Page 69 of Owning His Mate

Careful not to wake Savannah, I turn slightly to look at her. “Are you okay?”

Tessa shakes her head. “I feel sick.”

“Is that a pregnancy thing or…”

“That bitch is evil.” A chill runs through me.

“What did she do?”

Tess peers over at me to check Savannah is asleep before dropping her voice to a whisper. “They tortured Savannah formonths, using pain, sleep deprivation, and withholding food to force her to use her power.”

I understand why she feels nauseous. My gut churns. I knew she’d suffered—I can see it in her emaciated frame—but hearing her torment laid out like that cuts me like a knife.

“The female Savannah brought here said they have tested hundreds of hybrids and full witches, trying to find the right bloodline.”

I glance down at Savannah’s sleeping form as Tessa strokes her hair, feeling the weight of my existence suddenly pressing heavily on my shoulders. “Do you ever wish all of this would just stop?” I ask.

Tessa sighs, resting her hand on her stomach. “Of course, but we can’t change the hand we’re dealt, only play it. I just want somewhere safe to raise my pup, and I don’t see that happening.”

“It will.” This time it’s my turn to assure her. “I won’t stop until it is safe.”

Tessa studies me, her eyes filled with curiosity. “You and Kye seem to be in a better place since you...”

“Got captured and nearly died?” I finish for her.

She snorts. “How the hell is this our lives?”

“We lost the DNA lottery,” I say. Savannah shifts in her sleep, getting comfortable against me. “I was scared of having a mate at first, but when we were in that place, I was more terrified of losing him. That made me realize I want him. I didn’t expect to fall so fast.”

“I feel the same about Abel. Every time we go into a battle, I’m scared to death he’s going to die.”

I understand why she would fear that, but I place a hand on her stomach over the swell of her bump. “Whatever happens, you and your baby will be taken care of, Tess. I promise you that.”

She smiles at me, but there’s a thread of sadness in the gesture. “Kye has changed you. You seem… stronger, more confident in yourself.”

She’s right. He has. When I first came to the Sanctuary, I was angry and jaded at the world. That raw deal I was dealt sat in my throat like razor blades. I hated everyone and everything about my situation. When Kye came along, I hated him too. I was scared of what it meant to have a mate. I didn’t want to trust anyone ever again, yet I find myself trusting him.

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

“Good. It was meant as one.” Tessa places her hand over mine, her expression turning serious. “Whatever happens, we’ll get through this. We’re stronger together.”

We are. Every day, the control we have over our magic grows. The training I did with Beck made me physically stronger as well. When it’s time to go against the Order, or anyone else who comes for us, I will be able to protect myself and bring something to the fight.

I feel anger blaze through the bond before shouting reaches my ears. I stiffen, sitting up on the bed. No one bursts in, but the shouting persists. Carefully, I slip out of bed, positioning Savannah against Tessa.

“Stay with her.”

She nods and I quickly rush to the door, dragging it open. As I make my way back to the living area, the yelling only gets louder.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to see, but my mate with his hands around Callum’s throat was not it. Our tau leader has drawn on his magic but hasn’t unleashed it on Kye. Yet.

“I will fucking kill you,” Kye growls, and he must be furious because he hasn’t noticed me.

“If this bitch is right, anyone from that bloodline is a threat.”

Cold washes through me as I glance in the direction of Halle and Roux, who both look pale.What is going on?

“Call my mate a threat again and I will tear your heart out.” It is Callum who notices me first, his gaze locking onto mine before Kye follows his line of sight. He shakes Callum like he’s a ragdoll. “Don’t you fucking look at her like that. I will rip your guts out with my bare hands.”

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