I settled by her head, lifting her onto my lap. “He treated you well?”
“Yep. He didn’t even care about getting off.”
“He did get to,” Seth added, “but it was definitely not on purpose. I might’ve spooked him a bit.”
“How so?”
“I’m a predatoranda man. He’s not used to getting close to either in this capacity.”
I toyed with Logan’s hair while I sorted out my thoughts. Did that mean Kendrick had feelings for Seth as well? Things were already complicated enough when he was just after Logan.
“And no one is worried about him ingratiating himself to multiple members of the pack?”
“Isn’t that kind of what he has to do if he has any hope of joining it?” Logan asked, turning to stare up at me.
Gods. Kendrick in a pack with me didn’t sit well, but if Caden could adapt, then I supposed I was capable of it too.
“You’re supposed to be at peace with him,” Logan pointed out.
“A lack of conflict does not mean a relationship. It means I won’t eat him or stand in his way. These transitions aren’t as easy for us as they are for you.”
Logan scoffed. “You think they’reeasyfor me? I went fromoneboyfriend tosixpartners. I left my home, probably lost my job at this point, and found out every single thing I knew about my past and history was wrong. Nothing iseasyabout any of this for me.”
Guilt swallowed me whole. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean, then?”
I sighed. “Okay, I meant it, but it came from a misinformed place.”
“I know you don’t trust him, and I don’t need you to.” Logan sighed. Her emotional exhaustion was bright as a neon sign in the bond and I had no interest in adding to it. “But I do need you to trustme. I love that you want to protect me. You have to understand I don’t always need it, though. Once in a while I know what I’m doing.”
Seth climbed over Logan and Haru, settling on the other side of them to leave Logan’s back open to me, so I stretched out, relieved when she didn’t shy away. “You’re right. I should have trusted you. I’m sorry I thought his powers of manipulation were stronger than your sense of self. That’s not fair to you, and I won’t let it happen again. If he everdoeshurt you, if it all turns out to be an elaborate ruse that fools us all, Iwillavenge you.”
She turned over to face me, drawing me into a kiss that smoothed the roughest edges of my anxiety. “You sound like we’re in a superhero movie.”
“It needs to be said.”
Logan grinned, snuggling tighter against me. “Okay, how about this? If Kendrick turns out to be an evil liar who managed to slip past all my defenses, I’ll let you eat him, but in the meantime I need you to work on looking at him like he’s a friend. Sound fair?”
I toyed with her hair, twirling strands around my finger. “Yes. I promise I’ll make an effort.”
“Good.” She kissed me again, her hand cupping my face, thumb stroking my cheek. “You can’t make me fight a war on both fronts. Once we deal with the monster, everyone can take time to settle in, and yes, I know we could technically all die during that but I’m trying to be optimistic. Until that fight, we have to be there for each other.”
She was right, and I knew it. “I’ll do better.”
“I know you will. Navigating issues is something we all know you’re amazing at.”
I preened at the praise.
Logan laughed. “Liked that, did you?”
“Should I not enjoy when my mate tells me I’m good at something?” I dipped down, gliding my tongue over the bondbite I’d put on her throat, my witch shivering, power sparking beneath my touch.
“Should we leave?” Seth asked.
“You’re fine where you are,” I replied. “Unless Logan would rather you go.”
“I’m cool with them staying.”
