Eve sat on the bed and eyed North uneasily, her hands gripping the edges of her towel. North crossed to her and lowered to his haunches, his leathers squeaking as he studied her injuries with a clinical expression. He laid his hand inches away from her head wound. A glow seeped out, sweeping over Eve’s entire body…
Reynner watched, a sense of unworthiness crawling through him. He couldn’t do this simple feat for his mate, forced to rely on another. A curse he’d had to live with since his imprisonment in Hell. The blood Kalinin had force-fed him had messed with the purity of his healing gifts.
After North had left, Reynner sat on the bed and pulled Eve onto his lap. He crushed her to him and buried his face in the warm hollow of her neck.
She stroked his hair. “Are you all right?”
Always it was about him, never her.
“Yeah.” He captured her mouth in a desperate kiss, needing to accept that she was safe.
She shifted and straddled him. The towel fell away. Warm, luscious breasts pressed against his bare chest, his groin hardened. A breathy moan escaped her, her center pressing against his painfully rigid cock when she gasped, broke free, and scrambled off him.
“Oh, God. Brenna—Kat.” Horror filled her face. “I must call them. They’ll be so worried.”
Reynner swallowed his groan. He rose, trying to ignore his throbbing dick. Damn, he hated this part, but she had to be told.
“Eve…” He took her hands. Saying “don’t get upset” was guaranteed to do just that. So he just said it. “Brenna got hurt in the crossfire and is in the hospital.”
Her eyes widened. The blood drained from her face. “How—how bad is she?”
“She hurt her head. She’s in—”
“A coma? Oh, no.” She pivoted away from him. “I have to go to her. She’s hurt because of me.”
“Eve. It’s two A.M. You need to eat and rest. We’ll go in the morning.”
“Kataya. I must speak to her. Tell her I’m all right.” She grabbed her cell off the dresser then tossed it aside. “Dammit! Not charged.”
“Eve, calm down. Here, use mine.” He handed her his phone. He cupped her chin and tilted her face to his. It pierced him in the heart, the fear and guilt clouding her eyes. “You can't fall apart now. It won't help Brenna. Make your call while I go get you something to eat. And Eve, if you’re to leave this room, put on some clothes first.”
Reynner walked out of the room and rubbed a hand down his face.Hewas responsible for this mess, for his mate’s terror, her pain, and the hurt she’d endured because he’d failed to protect her from his enemies.
Well, no more. She was never leaving his sight again.
***
The rich aroma of scrambled eggs filled the kitchen as Reynner scooped up his attempt at cooking and piled them onto two slices of toast, and poured a glass of OJ.
Then he leaned against the kitchen counter, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.
Aerén, an unrestrained force of agitation, wore a path on wooden the floors, looping around the furniture. A faded bruise remained on his left cheek and his knuckles sported scabs.
North slouched on a barstool and reached for the jellybean jar, helping himself to a colorful handful.
“Why did the Darkreans let Eve go? They’re after the artifact, too,” he said, popping some of the candy into his mouth. “Could they not feel the magic in her?”
“Right now, I care little as to why, just that Sebris let her go.” Reynner set his empty mug on the counter.
Aerén stalked over, rested his fists on the granite top. “Lucan spoke of a spike, I found nothing. What was that about?”
Reynner’s expression darkened. “Inanna. She attacked Eve. It’s what caused the power hike.”
“Where’s Lucan?” North ate a yellow candy. “It’s not like him to disappear in the middle of the search for the artifact.”
“Probably in Exilum,” Reynner said, glancing back at the corridor for Eve. “He must have gone there to Ground.”
“No, I don’t think so, he was still at the Darkreans’ place when we left.” North headed for the door. “I’ll go find him.”
