Doc buried his face in his hand and sighed. "I don't think he's actually after either one of us."
"You sure about that?" Allan teased Doc.
Doc just sighed louder.
"I'll talk to Nikolai," I agreed finally. "We need to figure something out. I'm not positive this is really the answer, but if that's what we have to do, then we'll just have to decide what everyone is comfortable with."
"You know, it's not like we're asking you to date Alex," Allan said grinning at me. "Nikolai is nice. He seems to like you, and Doc says he's a good kisser, so it can't be all bad."
"I'm going to strangle you," Doc muttered through his hand.
This time, I did laugh.
Ed relaxed. "He's said he will fight for us, and he really has tried to keep his distance from you. It's not his fault, either. Let's just make the best of it and keep you safe from Alex. Besides, he's kind of growing on me." He went back to eating his breakfast, and Allan did the same.
I glanced at Doc. He studied me, and I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"What?"
He shrugged. "I'm glad we found you."
"I've turned your entire lives upside down." I glanced at Ed's bandaged wrist, guilt twisting my stomach. That was my fault.
Doc set his tea on the table and came around behind me. He put his hands on my shoulders, massaging them gently for a second, before he leaned forward and kissed the top of my head. "Worth it."
"Yeah," Ed agreed around a mouthful of food.
Allan nodded his agreement.
"If you're sure," I murmured, wondering, again, if maybe I should just leave.
Doc tugged me out of my chair and pulled me against him. He brushed his fingers across my temple and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before kissing me.
I lost myself in his embrace for a minute, enjoying his firm body pressed against mine, his mouth devouring mine.
"We're sure," Doc breathed when he leaned back.
Before I could decide if I was going to kiss him again or step away, Ed and Allan hugged me from behind, squishing me between the three of them. I rested my head on Doc's shoulder, content for the moment.
Chapter 13
Sofia
It didn't take me long to find Nikolai after I left the cabin. He sat, leaning against one of the aspens nearby, and looked out over the valley. I had thought I might talk to him later when he came back, but the guys had encouraged me to go find him and talk with him.
I still wasn't sure how I felt about this, but I didn't want to lose any of them, and clearly, at least some part of me had claimed Nikolai as my own.
"Hi." I switched to Russian. It was pretty damn cool that I could learn a language that fast.
He glanced at me before patting the ground next to him.
I sank down to the ground, sitting cross-legged next to him, not quite touching the mage.
"What's wrong, Nikolai?"
"Eh, it is nothing." He brought his attention to me, a bit of his blue magic shining in his otherwise dark eyes.
"It's not nothing. You're afraid. I can sense it."
"You can?"
"Yeah."
"Can you sense the others' emotions?"
"Only when the magic was actively connecting us all."
"Interesting." He stared at his hands.
"What's wrong?" I asked again.
He glanced at me, smiling sadly. "It all happened so very long ago, yet it is so very fresh to me."
"It must be hard."
Nikolai nodded, staring off into the distance. "Yes, but also, nothing stays the same, and it is just another form of change. A big one, but not without benefits." He smiled, glancing at me for a moment.
I grinned, his expression sending tingles through me and tightening my stomach. Maybe I was attracted to him beyond our magic.
"Besides, it seems like I missed some bad times that otherwise I would have experienced. I do miss those I considered friends." His face turned thoughtful for a moment. "It is possible Peter still lives."
I took his hand, and he tensed before taking a deep breath and obviously forcing himself to relax.
"I'm not that scary," I insisted. "Doc is way more terrifying than me." I winked when Nikolai glanced at me in shock.
"So far, I have not been stabbed in the back by a vampire. Female mages, on the other hand…" He smiled. "It's not fair to you. I am sorry." He touched his bruised neck.
"Nikolai, we need to figure this out."
His sad smile faded. "This?"
I clenched my free hand, uncomfortable. "Us."
"I am not trying to steal you away from your men."
"I know. You're just trying to steal my vampire away from me."
He sputtered, and I winked.
I took his hand and turned his wrist to expose the magical tattoo. He shivered when I ran my hand lightly over the top. "I seem to have claimed you."
"It seems so."
"I don't want to lose them." I stared at his wrist.
"Understandable."
"I need them," I insisted.
"Yes, you do." He tried to take his hand back, and I held on.
"I need you, too, Nikolai."
"You need me to teach you magic."
"Yes, but I also need you. Maybe it's because of our magic, but we've already tied ourselves together. Even if you chose not to show me how to use my powers, I still need you."
He didn't reply.
Concerned, I released his wrist and looked at him. He didn't take his arm back from me, but his lips were tight, as if he were annoyed or thinking.
I wanted to make a joke to break the tension, but I knew it wasn't a good time, so I stayed quiet, waiting on Nikolai.
Finally, he sighed and leaned back against the aspen. "I do not think myself so strong as to not try to get involved with you, should we continue as we are," he said. "I can stay long enough to see you safe from the Andersons, but then I should go."
"We talked. You're part of our pack. If you want me, you get me." That came out a little
