“You are,” Rune insisted. “We're not holding you hostage. You can leave whenever you wish. You can tell us no, and we will abide by it. You have the final say. Just, please try to remember that everything we're doing is for you. It's all about you, Lora. We're in battle mode right now, intent on defending you at all costs. We know what we're doing, and that certainty will seem highhanded to you. Please, try to understand who we are and what you mean to us. We're warriors, but we'reyourwarriors.”
“So, if I gave you a command, you'd obey me?” I lifted a brow.
Rune chuckled. “I didn't say that.”
“No, because I'm not in charge.”
Rune cursed under his breath and climbed out of the car. Before I could get out, he was at my door, opening it for me. He helped me out, then pinned me against the sun-warmed steel. His body was all muscle, forged by a god, and even after the trauma I'd been through, I instantly enjoyed the feel of it.
“We are not your servants, nor are you our property,” Rune said. “We are in this together. But if you leave, we will crumble. You are the most important person in our lives. The keystone that holds us up. The link to our future. If you want us to be less controlling, we will be. Anything you need. We may argue with you about what we think is best, but in the end, the choice is yours. If that doesn't mean you're in charge, I don't what does.”
Maybe this wasn't so crazy after all.
“Just try to ease up on the alpha male bullshit,” I said.
“All right. I'll talk to Merrick.”
I burst out laughing because he was right. Merrick was my main problem.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Will you listen now?” Merrick growled as I walked into the living room.
“Merrick,” Rune snarled back.
“No, Rune!” Merrick brushed past him and grabbed my upper arms. “You could have been killed today!” He shook me. “Has that sunk in? Will you listen now?”
I looked at Rune. He had a pleading expression on his face. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
“This isn't funny!” Merrick shook me some more.
“Shake her again, motherfucker,” Braxen growled, not bothering to finish the threat. He didn't have to.
“You two have gone soft!” Merrick let go of me with an annoyed growl. “She's got you by the tails. Or maybe the balls.”
“No, she doesn't,” Rune said. “It was perfectly reasonable for Lora to go to work with one of us guarding her. We couldn't know that one of the Host would bomb her gallery. You agreed to it too, Merrick.”
With those words, I looked at Braxen. As if he could hear my thoughts, he shook his head and crossed the room. The othertwo continued to argue as Brax took my hand and bent his forehead to mine.
“He was too far gone, Lora,” Braxen said. “I got Kaleo into the car, and then he just died. I didn't kill him.”
“I know,” I said. “But thank you for saying it.”
“I'm so sorry.”
I leaned back to look at him. “You did well today. You saved my home. And you—”
“Your home is here,” Merrick interrupted. “You're our mate and you need to accept that. You can't go risking yourself like that. You need to realize that you risk all of us when you do shit like that.”
“Merrick,” Braxen snarled.
“It's all right,” I said. “If this is going to work, Merrick and I need to deal with each other on our own.” I stepped over to Merrick, met his harsh stare, and with great dignity, I slapped him.
Merrick's head jerked with the blow, then slowly faced forward again. His expression was hilarious, all wide eyes and open mouth.
“Normally, I don't condone violence of any sort between lovers,” I said. Then I leaned forward. “But we'renotlovers. And we will not become lovers until—pay close attention, because here's a revelation for you—we fall in love. At the moment, that's not looking likely. So, currently, I'm notyourmate. I'm not even your friend. Frankly, I don't like you.” I patted his cheek. “You're probably a good man. But until I see that, you have no say in my life. None! Zero! Zilch! So, Merrick, keep your nasty commentsto yourself and go think about what I said. When you're ready to get to know me better, come find me, and we can talk. Until then, fuck off!”
Rune and Braxen burst out laughing.
