His hands came up to cradle the masterpiece of Lynk’s face, and he was sure he wore the smile of a lovesick idiot. Then hard knuckles connected with his jaw, sending him back a couple of steps to stare at Lynk in confusion. What the hell had just happened?
“Now go away.” Lynk’s tone was so frigid, Kieran was surprised that icicles didn’t form on the light fixtures. Without giving Kieran a chance to retaliate, he spun on his heels and stormed out of the room as though the hounds of hell were chasing after him.
Kieran wasn’t hurt or angry, though. Beneath that carefully constructed anger, he’d seen the fear in Lynk’s eyes, the fear of a man 12 Gabrielle
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who’d been hurt once too many. And come hell or high water, he’d prove to Lynk that he could be the one to take it all away.
Flawless 13
Chapter One
Though he’d placed himself on the opposite side of the library, sitting in the same room with Kieran was pure torture. Lynk hadn’t slept a wink since the man had claimed him in the living room of the house he shared with his brothers. Every time he even attempted to close his eyes, images of Kieran’s stunning face appeared, his heart thrummed erratically, and his cock swelled in record time.
He’d managed to distance himself during the meeting and the gathering in the field that followed, always disappearing each time Kieran got too close. Did the werewolf know how sexy he’d looked prowling around the campfire? The glow of the flames had brushed his hair, his body, giving off the illusion that it was Kieran who lit up the clearing.
When shit hit the fan, Lynk had willingly pushed his personal issues aside to help in any way he could. He’d had the sense of being watched for most of the night and felt that something sinister hung on the air. So when Torren had ordered him to the main house to protect the residence within, he’d sprinted the entire way without question.
Now that everyone was safe, the threat had passed for the time being, and they had a plan to begin searching for the remainder of their missing brethren, the exhaustion was finally catching up to him.
His magic was strong—though not as powerful as Torren’s—but it was still draining to hold a protective spell for that long. Add that on top of his weary mind and sleep-deprived body, and Lynk thought he could probably sleep for the next week.
Unfortunately, he’d be leaving for Snake River as soon as the sun set the next evening. Torren had reason to believe that they’d find 14 Gabrielle
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their brother, Thane, there, and Lynk had learned long ago that Torren was usually right. Not that he’d tell the arrogant bastard that, but still, he knew.
Curled up in one of the armchairs in the back corner of the room, he watched Wren wrap his arms around Torren’s neck and squeeze him tightly. “I love you, Daddy.”
The words were quiet, just barely reaching Lynk. It caused a lump to form in his throat, and his eyes stung when he saw the emotions playing across Torren’s face. Despite his many faults, Torren deserved to be happy, to have someone love him unconditionally.
Lynk had no doubts that Torren would be an amazing father.
He must have nodded off after that, because when he came to again, people were murmuring their good-byes and trickling out of the library. Lynk couldn’t make his tired limbs move to haul him up from his resting place, though. His eyelids began to droop again, his head feeling much too heavy for him to lift it.
Jerking awake when he felt strong arms slide under him and lift him out of the chair, he started to protest, but Kieran was already sitting, settling Lynk securely in his lap. Gods, he was so warm. And Lynk was weak. He knew he needed to get up and walk away, but how could he when it was exactly where he’d wanted to be all night?
“Hush now,” Kieran whispered to him, stroking Lynk’s shoulder-length hair, digging his fingers in to massage the back of his scalp.
“Just rest, sugar. I’ve got you.”
“I shouldn’t want this.”
Kieran didn’t argue with him, didn’t say anything as he continued petting him, soothing him in a way he hadn’t felt in such a long time.
His brain began to shut down, giving him the first measure of peace he’d had in weeks. His eyelids wouldn’t stay open, succumbing to gravity and plunging him into darkness.
His mate.
His Infinity.
Flawless 15
The missing half of his soul that had been ripped from the core of his being and given a home in the one person that would forever be by his side to understand him, defend him, cherish him…love him.
Lynk’s beginning and end.
Kieran was his answer, but what was the question? And if Kieran was the question, what could possibly be the answer?
The endless riddles continued churning, rolling, swirling inside his brain, over and over until he thought he’d go mad from them.
Kieran was the light to his darkness, given to Lynk to balance his self-destructive behavior. How could he in good conscience allow the coldness within him to seep over and pollute his mate?
Kieran Delaney was pure. His heart was kind, warm, the place a person would want to take up residence and spend the rest of their days. Being with Lynk would change him, though. It would change him in ways that Lynk didn’t want to think about.
“I can’t.” He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t tarnish Kieran that way, wouldn’t cloud his soul
