Page 14 of Dead to Rights
His reaction to Noah’s injury had been pure instinct, a loss of control he didn’t feel particularly proud about. The moment Noah’s blood had touched his lips, however, it had triggered a part of him he hadn’t even known existed.
In that instant, something inside of him had shifted, and his world had realigned, placing Noah Marsh directly at the center. He just hadn’t fully understood what it meant at the time.
The threat to that claim—whether perceived or real—had brought final clarity.
Having lived his entire life as a human, the idea of having amate, felt foreign, though that was probably just his ignorance talking. After all, he had no problem accepting the idea of soulmates, and he’d always secretly hoped to find that kind of bond with someone.
Yet a part of him, ancient and primal, didn’t give a damn about words. It didn’t need labels. That part of him only cared about one irrefutable truth.
Noah washis, and he’d make the entire Underworld run red before he let anything happen to him.
“That’s cool,” Rune said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. “Noah belongs to you. I’ve got no designs on him.” He stood straighter, his posture more relaxed, and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got one of my own.”
“Hey!” both twins shouted in unison with matching tones of indignation.
“A mate,” the Guardian clarified, chuckling as he pulled Keegan into his arms and kissed the top of his head. “I have a mate of my own.”
“Damn right,” Keegan agreed, his eyes sparkling with mischief when he met his brother’s stare from across the kitchen. “And I’m the pretty one.”
Noah huffed out a cute grumble, but he made no attempt to remove himself from Finn’s embrace. “We literally have the same face.”
Though still unwilling to release him, Finn gentled his hold as the high faded and reason began to return. “Are you okay?”
Noah stilled, his body tense for a heartbeat, before relaxing into him. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry.” It didn’t come close to being adequate, but he had to start atoning for his mistakes somewhere. “I didn’t mean—”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Noah interrupted. “And you didn’t hurt me.”
The knot in his chest loosened, and his shoulders sagged with relief. “I would never hurt you.”
“Oh, my god,” Keegan called, his voice ringing through the kitchen. “Get a room.”
“We had one until you showed up,” Noah shot back. “Go away.”
“I’m helping.”
“You’re really not.”
“Okay,” Rune called loudly, interrupting the twin’s bickering. “Well, it sounds like you two have a lot to talk about, so we’re going to go.”
“What? No.” Pushing away from his mate, Keegan rested his hands on his hips and glared. “I have to do the big brother thing. I need to know what his intentions are towards Noah.”
Rune’s mouth twisted into a wry grin, and he arched an eyebrow. “Probably the same intentions I have with you,kaelaer.”
“That’s…I don’t…nope.” The little troublemaker clapped both hands over his ears and shook his head quickly. “No, sir. I changed my mind.” Then he grabbed his mate by the wrist and started dragging him out of the kitchen. “We’re leaving now.”
Rune allowed himself to be pulled along, his teasing laughter lingering even after he had disappeared around the corner.
Alone again, Noah wiggled around in his arms until he turned to face him. “How are you feeling?”
Embarrassed. Ashamed. Elated. Horny. “It’s kind of a mixed bag right now.”
Noah’s lips twitched at the corners. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
Staring into his mate’s eyes, it occurred to him that while his life had just been irrevocably changed—again—Noah likely remained clueless to his epiphany. Since he didn’t understand it himself, he didn’t know how to explain it, but he had to try.
“I don’t know how to say this,” he began, frowning when Noah began to laugh. “What?”
