Page 11 of Love in Unexpected Places

The hallway slowly emptied.Michelle walked away after patting Sullivan’s shoulder, but Sullivan didn’t leave right away.He peeked into the bedroom, not surprised to see that the dragon was back on the bed, unconscious.Drew stood next to her, wringing his hands and looking like he might cry.

His head snapped up when he heard Sullivan, but he relaxed when he recognized him.“She’s going to hurt Trevor,” he whispered.

“She is.”Sullivan didn’t lie.They both knew what was happening.

“It’s my fault.I was the one who was supposed to keep the spells on her steady.Trevor just happened to come by and check in on me.”

So Trevor took Drew’s punishment.That wasn’t a surprise.If Sullivan had been in Trevor’s place, he would have done the same.He’d do anything to protect the people he cared about, and clearly, he wasn’t the only one.

“I should tell Deborah,” Drew continued.“She should punish me, not him.”

“Don’t.What do you think will happen if you do?She’ll just punish youandTrevor, and both of you will be in pain.This isn’t what Trevor would want, Drew.He protected you because he wanted to, not because he was forced to.”

“Will you check on him?Please?”

“I’m not sure what Deborah will do once she’s done with him, but I promise I’ll try.”Hopefully, he wouldn’t be checking in on Trevor while he dragged his body outside in the woods.He’d done that way too often.Some days, he thought it was a miracle that the coven had so many members.Too many had died because the leaders were unhappy with them.

Before leaving, Sullivan checked the spells on the dragon, just in case.He wished he could wake her up, but now wasn’t the right moment.After what had just happened, Deborah would make sure no dragon could escape.Going against her wishes would only land Sullivan next to Trevor, which wasn’t something he could afford.He knew too much information on what was happening with the pack and their alliance.

Drew was still freaking out when Sullivan left him.Sullivan had promised he’d check in on Trevor, but he wasn’t sure where Trevor would be taken.He couldn’t stand outside of Deborah’s office and wait for her to be done, so instead, he decided to wait in the kitchen.It was where everyone gathered, so he was sure he’d hear about whatever had happened to Trevor.

The mood was somber when he walked in.Several people were working at the stove, getting lunch ready.Normally, they would’ve been talking, or maybe there would have been some music on.With one exception, the leaders never visited the kitchen, so the other mages were always a bit more relaxed here.The only coven leader who came around was Braden, and everyone knew that he wouldn’t care about them singing while they cooked.

There was no singing today.There were only somber glances, and everyone jumped at every noise.Sullivan sighed and slid onto a stool at the counter, reaching for a carrot and a peeler.Since he was here, he might as well get to work.He wasn’t one of the cooks, but he didn’t mind doing his part.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, but it was enough for him to peel a bunch of carrots.Eventually, someone came in with information.Ridge’s expression was grim as he nodded and glanced around the room.“He’ll live.”

Sullivan released his breath.There was no way to know how Trevor was, but he hadn’t died.He might wish he had, but his being alive meant that there was a possibility for him to have a good life.That was what Sullivan would focus on, and he hoped Trevor would do the same.

“How is he?”he asked as he slid off the stool.

“Not in great shape, but he managed to walk to his bedroom.”

“Drew asked me to check in on him.I’ll do that now.”

“You should bring him food.I don’t think he’ll be up to coming out of his room anytime soon.”

The cooks were already putting something together into a container.Sullivan grabbed silverware from the drawer and accepted the food with a smile when it was handed to him.

He walked past Ridge, who stopped him with a hand on his arm.“Don’t be scared when you see him.He’s pretty bloody, and he didn’t want any help cleaning up.”

“I’ll stop in the bathroom to grab a few wash clothes.”

“I hope he’ll let you in.He wouldn’t allow me to do anything for him.”

“I’ll tell him that Drew sent me.He’ll want to know that Drew is fine.”

Ridge nodded and let go.Sullivan couldn’t say he was looking forward to finding out how hurt Trevor was, but he owed it to Trevor and Drew.

What had happened today joined the long list of things Sullivan held against the coven leaders.He didn’t need that list to get even longer, but it did—every day.

And there was nothing Sullivan could do about that.

* * * *

Knowing that he hadChance and Theo on his side made Matty feel better.He even had the go-ahead to take one of the pack cars, something he’d never done.He’d had his license since he was sixteen, but he hadn’t driven a lot.He hadn’t had a car after his parents had kicked him out, and he didn’t have the money to buy one now.

He knew he could take one of the pack cars whenever he needed it, but even though he was a pack member, he always felt like an outsider.He shouldn’t.Not only had Chance welcomed him and the rest of his family into his pack, but Matty was a bear shifter.He should feel closer to the pack than the other members of his family, but he wasn’t sure he ever would.

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