The only way I can move forward is if I stop holding myself back.
Their baser instincts are riding them as hard as mine are, scared and angry. Wanting me back where they consider it safe and refusing to take their eyes off of me again is to be expected. A week ago, I’d swear they’d never drug my food just to drag me back to their castle where they could keep me ‘safe’ under lock and key. But there’s atinypart of me that isn’t quite so sure anymore.
People do stupid things when they’re scared, and justify their actions on the greater good. I’m not willing to put any of us in a position where we have to discover how far they’re willing to go when emotions are running high. As such, I’m the only one handling my food for the foreseeable future.
Stealing a metal prep bin, I stuff several tacos inside and exit the truck. Blades of grass poke uncomfortably into my feet, then ass as I slide to the ground and rest my back against a nearby tree, stuffing my face without remorse. I’ve spent nine years in a constant state of barely-sated hunger. But my time living with the guys spoiled me to the luxury of frequent, steady meals, and this past week has left me more ravenous than I remember being in years.
“Here you go, pretty girl.” Setting an unseasoned one on the grass for Avery, I watch her divebomb from the branches above to devour it.
Eating until I’m straddling the line of making myself sick, I finally set my makeshift bowl aside, resting my head against the rough bark. Even under the shade, the afternoon heat soaks into my skin. As amazing as it feels, it's a stark reminder that I’m completely naked while there are people scouring the wilderness for signs of dragons.
If I'm going to flash my tits on camera, I damn well better be getting paid.
Drawing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs, my gaze bounces between the guys sitting around me in a semicircle. For once, Kodi isn’t fidgeting with restless energy. He’s eerily calm, full attention on either me, or the forest around us. Mentally bracing myself, I rip off the proverbial bandage.
“He didn’t touch me like that,” I whisper, not meeting any of their eyes, but knowing they need that assurance first and foremost. “I played into his delusions that you were keeping me hostage, convinced him to let me keep Avery as a housewarming gift instead of mailing Raiden her mangled corpse as a victory taunt, and he forced me to stab the guy that put me in the hospital to death. He saw my mate-mark and spazzed the fuck out, we fought, and I killed him. Then I set the psychotic son of a bitch on fire to make sure he stayed dead.”
Their agitation is palpable on the air. Relieved that he didn’t rape or torture me like I’m sure they’d been imagining, thrilled that I’m finally free of Malcolm, but furious all the same because they saw the state I was in after he tried to kill me. Finally, Raiden breaks the tension.
“I’m so damn proud of you for saving not only yourself, but Avery too.” He swallows. “You shouldn’t have had to, though, and I’ll never forgive myself for letting it happen.”
Weighing my words carefully. I slowly state, “A wise man once told me that it wasn’t meeting a legion of dragons that started me down a dark path, it only ensured I no longer had to walk it alone.” Raiden’s gaze softens at the reminder, but I brace myself for it to shatter, sucking in a deep breath.
“Which is why we need to get back to Khalida. I’m getting my mate-mark removed.”
ChapterNine
STONE
‘I’m getting my mate-mark removed.’
My ears are ringing, dizziness assaulting me as the world spins on its axis.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Amara raises an eyebrow.
A growl rips from my throat. “You’remine.” Tree root biting into my knee as I kneel, bark scrapes my palm as I cage her in. “Ours. You can't justremovemate-marks, even if you wanted to. It’s not possible.”
Tilting her chin up to face me head on, she narrows her eyes. “Like it’s not possible for Malcolm to siphon energy from me via that old tattoo you guys were thinking I should remove in case the ink was ‘tainted’ or something?’”
Hope steals the breath from my lungs. “Does that mean now that he’s dead- shit!” Falling back on my ass, I rub my sternum, the skin tingling and sore from her zapping me.
“So youdidknow.” Rising to her feet, she storms away, shaking out her hand. “You should have been honest about your theory when you first came up with it. If we’d had a day or two before the auction, I could have gotten it removed before I was kidnapped, and might have actually stood a chance of frying Malcolm before we ever left the castle.”
Raiden scrubs a hand down his face. “You’re right. For what it’s worth, Kodi wanted to. I was the one that put my foot down that we shouldn’t worry you over a horrific theory until we had any facts to back it up, and a way to safely remove it without you mutilating yourself to carve out the ink.”
One arm covering her breasts and eyes closed, she tilts her face to the heavens in search of patience. Sunlight dances across her golden skin, the pearlescent scars littering her entire body more prominent than ever in the bright light, and my stomach twists as I’m forced to face how much torment Amara’s endured in her short life.
Kodiak audibly swallows. “We broke our promise to keep you safe. That’s why you want to remove our mate-mark? So you can leave us, no strings attached?”
With a heavy sigh, she deflates, giving him her full attention. “Stop putting words in my mouth. I never said I was leaving, I’m saying matching ink clearly causes nothing but problems for dragons. If I remove it, I’m not your Achilles’ heel anymore. Sure, I have a few new party tricks up my sleeve, but I’m nowhere near the level of you three that have fought in actual wars. All I’m trying to do is remove the target from my back.”
Kodi looks at our mate like she’s got a few screws loose. Palming both of her cheeks, he holds her gaze hostage. “You sweet, sexy, infuriatingly oblivious woman.You'rethe heart of our legion. People will always know the way to hurt us is throughyou; mark or no mark. How can our hearts keep beating if you aren’t here to give them a reason to?”
He rests his forehead against hers. “Death may steal you from me for a moment,mo chroí, but I willalwayscome for you. No matter if it’s in this world or the next. Wearing my mark on your skin just shaves a few minutes off the trip.”
Voice rough, she whispers, “I barely survived Malcolm, and nowhalf the countrywill be targeting us. Just like you can’t live without me, I can’t handle living in a constant state of anxiety anymore, always afraid that I’ll fuck up by not being careful enough, or strong enough, and it’ll be you three that pay the price.”
