Page 46 of Owning His Mate

It’s only two bedrooms and I have the place to myself. I used to share with my cousin before the Order took him, and Callum’s never assigned anyone else to the spare room.

Besides the bedrooms, there is a small communal area and a tiny kitchen barely big enough to grab a cup of coffee or make toast. It never bothered me before. I had most of my meals at the main hall, but suddenly my space seems inadequate for the small family I have collected.

I carry Apryle over to the couch, gently laying her down and trying not to pass out as the pain spreads through my chest. As soon as she is safe, I sink down next to her, sucking in a breath myself. Savannah hovers close by, as if she is too scared to move.

“You need a healer,” Roux’s voice penetrates through my increasingly foggy thoughts.

I didn’t realize that Apryle’s friends followed us, but when I glance up, I see she’s with Sawyer and one of the other females, Halle.

Don’t bare your teeth at them.

I want to, but I heed that voice, knowing these people care about my mate and want to help her. They won’t hurt her or Savannah.

They have enough sense to keep a little distance at first, but then Halle inches forward. “I can help if you’ll let me. I can reverse the effects of the drugs in her system, and maybe I can look at you too. You don’t seem like you’re doing very well.”

I want to be affronted by that, but she’s not wrong. Licking my suddenly dry lips, I nod my head, indicating that she can approach.

Halle steps up to me, shooting a wary look in my direction before she drops onto her knees in front of Apryle. She places her outstretched hands just over her body and closes her eyes. I hear the murmuring of her words as she draws upon the power that resides inside her. Then the smell. The burning scent of magic swirls through my nose.

I should feel safe here. This has been my home for a while now, but I am on edge—my wolf too. Having Apryle taken fromme has rattled me in more ways than I can explain. I will never allow that to happen again. Even if I have to tie her to me.

After a moment, Halle sinks back onto her heels, and Apryle’s lashes flutter before her eyes open. She’s disoriented and I feel her surge of confusion through the bond as she tries to gain her bearings. She only relaxes when she spots me and that chips away at some of the ice around my heart.

“What… What happened?”

“You okay?” I demand, scanning every inch of her beautiful face.

“I think so,” she says, lifting a hand to rub her temple. I follow the movement, unable to take my eyes off the bracelets on both wrists, the cuffs that prevent her from using her magic. I grind my teeth together. “My head still feels a little fuzzy, but I’m okay.”

“It may feel like that for a little while,” Halle informs her. “Removing drugs from someone’s system isn’t as simple as healing a wound. There are a lot of chemical reactions to undo.”

“Can you take these things off?” I ask Halle, indicating the cuffs.

Her brows come together before she glances at Roux. “Maybe with our combined magic.”

“They stop my power,” Apryle grumbles, sitting up slowly and wincing. “Painfully.”

“I’ll go grab some bolt cutters,” Sawyer says. “We don’t always need to think outside the box.”

I skim my fingers over her wrists above where the bracelets sit. The skin underneath doesn’t look harmed, but I hate what these things represent. Shackles that stop Apryle from being who she is. Her gaze meets mine, and there’s so much softness there that I can’t resist leaning into her and running my nose down the curve of her jaw.

“We made it,” she whispers.

I’m not sure “made it” is the right way to put it. That was too close for comfort.

“No more missions,” I blurt out, my anxiety making my words sharp.

She pulls back from me, and my body instantly craves her lost touch even as her brows arch. “I’m sorry. I missed the part where you get to tell me what to do.”

Halle and Roux exchange glance, but I am only focused on my mate. “We were captured. I was shot. You were drugged.”

Her scowl makes her nose wrinkle. “I’m aware. You know, since I was there and all.” She tries to stand, and I can tell she’s dizzy the moment she moves. I reach for her, but she bats my hand away, and my chest feels like it’s caving in at her rejection.

“You’re not allowed to touch me until you stop being an asshole.”

I lean forward, collaring the back of her neck in a possessive grip. She lets out a squeal of surprise, but I don’t loosen my hold on her. We were making headway, and I’m not about to go back to where we were before.

“Since I can’t stop from being an asshole, I can’t agree to your terms, but know this, Apryle, there is no force on earth that will keep me from you,” I tell her. “I will always be at your side, cutting down anyone who tries to hurt you.”

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