Page 33 of Don't Tempt Me (Nora Jacobs 4)

Not surprisingly, eyebrows all over the room hit the ceiling. The guys all exchange wary glances, and then Nick says, “What, exactly, do you mean by that?”

Fighting the urge to vomit, I lift my hands in anI don’t knowgesture. “I’m not sure.” Memories of that moment come flooding back, making my eyes sting and my stomach churn. “I didn’t have to kill him. I had him in my thrall. I could have kept him like that, called Nick, and waited for him to arrest the guy. But my siren wanted more. The power was so dark. She was out for blood because of Oliver, and once I captured Mitchell, she got hungry. I couldn’t have stopped if I’d tried. I placed my hand over his heart, and I just…pulled the energy right out of his body. It was like I took his life force and consumed it. Once he was dead, and there was no more energy to take from him, my siren was satisfied, and I was able to come back to myself. I threw up after. I…I…” My eyes finally brim over with tears, and I look down at my lap in shame. “I’m a monster,” I croak.

A tense silence fills the room. For a long minute, no one moves. The only sound is that of my sniffling. I jump, startled, when Charlie wraps his arms around me. “If Rook felt threatened and lost control of his wolf and ripped his attacker apart with his teeth, would you think he’s a monster? Or if Parker were dying and accidentally drained a human? If Terrance went into a rage to protect those he loved and people died, would he be a monster?”

I take a breath. “I would never think that.”

Charlie wipes the tears off my cheeks and squeezes my hands. “And we don’t think it of you. You defended yourself and protected Oliver in the way a siren does. You connected with your natural self, but you aren’t a monster. And just like the rest of us when we all came into our power, you will learn to control your gifts.”

As far as motivational speeches go, this was a good one. My men are not monsters, and I could never think of them otherwise, no matter what. My heart lightens and my chest opens up, allowing me to take a much-needed deep breath. I sniffle and swipe at my eyes. “Okay, maybe it was an accident, and maybe I was protecting myself and Oliver, but I’m still dangerous. What if I do like all the legends say? What if I spiral so out of control that I have to be killed? If I lost control like that and hurt any of you, I’d never forgive myself.”

Terrance huffs and moves into his bouncer stance as he stares me down. “We’ll figure it out, Nora.”

Illren comes storming back in the room, clenching his phone in his hand. I’ve never seen the man look so pissed. The fire burning in his eyes is terrifying. I feel sorry for whoever’s made him this angry. “There’s a contract, all right,” he growls. It’s the most out of control of his emotions I’ve ever seen him. “Only it’s not just Nora. It’s every member of our clan.”

“What?” Rook roars.

Terrance growls, and his eyes turn black. He starts shaking. “Explain.”

Illren clenches and unclenches his jaw. “A million apiece for every member of our clan. We’re wanted dead but Nora is to be alive and untouched.”

Terrance roars and slams his fist right through the wall beside the door. I scramble off the bed and rush to Terrance before he rages and destroys the entire den. I gently grab his arm. “Terrance—T-man—take a breath, big guy. We’ll figure this out, but we need you thinking straight.”

I rub his back while clinging to his arm. “We’re okay right now, and we’re safe in the den. We’ll figure this out.”

Terrance takes several deep breaths and slowly stops shaking. He calms his rage but is still beyond pissed when he comes back to himself. He cuts Illren a sharp glance. “Can you figure out who?”

“The contract is anonymous. Only a number to contact when ready to collect. Most likely it’s an untraceable burner phone. But I can ask around, see if anyone has heard anything. It also helps that I am a member of this clan. Not many in my trade would be willing to come after me or those I am loyal to.”

Nick nods. “No doubt they still remember the last mercenaries who hurt Oliver and came after Nora.”

I think back to when Henry had me kidnapped and Oliver was knocked out and left to freeze. I didn’t see what Illren had done to the men who took me, but from the bloodthirsty gleam he’d had in his eyes that night, I have no doubt it was horrific. “Hey.” I frown. “Why is it always me and Oliver that get attacked?”

Rook narrows his eyes at me. “Maybe the two of you should stop sneaking away together.”

The hint of jealousy in his voice has my cheeks turning pink. I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but I still feel the need to apologize to Rook. I don’t, because I can’t start giving Rook that kind of power over me. He’s possessive by nature, and if I respond to his guilt trips in any way, they’ll only get worse. Rook’s a good guy, but he’s alpha male enough that if I give him an inch he’s going to take a mile.

As if he understands my predicament, Parker pipes up, distracting Rook. “It’s not just Oliver. You and I were attacked once, too, by those rogue werewolves.”

“And we were all targeted with you at Skinny’s,” Terrance adds.

“Plus, there was that vampire chick at the club,” Nick adds almost cheerfully. “And that dark magic user who tried to sacrifice you.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“And don’t forget Marie,” Rook adds.

I groan. “Right. So really, it’s just me and whoever’s unlucky enough to be with me at the time.”

My guys all nod, and Charlie blinks at me. “Just how many times have you been attacked?”

I sigh. “Enough.” I force a small smile. “Still want to be my mate?”

Charlie’s face softens. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Always. I only wish I had some useful gifts to help keep you safe.”

His face falls, and I get a sense of his feelings through our bond. I don’t like that he feels useless and inferior to all of our powerful clan members. It’s not a contest, and I want to make him feel better. “Nah,” I say, a hint of teasing in my voice. I wave my hand around the room. “That’s what all these guys are for. You were right in the club. We need someone to keep us all from brooding constantly. Plus…” I give his shoulder a playful nudge. “Illren needs your help getting into my pants, remember?”

Nick snorts, Charlie chokes on surprise, Rook growls, Parker’s eyes widen with shock, considering he missed that whole conversation. Terrance smirks, and Illren raises one challenging brow into an irritatingly awesome arch. I barely resist the urge to stick my tongue out at him.

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