Page 44 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“Is it wrong that I want to stay snuggled up with you two?” Jade asks.
“I’d say I’d prefer it.” I kiss her forehead.
She tilts her head back and peeks up at my face. “I wish I had more than two sides so I could snuggle all of you at once.”
“We’d like our one-on-one time too though,” Flint says and strokes his hand down her arm.
Jade hooks her ankle behind her and over Flint’s leg. “I need to give you all enough love.”
“Things will settle down soon,” I assure her.
“Once we annihilate our enemies,” Flint adds with a gravelly growl.
“You always say the sweetest things.” Jade looks over her shoulder at Flint and grins.
Then her face falters, and behind her beautiful green eyes, I see the wheels spinning in her mind. Through our mate bond, I feel her sadness and sense her anger.
“You’re angry,” I say, hoping to get her to talk about it.
“I talk a big game in my books. Killing characters off with the only concern being if it serves the plot.” She rolls her lips inward and bites them, thinking. “But real life is different. There were times I thought I’d have to shoot Rob if he broke in and attacked me again. I worried that if I killed him, taking a life would mess me up, even if it was his. But now, after what Rob and Galiana did. They killed Osen and used me. She tortured and killed my mother and mother’s parents. Those assholes need to go.”
“Yeah, killing in theory, killing in cold blood, and killing in war are all different. But this is war,” I say. “It’s either us or them.”
“And you didn’t ask for this,” Flint reminds her. “The only thing you did was dare to exist and refuse to be used any longer.”
She nods vigorously, as if she’s shaking her fears away. “We have to be careful. I don’t think I could stand to lose any of you.Like Maxum said, it would destroy me. Especially since you’re all trying to protect me.”
“Whatever happens, you can’t feel guilty.” Flint captures her chin and guides her face to look at him. “Understand?”
Jade doesn’t answer. She won’t lie to him and to promise this would be untrue.
“Would it make you feel less guilty in all of this to know we would fight Galiana and Rob, no matter what?” I ask. “They killed our packmate. And before that, they were killing our kind. We’ve been hunting them for years.”
“Yeah, okay.” She acquiesces, but still doesn’t promise a thing.
Flint glances up at me, asking for my help.
I give my head a shake.Not now, I tell him with my look. If it comes to pass, we deal with the fallout then.
We can’t live in constant worry over what may be.
I’m learning that lesson by allowing myself to open my heart and love my mate. Yes, many things could go wrong, but what if everything goes right?
15
CAPTURING SPIRITS
JADE
After my nap, Arran joins me in taking a long shower. He dotes on me, shampooing and conditioning my hair and scrubbing my back. He doesn’t fool around… much. He must worry that if he gets too frisky, then Serky will break through and take over. Or perhaps he’s just trying to be a caring mate and not make everything about sex.
I could see how that could easily happen with a pack like this. I’d enjoy the hell out of it, but I need more. Deep conversations, laughter, and being there for each other in any way that we’re needed.
Arran shuts off the shower, and we towel ourselves dry before slipping on some workout clothes.
In the living area, Flint has a glass of water and fruit and nuts waiting. “Eat. You’ll need your strength.”
As I finish the snack, I ask, “What do they have for me today?”
