The two of us led her straight to the kitchen. Estrella looked up, fetching a cup and pouring a concoction from the stove into it, adding a dollop of thick whipped cream on top before passing it to Logan. “French-style hot chocolate. You could probably stand a spoon up in it, but I assume you’ll need the calories.”
“Thank you.” Logan took a sip, humming happily. “Gods, so good.”
Estrella noticed the question in my eyes. “I saw her out there. I’m not letting one of our Protectors get hypothermia.”
The others burst in after us, Seth, Haru, Velda, and Kendrick. They all paused when I held up my hand to block them. “No one can touch her until the henna has a chance to fully set.”
Velda pouted. “Unfair.”
“What happens now?” Logan asked.
“You need to rest,” I told her.
“But don’t we need to get everyone else out?”
“We’re working on that,” Velda promised. “Shakti is already on the phone with her cousins to see how prepared their nest is to host.”
“The pilot said he’ll come back when we need him,” Kendrick told us.
Logan sniffled, lacing one of her hands into mine. “I hate that they have to leave. I wish I could guarantee they’d be safe here. It’s all my fault.”
“Stop,” Kendrick demanded. “I know what I said when you got here, and I’m rescinding all of it. You’re here because you’re supposed to be. It’s no business of ours to tell fate it’s doing things wrong. Youhaveprotected the people here, have beenprotecting them from the start, even when you didn’t owe them a damn thing.”
“He’s right,” Estrella added. I hadn’t expected her to make a peep. She rarely did unless it was to snap at someone doing something wrong. “The few residents who blamed you at the start have since changed their perspective. They know you care. They know you’re doing your best.”
“Really?” Logan sniffled again and took another sip of her hot chocolate. “I’m trying so hard and I never know if I’m actually making the progress I need to.”
I kissed her temple, careful not to press my chest to her arm. “Not a single person here can deny you’ve been trying.”
She nodded slowly, taking another drink. “I feel like I could sleep for a year and I’m not even allowed to sit down.”
“I could still take you to the nest,” I offered. “The quiet might help, connecting to the earth where it’s a bit warmer.”
“Please.” She looked at the others. “Is it okay if I spend some quiet time with Caden?”
“Of course it is, precious,” Yelena insisted. “Let us know when you’re ready for company.”
I led Logan away, fighting every instinct to wrap myself around her. When we reached the basement and she stepped onto the dirt floor around the warding, she asked quietly, “Do you really think I can do this?”
“You’ve grown an extraordinary amount in such a short time, and I think I’m in a unique position to say that. You might have bonds with Yelena and Seth, but no one knows you the way I do.” I threaded my fingers into her hair and kissed her softly, my sweet omega rising on her toes. “You are so much stronger than you think, so much braver than any of us deserve.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“That’s not true.” I sighed, brushing my lips over hers once more. “You’d have done it a lot sooner without me.”
Logan shook her head. “There is nowithout you. You’re my foundation. I would’ve collapsed a thousand times if you weren’t there to hold me up.”
“All your lovers could’ve been yours years ago if I’d pulled my head out of my ass.”
“Maybe it’s okay that they weren’t until now. Maybe you weren’t the only one who had to grow into the idea.” She kissed me again until her jasmine sweetness filled the air, her skin heating against my fingertips still laced in her hair. “I love you so much.”
I love you. Loath to move my mouth from hers, I simply didn’t, indulging myself in the small bit of her I was allowed to touch.My Logan. My omega. I’m always going to be here for you.
Her hands burned against my chest, nails digging in as she whimpered into my mouth.My alpha. I want you to bite me so badly.
I can’t.
There was no world in which I could expose her to Rachel. That was the last resort I wasn’t willing to entertain no matter how much my fangs ached to make Logan mine in all ways.
