"You're worried about me?" I asked, touched by his concern. It wasn't often that Kearan opened up like this, and I appreciated his vulnerability.
"Of course," he whispered, so low I almost couldn't hear him. "You're important to us. To me."
"Thank you, Kearan," I said, my heart aching with gratitude. "That means more than you know."
"Anytime, Parker. Anytime." Kearan's lips curved into a gentle smile, and for a fleeting moment, he seemed about to reach for me. But then he hesitated and pulled back, the vulnerability in his eyes quickly replaced by a guarded expression. As he walked past Grayson on his way out, he paused briefly to pat Grayson's shoulder.
"Take care of her," Kearan whispered, and Grayson nodded solemnly before stepping further into the room and closing the door behind him.
The intimate touch between Kearan and Grayson didn't go unnoticed, hinting at their relationship. I loved that Kearan felt comfortable with Grayson. Someday he would feel safe enough with me to be vulnerable.
I felt a mixture of curiosity and warmth as Grayson took Kearan's place next to the bed, his pale grey eyes filled with tender concern.
"Here," he murmured, pushing the rogue strand of hair out of my face that Kearan had originally reached for. "Kearan wanted to do that but couldn't."
"Thank you." I sighed. "One day, I'll figure out how to get past his defenses."
"Maybe," Grayson agreed. I wondered if his psychic powers lent a knowing edge to his words. "But you're making good progress. He has a lot going on, so the fact that you've gotten this close with him is a good sign."
I furrowed my brow, considering Kearan's conflicted demeanor earlier. "I know it's a good thing that he's concerned about me, but I really wish he would come to me for something other than an injury."
His expression turned serious. "You've been through so much recently, and Kearan is worried that you might get exhausted. More so that you'll keep it to yourself instead of reaching out for support."
"Exhausted or not, I have to keep going," I said, determination igniting within me. "For all of us."
"Remember, though, we're here to help," Grayson reminded me, his voice gentle and reassuring. "You don't have to bear everything alone."
"Even if it feels like I do sometimes?" My voice was small and vulnerable.
"Especially then," Grayson insisted, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We're in this together, Parker. All of us."
"Thank you, Grayson," I whispered, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for these two men who had come into my life in such an unexpected way. And the rest of the team. "I don't know what I'd do without you… all of you."
"Neither do we," Grayson admitted with a soft smile. "But we're not going anywhere."
"Promise?" I asked, needing the reassurance more than I cared to admit.
"Promise," he confirmed, his eyes never leaving mine.
Rolling onto my back, I sighed, feeling the weight of reality pressing down on me. "Except that I am exhausted, Grayson," I admitted, running a hand through my tangled, greasy hair. I couldn't even remember the last time I showered. The hits had been coming so fast lately. "There's just so much to worry about. The timeline for the mating ritual, the constant new threats that seem to pop up every time we deal with one… Less than a month ago, I was just a regular human."
"Who didn't know about supernaturals?" he finished for me, his eyes filled with understanding. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he peered down at me, his expression both tender and resolute.
"Exactly. And now they're all over the place. Everywhere I…," I trailed off, unable to put into words the emotional turmoil that swirled within me. Letting my eyes drift shut, I wondered aloud. "Would my life have been better off without all the craziness that had happened recently?"
"Maybe," Grayson conceded. "But remember, you've been part demon ever since you were conceived. It was only a matter of time before everything caught up to you." He leaned down, placing his hands on the bed on either side of my head, his face hovering mere inches above mine. His grey eyes bore into me, serious and intense. "It's all or nothing, Parker. Your mates are part of the supernatural world, but it's okay. We're here to bear the burden with you."
I stared up at him, my heart swelling with gratitude and love for this man who had become such an integral part of my life. As Grayson's unwavering gaze held mine, I felt a powerful surge of determination rise up within me. No matter what challenges lay ahead, we were in this together.
"Thank you," I whispered, reaching up to trace the curve of his jaw with trembling fingers. "I don't think I could do this without you all."
"Good thing you don't have to," he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
CHAPTER 8
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO SEE HOW FAR I CAN PUSH YOU.
The light shone on Grayson's chiseled face, highlighting his strong jawline and piercing grey eyes. A wave of heat washed over me, a sudden reminder of how the mating call had made me crave him. I cursed my half-demon nature that left me vulnerable to these powerful urges. Stupid lust demon needs.
