Page 44 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha
Which brought us to the point where Bastien and I had been kidnapped. And now I was mated too. Maybe. Despite Bastien’s assurances, I still found it hard to believe that he truly wanted me. I knew that his Beast side wanted me, but I was less sure about his feelings as a human.
Caly and I sure had a lot to talk about.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Caly said, once our initial tears had passed. She pulled me down onto the couch beside her. I just shrugged. Bastien had tried to tell me that too, but it hadn’t stopped the guilt. “I mean it,” Caly said. “You didn’t do anything wrong. And even if youhadmade a mistake, you’re human. It happens.”
Not to me it didn’t. Mother had made sure of that. I had to be perfect. From the moment my talent had manifested, she had been relentless. As the first Witch in a couple of hundred years to have pre-cog she had her sights set on me soaring to magical heights. The ones she hadn’t been able to reach. Through me she intended to get the magical recognition she felt she had deserved. And that had meant discipline. Schedules. Endless training. All in the name of perfection.
I hated it, but I didn’t know how to be anything but perfect.
We had known that a terrorist group had possession of the journal. We had increased Bastien’s protection. But I was his last line of defence and I had failed. It didn’t matter what Bastien said, or what my sister said. His capture was my fault. His torture was my fault. His loss of control andshiftwas my fault.
Everything I had been trying to hold in since that moment when I’d realised the server in front of me was a magical void spilled out of me. I fell into my sister’s waiting arms, sobbing, my chest aching.
But no sooner had Caly’s arms wrapped around me, than I found myself ripped away from her. My tear-swollen eyes opened in shock. To see a bare chest. Strong arms held me close. The scent of soap and male curled around me. The large body holding me close lowered to the couch and held me tight on hislap, right next to my sister. Her eyes were soft as she watched Bastien holding me like I was precious.
“I thought you were going to give us some time alone.” I held out one hand to Caly, who gripped it tightly while I wiped my eyes with my free hand.
“You were sad. I don’t like it when you are sad.”
Beside me, Caly smirked. I gave a weak laugh. “Sometimes we need to be sad.”
Bastien rumbled his disagreement. “Not you. Sad before. No more.”
Wait. “You noticed that I was sad?”
Of course, he said, in my mind.
“What do you mean, of course?”
Bastien shifted me on his lap until he could look into my eyes. One big hand scooped up mine and pressed it against his chest. “Felt you here,” he said. “When I touched you before the Summit.”
Oh, wow.
I heard Caly sigh. I’d forgotten she was there.
“When did he Declare his Intent?”
Bastien’s body turned to stone beneath me. I wasn’t as good at reading emotions down our bond as he was, but I thought I could sense … guilt? Distracted, I just answered, “Huh?”
“How long did he court you? How did he tell you that you were his mate?”
His arm tightened around me, holding me closer to him.
Clearly, there was something about my sister’s questions that were making Bastien uncomfortable. A significance that I was missing. It was like my recurring dream where I was sitting an exam but I hadn’t done any of the study.
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. What was the right answer? The truth: I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything. Up until the moment his fangs sank into my skin, I’d known nothing. I could lie, but one: what the fuck would I even say? And two: I’d always been a bad liar and Caly would see through it in an instant.
In the end, my silence was enough. Clearly confused, Caly’s smile dropped away. Her eyes flicked once to the open door before returning to me. She gave a me a searching look, her hand pumping mine once. It was our special code. Did you want this? Are you okay?
I pumped her hand in reply. Very carefully, once, then let my fingers go lax. Yes, I’m okay. Yes, I want this.
Caly’s eyes didn’t meet mine as she stood. “I’ll be back in a bit. Seeing as you’re stuck in here, I’ll bring you something to read.” The cheerfulness in her voice was fake. Probably no-one except me would notice, but I knew my sister too well.
Anxiety churned in my stomach. Something was very wrong.
Chapter 48
Bastien
