“I hope not. That sounds depressing.”
He groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face. We were both tired, and the conversation should probably wait for… well, it was already tomorrow. Later today, at the earliest.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think, I just reacted on instinct. For what it’s worth, I think if you were in my shoes, you’d have done the same. They nearly chopped his head off. Brielle was frantic. If he dies… we’re all screwed.”
He was quiet for several long moments, so quiet I almost thought he had fallen asleep. But when he answered, all the anger was gone from his voice. “You’re right. I probably would have done the exact same thing in your shoes. Tell me what happened? From the beginning?”
So, I did.
There wasn’t much more to tell, but I relayed every detail I could remember. By the end, I was yawning all over again. The night really had taken a lot out of me. I still wouldn’t have changed it.
“Can you promise me one thing?” he finally asked.
“Anything,” I blurted without hesitation. He shook his head at me, stroking a damp tendril of hair back from my face with such tenderness, it made my chest ache.
“Don’t be careless with your life. Don’t take unnecessary risks. We’re a team, and I need to know you’re on the same side with me. I want to live a long, happy life with you. And if you die… I can’t even think about that kind of pain. I’d follow you into the afterlife.”
I wanted to hang my head in shame. I hadn’t even considered what would happen to him if I’d died. We hadn’t exchanged bonding bites, so at this point, he’d live even if I died. But still, I had been so focused on saving everyone else, I’d forgotten that I wasn’t alone anymore. I had people. His promise to take careof Bence was also a weight of responsibility in my mind. My instincts had nearly destroyed all that.
“I promise. And I’m sorry.”
“Never apologize for being you.” He stroked his thumb over my bottom lip, and I nipped it.
A thought occurred to me. I’d told him all about my adventures, but he hadn’t shared the rest of his. “Have you heard anything about Fiona?”
“No, I haven’t. She was still alive when I got her to Olivia and Leigh. I know that much.”
“Can we go check on her?”
“Yes, but you need to sleep first. Otherwise, you’ll be neighbors in the clinic.”
I yawned again, so wide this time my jaw popped a little. “Okay. Sleep sounds good.”
Too good.I could sleep for a week.
He pulled me back to his chest, and the steady thud of his heart lulled me into sweet dreams.
We woke a few hours later, and I felt better. Not a hundred percent, but probably eighty. Good enough to go check on Fiona, at least. I gently shook Valens, who’d passed out with a massive biceps covering his eyes to block the sun.
Seeing him like that made me want to do very dirty things with him, but the call of my pack outweighed that for now.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’m going to drag you down into this bed on top of me.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to be my breakfast,” he said, finally moving his arm, his smoldering eyes connecting with my own.
Feeling saucy, I leaned down closer, whispering, “Does the big bad wolf want to eat me all up?”
“Fuck yes, he does.” His eyes glowed, and I noticed the guardian brand on his chest did too. But when he made a grab for me to make good on the promise, I dodged, giggling as I bolted just out of reach.
He growled, the sound low and sexy in his throat as he swung his feet to the floor. He was all rumpled from sleep, hair messy, eyes bright, muscles on display under tanned skin. Absolute male perfection.
And he had that look in his eyes, that look that meant he wanted to chase me.
“We have to go check on Fiona. Also, there will probably be another attack any time now, so we shouldn’t really?—”
He charged, scooping me off my feet and carrying me right into the shower with him. Where he did, in fact, eat me all up. This time, I returned the gesture, and I greatly enjoyed making him lose his mind from my knees.
