My nerves get the better of me, but I push them aside, sucking in a much-needed breath. “I love you too. I didn't say it before, but I need you to know that I feel it too.”
His grin spreads, but he doesn't look shocked like I expect. He strokes his hand down my back, a wry smile on his face as he nuzzles me closer with acontent sigh. “I know. Your eyes give you away,” he offers, but before I can question what he means by that, the sound of the door slamming from behind us rattles around the room, snapping my attention in that direction.
Startled, I find a very angry vampire with his hands on his hips, pinning his gaze on the man beside me.
“You are going to pay for this, wolf,” he snarls, and Rion snickers.
“Totally worth it, man,” he replies with a hum, curling his hand around my back and holding me tighter as he folds the other behind his head. “What now?” he adds, an inconvenienced tone to his voice, as if we’re not in Kael’s room right now, but the amusement from Rion’s face quickly drops as he takes in Kael’s stance.
Nerves get the better of me as I glance between the two of them before Kael speaks. “I think I have a plan.”
4
KAEL
That motherfucker.
In my bed.
I'm never going to hear the end of it.
That smug look on his face is a promise. But it doesn't matter right now, not when we have bigger issues to deal with, and I have a solution…
I just know they're not going to like it.
Looking at Elodie splayed out on my bed beside another man should piss me off, but it lures me closer, offering a distraction I can’t take. So before I do something stupid, I take a step back and head into the living room, closing the door before I go.
My thoughts are thankfully redirected when I spy Thorne on the sofa, elbows braced on his thighswith his hands clasped together. He doesn't meet my gaze, and I get the feeling I know why.
Dragging a hand down my face, I glance back at the door separating me from Elodie and Rion. I'm too antsy to stand and wait for them, but my gut tells me we’re missing someone anyway, so before I can change my mind, I head for the exit.
Thorne doesn’t call after me as I move into the hallway and take the few steps across the hall. Lifting my hand, poised to knock, my mental blockers falter and fear claws up my spine as a memory flickers through my thoughts.
Sadness bleeds through me as I hold my arm against my chest, tears brimming along my eyelids as I try with all of my strength to hold it together.
My father crouches before me on one knee, attempting to take a look at my arm, but I can’t let go. His brows gather with concern as he tilts his head, his stare meeting mine.
“It’s okay, Kael. We can make it all better, but I need you to let me look, okay?”
I shake my head.
Letting him see might reveal what happened, and he can’t know. Not now, not ever.
“I’ll be fine,” I grumble, my words wobbling despite my best efforts.
His gaze softens, as if he understands, but he doesn’t. He can’t.
“How about we get you a cold compress at least, then we can attempt to put some ointment on it to help it heal?” he offers, but I still shake my head. “Kael,” he says softly, dropping his outstretched hand to brace against his knee.
Without a word, he stands, falling back onto the wooden chair behind him, his eyes never leaving mine.
“If I can’t look at your arm, can I ask you a question?”
I nip at my bottom lip nervously before reluctantly nodding.
A question is simple, but it also hides the reasoning behind my injury, which means he might not ask again.
“Does this have something to do with Jude?”
