“And you will? Jesus, Zeke,” Jasper responded hotly, his good humor about the situation finally fading. “I’m an enforcer, and I take my role within the clan as seriously as anyone else. I assure you, keeping some vampire princess in line won’t be an issue.”
“She isn’t a princess,” Murphy corrected tiredly.
Jasper waved a hand at Murphy dismissively. “You know what I mean. She’s the coven leader’s daughter. That’s about as royal as they get.”
Fair enough. Murphy glanced up from his own spot on the couch, finding the wall clock for the hundredth time over the past hour. He still had so much to do, and then a long drive back to Nessa’s home.
Damn, I miss her.
His bear whined in his mind, mirroring the sentiment.
Last night and this morning had been the best moments of Murphy’s life. He’d never been so open, so vulnerable with another person before, and sharing himself like that with Nessa had left him changed in ways he couldn’t explain.
Shehad changed him.
This morning, when he’d looked down at the scars covering his body, he hadn’t felt the same revulsion he’d experienced every day over the last fifteen years. He hadn’t felt that familiar burn of anger and pain that always bubbled in his gut when he thought about them too much, nor had he cringed away, the horrid memories surging forth before he bottled them down.
No. He’d simply acknowledged them and moved on.
It had been so … easy. Effortless. It might not stay that way—he couldn’t ascertain how long this ambivalent feeling would last—but while it did, he felt lighter. Better than he had in a long time.
Hopefully, now that Nessa had laid her confessions bare at his feet, she’d start to feel the same way. He’d seen it reflected in her eyes, a certain peace in discussing her past—she’d finally unleashed her burdens.
He was honored that it was with him, even if hearing what she’d struggled through made an animalistic fury burn through his veins. He’d done everything in his power to remain composed while she’d revealed the horrors of her past, not wanting to say anything that would make her clam up or regret her words.
But the rage, the primal need to destroy the ones responsible, was nearly overwhelming for him and his bear. She was theirs to avenge. Theirs to protect.
And theywouldprotect her; he’d ensure that. If he had to do so by killing the male who’d spent years emotionally and physically abusing her, then it would be his pleasure.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Colter shouted, pushing to his feet and interrupting Murphy’s red-hot thoughts. He pointed a finger at Zeke. “How about you both go? Please, for all that is holy, both of you go to this damned convention—”
“Transition ceremony,” Murphy amended helpfully.
Colter threw his hands up into the air with an exaggerated huff. “Whatever! Please, Alpha, send them away so I don’t have to listen to their bitching anymore.”
Zeke paused, sharing a long, unblinking stare with Jasper.
“Fine,” Jasper muttered.
“Fine,” Zeke echoed.
Jasper narrowed his eyes at Zeke. “For the record, you’ll be going as additional protection for the princess. You won’t be babysittingme.I’llbe in charge. And the first time you let your prejudice impede our obligations, you’re out of there.”
Murphy’s brows rose at the commanding tone in his younger brother’s voice. Every male in the room was a dominant shifter,and while Murphy was the most powerful among them there, Jasper was a close second. Usually, however, Jasper didn’t assert his dominance over others physically, magically, or otherwise. He didn’t see the point.Obviously, he did now.
“Sounds good to me,” Zeke answered, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Murphy let out a relieved breath, grateful that they’d come to a reasonable conclusion. “I’ll have to run it by Constantine, but I can’t imagine he’d object to an additional guard.”
“Now that we have that settled, I’d like to get down to business.” Colter dropped back onto the couch. “What did you want to talk about, Murphy?”
Murphy stilled, noting the curious looks that passed between Zeke and Jasper. Clearly, they hadn’t known Murphy had asked Colter here for a particular reason.
“Is something wrong?” Jasper asked, turning toward his older brother and giving him his full attention.
“Everything is fine.”
“Then why do you want to talk to Colter?” Jasper sent him a pointed look. “You only go to him when you want him to help you hunt down enemies.”
