Page 74 of Ronan

“This changes everything,” I finally say when I’ve gotten myself under control. “We were going to stay longer, maybe a few weeks while we got a plan in place, but the risk of these convoys showing up is too great.”

“Where will you go?” Reyes asks, and I hesitate to answer as I stare at him.

“I trust him,” Cameron says, voice quiet. “I don’t trust anyone, but I believe he’s telling the truth. Coming from someone who spent years with no one in my corner, let’s call it instinct. He isn’t out to hurt us, Ronan.”

Reyes’s dark eyes stay on mine, and finally, I give a quick nod, hoping I’m making the right choice. Cameron gives him a quick rundown of our plans. He keeps it vague enough to satisfy my paranoia, only sharing that we’re searching for a hidden, abandoned village to the northeast that my platoon raided years ago.

“What about me?” Reyes finally asks, gesturing at his bound feet. “If you let me loose, I’ll return to my hidden room, and you won’t see me again. Take whatever you want and leave whenever you’re ready.”

Cameron frowns, bottom lip pinching between his teeth. “Now I feel really guilty for stealing your stuff.”

“Don’t,” Reyes insists, his hand landing on Cameron’s arm before a warning growl erupts from my throat, making him jump back.

“Down, boy,” Cameron says, weaving his fingers through mine.

Reyes is nervous again as he meets my gaze. “Mine,” I mouth to him, baring my fangs, and he gulps before offering Cameron a strained smile.

“Don’t feel bad about taking supplies. There’s more here than I could ever use, and the idea of it helping to rebuild a peaceful community like this one used to be… well. It makes me happy.”

I squint my eyes at the man. “You’re just trying to convince me to set you free.”

“Is it working?”

Cameron squeezes my hand, and I tell myself not to look. That he’s going to have those big, pouty eyes fluttering at me from underneath his glasses, probably with that pink lip pushed out, too.

My eyes dart over.

Goddamn it.

My only response is a sigh as Cameron leans forward and presses a kiss on my jaw, just below my ear. “Thank you, mo’sziv,” he whispers, and while his pronunciation is imperfect, the gesture tears right through my defenses and lodges straight in my heart. One side of his smile lifts as he watches my reaction, worrying his lip in that endearing way he does when he’s nervous.

So many words dance on the tip of my tongue, so many aching, bone-deep emotions that rob me of my ability to breathe. But it’s not the time or place, and certainly not the audience for it. Instead, I pull him closer, taking my time as I kiss him in a way I hope communicates enough to ease his worry.

Surely, by now, he must realize the depth of my adoration… the reverence in which I view him. How do you explain to a man that you worship the very ground he walks on? How do you possibly communicate that level of devotion?

“I’m going to cut him free now,” he whispers against my lips, and I sigh, nodding as I cave. He could ask me for anything, and I’d give it to him.

He could ask for the stars on a string, and I’d scale the heavens to rope them.

Even if I complained the whole time.

Chapter 23

Cameron

Two days have passed since we released Reyes, and true to his promise, there’s been no sign of him. “Honestly, it’s kind of creepy how well he hides himself.” Warm, crusty bread beckons me from the counter. Ronan just baked a few loaves, and I groan as I tear off a bite and shove it in my mouth. “Makes you wonder if he’s watching us right now.”

Half expecting him to say hello from underneath the floorboards, we both listen intently for a few seconds. When there’s nothing but the rhythmic click of Boomerang’s claws against the floor, I shrug. Ronan takes advantage of my distraction, stealing the bread from my hand and taking a giant bite. His exaggerated moan while chewing earns him a glare.

“It’s a good thing you’re cute,” I mutter as I grab myself another piece.

“Cute?” He wrinkles his nose, then somehow scrunches his entire face. “I’m notcute, I’m… manly. Rugged.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say through a mouthful, “a walking skinsuit full of testosterone. You piss whiskey and sweat virility. I’m pretty sure I grew a few new chest hairs just from being in your presence.”

Ronan lets out a pleased little hum as he nods to himself, like any of that is remotely true. “Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.” He’s so satisfied with himself that I can’t help it as I laugh.

“So,” he says, dusting the crumbs from his fingers, “before the whole stabbing incident, I mentioned there was a second surprise. Are you in the mood to check that out?”

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