“Aren’t you tired?” I ask.
“Not too tired to find a Sentient spy in our midst.”
Something in the courtyard catches my eye, and I sit up. “Hey, there’s Tilda.” I tap on the glass, and the entire pane shatters outward in a violent burst.
Tilda ducks, and a green barrier appears around her, protecting her from the shards.
“Whoa.” Kyte, grabs my shoulder. “Turn it down some, Lana.”
“What?” I stare at my finger. “What the hell was that?”
“Bellatian strength.” Ceredes grips me and pulls me into his lap. “That’s what you took from me.”
“I broke that with just this.” I can’t seem to stop looking at my fingertip.
“You have to learn to control it.” He tilts my chin up until I’m awash in his deep blue eyes. “I can teach you.”
“Speaking of control. Can you let Tilda out of the barrier? She’s looking a tad perturbed.”
I glance through the busted window. “I’m not doing that.”
“Yes, you are.” Kyte strokes down my back. “Release it. Deep breath in. Then let it out slowly and furl the power back inside.”
I do as he says. Breathing slowly. The barrier shimmers and fades, then Tilda bounds over to the window.
With a springy leap that is definitely inhuman and also amazingly cool, she hops up on the sill. “A circle. Arealcircle!” Her hug is instant and warm.
But the alarm telegraphing through the bond verges on a growl.
“Guys,” I call from beneath Tilda’s mane of hair. “Calm down.”
“What?” She pulls back and inspects me. “They seem calm.”
“They’re kind of high strung ever since we formed the circle.” I shrug. “And we’re all tired.”
“Verytired,” Ceredes adds with a pointed look at Tilda.
She stands and looks around the room, totally oblivious to his implication. “This is nice. I wish you could stay with me, but I totally understand them putting you all together since you’re a power circle and all.” She returns quickly and sits next to me. “Tell me about the circle and the fight? What was it like? Did it hurt? I heard you were injured. What happened? You look great. I mean, there are dark circles under your eyes, and you seem really drained, but you look good. When is the mating? I can’t wait to see it!” She clenches her hands gleefully.
If I weren’t used to Tilda’s verbal avalanches, I might get overwhelmed. But I am, so I just listen as she asks a dozen more questions, each thought in her head springing onto her tongue just as she sprung up to the windowsill.
“She’s tired, Tilda.” Kyte stands and takes her elbow. “Come back tomorrow.”
“Oh.” She turns to look at me as Kyte shoos her to the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow and tell you all the things.”
“I can’t believe they’re letting you all sleep together.” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Bye, Tilda.” Kyte pushes her into the hall and closes the door.
“Don’t be rude.” I close my eyes and sink back against Ceredes as he cradles me against his chest. A cool breeze blows in through the busted widow.
“I wasn’t rude,” Kyte protests and climbs into bed, and Jeren settles down next to us.
I’m surrounded by safety, and that’s all I can hope for right now. My Alphas give me the comfort I need to drift off into a warm dream, free of the nightmare of the past 24 hours.
9
