Page 139 of Mercy & Her Devils

I rest my hand on Kai’s back in surreptitious comfort.

He’s needing to act like he’s not being held at gunpoint.

Despite knowing that they were going to want to take him back as their trophy for the President, he’s still a prince.

A prince turned a rebel but still, royalty.

He should have bodyguards and an entire army to protect him.

But instead, he’s in a foreign country, protecting me and standing up for all our rights.

“Father,” I hear Thomas’ out of breath voice, “I refuse to stay back with the other men. Have you found my twin?”

Thomas sprints along the ledge, slipping in the rain in his rush. He’s panting and shivering.

He must have only joined their mission last minute because he’s not wearing a coat over his moss green suit, which is already soaked through.

Raindrops cling to his pale skin and eyelashes.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I’d hoped that Thomas wouldn’t be working with Dad today.

Why couldn’t he have held back at the cabin like he’d apparently been ordered to?

“Your brother?” Lark mouths at me. “The good one?”

I nod.

Lark studies Thomas, carefully.

Thomas’ breath stutters when he sees me. “Mercy!”

His voice wavers like he’s trying not to cry.

What was he told about me?

That I was dead? Sold?

Or had they gone with the line that someone had broken into the Institute to steal me?

It didn’t matter. Any of it would have been horrifying to him.

Thomas doesn’t even hesitate.

He barrels past Raylan and Fletcher.

“What the hell are you doing?” Fletcher hisses.

My eyes widen.

But Thomas isn’t looking away from me.

It’s like he doesn’t even care that a giant outlaw Alpha is standing in front of me.

Kai doesn’t attempt to move aggressively toward Thomas but watches with amusement, as Thomas pushes past him with his gaze focused on me.

I whine high in my throat, as Thomas wraps his arms around me, burying his face into my hair.

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