"You're shaking," he murmurs, brushing a kiss to my shoulder. "We need to get you cleaned up."
I rest my head against him as he carries me to the bathroom. Kayden is already there, flipping on the light, his eyes tracking us. Asher steps into the space, sets me down gently on the cool tile, and starts the water. I melt in its warmth as it cascades over us, rinsing away the sweat, the salt, the bruises of what just happened.
Asher grabs the soap and works it into a lather between his palms. He runs it over my shoulders, down my back, careful and steady.
Kayden kneels in front of me, washing my thighs, the insides of them, with surprising gentleness. His gaze stays down, but his touch says everything—he's not sorry for the claim, only for the pain underneath it.
"I thought I broke you," he murmurs.
"You didn't."
Kayden's eyes lift. "I wanted to."
That's the Kayden truth, sharp and tangled in love that bruises.
We dry off in silence. My body aches in places I didn't even know could ache. But it's not a bad feeling.
Asher wraps a towel around me and pulls me into his arms.
"We should lie down with you. Hold you. You deserve that after…" he pauses, brushing my damp hair back. "After all of this. But we can't. The others are coming in minutes, not hours." He kisses my forehead. A soft apology. "I'm sorry. I know this isn't finished."
"I know," I whisper. "It's okay."
Kayden steps in and presses a kiss to my temple. "Guess that means we'll have to rinse, repeat, and do the whole thing all over again."
I laugh softly. "Or we could just do the cuddling part to save time."
Kayden grins, sharp and fond. "Doesn't work like that, sunshine. It's all or nothing with us. You know that."
I nod. Yeah. I do.
We dress quickly, our movements synced. The air between us is not filled with tension anymore.
We walk out of the room as a unit. Still aching and angry on some level, but together. Maybe not whole, but something close enough to step into a battle.
And that has to be enough. For now.
CHAPTER SIX
Sage
The first to arrive are Eira, Winston, and Jace, arms full of heavy books. Maeve follows close behind, her eyes scanning the room, then flicking between the three of us like she's already piecing together what happened.
"Thanks for coming, Maeve," I say, trying to keep my voice level. "I know we already asked for your help before, and now we're asking again…"
She lifts a hand, cutting me off with a wave that's more blade than breeze. "You're lucky I'm here at all," she says coolly. "And for the record, I didn't promise to help you again."
"Then why show up?" Kayden asks, his tone edged in mockery that borders warning. "Here for the fireworks?"
Asher, who's quietly helping the others stack books on the dining table, shoots Kayden a sharp look with a message:not now.
"We can pay you," Asher says. "Whatever you ask. We just want to protect Sage."
Maeve gives a single, unreadable nod. She doesn't sit, doesn't relax. She paces instead, her gaze restless, examining the room, the windows, the walls.
My eyes follow hers. Outside, the trees are blooming wildly, lush, overripe for this time of year. Flowers opening like they're drunk on magic. I wince. Yep. Still happening. Apparently, wild sex with two vampires triggers climate anomalies. Thankfully, blossoms don't give away exact positions or acts, or I'd bury myself under the floorboards right now.
Minutes later, the rumble of another engine announces the arrival of Astrid, Tomas, and Donna. They walk in carrying weapons like they're groceries.
