“Don’t care,” I mutter, nuzzling into his chest.
His purr deepens, rumbling through me, until all the anxious energy that was coiled inside me, tight like a spring, slowly ebbs away.
I had always thought he purred when he felt relief, when I was back in his arms and safe, but as my limbs go heavy, as my mind stills, I realize he purrs for me. To bring me comfort.
“Love you,” I murmur.
He eases back just enough to capture my lips. “I love you, too.”
His purr stops suddenly, and I feel him go tense. “I have to ask you something, Juniper.”
I step back until I can look up into his eyes. “What is it?”
His throat works and he looks past me to my honor guard. “Cassian called me right before you met me here. Fairhaven wasn’t the only campus that was attacked. He called it a ‘coordinated campaign of terror’ and… and If I had known what they were planning, we could have been more prepared. I want to put the mask back on. I want to spy on the Soldiers again.”
I duck my head but nod. Because this is no longer just about me. This is about my best friend. About every omega on this campus and others. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
He drops his forehead to meet mine, nuzzling his scent into my skin. “Always, princess. But I have to do this. It’s the only way I can protect you and Ihaveto. I’ll go insane if I don’t do something.”
“I understand. I don’t like it. Saints know that. But I understand. Could you… could you promise me something else?”
“Anything.”
“You’ll tell me everything you learn. Everything you feed back to Cassian about the meetings and the Soldiers. Know that I’ll tell Simon and Ian.” I sigh, wishing I could snuggle back into his arms, but knowing I need at least some distance before I say what I need to say. “We need to be coordinated if we’re going to bring these bastards down.”
He smiles sadly. “My Black Rose. We will. I promise you we will.”
CHAPTER27
Icatch a few hours of sleep before Marcus gently shakes me awake.
“Reinhardt’s here.”
I squint at the clock on my phone and nod, only half awake.
“He wants you to meet with Mai and Sienna and he’s here to escort you. Juniper, what’s going on? He said something about an affinity to you last night. What did he mean?”
“My wonky magic,” I croak, my voice strained from the smoke and shouting of the night before. “I caught flashes last night and finally told Ian. It’s… apparently, it’s a big deal.”
He kneels beside my nest and all I want to do is steal his sweater and crawl into his arms, to take all the comfort I need from him until I feel safe once more. “I don’t like this.”
“Too much excitement for you? I’m sure Connor can save you a rocking chair at the home for retired honor guards,” I tease, but we both know my heart isn’t in it.
“Why did it have to be you?”
“Because we were a scent mismatch. Because you’re immune to me,” I yawn.
“Not what I meant, sweet-tart. You deserve so much more than all this bullshit. Than your father and Rad. You shouldn’t have to be the one with the wonky magic too.”
I look up into his gray-green eyes. “It had to be me because I will fight, tooth and nail, to make things right. I’m sorry that also means that I’ll chase after my friends during a firefight. That I’ll always be at risk, often through my own actions.”
Marcus sighs, but his smile is wry. “Sweet-tart, I can pick you up, throw you over my shoulder, and haul you off whenever I need to. But saints, we need to work on your punching, because you didn’t leave so much as a bruise on me.”
I pretend to act offended, but even I can’t help my smile.
“Let’s not leave Reinhardt waiting at the door too long. I’ll buy you a few minutes to get cleaned up.”
I lean forward and hug him tightly.
