Page 66 of Reign of the Beast

He kicked that up another notch by confessing, “I am so sorry for my attack on you, beauty. I regret it deeply.”

“I know you do. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily.”

“I’m not worried about you hurting me, Lucian. I understand. The veil suddenly dropping was a shock to all of us. I couldn’t controlmyreaction either. It just so happened that mine was an incapacitating ringing in my ears and a surge of weakness, whilst yours was uncontrollable bloodlust. I’m at peace with what happened, withyou. I promise.”

“I am relieved to hear it.”

“I’ve actually been meaning to thank you.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “For what?”

“Ryker. You’ve given him a new lease on life, coaxed him from a dark pit of depression. You’ve made him happy and shown him such love and profound understanding, something he’s been craving for so long.”

“He has been a gift to me.”

I smiled, recalling my best days with Ryker fondly. “That’s him.”

Lucian shifted his weight. “For too long, I couldn’t accept what had happened between the two of you, the hurt you’d inflicted upon him. It was soul-deep when heand I came together. It took time and effort for him to offer me even a sliver of his trust.”

I winced at the recollection.

Lucian went on, “But with the truths coming to light about Cornelius and the Covenant, it became clear that you acted out of love. You went to great lengths at the expense of your own happiness to attempt to spare him. You protected him despite it breaking your heart and leaving you all alone at a time when you were dealing with the weight of your duty to the Covenant, when you needed somebody the most to share that burden with.”

Emotion clogged my throat. “He didn’t deserve it, any of this,” I choked out.

“The world doesn’t deserve Draco, but he is here, nonetheless.”

“I know, but—”

He grasped my shoulders gently. “We accept what we need to do. We are ready. You need not worry, sweet sorceress. We are here with you, not merely out of duty, but because we wish to be. I am in awe of you.”

“Right there with you,” a familiar raspy voice boomed from behind us.

I peered around Lucian to see my sexy wolf striding over.

The way he worked a pair of jeans was something else.

Hanging low on his hips, bolstered by his golden wolf’s head belt buckle, they really emphasized his thick, muscular thighs and the power residing there. Not to mention, other appetizing things.

I saw a brief chin lift exchange occur between him and Lucian, sparking my curiosity.

Jaxon draped an inked arm across Lucian’s shoulders, a friendly gesture that I’d never seen from either of them before, and one I hadn’t thought possible. Their heart-to-heart the other day had dramatically shifted things between them.

I didn’t doubt for a moment that Jaxon, being as astute as he was, had put two and two together as to why Lucian had come out to the backyard to me. Yet, he wasn’t trying to rip him away from me, to warn him off touchingwhat was his, or anything.

“Jaxon?” I questioned.

He broke from Lucian and grasped my jaw, then swept down and took me in a deep, searing kiss that stole my breath.

He moved behind me and eased my cardigan off me, the silk sweeping down my arms, before it dropped to the floor at my feet.

He stroked his hands over my hips, before taking them in a firm grip, and holding me in front of Lucian.

Presenting me to him, it seemed.

It made me feel so wanton.

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