Page 38 of Her Forbidden Shifters
“Yes, I did,” Liam said, voice growing louder.
“Everything okay out there?” I asked.
“Fine!” they said in unison.
I shrugged and listened closer, pressing my ear against the door while the shower ran behind me. I plugged my other ear so I might pick up the gist of their conversation a little easier.
“Sleeping with her was her idea and the only way she could heal. We tried everything she had available to help. Nothing was working. If it weren’t for the fact of helping her step off of Death’s doorstep, I wouldn’t have touched her,” Liam said.
“Yeah, you’re so by the book that you broke a rule,” Jacob said.
I couldn’t pick up what followed, but he muttered something, and the word had made the air even more tense and thick… well, the thickness might have been the hot water that filled the small bathroom with steam. I thought about turning on the shower vent, but I was having a hard enough time listening in. Despite what I had already picked up, I hated I wasn’t able to hear what was just said. It was probably good.
“I am by the book, Jacob. Protocol dictates very strict rules for romantic relationships in the workplace. I didn’t start a relationship with her, I provided a service so she would heal. It’s called a loophole.”
“None of that matters, anymore,” Jacob said. “You still broke a rule. You’re not as perfect as you thought you were.”
“I realize I exploited a loophole, Jacob,” Liam said. “Which is why, regardless of the outcome, the second this case is over with, I’m resigning. And I never once pretended to be perfect.”
“Yeah, right,” Jacob said.
I smiled to myself. Liam would be out of the picture soon enough and by his own action. Would the wonders ever cease? Jacob was an easy obstacle to overcome. Savvy was going to be mine soon.
One down. One to go.
I decided I had heard enough and jumped in the shower to wet myself down and keep up the pretense that I wasn’t listening in on their conversation. By the time I climbed out, Jacob was sprawled out on the floor, snoring away like the little engine that could. Liam sat at the table, staring out of a small opening in the curtains covering the big picture window.
“Need some company?” I offered, hoping he would say no.
Liam shook his head.
“All right then. Nighty-night,” I said and fell to the rock-hard mattress. In an effort to make myself more comfortable, I tucked two of the four pillows under me and used the other two for some additional cushioning.
Once I was settled, I closed my eyes and fell into a restless sleep.
15
SAVANNAH
Located on the outskirts of Denver, on a secluded piece of land, sat our coven house. The house I had called home for many years. It’s a place that was warm and inviting, and I missed living there. But my job pulled me away from my coven duties more often than I would have liked. My sisters understood. Especially since I had been hunting the anonymous group responsible for reducing our numbers tragically.
Only coven members were allowed on the property. It was something the men didn’t care to hear. But it was a sacred law that no one dared to break.
“I don’t like this,” Liam said as he stood in my living room.
The men had returned four short hours into a deep sleep. I was, yet again, annoyed with the disruption, but because I felt rested enough, I let the interruption slide. Once I was able to wake up fully, I got dressed and had a small talk with the men regarding my coven and their rules against outsiders.
“It doesn’t matter if you like it or not. If you feel so inclined, you can stay parked on the outskirts of the property. Or you can find out the unpleasant consequence of breaking our sacred laws.” I stood firm with my arms crossed over my chest. They weren’t going to win this one. No matter how boisterously they argued.
“I’m with Liam on this one,” Jacob said. “Or did you forget what happened last night?”
“Which part?” I asked. “The one where I almost died, or the one where you made me want to murder each of you?”
He leveled his gaze on me. “Which part do you think?”
I shrugged and settled my attention on Noah who had been unusually silent this entire time. “You don’t have anything to say?”
He shook his head. “I’m staying out of this one. Besides, I don’t think it’s all that hard to guess where I stand on this one.”
