“Good. That’s what I hoped you’d feel like regarding it.” His hand started running up and down my spine soothingly.
“Even before the rejection, Grayson wasn't a good wolf.” I cleared my throat and squeezed my eyes shut. “Perhaps, it was his father's influence. Or maybe it was just because he was rotten to the core, but knowing that he's gone and can’t hurt me anymore is a relief. I thought maybe because hewastechnically my mate at one point, I would feel regret or sadness for his death, especially since he blamed me for everything he’d gone through. And yeah, breaking our bonddidcause the dark magic to take hold, but I don’t feel guilty for it,” I admitted, opening my eyes and tugging his head back to look into his eyes. I found nothing but understanding within them. “Does that make me terrible?”
“Not at all. You are the most compassionate, loving woman I have ever met. I believe after all the trauma he caused you that the relief you feel with his death and with the dark magic being gone is completely rational.” He reached up and rubbed his thumb over my cheek as he stared at me with such tenderness that made me melt in his lap.
I shifted off him and pulled my bag off my body, setting it on his desk as I dug through it. “I want to show you something.”
I pulled out the blood stone Alister had made and held it up toward the light. The fluorescent light hit the top but didn’t shine through. The gem was pure black. Rowan had given it back to me after Drecken had confirmed that there was no escape for the dark magic inside, and I’d thrown it in my bag immediately.
“This is all that’s left of both Grayson and the dark magic. To be honest with you, it feels surreal. Knowing that those two threats to myself and those I love are out of the picture and in my hand…” I turned around and held it out so he could see it. “It makes me feel empowered.”
“Youshouldfeel empowered. You've come out on top of a lot of trauma, and I am so fucking proud of you, baby.”
Tears started to form in my eyes, hot and heavy, before sliding down my cheeks as I busied myself with putting it back in my bag and setting the bag on the floor.
“Baby.” He stood up and turned me to face him. His hands cupped my face, and his thumbs wiped at the tears as they slipped down.
“When the dark magic was inside me, it feltsowrong. The only thing that made me feel me again was when I was with you and the others.” The tears kept coming, and panic swelled in my throat.
He wrapped himself around me and pulled me into the chest. “I’m here, baby, I’ve got you.”
“I wasalwaysscared that Grayson would just show up. I was scared to be alone. I was tired of being scared, so I got angry. But I don’t want to be angry anymore, I just want everything to be over—but it’s not over!” My voice trembled with my words. “Not even Grayson’s death has stopped the insanity around us. The war isstillhappening, Roak and the dragonsstillwant to convert Rowan and take me, Lachlan’s sister isstillMIA, Alister’s mom hasn’t been entirely truthful about therelic, Kian’s ex-coven is amess, and we have to go get adeath crystalfrom Thorn’s kingdom! I don't even know where my dad is, but his roommate said that the human who saved him could’ve been hismate!” I tucked my face into his neck as his pheromones slid over my body to relax me, but it only helped calm a little of the hysteria building inside of me.
I broke down with sobs racking my body, and Rhett whispered soothing words and rubbed my back as I clutched his shirt and cried. Tears soaked the fabric each time my body heaved, and I gulped a mouthful of air between sobs.
I wasn't sure how long he held me and let me cry, but I hadn’t realized how much I needed it.
My cries softened, and I sniffled as I looked up at him through blurry eyes. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't do that. Don’t apologize, baby. You needed this. You've been holding everything in for so long. You needed to let it out, and I am so grateful that I was the one able to hold you as you did it.” He bent down and kissed my wet cheeks. “I'm so in awe of you and how you handle everything thrown your way.”
“Rhett, I could say the same for you,” I rasped, my throat dry and scratchy.
He picked me up, holding my thighs before setting me on his desk and turning to get into the little mini fridge on the side of the wall.
Grabbing a bottle of water, he passed it to me, and a look of calm overtook his expression. He’d must’ve expected me to break down with him. It was impressive how well Rhett was able to understand me.
I took it with a smile and screwed the cap off before gulping down the whole bottle in the matter of seconds. My throat screamed with relief as the water trickled down. “Thank you.” I inhaled deeply, passing him the bottle to throw away.
He moved back to me and planted his hands on either side of the desk, brushing his nose against mine. “Do you still want me to make love to you or do you need to rest?”
“I still want you to make love to me,” I murmured, my pheromones slipping into the air and caressing his.
“Lay back on the desk.”
I scooted back and propped myself up on my elbows.
He growled, moving me himself and putting me to the side to where I laid long ways on his desk. Grabbing my ankles, he planted my feet on the edge of the desk. “So that's why you smell so sweet.” He slipped his fingers through my wet folds with another growl.
“Damien stole my panties again. All of them.” I frowned, squirming but trying not to move out of the position he’d put me in.
He chuckled, gingerly grazing my clit. “Alister hasn't gotten you new ones yet?”
“He did this morning,” I said in a breathy tone. “I just haven't washed them yet.”
He bent down, blowing a breath between my legs, making my back bow as the moans slipped out. “Listen to me, baby. I don't want you to think. You’ve done enough of that today. I just want you to feel. Can you do that for me?”
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze between my legs. “I can do anything you ask me to do.”
