"I'm sorry you couldn't share it with me and you had to carry the burden on your own."
"I didn't," she revealed, and I frowned. "Claire was there for me."
My anger for Claire had disappeared and now I only felt grateful that she was there to help Crystal when I couldn't. I had checked on her while my mate had slept. She was much better than last night and the news that Crystal had returned safely had freed her from the stress that had affected her health.
While staring down at her, I lifted a hand and touched her lips.
"I've waited so long to do this," I murmured before I leaned closer and kissed her. My lips against hers made my stomach somersault.
I pulled away, trying to rein in the need to make her mine.
"Don't stop," she whispered, looking up to me with her wide green eyes.
"If I kiss you again I won't be able to stop." The intent was clear in my eyes.
"Really?" she asked.
I smiled and nodded. There was that innocence about her that told me she wasn't experienced with guys. I could wait until she was ready. I had waited this long, I could give her the time to make the decision.
"Besides, there are a lot of people who are waiting to see you and I don't think they'll be happy to wait."
Her smiled dropped slightly and I cursed myself for saying anything.
"Who?" she asked.
"Your parents, Claire, and a few others."
Keri and Blake had arrived that afternoon. I had expected to still feel angry at Keri but the truth was I didn't. I didn't agree with what she did but, having found my mate again, I didn't feel any animosity toward her anymore. I still wasn't sure, though, if it was possible to go back to the close friendship we had formed. Only time would tell.
"I'm not sure I'm ready," she said, pulling out of my embrace and walking to the window to look outside.
"Why are you nervous?" I asked, coming to stand behind her.
"I just left without a word."
I reached out and rested my hands on her shoulders.
"That doesn't matter. They love you and they're just happy you're safe."
She leaned in to me as I began to massage her shoulders, trying to ease the knots I could feel in her muscles. When she turned to face me, I dropped my hands.
"I'm really scared," she said, looking so vulnerable.
"I won't let anything happen to you. Trust me."
She nodded but it didn't ease the worry lines in her face.
"For the moment I don't want to share your secret with everyone. We can't run the risk of someone slipping up and letting it out."
"Okay."
I was already formulating in my mind who I was going to tell and who didn't really need to know.
"I think it's important for you to tell Liv and Rob. They've been so worried about you and I think they need to know everything to understand your actions."
Their love for her would ensure their secrecy. Other than her parents, I would keep the secret only between our tightly knit group including Curtis. I needed him to know the truth so he could run a sample of her blood to see what he could find.
We had to figure out what Crystal was capable of. There was a reason why the Keepers were afraid of people like her and if we discovered what that was, it could be something we could use to keep her safe.
