Page 53 of Grabbed By the Guard

Really? Huh. And I spent so long thinking that days were passing and people were freaking out over me once I started missing appointments, and while Sierra obviously came searching for me… it’s been a week?

“I told you, my mate,” rumbles Dagon, finally cutting into the conversation. “Time runs differently in Sombra depending on the duke’s whims. The only constant is the gold moon.”

“It’s fine. I doesn’t really matter now that we found you. We can go back, get our stuff, and be in the apartment in no time.”

I stumble a few steps back, my curls falling forward in my face. “What?”

Sierra frowns. “I know that ‘what’. B… you are coming home with us, aren’t you? The duke said you weren’t a mate. That you didn’t get bonded to the demon who took you. He wanted you to have a little mindwipe, but his mate suggested you can come home with us and, because you’re my bestie, you’ll keep the secret of Dagon and Sombra for my sake.” She reaches over, patting Dagon’s middle. “My mate’s got connections. He asked the duke’s mate, she asked him, and everything’s good now.”

No. Everything’s not good. “Sierra, I’m so glad to see you. I mean it. I love you. But… a lot can change in a month.”

A sly look crosses her pretty face. “Let me guess. Could it be that you figured out that you are a mate?”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

“Jeez, B. Really? And, what, you’re gonna stay? Fuck it. Bring him back with us. The more the merrier.”

“I wish I could. I don't know if the duke told you, but Glaine is not allowed to go to the human world anymore. And since he has to stay here, I think I'm going to, too.”

And there it is. What I've been thinking of doing these last couple of weeks… I've said it out loud. Now that I have? I know it was only a matter of time until I admitted to myself that I’m looking forward to sticking around and being Glaine’s mate. Especially now that I know Sierra is bonded to Dagon and can come see me any time.

Instead of trying to convince me to change my mind—because my lifelong friend knows that's impossible—Sierra wrinkles her nose. “You actually like that grumpy guard?”

“I love him,” I say simply. Hey. Wait. “You know Glaine?”

She taps her temple. “You forget that I got Dagon’s download. My demon worked in the capital city for, like, three decades. He had more than a couple of run-ins with Glaine in that time. So even if I’ve never met the guy, I feel like I know him… and I know that you don’t get to pick your fated mate or anything, but you seem to actually like that sourpuss.”

That’s because I do.

“Honestly? He kinda reminds me of you, Sierra.”

Dagon makes a sound like a choke.

Sierra raises her eyebrows at me.

“It’s pretty easy to get along with him once you realize you can’t let him steamroll over you. He may think he knows what’s best, but sometimes I do, too. And”—here I grin—“he’s learned that it can be pretty fun to let me take control.”

Sierra matches my smile, a devious edge to it that is purely my best friend without a single hint of the pop star. “That’s my Billie. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to find someone worthy of you.” Her face hardens. “It wasn’t Trev for you.”

She doesn’t know the half of it. I don’t want to ruin our reunion by mentioning that fateful weekend and his confession to me, so I don’t—though I do take her hand. “It wasn’t Jared for you, either, Sierra.”

Dagon growls under his breath.

“It’s okay, demon,” she murmurs even as she releases me. “Remember? She’s my sister.”

My heart swells because… well, I am, aren’t I? And that won’t change. In fact, with the two of us both having our own demon mates, I wouldn’t be surprised if we get any closer.

“Forgive me, Sierra. But it is not your kin touching your hand that rouses my instincts. It is hearing the names of the males unworthy of either my mate or her kin.” Another grumble, softer than the growl from before. “Trevor should’ve been left to the shadows. It’s not too late for the pale-haired male to take his place.”

“Huh. I guess he has your download if he knows about Trevor,” I say. Hang on… “Assuming you mean Jared when you say ‘pale-haired male’, I’m all for tossing him to the shadows. But why Trevor?”

I mean, I know why, but?—

“Yeah. About that. I’ve been meaning to ask… when you told me that it might be a good idea to busy myself with my fan mail… you didn’t, uh… I mean?—”

“I didn’t know there was a spell book in there, if that’s what you mean,” I say, teasingly.

“No, no. I was more worried that you knew Trevor was writing me love letters that might’ve been in that bag.”

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