Page 63 of The Bull's Head

She gave a cold smile that chilled Teddy. “Oh, no, sweetheart. I wasn’t angry. I saw Malachi on the floor, with Alp sobbing over losing his mate, and I was dead calm. Why? In my heart, I knew the bastard had to die because he’d hurt my family, and I will never regret making that decision.”

“So now he’s hurt my family, and what? I’m supposed to be fine with it?”

He wanted to make Cece angry. He wanted her to fight him. He needed to feel something other than the cold rage that filled him. She could do it. She always did, but not this time. Instead she moved into his personal space and wrapped her arms around him. He wanted to lash out, to force her to take him down, but all the strength was drained from him. He put his head on her shoulder and wailed at the injustice of it all. He just found his mate, his one chance at a life, and now he was going to lose him.

Teddy sniffled. “I can’t, Cece. I can’t.”

She stroked a hand over his back. “You know as well as I do, the Maker will do what she deems best.”

And she would. In his heart, Teddy knew that, but he also knew one other thing. “Then I need you to make me a promise. You swear you’ll do what I ask?”

“Yes, I will.”

“If Byk dies, I want you to kill me so that I can join him.” She tensed, and he wrapped his arms around her, then squeezed. “You’ve given me your vow, and you will honor it.”

A deep sigh and she went limp. “I will,” she promised. “I don’t like it, but I can’t imagine my life without my mate. I have the boys, but…. It isn’t the same for us, is it?”

Teddy shook his head. “We—Byk and I—haven’t known each other that long, and already I can’t see a life without him and can barely recall my life before him. My stupid bear wants to crawl into a den with him and wait there until the end comes for us both.”

She kissed his cheek. “That’s how it is with animals. As humans, we can’t lose hope. That’s what separates our two halves.”

Hope? He had that once. He was sure they’d be able to help Byk, that he could be the hero in this man’s beautiful eyes. That he could look at his reflection in the mirror and forget the failures of his past, instead of seeing the worst one of all.

“Kick my ass, Cece. Please,” he begged. “I need…. I need….”

“To get out of your head for a while? I get it, I do. The problem is, I don’t think it will help you. It’s not the kind of fight you can run from, not even in a real battle. May I make a suggestion?”

He wanted the hurt to go away, but maybe she was right. “Sure, I guess.”

“If Byk—and you—have a limited time left on earth, don’t you think you should be spending it together? How do you think he’s feeling now, knowing that you’re not with him and he’s alone?”

Fuck it all to hell. He’d been so stressed, he left Byk in their room. “You’re right. I… thank you, Cece.” He kissed her cheek. “I am forever in your debt.”

She grinned and cuffed him on the arm. “We can spar later. You can bring Ivan. I haven’t kicked your asses in far too long.”

With that, he turned and rushed back to the room. When he approached it, the sound of laughter stopped him. Someone was in the room with Byk?

“And then he crawled out on the ice to pull the stupid duck in, only to find out it was frozen in the water.”

Ivan. Of course.

“Oh, no. Poor duck. Was it okay?”

A chuckle. “Much better than Teddy was when father got hold of him.” He pitched his voice low, sounding too eerily like their father. “How dare you risk your life for a duck. If it had died, it could still be dinner. They’re cheap, but good help is not.”

“Oh.” Byk sounded pained. “I’m… sorry.”

“Do not be, little Byk. Teddy has a heart as big as the outdoors, and it is easily bruised. He was never cut out to be a bodyguard. I will be honest with you, this job? It’s perfect for him. He only has to satisfy the wolf and rabbit and you. Beyond that, he is beholden to no one.” A cough. “And dear brother, it isn’t right to eavesdrop.”

Busted. He went to the door and gave a small wave. “Hey, Byk.”

“Teddy!” Byk was off the bed and in Teddy’s arms in a second. That luscious smell that could only come from Byk was amazing. He peered up at Teddy. “So what did they… oh.”

He held Byk tighter, not wanting him to spiral into pity. It was bad enough Teddy was. “No one is giving up!” Teddy stressed.

“They can’t help. I didn’t think they could. The whispers in my head keep getting louder.”

Whispers? That was the first Teddy had heard. “What do you mean?”

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