Page 26 of Lucius

“A coupon brought me here.”

He snorted and she glared at him and then, very faintly, a small smile curved the corner of her lips.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he said, closing the distance between them. “So fucking mine, Sidney. Tell me that you knowwhat you saw was real and that you forgive me for scaring you. But most of all, tell me you understand how big of a deal the secret of shifters is. It’s a secret that has to be kept at any cost.”

He stared down at her earnestly, wishing desperately that she’d understand what he was saying.

She stared up at him, and for the first time, he realized how disheveled she was. She’d probably put her clothes on in a hurry and she was shoeless with messy hair and dark circles under her eyes.

He lifted his hand and pressed it gently to her cheek.

“Sidney?”

She placed her hand against his and tears glistened in the depths. “I understand that it’s a secret that needs to be kept, but does that mean I’m…is someone going to put me away?”

The scent of her fear spiked in the air between them and he growled.

“No! Sweetheart, never. You’re mine to protect and keep safe. I would never let anyone hurt you. But you can’t leave the park until all the alphas know that you can be trusted with the secret of shifters. I’m sorry for everything, I’m sorry that I didn’t earn your heart before everything went to hell, but this is where we are now.”

“I need,” she whispered, her voice thick. “I need to sit?—”

Her eyes rolled back in her head and he caught her, lifting her into his arms.

“Damn it.”

“You want to take her down to your house?” his dad called.

“I thought I couldn’t bring her down there yet?”

“You might as well,” Marcus said, shaking his head. “The proverbial cat is out of the bag and you should be comfortable while she comes to terms with everything she learned.”

He nodded.

His dad walked outside to tell Jupiter and Amadeus what was going on, and then caught up to him as he carried his mate down the stairs to the lions’ private living area. In minutes, he’d put his soulmate to bed in his house and met his dad at the door.

“When she wakes up, tell her everything again in case she feels like she was dreaming. If she wants to see you shift again, you can do that in the paddock or here in the open area.”

“Thanks, Dad. And I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “Thankfully, you were in the park when it happened and your brother was able to keep her contained. It’ll work out. You’re soulmates and she cares for you. That’s what matters the most.”

With a nod, Lucius walked back into his house and closed the door. Climbing into bed with her, he pulled her close and she snuggled into him without waking.

“I’m sorry, Sidney. Forgive me.”

Sidney woke slowly feelinglike she was wading through surf that was trying to pull her under as she tried to get to the shore. Her limbs felt heavy and her head hurt, but those feelings ebbed away as she opened her eyes and stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling.

She wasn’t sure where she was, but she was certain it wasn’t in the apartment. As she pondered her current state, the last memories she had flooded through her mind and a bolt of fear spiked through her.

Had she really seen Lucius as a lion who turned into a human?

“Hey, sweetheart, you don’t have to be scared.”

It was infuriating how much she liked his voice when she was pretty sure the reason she was scared was because he had a huge secret and she was suddenly part of it.

Turning her head slowly to the side, she saw him up on one elbow, his hair ruffled from sleep and looking far too sexy for someone she was pretty sure she should be pissed at.

Because he’d…lied to her?

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