“Alright, I’m going to do everything slowly and talk you through it all every step of the way so you know what to expect.” He moves closer to me, and though I trust him, my heart rate speeds up.
“The aim in this isn’t for you to try to get away from me. I will teach you those moves after. This is to adapt, use your fear instead of letting it use you. I’m going to wrap my arms around you now. Nothing too horrific,” he teases. “Think of it as an extreme hug.”
I snicker at that. He grins before he reaches for me, pulling me to his chest and wrapping me tightly in his arms. At first, I’m okay because I know it’s Havoc and he’s hugging me. But then he doesn’t pull back, and his hug starts to feel like it’s suffocating me instead of comforting me.
I struggle, but his strength outmatches mine. When my brain realizes that, panic really starts to set in. Vaguely, I’m aware that he’s talking to me in that deep, commanding voice of his, but my terror overrides my ability to hear his words. I can’t breathe. I’m going to die. I’m going to?—
Suddenly, I’m torn from his arms and wrapped up in another’s. The fear is still there, but only for a moment when I recognize Ambros’s scent enveloping me. Instead of fighting it, I sink into it, letting it claim me. Only then does my heart rate return to normal and my hearing rush in.
“That is not the fucking way, Havoc. She’s come too fucking far for you to set her back like that.”
“I’m trying to help.”
“I know. That’s the only reason I haven’t ripped your head off.”
“I’m your president.”
“Not right now, you’re not. Right now, you’re just the asshole who made my girl cry.”
I shiver in his arms and look up at him. His girl? I should be terrified at the prospect. I spent years being someone else’s property and having my power stripped from me. So why does the thought of being Ambros’s girl fill me with anything but fear?
“Like that, is it?” Havoc questions.
“I’ve lost enough people to know when to hold on tight, Havoc. I love being a Raven Soul. I love the family you guys gave both me and my sister, but if you ask me to choose?—”
“No. I’m not asking that. And the next time you say something so fucking stupid, I’ll remind you you’re not the only one who knows how to fight.”
I feel movement beside me and look down to see Star move in beside us, her arm wrapped around Ambros’s leg as she stares at Havoc.
“Citi?”
I turn in Ambros’s arms to face Havoc, feeling my face flush with embarrassment.
“I love you. I love Star. The thought of anything else happening to either of you kills me, and not just because it will wreck my old lady,” Havoc says.
“I know. We can try again. I?—”
“No. I don’t think I’m the right guy. How about I work with Star instead, and you work with Ambros? Something tells me he’ll be able to break down your barriers far easier than I ever could.”
I bite my lip and tip my head back to look up at Ambros. “Okay. I want to do this, but once that panic rolls in, everything else disappears.”
“We’ll work on that, angel, you and me. We’re a team, okay?” Ambros murmurs down at me before kissing the tip of my nose.
“What about you, Princess? You think you might want a chance to kick Uncle Havoc’s butt?” Ambros teases Star. She takes on a determined look before she marches over to Havoc, pulls back her little fist, and punches him straight in the nuts.
We all freeze for a second. Well, all of us but Havoc, who falls to his knees with a gasp. I cover my mouth with my hand, unsure how to react, but Ambros has no such convictions. He swoops in and lifts Star, tugging her fist into the air as he jogs around the room with her.
“And the winner by knockout is the sensational, the spectacular, the sassy, Miss Star,” he yells, making Star laugh.
I hurry over to Havoc, who is now sprawled on his back, moaning. “Are you okay?”
“Never better,” he moans, cupping himself. “Though I think I need to bring in reinforcements.”
“For a little girl?”
“That kid had one hell of a right hook. I want to see her try it out on Toot.”
* * *
