Page 79 of Reign

Rawson worked alongside me, as did Lionel. I tried to hide a yawn as I passed a bandage to a shifter who was missing a chunk out of his upper arm. Rawson eyed me with concern. I smiled, but his scowl only depended. Damn, I’d seen that look so many times over the years. He was about to give me a hard time.

“Ember, we have to get you to the compound. You need food and rest, in that order.”

“I’m not leaving my mate,” I said stubbornly, searching out Connor, who had joined Walker and B’nar.

Rawson raised a brow. “You are if he tells you to. Lionel, watch her.”

Lionel grinned and winked at me. “S’alright, we know you won’t run away. Rawson just wants you safe, same as we all do, you carrying a royal heir and all that.”

I rolled my eyes but smiled to myself as I helped the shifter bandage his arm. When we were done, I sat down. My hands trembled. Yeah, my adrenaline was used up. Fire was used up, and Mea couldn’t give me any more energy.

“Come on.” I held out my hand, and Lionel heaved me up. Without waiting for Rawson to ask Connor, I walked to my mate’s side.

“We still have an accord, King of Shifters?” I heard Balthazar say in his midnight smooth voice. He looked at me with amusement as I shuddered and slipped my hand into Connor’s. Rude? Yeah, probably, but the Count’s voice had that kind of effect on me. He was dangerous. Connor gripped my hand harder, his nostrils flaring, but he nodded calmly.

“We do, Count. If you need us, we will come.”

“In that case, me and mine bid you farewell.” Count Balthazar Rossi bowed his head graciously to Connor and me. Then he was gone.

I blinked at the space where he’d just been. “Um...just...wow.”

Connor’s mouth ticked up at the edges. “If that’s all it takes to impress you, my queen.” He kissed me gently. “Then I can oblige.”

I scowled. “What? You would run from me that quickly? That’s not impressive; that’s insulting. And when I find you again, I'll kick your balls into next week for leaving me.”

He laughed loudly, then his eyes narrowed on my face. “You’re tired?”

Rawson lifted his brows expectantly and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I am.” Exhausted and ready to collapse was a better description, but I wouldn’t admit that in front of everyone.

“Then let’s go. Owen? Stay until Walker is satisfied the area is secured.”

“Yes, boss.” Owen’s face remained inscrutable. He had to be as exhausted as the rest of us, but he’d do as his Prime asked, always and without complaint.

“I’ll stay too,” said Selina.

“Where’s Shane?” asked Connor, glancing at Owen.

“They've taken him back to the compound. He was injured,” said Selina.

Then why are you here, instead of there, if he’s your man?But I kept that to myself.

Owen nodded but gave no other reaction. “Lionel. Kawan. With me.” He walked up to D. “Good to see you, man.” He embraced his brother before patting him on the back. “We’ll catch up later.”

“Sure.” D coughed and stepped back.

Yeah, it had to be a total mind fuck to be dead, then not be, but be stuck in Hell only to have your King set you free. Then find yourself back in the land of the living with your brother—who killed you.And poor Stone! He’s going to freak when he sees D!

“Maybe we should get a therapist for everyone,” I murmured into Connor’s chest as we snuggled into the back of another SUV. “We’ve put our pack and friends through some crazy stressful shit recently.”

He chuckled and hugged me close. “Then the therapist would need a therapist.”

“Hmm, probably,” I murmured. Smiling and inhaling his scent, I let the feel of his body against mine calm me. Smirking, I threw my leg over his lap and wound myself koala bear style around him. “I wanna go to bed and sleep for a whole week.” His claiming scars were rough under my lips as I kissed his neck. “Well, maybe not sleepallweek.”

His deep chuckle vibrated through my whole body.

I gripped him tightly. “We won,” I whispered, my whole body beginning to shake. “We won because of Sophie.”

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