Page 93 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

I freeze while crouched down, halfway to scooping up an amethyst tower.

Love.

I love her.

Of course I do.

I blink down at the purple crystal. Did it do this to me? I don’t remember what amethyst does, but I’m blaming the rock for my current epiphany. I scoop up the meddling crystal and carefully set it into the t-shirt pile as I straighten.

I need to tell her. But do I tell her tonight? It might make her night better… Or would it be tainted by everything else that’s happened? I’m not used to feeling uncertain like this. Not since Siobhan came along and threw everything I thought I knew into question. My role as an alpha, what an omega needs, how to meet her wants and please her.

My alpha is riding me hard, wanting to claim our mate now more than ever. But if I’m doubting, then it probably isn’t the right time. I need to focus on her, not me.

Get her home, tuck her safely into her nest. Help her do whatever cleansing or protection she needs to do before bed, then snuggle everyone until they all fall asleep.

I nod and glance at Jayce who is putting the last piece of equipment into the bed of the truck.

“All set?” I say.

He grunts in reply, his shoulders so tense they’ve got to be hurting. My heart twinges; I haven’t been taking care of him the way I should be either. I can’t let him down, too.

“Come here,” I say, striding over to him.

Jayce all but falls into me, and I clamp one hand on the back of his neck, knowing that helps settle him. I brush my lips against his temple, then he rests his forehead against mine with his eyes closed.

“Breathe, Jay,” I murmur.

He sucks in a shaky breath, then lets it out slow. His shoulders relax the tiniest amount, so I encourage him to do it again. Again. Again.

“She’s okay,” he finally mumbles, hazel eyes looking black in the dark of the forest.

I nod, keeping my gaze locked with his. “She’s okay. Aury’s okay. You’re okay. I’m okay.” We take a deep breath with each statement.

He sniffs once, then straightens and pulls me into a tight embrace. I press as close to him as I can get, our bodies molding together, and lean into his strength while he leans into mine.

“We’re okay,” he whispers, then scent marks my cheek with his.

“Let’s get our girl home.”

Chapter Fifty

Siobhan

I wake up feeling much more ‘with it’ than I did last night. I try to swallow a whimper when I consider moving my arm and it sends pain shooting through my entire body.

“Shh,” Hayden soothes, running a gentle hand through my hair. Their warm brown eyes gaze down at me as they prop themselves up on one elbow by my side. “What hurts, amorcito?”

“Everything,” I groan and give up on the bathroom. I can hold it. Although my raspy throat would appreciate some water.

“What kind of pain? Stabbing? Aching?” Their eyes flit over me, but I’m covered in blankets so I don’t know what they think they’re looking for.

“Aching. Feels like I got hit by a truck.” I wrinkle my nose, and even that makes my head hurt.

Hayden nods and kisses my temple. “Your body went through a lot last night. I’ll grab you some painkillers and water. Anything else I can get you while I’m up?”

I shake my head, then close my eyes with a mental note not to do that again.

“Do you need to use the bathroom?”