He turns on me, his eyes wide as he breathes me in. His chest rises and falls with his breath and finally, his eyes fall shut. He pulls me closer, nuzzles down my jaw, up the column of my throat and drinks in my scent until he calms.
“Luca, I like you protective. I like knowing that there’s someone out there who would do to that fucking bastard what I can’t. But you mustn’t. He’s already targeting you to get to me. To hurt me. I think he’s the one who set you up for Grace’s kidnapping.”
“I had absolutely nothing to do with that.”
“The mage inspector’s report claimed you coveted her.” Even though I know in my heart that he didn’t covet Grace Cassidy, there’s still an edge to my voice I hate.
“Never. I saw her at Quill & Clover from time to time and helped her pick out a few books to give to her pack as gifts, then spoke to her briefly when she came to the garage with her pack to pick up one of their cars, but nothing more. Never anything more. Juniper, I said it before, and I’ll say it again a million more times: you’re it for me.”
I cuddle closer and sigh. “I should have never doubted you. I’m just so scared right now. My father, he... he insinuated that he might need to get rid of me if I got in the way of his plans.”
“What plans?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“But he plans to hurt you?”
“If he has to.”
“Saints, Juniper. Why are we even still in the country? We could flee. I can call Cassian and he can charter a flight. We could be on our way to New Zealand in hours.”
It’s a perfect, beautiful dream. A small, quiet life with this alpha I love so desperately. No more galas and politics, no more baring my neck to alphas who will never deserve my attention, let alone my submission.
I could befree.
I shut my eyes tightly as a few hot tears bead along my lower lashes. “I can’t. My family is up to something, and I think it’s hurting omegas. I knew what it was once, and I think… I think I could be the key to unraveling it all. To bringing my father down.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll bring him to his fucking knees. Hey, make a wish?” He nods to a meteor shooting across the sky, and though I could wish for freedom, for safety from the demons at my door, I shake my head.
“I don’t have to wish for anything. My wish is coming true right now.”
* * *
Hawthorn looksup from the business magazine he’s flipping through. “Good dick date?”
I roll my eyes as I drop down into the leather chair across from him. “It wasn’t like that. Where is everyone?”
“Our father took the others to lunch, leaving us to fend for ourselves.”
“We have enough leftovers to feed an army. Want to raid the fridge?”
“Best idea you’ve ever had. I need a fucking cup of coffee, too. My head is pounding.”
“Hungover? Hawthorn, get your shit together, jeez.”
“Hey, it’s either be miserable during a Rose gala or be miserable the day after. I prefer to pick my own misery.”
I shake my head in amusement as I put a pod in the espresso machine.
He looks around the kitchen and then utters a soft spell, tracing a few sigils with his scribe. He scans the corners of the kitchen and then leans heavily against the island’s counter. “Half the rooms in this house are bugged or have hidden cameras in them, so be careful.”
“Fuck, really?”
“Your suite’s safe. So’s the kitchen. The game room’s okay, and I couldn’t try that spell in Father’s office, but the front salon? The great hall? My rooms? Watch what you say.”
“You meant for me to overhear your conversation with Father the other day, didn’t you?”
“So it worked,” he says, glumly. “It’s what I intended, but I hate that you had to hear it. What did you end up hearing?”
