Page 162 of The Beta's Blind Date

I take another slow breath, in and out, my fingers tracing over Sour Patch. Taryn covers my hand, a small pulse of warmth skittering across my skin, and I sigh. “Fine,” I say through my teeth. “Fine, but she’s not staying in there any longer than necessary. And I have to be touching her the entire time,” I add.

“Of course,” King Malachi says.

“And only if Taryn is okay with it.”

I lift my head from her shoulder and meet her eyes as she turns to look at me. I open myself to her, showing her all of me—my worries, my fears, my love, and most of all, my trust. She trusted me and respected my concerns and my hesitations, so it’s only fair I give her the same trust, the same respect. It has to go both ways for our relationship to thrive and bloom.

She nods. “I want to help. We need answers.”

I sigh and hug her, biting back my growl. Trust. Respect. Love. I can protect her as she heals this dickhead. And then we’ll have our answers and he’ll be out of our hair for good.

“Is the room clean?” Malachi asks, glancing at Haven.

“Yes,” she says. “They just mindlinked me that they finished.”

“Let’s head back in there then,” Wes says.

Taryn gets off my lap, and I clasp her hand in mine as we all walk back to the now-clean observation room. Wesley opens the door to Dominic’s room and we follow him, King Malachi, and Dr. Russo inside.

My lip curls in distaste as the door slams behind us and I look at Dominic, unconscious in the prison hospital bed. “How long will it take?”

“However long Taryn needs,” Dr. Russo says.

I sigh and shake my head. “Let’s get it over with.”

Taryn moves to Dominic’s bed, and I position myself behind her, my hands on her hips and my face against the back of her neck. “Don’t take too long,” I whisper.

“I’ll try,” she says.

Then she closes her eyes and lifts her hands. Calming, healing power flows from her, her entire body glowing instead of only her hands. She places them on Dominic’s chest and exhales, sending her light and power into his body.

My arms wrap around her as she works and focuses on healing him. The golden warmth spreads to me, drawing energy from me, using my reserves and my strength as a beta werewolf to fuel my mate’s magnificent gift. It’s fascinating, the way it wraps around me and twists within me so she doesn’t drain herself, and I press my nose into her nape, smiling against her skin.

It doesn’t matter that it’s Dominic she’s healing—I’m honored my mate possesses this rare talent and that I’m the one who gives her power so she stays strong. She could take every ounce of strength from me if she needed to. Whatever she needs, whatever she wants from me, it’s hers.

“The poison is almost gone,” she says, taking a deep breath.

I push more of my energy to her, following the lead of the golden light flowing around and between us. It slows from a rushing river to a babbling brook, skipping and hopping over stones, and then to sticky sap oozing from a tree.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur to her, my lips brushing her neck. “I’m so proud to be your mate.”

She turns and looks at me over her shoulder, her lips tipping into a radiant smile.

But before she can reply, my heart sinks into my stomach and I tug her away from the bed, throwing myself in front of her.

Because Dominic is no longer unconscious. No, he’s wide awake, and his cold, steel-gray eyes are staring behind me, straight at my mate.

Chapter 56

TARYN

Reidyanksmeawayfrom the bed and takes a protective stance between Dominic and me, his claws out and his growl echoing. “What the hell? I thought you said he would stay unconscious?!”

Dr. Russo rushes to the IV stand, checking the drip line and preparing another dose of sedative from the cart nearby, his movements rushed but precise. “I underestimated how much would filter from his system as Taryn healed him. I can prepare another dose, but it will take some time, and I’ll need to focus.”

Dominic’s eyes bore into me, cold and unfeeling, harsher and more distant than I’ve seen them. Gone is the male I knew, the male who was a friend before he was anything more. The male I thought would still be my friend after I told him I wouldn’t remain at his beck and call.

Maybe he never was that male. Maybe it was all an act. I’d like to believe that’s not the case, but the proof is staring back at me, lip curled and nostrils flaring, his arms tugging against the silver restraints holding him to the hospital bed.

---