Page 87 of Callen's Captive
“There are issues.”
“Human. Been there, done that.”
Callen raised a brow, and then he let a smile surface. “You blood-bonded Anna? That’s why I didn’t recognize your scent!”
“Is that why you attacked me? I should have thought of that. My bad.”
“Hell, Blade, if you weren’t already down, I’d knock your head into a wall.”
It felt good to hear Blade joking again. Now if only Kate would return, they could get the hell out of here.
“Not until you throw me a belated bachelor party.”
Blade closed his eyes, and Callen watched the waves of pain wash over his features. He could tell Blade’s wolf had stopped healing him and was resting. There was no way Blade would be going anywhere for a while, unless Callen carried him.
“You should have been there.” The disappointment in Blade’s voice was clear.
“I know.” Callen’s guilt weighed on him. Even if he hadn’t been tracking Kate, the chances were that he wouldn’t have gone to Blade’s blood-bonding ceremony, not after what he’d done. Blade didn’t appear upset with him, but still, Callen had nearly killed him.Twice.
Callen pulled the bloody shirt away from Blade’s throat and stretched his over-used muscles. The side of Blade’s neck was still jagged and torn, but the bleeding had stopped. The outer tissue would mend in time. Callen pulled the gold chain he’d seen hugging the base of Blade’s throat. A gold ring dangled on the ground.
“My wedding band. We combined traditions. She wears a ring, and I wanted to as well. The chain’s long enough that it doesn’t break when I shift.”
“Clever. And sweet.”
He wasn’t teasing Blade, just the opposite. That gold ring showed how serious Blade was, how much he really loved Anna. It was something Callen could do with Kate, wear a wedding ring on a chain. Except he’d never have the chance to blood-bond her.
“Damien’s ordered me back.”
“Fuck, that’s not right. You deserve a chance.”
“I’ve been thinking of going in after Drake instead. Ending this.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“He’s too well-guarded, and his second is a loose cannon. Worse actually. He’s unpredictable and unable to see the consequences of his actions.”
“Sounds like someone else I used to know, before he went and blood-bonded a human too good for him.”
“Flatter me all you want, but I’m serious. At least Drake can be reasoned with.”
“Who’s his second these days?”
“Chitman.”
