Page 68 of Love Bites Extra Hard

She let out a soft, shallow breath. I wasn’t sure what emotion was behind it. “Is Stella okay?”

“I’m fine,” my sister said. “Focus on getting better, okay?”

Avery let out another soft breath. “Can you get off me?”

Someone behind me chuckled, and tried to cover it with a cough.

I ignored them, and carefully started to pull my body off hers. Her skin immediately paled, her breathing went uneven, and she made a soft sound of pain.

My body was pressing hers back into the blood-soaked mattress instantly.

“Guess not,” she croaked.

“Rest,” I commanded her.

She didn’t even try to protest, simply closing her eyes and doing as I said.

Her breathing evened out. It was still nowhere what it should’ve been, but she was okay.

Or she was going to be, at least.

I lifted my head off the pillow and turned it to the side so I could see part of the group around us.

There were so many people. Too many.

“She’s healing. Everyone but Stella, get out,” I growled.

Avery stirred, and I tried to quiet myself so I wouldn’t wake her.

Everyone made their way out quietly, until the door was closed between us and them. My gaze finally narrowed in on my sister. “What happened?”

Stella’s face was nearly as pale as Avery’s. “Sylvester was frazzled without feeling her magic all day. He was getting worse. I asked her to hit him with a wave of her magic, to see if he would shift. He almost did, but not quite. She said she wanted to go in and try to seduce him from the inside. I agreed, and we went in together. I wasn’t prepared for how strongly her magic would affect me, and I was too slow. He got her. I freed her and got us out, but the damage was done.”

I had to clench my jaw and lower my forehead back to my mate’s to prevent myself from saying something I would regret.

I was fucking furious, but Stella was still my sister. And Avery had undoubtedly played a role in their plan. She’d been trying to convince me to let her in his cell from the beginning.

“You’re too partial when it comes to him,” I finally said, my voice low.

“I know.” Stella’s was soft.

Bitter.

Sad.

“When Avery’s recovered, you need to be done in the prison. I can’t risk this again. I almost lost her, Stell.”

“I know.” Her voice was so shaky, I knew she was crying. And my sister so very rarely cried. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The edge of the mattress dipped, and I tried not to growl at her for invading my mate’s territory. My territory.

I mostly succeeded.

Stella caught Avery’s hand. “She’s the only friend I’ve had in more than a decade. I thought I could protect her. I’m sorry.”

I clenched my jaw and nodded.

I couldn’t keep talking about it. Not without saying something my sister didn’t need or deserve to hear.

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