“Shit,” Queen Ruckler muttered, apparently not caring about me being the boss, nibbling on her nails. “There are really only seven positions up for the taking, not eight.”
Elder Jacobs instantly pointed a finger to Leric. “He said there were eight. How the hell are you coming up with seven?” His eyes narrowed. “You don’t think you automatically get a place as a Lajak, do you?” His finger jammed in my direction, still glaring at her. “She doesn’t even like you.”
“Hey now,” I mumbled quickly. “I never said that. I actually admire the bitch she is.” My eyes flared wide in shock, realizing what I had just said, gaze darting to her. “That was meant respectfully, of course.” I flicked a finger between the two of us as she glared a bit. “I actually think we have a lot in common.”
She snorted, then went back to nibbling on her nail. “How will you decide?”
“Without outside interference,” I stated honestly and with steel behind my tone. “But, you were right. There are only seven positions available.”
Yellow eyebrows snapped together, and Elder Jacobs asked, “Why seven?”
Elder Merrick grunted, resituating himself on the couch, and I firmly tried to keep my gaze off him as he ran a hand through his curls, the movement jerky, his tone growly irritated. “Have you not been paying any damn attention?” Another grunt. “Sin…Sin takes the first spot.”
My lips curved a bit. Of course, he did. It was always Sin.
“Speaking of Sin…” King Zeller murmured, his head cocking oddly.
Silver eyes pierced mine, grabbing my attention, speaking in my mind. “If he’s allowed access to the Temple…”
Ah…the reason I had forsaken the Temple in the first place. I pushed through our connection. “This is my home, Leric.”
His lips lifted a bit sadly. “I had to try.”
“I know.”
Another irked growl from Elder Merrick. “Most consider it rude for two mates to use their mate gift while in the middle of a conversation with others.” His wolf huffed quietly, and then he growled, “It’s considered poor etiquette, especially, done as obviously as you two are.”
I blinked slowly, even as I watched silver eyes slowly travel to Elder Merrick, and Leric lifted his brows a bit, stating idly, “I guess it’s a good thing I could care less about etiquette where my Chosen is concerned.”
“I do so hate to interrupt,” King Zeller stated on a drawl as they eyed each other. “But,” a head tilt toward the door with a small smile, “I believe Sin is…” He stopped, his lips trembling fiercely. “Never mind.”
The door banged open, and Sin rushed inside, muttering a curse under his breath, appearing frantic and extremely pissed…while he wiped blood off his knuckles onto his black cargos, his emerald green eyes glowing fiercely. “Caro?”
I was instantly on my feet, blanket left behind, moving toward him. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes were directly scanning me from head to toe, and then he breathed out heavily, slamming the door closed behind him…just as I saw the hallway littered with an unconscious Frost and Farley. “I heard you were hurt.” His chest heaved again, glaring fiercely over my shoulder. “Badly.”
I instantly touched his chest, running my hands up and down over his rigid muscles in a soothing gesture, even as he trembled the barest bit, talking to him gently. “I’m fine. I’m fine.” He grabbed my hips, pulling me against his hard body, trapping me against him, and I murmured against his chest. “Leric healed me. It was no one’s fault, but my own lack of knowledge.” I could practically feel his mind churning with Elder Merrick’s death. “Really, Sin. No one’s at fault and I’m okay.” I felt his hand slide from my hip, and I instantly grabbed it, his power he tried so hard to keep leashed, hidden, starting to leak. “Don’t even think about it.”
He growled quietly and stopped reaching for his gun, instead, reaching up to thread his strong fingers into my hair, tipping my head back. Instantly, he dipped his head…and his lips were on mine. I froze inside his hold when he didn’t just press his lips softly, his normal caress.
No…not normal…not as his wide, soft lips crushed mine.
Stroked possessively.
His other hand glided across my hip to the small of my back, pressing me against his hard, warm strength, even as his hand tightened in my hair, holding my face close.
Heart accelerating, I instantly felt the tranquility transfusing me disappear, the emotion I had been gifted by Leric gone, and I felt my own emotions brimming…exploding inside. Adoration and love poured over me in gulfing flames, my chest aching with it, throat clogging, while his lips caressed mine again…and again…but fear overrode all, air caught in my chest. “Sin,” I whispered against his lips, gripping his shirt in my fists, “I’m okay…I’m…” Another graze of his lips over mine, soft as satin, but wicked as the night almost had my knees buckling. “Sin, I’m alright.”
Hot panting breaths brushed over my mouth as his sensual onslaught slowly ceased, lips lightly touching mine, his forehead pressed against mine. My eyes flittered open, not even realizing they had closed. I stared into glowing emerald green, his gaze severe, my own eyes glowing on his, and he breathed harshly against my lips. “If he fucking touches you again,”in any way, he left unsaid with a pause, “I will shred him.”
“Shh,” I whispered, lifting my hands to brush them over his cheeks softly, rubbing my thumbs over his temples in deliberate calming strokes, even in my own frightened, and loved, state. “Calm down…I’m here…with you.”
“Fertilizer…” he breathed brutally, not calming. “He will be fucking fertilizer for our damn flowers.”
I blinked slowly. Continued rubbing. “I remember one year we had beautiful flowers.”
Feeling his lips curl slightly against mine, my brows rose, and he murmured, “Bruno was good for something.” My eyes widened marginally, and I felt his fingers stroke gently against the small of my back, his own thumb against my cheek began running softly against my skin. “You loved those flowers.”
