I fumbled with my fingers in my lap. “I want to go with you.”
“Kit, I’ll be in the Ice Kingdom all weekend,” Thorn told me with an edge to his voice. “You went to the Demon Capital last weekend, and I couldn’t accompany you.”
“I wouldn’t mind you coming along,” Kian murmured, and Nightshade took his distraction as an opportunity to launch himself back into my lap. “But to be honest, I don’t know if you’d want to see the Necromancer Village… it’s depressing.”
“Vile, more like it.” Lachlan growled.
“More of a reason to skip going,” Thorn added.
A ripple of frustration washed through me, and I untangled myself from the two of them and hopped up from the couch as Nightshade scurried up onto my shoulder. “But I want to go regardless of all that.”
Damien slipped into the room and stood toe-to-toe with me, his horns peeking out of his skull as his shadows moved around us both. “Why are you still entertaining leaving me behind?”
My chest ached. “I’m not leaving you behind, Damien.”
“Yes, you are. That’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re not just going to be in a different building, but you’ll be in a different territory. You’ll be breathing different air than me, and that makes me fucking insane.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” My voice cracked, but the anger still pulsed inside of me. I didn’t want to be told what to do again. “But, Damien, we’rebonded. You’ll feel everything I feel. You’ll know if you need to come to me.”
A tear slipped down his cheek as he shook his head. His gaze burned with intensity. “If something were to happen to you when I wasn’t there…” He swallowed hard, and his shadows whipped around us.
“Damien!” Lachlan shouted.
“Stop it,” Kian yelled.
“Give them a minute,” Thorn told them, but my focus was solely on Damien. Our bond was rocking with panic and terror.
“I’ve told you. I’ve told all of you that I amsick and tiredof others making decisions for me. I am allowed to make my own decisions. If I want to go with Kian and Lachlan to their villages, I should be allowed to without having to argue for it!” My voice raised, and Damien’s face softened. “My decision will affect you, and I know that. I’m sorry, but it affects me more. Why is this always an argument?” My shadow busted out of my chest and whacked Damien across the face. I let out a sharp gasp as I pulled the shadow back into my mark. “I’m sorry!”
Damien moved fast, grabbing my chin with his hand. “I will rearrange the organs of anyone who dares to touch you. If someone so much as looks at you wrong while you’re gone, I will kill them slowly and make them watch every fucking thing I do to them.” His shadows faded, and his horns sank back into his skull.
I grabbed his face and swiped away the tears that fell with my thumbs. ”Thank you.I know it’ll be hard for you, and it’ll be difficult for me too. But thank you for letting me make the decision.”
His jaw bunched up, and I could tell that he was struggling not to argue with me more about it.
“You know, Lachlan and Kian aren’t bonded to you yet.” Thorn swung his legs off the bed and got to his feet.
Lachlan scowled but stared down at his hands in his lap. “That’s true.”
Kian shuffled uncomfortably, and I noticed that Nightshade was perched back on his shoulder, glaring at Damien with his little arms crossed. “Maybe you shouldn’t come, Wren. I don’t want to be the reason you get hurt. Without our bond, we won’t—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I walked over to him and laced my fingers with his. “Both you and Lachlanwillbond with me. Whether the matebond is in place yet or not, you are my mates.” I glanced over at Lachlan, who smiled back at me. “I know this in my heart.”
Kian squeezed my hand. “Thank you.”
“We appreciate it,” Lachlan murmured.
“And please don’t compare the bonds.” I flicked my gaze to Thorn, who frowned.
“I’m sorry, Kit. I didn’t mean to compare.”
“Actually, you did.” Damien groaned, running a hand down his face. “Since you guys don’t have a linked bond, you’re going to have to watch her every second of the day. I don’t care if she goes to the bathroom. You’re going to be in there with her.”
“Damien!” I pressed my palms against my cheeks.
“Nightshade can go with her,” Kian said before whipping his head toward his squirrel with his mouth open. “You know what? Never mind. He doesn’t need to go with her.”
“Why not?” Lachlan narrowed his gaze at the squirrel.
