Damn. Julien’s pretty words sink right in, leaving no space for argument.
“Fine, I get it, we need to be the bigger guys. But if they try anything stupid.” My words roll into a rumble, markings darkening. “Nothing will stop me.”
Kane’s darkness locks eyes with mine. “Agreed.”
Julien’s agreement is a soft hum, a quiet rumble that smooths some of the spiky tension.
Zeek just nods, once. Before clearing the tension with his next words. “Tomorrow will be our last full day before the barrier’s removed. We—”
“We need to get her to the house,” I cut straight in, already trying to concoct a plan. Then I remember what day tomorrowis. I lean back, trailing my fingers over Red’s hair with a grin. “Easy, it’s Friday, meal day.”
Julien smiles at me, catching on. “According to her amendments in the contract, we all have to be there, but she never statedwhere.”
“Brother, you’ve done well convincing our bond with… other things.” Zeek smirks, and the silver threading the dark in his eyes brightens. “Think you can handle this?”
Kane thinks, his black gaze sweeping back over Red. Then he nods, once.
“But after the meal, you two will leave.” Julien’s calm but sudden words don’t quite make sense.
Ezekial frowns, Kane’s jaw tightens.
Then his eyes flick to me, and they’re glowing a little. “How long do you think we’ll need, my friend?”
His casual tone with no context leaves me blinking. “Mate, I haven’t got a clue what you’re—”
“Towooher.” He grins, both fangs out, and I’m on the same page.
I’m the fucking ink on the page.
Iamthe page.
My darkened gaze snaps to the brothers who aren’t quite there yet. “Give us three hours, and Zeek—I’m gonna need that collar.”
Chapter 58: Jasmine
I’m staring, have been for a while, because I’m surrounded by four powerful men who are all fast asleep.
Seeing them like this—in this undone, softened, vulnerablestate—loosens something in my chest.
Sai’s slumped beside me, half-on, half-off the sofa, his markings faintly glowing with the steady pace of his breathing. Zeek’s on my other side, head tilted back, glasses askew, arms crossed like a shield over his chest.
Julien and Kane are slouched in chairs now pulled close, their knees nearly brushing the edge of the sofa. Julien’s head is angled to the side, lips slightly parted. Kane’s chin is tucked in on his chest, dark hair a little messy, his fingers curled in fists but twitching.
I admire them a little longer, before my gaze drops to the tablet in Ezekial’s lap. Carefully, I slide it free, pressing my finger against the scanner just as I remember this is Ezekial’s tablet, so it won’t recognise my—
It opens.
I stare at him—this important Council Member, a lord—and feel my pulse spike.
His tablet, all his secrets, and he’s given me access?
The screen lights up in my hands, and when I look down… I see myself. Not a reflection, but a photo, one I’ve never seen.
It’s me sitting beside the lake in the atrium, sunlight on my face, smiling as I feed the fish. The angle is high and zoomed in, a little grainy too, kinda like CCTV footage…
I glare at the sly Lord, trying to summon some anger at the fact he’s been watching me through cameras I didn’t even know existed… but I can’t.
Because all anger is overruled by the thought that this man has a picture ofmeas his background, on something he uses and sees every day. Multiple times.
