He had proven that over and over again. Not in grand gestures, but in his quiet fury. In the way he always stayed by my side. In the way he refused to let me break, even when I tried. He was always there. Unrelenting. Solid. Mine.
He didn’t dazzle the way Aspen did. He didn’t need to.
Ronen was steadier—felt in the weight of his presence, in the way he could hold me together with a single glance. In the way he met me where I was and never demanded more, but knew I could be more.
I could try to blame it all on the bond. It was designed to protect each other. But it didn’t manufacture Ronen’s fury when I’d almostdrained all my energy or his fear when I fought the Shard Storm alone. Or the awe I’d felt only hours ago.
Nor did it manufacture this fuzzy warmth filling me with hope. It might pull me toward him, but the rest—that wasn’t the bond.
That was just him.
And somehow that was scarier.
Because I couldn’t blame fate for these feelings.
Chapter
Thirty-One
Ronen
Rune slept with me that night. She currently had her muzzle poking into my neck and her hind-leg claws digging into my calf. It wasn’t like my bed couldn’t fit four more of her. She just had to sleep in the most awkward position right next to me. At least the crushed mint and herbs I swiped from the kitchen helped with her breath as it annoyingly puffed into my face. Then drool dripped down her jowls and plopped onto my skin.
Time to get up.
But that was all I did.
I stood there, knowing I needed to change to meet the pet. Knowing I claimed to want to be a better male, to make Gabriel proud. Except when she no longer stood beside me last night, when I realized what door she went to, it felt like she’d driven a knife into my chest.
She’d given me the best night of my life, and in turn, I gave her more of me. Then it felt like she threw it in my face.
I was already in a dark mood after seeing Michael’s scars on her back. All five fucking scars the bastard carved into her. It was the first time I’d ever seen them. My praesidium plunged meinto a cold wrath, and for the rest of the night, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to find and murder him for marking her.
The truth was, I should’ve expected what would happen at the end of the night. I knew where she slept. Who she slept with. But I didn’t want her in his room. I wanted her in mine.
And now I needed to go save the pet from himself, when that was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.
Sitting back down on my bed, I tried to think about what Gabriel would say. He’d probably try to rile me up and convince me to fight fair, or the reward wouldn’t be as sweet. Then I’d tell him he was full of shit because I’d tasted the Hellion, and she was more than sweet. She was decadent. To which he’d slap me upside the head, then give me a speech that I’d act like I didn’t take to heart. But I always did.
If you truly care about Lucille, you’ll help him. If not to give him a fighting chance, then to give Lucille some relief from being a caretaker.
“Seven Hells, I can practically hear your patronizing, honorable voice from the Eternal Forest,” I muttered, waking Rune.
She plopped her head on my lap and sent me support and tough love.
“You too?” I accused. “It’s bad enough having an imagined conversation with Gabriel without adding your needling into the mix.”
Nudging my legs, Rune whined, wanting me to move.
“Fuck. Fine,” I barked, striding to my closet. “But you’re coming with, and you better be ready to intervene, Rune.”
She bared her large canines, sending me a threatening confirmation. I’d felt her bite only once before. Soulhounds may pick their angel, but the angel still has to earn their respect. And that respect came at a vicious, painful price. My calf still throbbed sometimes from her claim.
Once ready, I flew to the Eternal Forest, and Rune ran somewhere below me.
Maybe I’d get lucky and the pet wouldn’t show.
Luck and I had a turbulent relationship.
