“Didn’t want to see me hurt?” I echo, emboldened by their words, and Kane’s silence. I summon every ounce of brain power, all my scattered strength. “For days, I’ve watched the darkness eat away at you all, drain you. You were half-alive. You were so afraid of risking me, but did you ever stop to think that I wasn’t willing to risk you?”
They don’t say a word.
Kane exhales slowly, and I lock onto him. There’s a slight crease in his brow, his jaw tense. Almost like he wants to argue, but knows better, knows he can’t.
“I’m your bond.” I look at them all. “You should have listened to me.”
They’re still silent, and I turn back to Kane for an answer.
He studies me, every piece—my body, my face, my eyes—as if seeing me clearer than he ever had.
“You’re right.”
I blink. I… I wasn’t expecting that.
“We should have listened,” he repeats.
Oh. My mind freezes, fuzzy with disbelief—it’s so hard to think.
“Well.” I wet my lips, fighting through the fuzz clouding my mind. “Moving forwards.” I sweep my gaze over each of my bonds. “You don’t get to make choices for me. I don’t care if you think you’re protecting me, if you think there’s a risk. We’re equals, so we decide together.”
They all look away, a little embarrassed, a tad ashamed, except Kane. He holds my gaze.
Dark and serious, analytical, but filled with sparks of grey that make my coils tighten.
I groan. “For Goddesses’ sake, Kane. Don’t look at me like that.”
He frowns, concerned and confused. His eyes dart to the others, searching for help. When none comes, he looks back at me.
“Those soft eyes,” I mumble, slapping a hand over my face to block him from view. “You’re all so pretty, it’s cruel.”
Another groan escapes me—partially dramatic, mostly genuine, while Julien’s rumbling chuckle vibrates against my palm.
Chapter 23: Jasmine
We leave the darkness of the Pit behind, but the possessive part of Julien comes with us.
He steps away from Sai, holding me closer to his chest.
“Mate, come on now,” Sai admonishes, much like a parent to a child, which is bizarre considering this isSaitalking toJulien.
“I need this. I’m not ready to let her go.”Julien’s voice is filled with genuine worry, and that makes me frown.“Let me hold her a little longer. She may change her mind when she is clear-headed and—”
“Come on. Put me down.” I smile up at him, my head drowsily lolling back so I can see him.“I thought you were good at sharing?”
Julien stares down at me, ignoring Sai’s half-smothered laugh as he runs the back of his fingers down the side of my cheek, jaw, ending on my throat.
“You allowed me to feed from you. You now allow me to hold you. I fear your mind will change when you are less…”
“High as fuck off your blood,” Sai helpfully adds.
Julien nods.
I try to keep up with the conversation, but it’s hard to focus on anything when Julien’s grip is burning my skin. And my mind keeps conjuring memories of his fangs sinking into me, the euphoria…
I shake my head. I need some space. Quickly.
“I appreciate the honesty, I really do.” I give him a tight smile. “Butyou—”I prod Julien’s chest.“Should really shower, and we all—”I wave my other hand around. “Need to sleep. So if you could just pop me down—”
