Page 41 of Cage Me

My chest rumbles, and I want to punch that cocky look right off her face, but I know she’s not doing anything that I wouldn’t do to ensure the safety of those she cares about. Though, hearing her say that Drake could die, I’m not sure how I feel about risking his life.

Looking back up at him, I shrug. “Maybe running wouldn’t be so bad.”

The thought makes me want to vomit after envisioning what life could be like with a mate, in a real home, making a life for myself that I never thought I could have.

He’s so tense that his head shake is barely perceptive. “I can’t live like this forever, Spencer. And I won’t subject you to a life with only half a mate. You’re better off without me than keeping me like this.”

The anguish in his voice breaks me and reignites my desire for murder all at once. I hear him, but I can hardly feel him. I didn’t notice it earlier, not until he said that I would be living with half of a mate.

He’s hiding his pain and rage from me. There’s no denying that now, but that only serves to make me want to fix everything for him even more than before.

I turn back to Natalia, confident that fate can’t be so cruel as to tease me with a mate like Drake only to take him from me.

Whatever the risk, he’s going to be okay and there’s no believing otherwise.

He’s not destruction. He’s mine. All mine.

“Whatever you need to do to break the curse on my mate, get it ready,” I tell Natalia. “You’re going to free his wolf, and then you’re going to help us with the spell to kill this bitch once and for all.”

Chapter 17

SPENCER

Natalia sighs, and her lips flatten. “Well, this isn’t going how I expected or even hoped.”

I chuckle. “Did you expect me to give up just because of your little warning?”

She shrugs. “Pretty much.”

I guess I can’t blame her for that. That’s what I would have done before. At least, I would have considered that option more heavily, but not anymore.

Drake was right earlier when he said I deserved better. But not just with my living conditions, with everything in life, and I’m going to start demanding just that out of the universe.

My mate grabs hold of my elbow, turning me back toward him. His eyes are on me, swirling with emotions I can’t understand when he’s blocking me out.

I hold his cheeks in my palms and smile. “I can handle all of you. You don’t need to hide yourself from me.”

He shakes within my hold. “What my rage did to you earlier, I can’t let that happen again.”

“You didn’t give me a chance to figure it out on my own,” I tell him. “I know what will happen now. While I appreciate you trying to protect me, I can handle this and so much more. Next time, give me the chance to show you.”

He drops his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry, My Dove. I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t want you living with what I have. It’s not fair.”

I push up onto my toes and lightly press my lips against his. “Fairness doesn’t matter when we’re mates. Part of the purpose of the bond is so that we can share each other’s burdens, not hide who or what we are.”

This time he grins. “Who are you and what have you done with the Spencer I met outside the portal?”

My laugh is deep and rumbly. “She’s still here, I promise you that, but I realize life isn’t as black and white as I was trying to force it to be.”

“As fun as it is to be a third wheel in your newly formed mateship,” Natalia drones, “I apparently have work to do, and unlike the two of you, I’d rather not have an audience.”

I’ve crossed lines tonight, threatening her past a point that I’m honestly surprised she’s still willing to help us. Knowing that, I don’t comment on her attitude, because it’s not undeserved.

“We’ll leave, but nothing changes,” I tell her. “You offered to break the curse on Drake’s wolf, and we understand the risks. How long do you need to make this happen?”

Her hardened stare begins to soften, and she shakes her head with a heavy sigh. “You’re lucky I know how pure your energy is.”

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that, so I don’t, waiting for her to answer my previous question.

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