“Fuck you.” There was that shield.
Anger. Stage two.
“Did I say something untrue?”
“I waskidnapped, asshole. You don’t just get over that.”
I was more than aware, because that hauntedmydreams every night. I couldn’t close my eyes without seeing the door to her dorm torn from the hinges. Couldn’t breathe when I remembered how cold she was when we found her washed up on the beach, barely breathing—barelyalive. I had just as much anger about that night as she did, but I refused to let it rule me.
“You were,” I nodded, gravely. “Andyou were changed, something you’re more than aware of but also desperately trying to deny.”
“I—” She shut her mouth and glared at me again.
“I’m more than just these good looks, babe. I’m freakishly aware of all that happens in and around those I care about.”
“In?” she sneered, trying to lessen my authenticity, but I waved a hand and continued,
“It’s my job to watch and evaluate those around me. And you, my little moody muffin, have been the biggest puzzle of all since the moment those lips of yours dared to smirk and tell me no.”
She rolled her eyes, but the heavy swallow that followed told me she wasn’t as unaffected as she tried to appear. “So, this is some drawn-out master plan for you to get in my pants?”
I rose and slowly walked over until my shoes and hers were only inches apart, then crouched and waited until she met my eyes. I wasn’t going to let her brush this off or ignore me. I was her bond, dammit. And whether she knew that yet or not didn’t matter. I was here to stay.
“This is me saying that I see it. I see your hurt and your rage and all the other fucked up parts you’re trying to bury.” My voice was little more than a gravelly whisper, but by the sharp rise of her chest, I knew she heard me. “I seeyou. And no amount of avoidance, attitude, or venom you spew will ever get me to look away.”
It was late afternoon before the first sign of rescue. Rani and I were back to our default setting, my subtle pining and herintentional avoidance. I felt her gaze on me, often, but each time I looked over, she was pointedly staring at the barricade with that damn stubborn frown on her face.
Well, buckle up, babe. That frown was sure to morph into a downright scowl when she learned what I had in store for her. Tutoring. It was a crazy idea, but I decided to take a page from my cousin’s book. Rani had no idea what it meant to be supernatural. She knew nothing about her magick and how it related to her inner strength, nothing about bonds and fates and our laws.
Fuck, she couldn’t even tell that our rescue had been under way for at least an hour now. I felt it the moment Eryn got to work on the human minds outside. It was a faint signature, barely more than a buzz on my radar, but with how close we all were it was as familiar to me as my own magick.
Once again, I glanced over at Rani to see if she felt it, but it didn’t appear like she did. That was the first thing we were going to work on. Eryn’s signature should be familiar enough for her to pick up, even on its lowest setting. She either had the best control I’d ever seen, or absolutely none at all. Had she even noticed that the scratching stopped?
“The cavalry has arrived,” I said, finally moving from my spot on the opposite wall.
I began clearing items from the barricade while Rani slowly came to the realization of all the things I’d known for an hour. Her head did an adorable tilt as she listened, her frown giving way to relief when only the sound of my efforts reached her. She gradually uncurled from her sanctuary in the shadowed corner, reaching her arms above her head in a sensual stretch that did funny things to my dick.
Now is not the time to pop a boner, my dude. Go back down.
It was pretty difficult to move a potting table and hide your chub at the same time, but I think I managed it. My bond wasmore worried about what was going on outside than my lack of control in here. Good thing too. I didn’t want to scare her off before I had a chance to woo her, and the size of my dick has been known to cause apprehension in all but the most daring of women.
“How did you know?” she asked, then helped me grab a couple of the larger pots I’d set aside so I could move the table. “That the cavalry's here, I mean.”
The exit was mostly clear now, definitely enough that we could squeeze through, but I needed to test something before we rejoined the others. Eryn still had control of what few humans remained outside, I could tell by the low hum of her magick. Now was the perfect time to see if Rani was deliberately blocking her senses or just not attuned to them.
Turning to face her, I pretended to take a break and wiped the sweat from my forehead with the bottom of my shirt. “I listened.”
I let my shirt fall and caught her staring. My usual smirk danced at the corner of my mouth, but I didn’t want to distract her, so I held it in check. She could look all she wanted; it belonged to her anyway.
“I’ve been listening for hours,” she muttered, obviously annoyed. “I’ve heard nothing but those scratches and what I’m pretty sure is a mouse in that back corner. Maybe a giant lizard. I was too scared to look.”
It was most definitely a lizard, I saw its tail, but we needed to stay on track.
“I didn’t listen with my ears, little siren.” She stiffened at the nickname and all but locked up as I stepped closer. “I knew our friends were here because IfeltEryn use her magick on the humans scraping their fingernails off to get to you.”
Another step, and I was right in front of her and near enough to press my palm to her chest. Right between those luscious,bouncy, ripe, and probably tasty—focus!I clenched my jaw at the feel of her rapidly rising and falling beneath my hand and used every ounce of willpower I had to corral my thoughts into something intelligent. Where was I?
“Her use of power, no matter how small, should call to yours,” I told her, voice thick. “It’s a gift of community, as well as a warning, that's hardwired into all of our kind. Most describe it as another sense that tingles in the back of their mind, but with her being so close, you can also recognize it by its interaction with your own magick.” Her face scrunched, and I knew she was going to deny it before she even got the words out. “Justtry,” I urged. “What’s the worst that could happen? You realize I’m right?”
