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“Are you busy?”
Kodiak lowers his book to his chest, glancing my way from where he’s stretched out on his back in bed. “That wholeheartedly depends on what you want.”
My mouth is so dry I have to clear my throat and swallow twice before I can reply. “I need your help fixing this to ensure the stone is secure.”
Holding it out in my open palm, I try to rein in the doubts screaming on a loop in my mind. He sets his book aside and swings himself upright. “Oh, sure, no problem.” Making a ‘gimme’ gesture with his hand, he remains seated on the edge of the bed. “Gift for Amara? If it’s still within the thirty day window, you know you can ask for them to swap it out for another one, right?”
Too restless to sit, I drop the innocuous red gem into his waiting palm and lean against his dresser, crossing my arms to hide the slight tremor in my hand. “I didn’t buy it, I made it.”
Kodi chokes on his own spit, gaze whipping up to meet mine with wide eyes. “Cool.” He swallows. “Cool, cool, cool. What's, uh, what's it do?”
“Hopefullyenhance her natural abilities. Both healing, and how much electricity she’s able to manipulate.”
Quiet for a few moments, he sucks his lip ring into his mouth, always needing something to fidget with when he’s nervous. “You don’t sound so sure. What else do you think it could do?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure.” Releasing my doubt with a heavy exhale, I shed myself of that burden for the time being. There’s nothing to be done now beyond waiting to see what will come to pass. “But she’s our mate. It’s my responsibility to protect her, to put her first; always. Even if this has a ripple effect on the rest of the world, how can I sit by and do nothing to help her when it’s within my power? She’s too vulnerable, practically human.”
He works on the tiny piece of jewelry, threading the gold in an elaborate weave across the blood red stone to hold it firmly in place. “Are you trying to change her, or protect her?”
“What the hell kind of question is that?”
Kodi gives a distracted hum. “I know you want to keep her safe, but does this gift stem from wanting to helpher, or because you see her as a liability, a weak point in the legion?” Tightening the small golden ball at the top, he makes a few minor adjustments to strengthen the design. “Because even if the end result is the same, and I’m happy for whatever extra protection you can offer, the intention matters, and she’ll pick up on it when you give this to her.”
The desire to lash out is reason enough to bite my tongue. I’m not this person; reactive, defensive, or ungrateful. It’s a testament to how much Amara affects me, how her appearance in our lives has left me shaken. She makes me feel so much more than I’m used to, and I’d forgotten the volatile emotions that come with caring about something.
“She shouldn’t have to rely on the three of us to keep her safe, and having a safeguard in place in case we fail is what any mate that cares should plan for. I can’t say whether or not this is the right thing to do, what itwilldo, or if she’ll even want it. But not giving her the option when I have the ability to help because of what happened with Aurelia isn’t right either.” Taking the belly button ring back, I meet his concerned gaze with a humorless laugh. “I’ve seen the rise and fall of more kingdoms than you can imagine, and watched thousands of lives play out from beginning to end. Yet even I don’t know what the right answer is when it comes to her.”
With a grateful nod, I pocket the jewelry. “If Amara wants it, it’s hers; everything I have to offer. The rest of the pieces will fall as they may, but I’m not going to let hypothetical scenarios stop me from going all in and loving her the way she deserves.”
Rising to his feet, Kodiak grasps my shoulder and squeezes. “Without a doubt, that woman is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever encountered in all of my years. But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?” At my confusion, Kodi grins. “We’ve stared down death dozens of times without an ounce of fear and lived to tell the tale. Now everything’s a threat and I feel like I’m suffocating, yet I’ve never felt more alive.”
He claps my shoulder and retrieves his book. “You’ve dedicated your life to helping other people live, doc. It’s about damn time you finally practiced what you preach.”
Chapter 28
