He shook his head. “No,” he said. “I know you’re not going anywhere, even if I beg you to.”
Some of the tension and hostility between us evaporated at that promise, and my shoulders softened, arms still folded, but the muscles uncoiling as I let out a long breath.
“All right,” I said slowly. “So then, what are you doing here?”
He shrugged, shifting from foot to foot as he glanced away. “Because, considering what we’re about to walk into, I don’t want us to still be in the middle of a fight. I’d at least like us to come to some sort of truce until this is over.”
“We’re not going to be able to solve this with a short conversation,” I told him, though this time my arms fell to my sides, more of that combativeness beginning to leave.
“I get that,” he said. “But I would like to at least start making strides toward it.”
My lips pursed as I remained silent, waiting to see what he would say.
“I care about you, Liv. A lot. And I’m worried you’ll get hurt. And I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to you. So I’m a bit protective of you.”
“I get it. We’re mates. The mating bond can be a bit extreme.”
He shook his head, eyes burning into me. “It’s not just because we’re mates,” he argued. “I mean it. I care a lot about you, and I have for a long time, even if I haven’t shown it.”
My heart stuttered for the briefest of moments as I stared up at him. I could hear the sincerity in his words, and I wanted to believe them. I desperately wanted to believe him. But how could I, after everything he had done? He still had yet to apologize to me.
“I know I can’t stop you from helping,” he said. “Not considering how committed you are to it. But I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you safe. Which means I’m going to be by your side, and I’m not letting anything happen to you. Because I don’t want to even imagine you hurt. Just the thought of something happening to you, of having to go through the world without you, is not something I want to consider. I know things haven’t always been great between us, but I need you to know just how much you mean to me.”
It wasn’t an apology. I didn’t even know how to classify it. But it was something, and I could feel a warmth in my chest despite myself. I wanted nothing more than to step into his embrace, to curl up with him, even as part of me still worried that he would hurt me and screamed at me to protect myself from him at all costs.
“Thank you for saying that,” I said.
He hesitated, as if he was still holding something back. I waited, wondering what it might be. Instead, he cleared his throat and glanced away, his eyes finding Elias, who was motioning for the men to gather around. He took a deep breath, then glanced back at me.
“It looks like it’s almost showtime,” he said. “Go do whatever you need to do with Rachel and Emma to get ready.”
I nodded mutely, the words refusing to come to me. I began walking away.
A calloused hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging me back. I turned, and my heart jumped into my throat as Drake pulled me almost against him. His eyes searched my face, fingers reaching out to cup the side of my chin, thumb stroking along my cheekbone.
“Be safe,” he growled. “I’m going to be by you the entire way.”
I was painfully aware of every place his body touched mine.
“I will,” I said. Then, because deep down I couldn’t stand the idea of anything happening to him, either, I added, “You too.”
He squeezed my wrist, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. That want lingered in his eyes as we stood there, blocked out from the rest of the world. It felt as though it was just the two of us. No one else mattered. Not the wraith, not Azaret, not the dozens of shifters milling around us as they made their final preparations. For that moment, I could imagine we were somewhere else. In another life, where things had played out differently.
“Drake!” Elias yelled, snipping the spell like scissors through a string.
I came crashing back to reality, and Drake’s hand slid away from my chin as he turned to look at the alpha, who was beckoning him with irritated urgency. He took a deep breath as ascowl flickered across his features before he schooled them into a mask.
“I’ve got to go.” Drake squeezed my hand once more and disappeared, leaving me standing alone, watching after him. He looked over his shoulder at me. A rush of affection rippled through the mating bond, as if he sent it directly to me, wanting me to feel it. My breath caught as the warmth of it spread through me, immobilizing me.
My heart continued to jackhammer in my chest as I moved back to Rachel and Emma. I didn’t have time to think about it any longer. Right now, we had a wraith we needed to take care of and a town we need to save. The rest had to wait.
Still, even as I thought this, the feel of Drake’s hand on my cheek lingered, the intense look he gave me burned into my brain.
Chapter 22 - Drake
We didn’t waste any time once we mobilized. A large swath of us marched to the secret tunnel, ready to take back what was ours.
The entrance to the tunnel was blocked by several demons who cackled and lunged toward us the second a few of us came into view. Their sneers of chaotic glee rippling through the night air cut off abruptly as they saw the full force of our army. Their sharp-toothed smiles evaporated, and they turned.
