Our unit.
Revenge.
None of them include this organisation and strangely, that doesn’t stir guilt, or grief. Only calm.
I gave it everything, and once, it gave something back—structure, order, control.
But I don’t need it anymore, because I have her.
She is what matters now. Her safety. Her future. Her mind.
When we told Jasmine her age, she spiralled, understandably. Her lost memories haunt her, and while Julien may have talked her down... it won’t be enough, it wouldn’t be for anyone. She’ll still be wondering who she was.
Although we can’t give her answers, not yet, I can give her something else.
Distraction. Grounding. A reminder of who she isnow.
And if that means putting her on my desk and worshipping every inch of her until the only thing she remembers is my name, so be it.
My desktop screen blinks on, revealing the atrium from various angles and—my fingers curl into fists. All the calm Kane beat into me, shatters.
I lean forwards, gaze locked on my bond through the camera feed, scaling her body. Her bare legs.
I pick up my phone, don’t even glance at it as I dial. “Be ready.”
Chapter 53: Jasmine
Ezekial: Come to my office.
I read the text then scoff.
What happened to manners?Pleaseandthank you? I place my phone on the grass and refocus on Kacey.
“So just one kiss and…”
“Yep. That’s all it took.” She laughs. There’s a flush of embarrassment, but mostly joy. It warms something in me.
Raelynn still hasn’t woken. Kacey said they brought in a mage who recommended a spell-induced coma. Three days, they estimated. She should wake the same day the barrier drops.
I try not to think about it.
About what—or who—might be coming. Alexis, Javier, Louise, Lewis, Ferne… maybe even August.
Unless Brutus—
I shut that thought down fast.
Right now, I just want to be here. Kacey’s happy, and she deserves this.
“So you haven’t…” I raise a suggestive brow, deliberately not saying ‘shag’ because I know it’ll fluster her.
She shakes her head, nibbling her lip. “I mean… it’s not like I don’t want to. I just—I don’t really knowhow.” Her hair’s down, strands catching in the breeze as she looks away. “Even the kiss…”
“Amon was your first kiss?”
My heart sings for her, for this powerful woman who’s had so much taken, and now… she’s getting her firsts.
But behind the warmth is a flicker of bitterness. Not at her, never at her. At the not-knowing.
