“Don’t coddle her, dear. How else will she learn to manage this lifestyle?” was all she said, before turning to walk towards thehouse.
Logan grumbled after her, stepping in line withme.
“I’m keeping her alive,” he protested at Eva’s back and cocked his gun. I pulled the Ruger from my waistband and dragged the slide back. If the druids showed up, I was emptying this clip into Steven’shead.
I gave Logan a little hip bump, and when he looked at me I blew him an air kiss. All of his steam let out then, and he shook his head with a stupidgrin.
‘You need to relax from your obsession with caging me,’Ijoked.
His eyes smoldered.‘DoI?’
My dragon sent a pulse of heat between my legs and I bit down on my tongue to keep from whimpering. Today was the last day of my heat. Good riddance,sister.
Eva stopped and looked back at me. She took a whiff of the air and opened hermouth.
“Nope, don’t say it,” I told her, and she grinned, looking from Logan to me with amusement dancing in hereyes.
Privacy,people.
“We’ve been dealing with a lot since youranoff,” Logan saidbitterly.
Eva stopped walking and spun to face us, her face suddenlyslack.
“Logan, your place is by Sloane’s side right now. I knew that if I told you, you would come with me or stop me. Neither option I was okay with,” she saidtenderly.
He just glared at her. “You didn’t call. You didn’t take Danny. You justleft.”
She sighed. “By the time I thought to call, I realized I was being followed, and I’m sure my phone was bugged too. I’m sorry for running off, but if there’s more skyborn, then I’m going to find them. I owe you and them thatmuch.”
Logan looked defeated. “You don’t owe me anything. Just stick around. That’s all Iask.”
Eva smiled. “Always.” She reached out and touched hischeek.
I realized then that Logan had abandonment issues. His parents dying, Marcus leaving, me running away, and now Eva. It messed him up bad. I could feel darkness through our bond. Logan was afraid of being left all alone. Slipping my hand into his, I squeezed and he squeezed back. I’d never leave him again, not as long as I wasliving.
We reached the front yard, where Isaac and the pack were waiting for us. Isaac jerked his head in my direction and I dropped Logan’s hand, placing a kiss on his cheek and then stepped next to Isaac. The druid’s eyes fell to my feet, and a look of disappointment crossed his gaze. I was wearingshoes.
“What? It’s cold out,” I told him. Oregon was freaking cold in the winter, and today was noexception.
“How can the Earth work with you, when you shut her out?” His voice was so sweet and endearing. He was like the father I never had, someone I wanted toplease.
Ugh.Fine.
I quickly stepped out of my boots and socks onto the cold, damp earth, feeling that familiar buzz run through me. Now he was wearing asmile.
“That’s better, isn’t it!” he said cheerily, casting those honey-colored eyes atme.
I had to admit, it was better.I’d gone full hippie.I was like a plant and the bare earth was my food and water. Without further ceremony, Isaac threw open the gate. The pack split up, some fanning out to the sides of the house, some staying in the front yard. Eva, Isaac, Logan, Keegan, and I made our way to the back. It smelled of … burned wood and somethingsalty.
My hand was so tightly gripped around my pistol, I was afraid I’d shoot it off if I didn’t relax. A noise from the roof caused me to turn and aim my weapon, only to see Dom wave at me with at least four guns in his hands and strapped around his thighs. Glad to see he was all healed and feeling trigger-happyagain.
I surveyed the yard. Other than a few strewn sticks and one toppled globe, not much looked amiss. Isaac walked right over to the bench where the elf had stood and picked up the piece of fallenpaper.
As soon as he read it, hegrinned.
I peeked over his shoulder.Seven Sisters, itread.
“Who’s Seven Sisters?” I asked. He clearly knew what this meant. I, however, wasclueless.
