Page 75 of Fated In Ruin
This was how life should be.
This was everything I’d ever wanted, even if I didn’t deserve them.
This time, release wasn’t an explosion of my senses, it was slow and sweet, like a warm, rising tide, warmth flooding through me, into every cell and cold place, chasing away the doubts and even the specter of what was coming.
Blake’s seed coated my thighs, all I could taste was Riordan and my arms quivered before a pair of strong arms scooped me up and swept me against a chest packed with solid muscle, flecked with scars.
“Now you’re going to sleep for a few hours,” Blake admonished, the office blurring into a smear of black. One blink and I was in my bedroom, surrounded by…him.
“I’ll stay with you as long as I can, but…” His gaze strayed to the door. “Nash is making preparations to go after Draven at the compound, and I don’t want to leave it all on Rohr’s shoulders.”
Weakness flooded through me, my heart turning as gooey as my body.
They were really going to help him.
“Nash still has to get everyone armed and he’s waiting for a few more guards, so you need to sleep, Evie. In a few hours, you’ll feel like new.”
“Stay just a few minutes?” I wanted to weep when he set me on the bed and tucked blankets around me, then climbed in. “Just until I fall asleep.” This was beyond exhaustion, more than the normal post feeding lethargy. This was finally being safe and warm and with my mate.
This was beinghome.
“A few minutes,” he agreed, settling back in the pillows, but was snoring before I even closed my eyes.
* * *
I didn’t knowwhat woke me, the hair on my arms prickling, but I burst up out of bed in the pitch darkness, the barest hint of moonlight streaming in from the windows.
Blake was out of bed even before me, buttoning himself up, grabbing his weapons on the way to the door while instinct told me to head toward the window.
Fiona was below, staring up at the window.
“She’s come to lock my magic back down.” I murmured, “Probably a good thing, since it feels unsettled after feeding. I need to go talk to her.” I wanted answers, in addition to information on my magic.
“What, can’t this wait until morning? Fuck, it’s nearly midnight.”
“Well aware.” I pulled on a shirt, jeans, and a sweater, since it was—as my astute mate observed—the middle of the night. “But she knows more about my magic than she’s letting on, Blake.” Since there wasn’t a pair of shoes to be found, I got down on my hands and knees and rooted beneath the bed for footwear.
“I don’t like this.” But he sheathed his knives. “At least do this inside.”
“You haven’t seen my magic in action. Trust me, you want me outside for this.Yes, finally.” I found my missing shoe and slipped it on, then crossed to him and set my hands on his shoulders. “I’m going to ask her about some family history, and I’d rather not have an audience.” I searched his face. “This isn’t any reflection on you, or how much I love and trust you, I’m just…expecting some ugly truths to come out and I’d rather not have you hear them until I’ve had a chance to process them first.”
“Evie.” His fingers ghosted down the side of my face. “There is nothing ugly about you.”
“There is, and this conversation is one I’d prefer to have alone. Can you do that for me?”
Blake glanced at the door. “I should go check on Nash and Riordan, but…”
He studied my face, then nodded. “You go talk to Fiona, I’ll watch from up here. Not listen,” he added hastily. “But I just…need to keep my eyes on you right now.”
“I get that, and I appreciate you watching over me. You’re the best mate I could ever ask for, Blake.” I looked back to Fiona, looking exasperated as she waved me down.
“I’ll always keep you safe, Evangeline.” His smile turned slightly wicked. “Never forget, I serve at your pleasure.”
32
EVANGELINE
Fiona was waiting for me nearly in the same spot Malachi had frozen her in place, staring out over the gardens with a gloomy expression.
