Ward looked back across the fire toward Viper who was laughing at something Zero had muttered. His smile was crooked, tired, and brilliant. “Intense is a good way to put it.”
“I’m still pretty new at this Grá Croí and mates stuff,” Juice said softly. “But if it gets too much, come talk to me.” He nodded to Viper. “He’s one hell of a SEAL, and the best of men to have as a friend, but talking about feelings and shit is not one of his strong points.”
“Noted.”
“All I’m saying is, give both of yourselves a chance to figure out if this works for you.” Juice drained his cup and got to his feet. “If it doesn’t, we’ll figure out a way to stop the mate marks before they kill you both. Promise.” Unaware of the bombshell he’d just dropped, Juice went back to Trace and sat cross-legged next to him.
Before it kills you both.
Kills…
Fuck.
“What happened?”
“Huh?” He blinked up at Viper. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“You’re white as a ghost.” He spun on his heel and glared at his second in command. “Juice. What the fuck did you do?”
“Nothing.” Juice leaned to one side to see around Viper. “I swear I only said to give you a chance befor—shit.”
“What the fuck did you do?” Viper caught him by the shirt and hauled him to his feet.
Ward snapped out of his stupor in time to see Trace lunge for Viper. “Hey. Stop. I’m okay.” He rushed to the three and grabbed Viper by the arm. “Seriously, I’m okay. Put him down.”
“Put my Grá Croí down, Viper, before I rip your fucking head off.” Bran’s growl was more than a little evident in Trace’s voice.
“What did he say to upset you?” Viper dropped Juice and spun around to face him.
Ward moved back a step, and then another, and another as Viper matched him step for step. “He asked me to give you a chance?—”
“He said that,” Viper growled. “What else?”
“That he’d find a way to break the mate bond before it killed us if we didn’t want it.”
Viper recoiled as if Ward had slammed a fist into his chest. He turned away, raking both hands through his hair as if trying to exorcise the thought from his mind. “I didn’t even think—hell, I didn’t remember that part.”
Ward watched him pacing back and forth as the echo of Juice’s words still rang in his ears.
“Stop the mate marks before they kill you both.”
“I don’t want that,” he said quietly—too quietly for anyone but Viper to hear. “I never said I wanted that.”
Viper spun back to face him. “Then why the fuck did you look at me like I’d just sentenced you to death?” The rawness in his voice gutted him. There was no cold military edge, no operator mask. Just Viper Dare, stripped down and shaking.
Because I’m scared.
Because I didn’t get a vote in any of this.
Because I feel everything too fast, too strong, and I don’t know how to survive it if you walk away.
But he didn’t say any of that out loud. “I’m still trying to catch up,” Ward managed. “Everything keeps changing. You, me, this whole portal to a magical land of myths and legends. I don’t know which way is up anymore.”
“Then hold on to me,” Viper said roughly, stepping into his space. “If the world spins sideways again, I’ll keep you upright.”
Ward swayed toward him, sending a blast of relief through Viper’s soul. His fingers found Viper’s wrist and curled the mate mark, grounding himself. “Do you mean that?”
“I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”
