I keep my eyes shut, even when I feel Ezekial and Sai part to make room.
Kane’s fury is so thick, it’s practically tangible. Only once have I felt him this intensely, at the meeting, when he shared his crushing sensation of loss.
But then the cool touch of his fingers finds my face, and I tense, ready for—
“Why?”
I didn’t expect… that.
I expected fury. Accusations. Criticism. Reminders that I bring disaster everywhere I go.
Notthis soft, broken, painful tone.
I open my eyes, and find his. They’re filled with flickers of grey that carve a deeper pit of guilt into my stomach.
“I wanted to help,” I say slowly, cautiously. “You wouldn’t let me come to him, but I knew I could help.”
“We couldn’t risk it.”
I frown. “Risk what?”
No one speaks, but all their auras flare outward, surrounding us.
“Losing you.” Kane’s voice is so… raw. His gaze darkens, shadows swallowing the last traces of grey. “Again.”
Why do I have more faith in them than they do?
I knew the risk, that Julien might not be able to contain himself. That he’d become overwhelmed with hunger, try to forcefully feed from me. I’d seen lesser vampires succumb to their hunger in the club.
In a life that felt so far away, Julien once told me how he’d almost drained me in my sleep, how he had to be chained here to stop himself.
But why didn’t I believe him?
Why did I know he wouldn’t? Couldn’t. That the very thought of hurting me would only hurt him. Them. That I knew he’d have found a way to stop.
That hurting me would destroy him.
I turn to Julien. “You wouldn’t have hurt me,” I say, voice steady, certain.
His lips brush my palm. “But I will never take that risk.” Another kiss. “It was my choice to be chained here, my choice to have you kept away. I will never risk your safety. Ever.”
“But not one of you considered my choice.” Even in my blissful haze, my voice sharpens as I glance at them all. “I told you I wanted to help. You didn’t trust me.”
“It wasn’t about trust, Red.” Sai’s bright gaze locks with mine. “We were selfish. When it comes to you, we’re always selfish.”
“We should have listened,” Ezekial adds, eyes a soft glow. “We just didn’t want to see you… hurt.”
