“That makes two of us,” Kaia said with real anger in her voice. “Anyone who forces themselves on women deserves to die.”
“So you were hired to get a woman out of our compound. That doesn’t change the fact you caused a lot of damage.”
“And we’ll make reparations, when we can. We’re about to face a shitstorm of our own.”
“Oh? How so?”
“Well, that former partner he mentioned? It’s Silas. And we’re not turning her over to him because he plans to sell her to the highest bidder like fucking cattle,” Kaia snarled.
“Ah, fuck. Yeah, that is a shitstorm.”
“Yeah, so we’re going to have a fight on our hands and me and my people are going to have to focus on staying alive first and foremost. Then, once Silas is neutralized, we can help repair the damage we caused.”
“I’ll tell you what. You agree to help repair the damage and I’ll send some of my people to help fight Silas. I don’t like that fucker and personally, you did me a favor getting rid of my old man.”
Kaia studied the man seated across from her. Somehow, despite what she’d done, she’d made a new ally. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Draigen.”
“Expect them in two days then.” They shook hands and he left.
“Things are coming together, babe,” Rafe said.
“Yeah, they are. When Silas strikes, we’ll be ready for him.”
Chapter Seven
Shar
Mate. She had a mate. Growing up, she'd always believed fated mates were a myth. How could there be one perfect person out there for you? And yet, when she and Kaia touched, she felt the warmth of the bond between them. But it wasn't just Kaia. When Kaia had broken down and Rafe and Baz had come in to help comfort her, their hands had touched her and Shar felt the warmth with them as well. She wasn't sure what that meant. Were they all mates? Maybe Kaia knew the answer to that.
She'd yet to leave her room so she decided it was time to venture out and explore the compound. Looking down at herself, she sighed. She didn't have anything clean to change into and she felt disheveled, but she ran a hand through her hair and decided it would have to do.
As she wandered around she nodded at people as she passed by them. More than one greeted her with ‘Afternoon’ to which she responded in kind.
“Shar! It's nice to see you out and about,” Kaia said, approaching her.
“Hello Kaia. Yeah, I decided I'd been cooped up enough,” Shar admitted. “Um, I hate to be a bother but…”
“You could never be a bother, Shar. What's on your mind?”
“I was wondering if you had any spare clothes I could look through to see if anything fit since I don't have anything to change into.”
“Oh, shit, I hadn't even thought of that. Yeah, we keep a supply of extra clothes. Come on, let's see what we can find you,” Kaia said, looping arms with her and guiding her to where they kept the extra clothes.
After finding things that fit, they carried it all back to Shar's room and Kaia helped put everything away. When Kaia approached her she didn't tense up. No, instead she found herself leaning in, aching for her touch.
“You are so beautiful,” Kaia hushed as she lifted a hand and caressed Shar’s cheek.
“Thank you,” Shar whispered, leaning into the touch.
“Let me make you feel good, Shar. We'll move at your pace. If you tell me to stop, I will, but let me love you. Let me show you how it should be.”
Shar bit her bottom lip in thought, then she nodded. “Okay.”
Kaia took her hand and led her to the bed and slowly undid the buttons on her shirt. “Beautiful,“ she breathed once she pushed the shirt off her shoulders to pool on the floor at their feet, leaving Shar bare from the waist up.
Kaia leaned in to kiss her and Shar all but melted against her. Her own hands shook slightly as she reached for Kaia's shirt to remove it.
“We don't have to go any further, baby,” Kaia said gently.
