Page 83 of Their Promise

“You saw that, right?” I asked softly.

“He clearly knew that humanoid and seemed to think he was safe. So, I think we can assume he’s safe now,” Mason said.

Safe. I’d finally been able to save someone.

Chapter

Twenty

“So,” I said as Mason drove me back home, “are you going to tell everyone I harbored a demon pup?”

He huffed. “No, but only because you really were just trying to get it home and you thought of an idea that didn’t require you to go through the portal to videotape it.” He growled, “Even though youdidtry to run through the portal.”

“Let’s pretend that didn’t happen,” I said and flinched. Now that the pup was safe, I realized it had been a stupid idea to consider, but also …

“I think you should tell everyone what happened, though.”

“So, now that we know there are humanoids, are you guys going to try to go in?” I asked.

“We’ll need to review the video and discuss it,” he answered.

Assuming they weren’t going to let me join in on that discussion, I asked, “Will you let me know what you decide?”

He frowned as he glanced at me before refocusing on the road again. “You don’t want to participate?”

“I figured you wouldn’t let me,” I admitted. “You’re the first one who’s spoken to me since …”

The silence was heavy as we drove through the gates and into our clan territory. He parked in the garage and turned to face me. “I’m still upset about it. I feel … different and I don’t know if it’s a good different or not yet. I’m less angry in general, but that’s not always a good thing, like when there’s a fight. You took it from us without allowing us to have a say and it could have killed you and you would have just made us all watch. We had to sit there, blocked from getting to you, and watch as you exploded and possibly died. You have no idea what it was like to?—”

“I watched my dad get killed, remember?” I whispered. “I do know. I also know from jumping in front of the spell meant for Mom.” Thinking about it in those terms, I set a hand on his forearm and said, “I’m sorry. I was doing it to protect you all, to take back what you weren’t supposed to have in the first place. You’re right that I didn’t take into account your feelings though, and all I can say is that I’m sorry.”

He opened his mouth, but my door was pulled open and a very angry Kayden stood there. “What did you do?”

I blinked at the hostility. “What?”

“There’s video of you sending a small hellhound through a portal. Please tell me it’s fake,” he said through gritted teeth.

Mason climbed out of the car and walked around to my side. “Let’s take a breath, go inside, and we’ll explain.”

“You were with her?” Kayden growled. “I should have known. You’ve always done whatever you could to keep her happy with you. The perfect lap dog.”

Mason growled and stepped into Kayden’s space, their faces inches apart. “That’s rich coming from you. You stalked her so much I was counting down the days until you found a way to sneak a camera into her dorm.”

“Fuck you. The only reason you weren’t stalking her was because you were a kicked dog snarling from afar at your master.”

“BecauseIdidn’t do anything. You’re the one who fucked things up four years ago. Things were almost ruined because of you. Because you never think before you speak,” Mason spat. “And you’re about to do it again if you don’t shut the fuck up and let us explain things.”

“Boys, let’s calm down,” I said and stood out of the car, hands up placatingly. “We’re all friends here, remember?”

“Are we? Because it seems that you’ve been keeping secrets not just from your family, but us, too,” Kayden snapped.

“Everyone, inside!” Caleb roared from the house.

Flinching at the alpha order, we all speedwalked into the house, ducking our heads as we passed Dad and went into the living room.

“Start from the beginning,” Mom said in a calm tone as she and my fathers sat across from us.

“Wait for me,” Trey said as he stepped into the house and took a seat next to Tony on the smaller couch. “I’d like to hear this explanation as well.”

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