I searched his face. “Is that what you want? To own me?”
Doubt flashed across his features and it hit me that he didn’t understand this thing he was feeling. Maybe love was too alien of a concept for him to grasp. Maybe for him, wanting to own something was love. That was no way to live.
“Don’t.” He squeezed slightly. “Don’t pity me.”
I smiled up at him. “I don’t pity you, Jasper. I love you, and love doesn’t require ownership or possessiveness to work. It requires trust and loyalty. Will you let me teach you?”
His throat bobbed, his jaw tensed, and for a moment I thought he’d tell me to fuck off, but then his expression softened, and he tucked in his chin and locked gazes with me.
“You want me to share you with the shifters.”
“I need you to. I also need you to follow the rules so that the seal doesn’t break.”
His chest rumbled and he pressed his forehead to mine. “You love me?” He sounded confused, unsure.
My throat pinched. “Yeah, you evil motherfucker, I do.”
He tipped my chin up, lips brushing mine as his other hand skimmed across the hollow of my throat where the amulet had nestled. “You’re mine either way, Cora, but…I’ll allow you to teach me about this thing you call love.” He smirked. “It could prove interesting.”
I pressed my lips softly against his, then pulled back. “Deal.”
We were met by Tor, Leif, and Jessie outside. The shifters were wild-eyed as they strode toward me. The next moment I was wrapped in biceps and pressed to pecs in an epic hug.
“Fuck, Cora, fuck.”
“Long story,” Sloane said. “But not here. Let’s get the fuck outta here before anything else untoward happens.”
The guys reluctantly released me from the hug, but Tor kept his arm around my waist and Leif slipped his hand into mine.
Their presence, their strength had a recharging effect on my body and the connection to my anchor power was suddenly more acute. The effects of the slau melted away and I stood taller.
Jasper appeared a few meters away carrying a cardboard box. “Thought you might need the shit on the desk.”
“Smart move, J,” Sloane said.
J?
Jasper didn’t correct her. “I’ll drop it at the cabin.” His gaze locked on me. “I’ll be back for my lessons soon.”
He winked out.
“What was that about?” Tor asked.
Leif caught my eye and arched a brow.
I nodded and he sighed. “I think we all need to have a chat.”
Rune padded over. What we need is steak.
“I could eat,” Poppy said.
We headed for the fence and home.
Steaks were eaten and The Elites were gone. Exhaustion tugged at my eyelids as I lay on the sofa, head on Tor’s lap while he played with my hair.
Leif wandered into the lounge and set his phone on the coffee table. “Conah says Wren is fine. Vitals are stable. Not to worry. He says he’ll help Sloane with the paperwork in the box too.”
I sat up. “I want to help too.”
“Once you’ve had a good night’s sleep,” Tor said firmly. “Your soul left your fucking body. You almost died.”
Yeah, Jasper had told them about that. He’d had a smirk on his face when he did, as if he was doing me a disservice, but I knew him now. This was his way of making sure the guys kept an eagle eye on me while he was gone.
Gone.
Where did he go when he wasn’t here?
He’d always dodged those questions, but maybe now that things were different between us, he’d tell me.
I’d ask him when he got back.
“Bed for you.” Tor scooped me up and stood. “Bath first, though?” A wicked grin painted his features.
“Whoa.” Leif held up his hands. “Why do you get to bathe her?”
“Because I’m bigger and nastier than you,” Tor said.
Leif placed his hands on his hips and did his best pissed-off girlfriend impression. “Oh really?”
Tor snorted. “Don’t.”
Leif pouted. “Don’t you don’t me.”
Oh, God, his face and the eyelash flutter. I broke into giggles.
Rune groaned. It was only a matter of time before you saw this little skit. Leif used to pretend to be Tor’s jilted lover to cock block him when we were younger.
Tor carried me toward the stairs. “Not gonna work this time.”
“I get to moisturize her afterwards,” Leif called out.
And it’s my turn to keep her bed warm, so fuck you both, Rune growled. Cuddles are mine.
We were halfway up the steps when my phone rang shrilly in my pocket.
“Leave it.” Tor nuzzled under my ear and my stomach flipped.
The call cut out, then the phone rang again. “I have to get it.”
He pulled it from my pocket and flipped it open, holding it to my ear.
“Hello.”
“Cora, it’s Anna.”
My pulse kicked up because why would Anna be calling me this late. “What’s happened?”
“I’ve had a call from Bramble. It’s Elijah. He’s in trouble.”
“Where is he?”
“Gone. He’s gone, and I’m pretty sure Bramble has gone after him. I wanted you to know.”
I squirmed in Tor’s arms and he lowered me to my feet. “What the fuck? What do you mean gone?”
“The Sons of Adam have them.”
“Then we need to get them back.”
“I’m sorry, Cora. That won’t be an option and it isn’t up for discussion. This is merely a courtesy call to inform you what’s happened.”
She hung up.
Elijah was in danger and now Bramble was headed after him and Anna wanted to do nothing?
No fucking way. I had to—
Heat rushed to my head, making my cheeks burn. Fuck. I rushed past Tor and into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face.
I raised my head and stared at my flushed expression in the mirror, right into my bright silver eyes ringed in electric blue.
My pupils dilated and then snapped to vertical. I staggered away from the mirror in shock.
“Cora?” Tor called from outside the bathroom.
My head whipped to the door and then back to the mirror to look into my cornflower-blue eyes.
“Cora? Are you okay?”
My gut told me no.
I was most
