Page 45 of Owning His Mate

I shake my head. “No.”

Roux’s brows climb up her forehead, but it’s Tessa who speaks. “You can’t stay in the van forever.”

“She’s staying with me.”

The girls exchange looks. “She’s part of our coven, Kye.”

“And she’s my mate.”

Tessa, who seems like the peacekeeper of their groups, says, “I understand that you feel protective of her, but you’re notexactly Apryle’s favorite person, Kye. We don’t want her to wake up in a strange place and be upset that we didn’t try to keep her safe, so I think it’s best we take her to her own room.”

Rationally, I know she’s right, but I’m not thinking rationally right now. I nearly lost her back there, and we came to some kind of understanding in that place. Apryle isn’t looking at me like I’m her enemy anymore. Of course, her friends don’t know that. The last time they saw us in the same room, she was spitting daggers at me.

But I don’t have the patience to explain it to them, and right now these two women are standing between me and what I want.

“She comes with me,” I repeat, this time with a lot more force in my words.

“It’s fine,” Apryle murmurs, her eyes fluttering a little before she opens them.

My heart thumps savagely in my chest and relief floods through me. She’s awake and she’s not agreeing with her friends.

“Apryle, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Roux tells her while keeping her gaze locked on me.

“He tore out someone’s throat to save me.” Apryle’s lips kick up at the corners, a goofy look in her dazed eyes. “I think that means he might love me. I’m not sure I deserve his love, but I don’t know if I can fight it anymore.”

Her words fade as her head nods forward again, and rather than being pleased she’s comfortable enough to be around me, I’m more concerned.

“She’s really out of it,” Roux says, concern lacing her voice.

“They injected her with something,” I explain. “She was fighting it initially, but she’s been like this since we got in the van.” I meet Roux’s gaze. “I’m not a threat to her,” I add. “But she’s mine to protect. Don’t get in my way.”

Roux doesn’t even flinch at that, even if Sawyer growls low at me for talking to his mate that way.

“You care about her.”

Care about her? Apryle is the blood pumping through my veins. She’s the air in my lungs and the energy in every cell of my body. Our bond grows stronger with every moment that passes, and I still want more.

“She’s my everything,” I say.

She pauses before speaking again. “If you need us?—”

“I know where to find you.”

Despite the pain gnawing at my body, I climb out of the van and scoop Apryle to my chest. It’s a little awkward with my injuries, but I refuse to show weakness in front of Sawyer and Cade.

I glance over my shoulder toward Savannah and tell her, “You’re coming with us.”

The little girl glances around all the grownups, her eyes wide before she rushes to my side. Apryle will want her with us, and whatever Apryle wants, I intend to give her.

“Who is this?” Tessa asks, her voice so gentle and filled with warmth it chokes me up.

“Her name’s Savannah,” I reply when the little girl doesn’t answer. “Apryle found her.”

Roux’s gaze meets mine and I see a hundred questions in her eyes. “She was being held captive?”

“Later,” I say. Savannah has been through enough, and I’m starting to fade.

My vision is blurry by the time we reach the front door of my building and Savannah slips in front of me to open it, so we can step inside.

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