Page 70 of Hunted
I nibbled at my fingernail as I paced the length of Sadavir’s room, avoiding any trip hazards through pure muscle memory.I could feel a shift in me, since our bonding.But I worried that I still wasn’t enough to bring Robin back to herself, to keep her from permanently giving in to the blackness I could sense in her these days.
“Ruya,” Sadavir said again, this time with a littlepushof alpha influence.
I stopped pacing and turned my head toward his voice.“Hmm?”
Josh spoke for him, since I couldn’t see his signing.“He says to stop pacing and come lie with him on the bed.”
I sighed, forcing some of the tension out of my shoulders.There was nothing I could do aboutanyof my worries right now.
The others had all left on their mission to kill an innocent fae.Josh couldn’t go because they didn’t trust him.And I was grounded because my lack of physical prowess would only be a liability.So, Sadavir had been ordered to stay, to protect his “hot new omega mate” from his “sweet, deranged vampire boyfriend”—Robin’s orders, delivered in Sanka’s crass words.
Pacing across the room, I headed for the bed.Josh met me halfway and gently took my hand, guiding me around something.“The ottoman has moved,” he murmured quietly.
I squeezed his hand, but he released me the second his touch was no longer needed.As if he was afraid he was contagious.Another problem.There were so many complications going on all around me right now that I hardly knew where to focus, which hurt to attend to.
I reached the bed and Sadavir took my hands, drawing me onto the soft blankets to lie beside him.“You too,” he said aloud, his tone calm, but brooking no argument.
“Why?”Josh huffed, the dark blur that must be him moving across the room.Pacing just like I had been moments before.“You have your shiny new omega.Lavishherwith your attention!”
I don’t think he meant the words to sound so bitter.But they did, and my heart ached for him.Sadavir tensed and made some adamant motion with his free hand.Josh sighed.“Fine.Yes.I know.”
The bed dipped slightly as Josh crawled up with us, settling in on my other side.“I’m sorry, Ruya,” he said tiredly.“I didn’t mean to snap.I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
I fumbled for him, finding his cool hand and giving it a squeeze.“We should have talked to you about bonding.I...I thought I was being bold and decisive.But really, I was just being a coward.Avoiding difficult conversations.”My belly clenched as I rolled toward him, wishing I could see his face.“Do you hate me?Do you resent me for coming between you and Sadavir?”
Josh scoffed.“What?I could never hate you, Ruya.And you haven’t come between us.”He paused before continuing in a soft, bitter voice.“I’vecome between us.I’m a danger to everyone I love.I don’t understand why I’m here with the two of you right now, when I should be locked away in my room.”
Sadavir shifted beside me, reaching across me toward Josh.“Idiot,” he murmured.
I smiled a bit in response.“I agree with Vir.Why wouldn’t you be here with us, Josh?Sadavir loves you.And I...I’m well on my way there too, if we’re being honest.”He tried to pull his hand from mine, but I clung to him.“No.Don’t pull away.Don’t you dare!”I pushed up onto an elbow so I could glare in his general direction.“You’re hurting,” I said firmly, wishing I could just get him to see sense.“You’ve been attacked, manipulated, and used by Acacia.You’re entitled to struggle with thetraumaof that.But you don’t have to do it alone.Just let us help!At least let us do theonething we can right now.Let us give you some comfort, you stubborn thing!”
He stopped trying to pull away and his fingers gripped mine.“Ruya...”He drew in a shuddering breath, then rolled toward me so we were facing each other.“How can you...how can you nothateme for what I’ve become?For everything I’ve done?Cicely...Yukio...”
I cut him off, pushing into his space until I managed to kiss his chin.“That wasn’t you,” I said firmly.“Are you listening to me?That wasn’tyouwho did those things, Josh.Stop blaming yourself.I don’t hate you.I don’t blame you.I just want you to be happy and safe.”
He relaxed a bit, sank into me as he scooted a bit closer.“Whatever you are doing with your magic right now, it feels likeheaven.”
I chuckled.“I’m not doing anything.I’m just telling you how I feel.”
“Omega,” Sadavir said smugly from over my shoulder.
I shook my head.“I’m not—”
“You might not be doing it on purpose,” Josh said, his voice losing some of its tension, dropping a bit, taking on the extra richness and sensuality he had gained when he was turned.“But it’s happening all the same.I just want to wrap myself up in the energy you’re putting out.”
I huffed and shook my head.“Well...you’re welcome to it, I guess.”
Sadavir pressed a lingering kiss to the side of my neck and moved around, signing something to Josh.
“He says that’s the power of a happy, well cared-for omega in the presence of her bonded true mate.”I could hear the eye roll in his tone of voice.“And you can stop looking so fucking smug when you say things like that, you giant reptile.”
Sadavir just wrapped an arm around me and nuzzled my neck as he held me close.I relaxed between him and Josh, happy that this issue, at least, was on its way to being fixed.
Josh stroked cool fingers over my face, brushing my hair back so he could trace the outline of my cheek and jaw.“I’m sorry,” he whispered.“So sorry for all of it.But...I’m so lucky to have you both.Your grace and your faith in me.”
I turned my head to kiss his fingertips, warmth unfurling in me.“An apology kiss might go a long way,” I prodded, waiting expectantly.Josh wasn’t interested in sex.But he loved kissing and cuddling, showing affection in every other way—or at least, he used to, before Acacia turned him.
He chuckled.But his voice was serious when he spoke.“Are you sure?You kiss me, and you could end up making out with Acacia?Sadavir can tell you just how lovelythatlittle surprise can be.”
