She shook her head. “No. I’m not. But I want to know.”
He relaxed a fraction, but she sensed his wariness. “If you were an ordinary human, but you’re not. Your talent would make Braden a powerful Were.”
Aha. It solidified something she’d only suspected, at the fringes of her consciousness. “Has the council told you to end me if that happens?”
His entire body had gone rigid, and the tip of a fang reappeared. He looked away from her and back to the mare, who glared accusations at him.
Finally, he answered. “I no longer listen to everything the council wants me to do,” he admitted. “They are not what they used to be.”
The admission shocked Jessie. She had some idea of the cost to it. Kade was a warrior. They were trained, above all, to obey. But she had to know.
“Why, Kade? You say you’ve served them for many years. Why stop now?”
He leaned forward before stretching back on the bench. His jaw clenched. A muscle jumped in his cheek. When he spoke, it wasn’t, at first, what she wanted to hear.
“I have reason to believe that the Dires are influencing the council. I think that there are some on the council that know full well what the rogue Dires are up to. I no longer trust them as I once did.”
He glanced down at her, and his mouth straightened. “It is not only that.” He widened the spread of his legs, as though preparing to spring upright. The movement brought one muscular thigh into contact with hers. He pulled it back again then continued.
“When Isa died”—Kade’s voice a ghost of its usual self—“I resigned myself to living alone. And it was fine. I served the council. Did my job. Weres are only supposed to get one crack at true love. I never expected to feel that urge again.” He sighed. “And then one day, a fierce little woman came at me with a tiny knife, and all my expectations flew out the window.”
Jessie reached out and put her hand over his where it rested on the bench. His breath gusted, and he stiffened. Then he rotated his to take it.
“I am not little,” she said.
“You are little,” he corrected. “But your body has nothing to do with your spirit. That is as fierce as any Sabre’s.”
His eyes had gone molten gold. Her heart gave her the answer she needed, and it flipped right over. Love? Too soon, likely. But there was something there. Something strong that would develop, given time. But time was the one thing they didn’t have. This was going to require one hell of a leap of faith. For both of them.
Jessie scanned his face. Every plane and angle spoke to who and what he was. Hard. Unrelenting. Yet also brave. And honest.
“Do you really want this, Kade? Or are you doing this to save me?”
He released her hand to cup her face, tracing her cheekbone with his thumb. “I’m no great prize, Jessie. Kitani calls me a stubborn pain in the ass, and she’s right. Single-minded. Annoying as hell. Inclined to growling at the least provocation. I am also not good with words.” His voice had dropped to a hoarse whisper. “But I want you to know I would never betray you. I will give my life, and all that I am, for you.” His eyes flared gold. “I would be proud to be your mate.”
The words resonated through her. He meant them. She lost the ability to breathe as his strong fingers caressed her cheek. Every touch sent electric thrills through her and gave her some of what he was—his tremendous strength. His honesty.
She no longer cared if it was due to the blood that joined with hers. Or her Amp ability. As he lowered his lips to hers, Jessie rose to meet him.
He was her anchor in this crazy storm.
And she would need him.
* * *
Zach couldn’t see Kade and Jessie. But he felt them.
Jessie’s torment was like a blade shoved into him. He’d sensed her pause at the bottom of the stairs. Herconfusion, andconflict. The tortured ache in her heart that threatened to tear him in two.
A part of him wanted her to climb those stairs. To come to him. But he knew it wasn’t to be, and it would only make things so much worse.
When she turned away, the pain stole his breath. Logic had nothing to do with love. He bit his lip so hard, it bled.
Beside him, Spike whined. Zach’s fingers had tightened in the thick ruff. He let go and rolled over. Tried to shore up the walls for what was coming.
The harder he tried, the worse it crumbled. It was as if some higher power was decreeing that he suffer. That he feel every moment of Jessie’s choice. He sensed her conflict as she crossed the yard.
As she went to Kade.
