Page 57 of Dawn Unearthed

Sage met my gaze. “Of course. Come on.”

I turned off the car, got out, and went around to help her out. I opened her door, and she already had her seatbelt off, her purse clutched to her chest. I held out my hand. “Let me walk you inside.”

Her gaze softened, and my bear wasn’t sure how to take the look. “It’s okay, Rome.”

“I’m usually much better at controlling this.”

“I know you are, and you are in control.”

I shook my head. “I’m not. If I were, I wouldn’t be growling and ready to rip off anyone’s head who dared to come near you.”

She squeezed my hand. “You’re not. You’re not hurting anybody. You’re not hurting me. You’re doing fine.”

I still held her hand as I gave her an incredulous look before I went to the front door.

“How about I let myself in, and you walk around with me to make sure nobody’s here?”

“How did you know I was about to take the keys from your hand?” I asked, swallowing hard.

“I was trying to think of what I would do if someone had attacked you, and I was the one who needed reassurance.”

I nearly tripped over my feet. “Are you serious?” I asked, blinking.

“It’s okay, Rome. We’ll take care of each other. Now, your hands need to be free, or I guess they’re claws. I will get the door open. Rowen has wards here, and since it’s just me, it’s easier than a place of business.” Her lower lip trembled, and I cursed.

“We’re going to clean up the bookshop.”

“My aunt has put so much into it, and the revenants and Faith nearly destroyed it all.”

I shook my head. “Between the fae, Jaxton, and Rowen, it’ll look brand-new. The cosmetic things? We can clean that up. We can fix it.”

“Not the insecurity that Aunt Penelope feels. Or whatyoufeel.”

“I’m not insecure,” I growled as I stormed around the small cottage she rented. My bear was about to burst out of my skin and prove that, but I held it back.

“You might not be insecure, but you’re still growling over the idea that we were attacked. We all took care of ourselves. I didn’t know my Aunt Penelope was so good with a dagger.”

That made my lips twitch. “Who do you think taught Laurel to use the sword?” I asked.

Her brows rose.

“We tend to fall back on what we’re good at—witches do magic, same as the fae in their way. And shifters use whatever predatory skill they have. Those who possess small power but not enough to protect those they love? They need to learn other ways. And when Laurel lost her magic, your aunt stepped up and taught her how to protect herself. That way, neither of them was forced to rely on anyone.”

“I hope Laurel explains it to me someday because maybe then I could help her find a way back.”

I smiled softly and reached out, pushing her hair from her face. “One day, she’ll tell you. But if anyone can find a way for Laurel to get what she’s lost and break that curse, it’ll be the coven. You’ll figure it out.”

“You say that. And yet, I sometimes feel that I’ll never be able to catch up enough.”

“Look how far you’ve come already.”

“Possibly,” she whispered.

I nodded as I looked around the rest of the cottage. “Everything looks good.”

“Good.” She looked down at her hands and sighed. “I’m going to have some tea and take a breath.”

“I need to…I should go.” I wanted to mark her right then, claim her so everyone knew who she belonged to. And that meant I needed to leave.

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