“Stop fighting, everyone. He is Jess’s mate. Mitch, please come to the castle,” a quiet voice asked. Mitch turned to spot a delicate woman standing there.
“Andie,” Jess murmured, and Mitch frowned. Who was Andie?
“Mitch is what he appears to be. Jess’s mate is completely in love with her. He’s not a threat to anyone. So quit the angst and arguing, and please, can we go inside?” Andie continued. Mitch caught her gaze, and there was something about her that he trusted. She held her hand out, and Mitch took it.
“You’ve a beautiful soul,” Mitch said, startling those around him.
Andie smiled back sadly. Mitch longed to wipe that emotion from her eyes. This woman should only know happiness.
“She’s Pandora,” Jess whispered, and Mitch jolted. Pandora, as in Pandora who freed the Sins? Andie slowly released his hand, acceptance on her face now. Mitch knew who she was.
Mitch shook his head. “And despite all that, you’ve stayed true; I can sense it.”
Surprise radiated off everyone as they glanced between Mitch and Andie.
“Andie carries the Sin of Hope,” Jess explained.
“So not even Pandora escaped?” Mitch asked.
“No,” Andie said ruefully.
“Damn, those Sins were harsh and not picky,” Mitch muttered.
Andie laughed, and those around her appeared surprised again. “You’re not wrong, Mitch. Come, let’s get tea.”
Jess/Loch Ness Monster
As soon as Andie made her move, everyone else fell into line. Although Pandora was their betrayer, they were beginning to realise that something was off with the story they’d trusted. Andie was holding on to secrets of her own. Everyone had been giving Andie some leeway, but lately Andie had lost weight and looked incredibly pale. Despite living with them, Andie hadn’t been accepted for millennia.
Some of the shifters still treated her like a leper, and Andie tended to avoid them. Jess rarely had anything to do with her, but she appreciated the fact that Andie had stuck her neck out for Mitch.
Andie led the way back into the castle, and Jess noted that Mitch didn’t even look around himself. He was placing his trust directly into Andie’s hands.
“Come this way; someone will fetch drinks. We need to check that wound,” Andie said.
Jess stiffened and rushed forward. “What injury? Is Mitch hurt?” she began patting him down, and Mitch tried capturing her hands.
“Who harmed you?” Jess seethed momentarily, flashing between the Loch Ness Monster and human form.
“Jess, I’m fine, it’s a scratch from a bullet. I received it tackling Griffin,” Mitch said, pulling Jess tight against his body and kissing her.
Usually, Jess would allow herself to be distracted, but not today. “You were wounded saving Griffin?” she shrieked.
“Baby, I’m not shot, and it’s a graze,” Mitch tried reassuring her.
Jess wasn’t having any of it. As they reached a long table, Jess backed him against it and yanked Mitch’s shirt out of his trousers and ripped it open. She gasped at the six-inch abrasion along Mitch’s ribs where the bullet had scraped him.
“I didn’t expect to do this in front of everyone else, but hey, if we’re getting naked,” Mitch teased, trying to lighten her mood. Instead, Jess scowled. Griffin and his crap had nearly got Mitch killed.
“This could get infected!” Jess exclaimed. “The lake water, being in my mouth, oh no!” Jess was bordering on panic. As they were unmated, the mate bond did not yet protect Mitch. Mitch fought against her hands, and Jess caught his wound, making him groan.
Jess froze, allowing Mitch to grab her.
“Look at me,” he ordered.
Jess peered into his eyes, and Mitch smiled. “I love the fact that you’re worried about me. It’s wonderful that you care so much. But I’m okay, baby, it’s a graze. I suffered worse as a kid.”
A growl came from deep inside Jess, and Mitch looked like he shouldn’t have said anything about his childhood. “Look, honey, can we go to your quarters so I can shower this off me and then maybe we can dress the wound?”
