Page 33 of Reign

Jed huffed. Then I felt him move away. His heat disappeared from my back.

Connor reached out. I flinched away.

“No,” I whispered.

“Yes.”

“Not here….please.” I might not be in love with Jed, but I wasn’t going to rub his nose in it by letting my ‘mate’ heal me and make me climax in front of him.

Connor’s gaze darkened, and he glanced at Jed.

A woman walked closer. Her long dark hair swung over her shoulder in a braid. She was dressed very similarly to the way Connor’s men had been, combats, heavy boots, and that same kind of shimmering, metallic top. “Perhaps you should take her back to her room, Prime. Where you can heal her in private.”

“I don’t want to fucking wait until we’re in private. Let him watch; then he’ll know she’s mine. Not his.”

“Fucking hell, man. I know that, anyway. Why do you think I got you in here? Just please, take her away.” Jed’s voice was thick and caught on his last words.

I couldn’t even look at him. He had brought this situation on himself, but I still didn’t want to hurt him. My legs wobbled, and I slipped sideways. “Dizzy,” I said to no one in particular.

Connor swore loudly and swept me into his arms. “I’m going to be awhile. But when I’m done I want an explanation for what just happened. How did that vampire bitch get here before us? And find out if Rex has that fucking Halo!”

“He does,” Jed confirmed.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Connor spat. He twisted to look at Jed. “You and I aren’t done yet. But she comes first.”

“She does.” Jed looked at me, a deep furrow at the bridge of his heavy brow.

I’d suddenly had enough of all this. Shifters. Werewolves. Vampires. Two men fighting over me. Almost having my throat cut… Yeah, enough.

I turned my head into Connor’s warm chest and inhaled. Immediately his scent calmed me, and I let myself drift away.

Chapter 12

Connor

Ember’s face was relaxed.Asleep, she looked peaceful and free of worry. It didn’t do much to dull my fury, though. Rex had gotten away. Somehow, that slimy prick had evaded a pack of wolves. He’d had a secret passageway down through the cliff and to the water’s edge. He’d been more than halfway across the bay on a speed boat by the time Owen and the others had found the exit.

Sophie looked at me. She had stayed by my side in Ember’s room. I wasn’t sure why, but it was kind of nice to have the company of someone who expected nothing from me. I wasn’t Prime or the King of Shifters to her; I was her brother. She was my sister.

Sophie’s eyes widened, and her gaze flicked to the door. Panic flitted across her face before she closed herself down into a blank mask. Her flushed cheeks gave her away, though.

“How’s she doing?” asked Drake, his face worried as he peered in through the door.

“She’s okay. Exhausted and overwhelmed, but she’s strong. She’ll process it all soon.”

He eyed Sophie, who refused to look at him. He exhaled, a crease appearing between his brows before he looked back at Ember.

“Come on in, man. Sit with us for a while.” I kicked out another of the chairs I brought in from the terrace. I didn’t really want another male near my pregnant mate, but I had to deal with my increasingly possessive feelings towards Ember. Drake had been her alpha, the one she’d chosen to be her first protector. I knew he’d never hurt her.

“You sure?” Drake eyed me warily and then pointedly looked at Sophie. “Y’ already have company.”

“It’s fine. I was going anyway.” Sophie stood. “Let me know if you need anything.” She squeezed my shoulder then was gone.

Drake raised his brows and took her seat. “What’s with you two? What’s the story? I know you’re not cheatin’ on Ember. But you treat her differently than the rest of us.”

I raised my brows. “What do you mean, different?”

He leaned back in the chair and shrugged his big shoulders. “Different. What’s between you? History?”

---