Page 73 of Tide Touched

Killian gently parts my legs which feel heavy as lead. ‘Are you sore?’

I breathe in the sweat from his chest. ‘Yes,’ I admit. ‘But I’m okay.’

Killian looks me in the eye and decides he’s satisfied with my answer. He tucks me into him, gently rubbing over my back, my butt, my hair. After a while, he pulls the blanket up and over us.

At some point, while I’m dozing, he gets up and brings me back a glass of water and a sandwich from Mariam’s supply pack. I eat and drink quietly, then we go back to bed.

After a while, I feel Killian’s breathing even out beside me. He’s fallen asleep. His nose twitches and a faint snore escapes his lips. I purse my lips to keep from laughing, a little pride blooming in me. I guess I really wore him out.

I’m glad I have shifter healing because wow, that was a pounding. I sidle back in the bed. His eyes are closed. I sneak out of bed and get dressed, using the bathroom briefly to relieve myself, clean up, tie my long hair back, and clean and rebandage my wounds. Courtney is so going to pay for that.

I rub my legs together, testing. Okay, a little sore, but that’s fine. I’ll heal. And it was so unbelievably worth it. I take a moment to look over my mate. Even as I watch him sleep, sparks still crackling in his auburn hair, the nail marks I left on him look red and angry, but given the noises he made as I left them, they make me smile. I think about leaning over to press my lips to one of them, but I can’t risk waking him.

The guys couldn’t agree on a plan.

That’s okay. I have one of my own.

I tug my sneakers on and exit the room, silently shutting the door behind me.

In the quiet, empty hall, I breathe a sigh of relief laced with guilt. I know Killian will understand, but I still feel bad. The only plan that will work is me voluntarily going back to the Water Pack estate and walking in the front door.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Katie

I manage to get out of the little inn in the dead of night without anyone seeing me. Finally, an escape plot gone right! I give myself a mental high five, because I’m cool, and slink around the side of the inn, trying get my bearings on which way the estate would be.

‘Did you really think I wouldn’t see that coming?’

I scream and scream until Killian gently slides a hand over my mouth. ‘It’s just me!’

My heart pounding, I set my hands on my knees. ‘What. The. Fuck?’

Killian presses at his ears. ‘Jeez, you could wake the dead. Katherine, do you realise that’s the second time you’ve fucked me and tried to ditch me?’

My face blooms red. ‘I… that’s an unfortunate coincidence.’

Killian gives me a once over, then holds out his hand. ‘Come on. Elijah’s up too.’

I fold my arms over my chest, sticking my bottom lip out. ‘No. I have to go alone. Carter will let me in.’

My mate’s eyes darken. ‘You’re not going back to him.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Killian, I can do whatever I want. And right now what I want to do is go and rescue my friend! I need her!’

Killian sets his hands on my shoulders. ‘Shush, or you’ll wake the entire town, if all your shrieking hasn’t already.’ He cups my cheek. ‘Katherine, I understand—’

‘No,’ I say sharply. ‘You don’t. You don’t have siblings. Moira’s mine—’

‘I lost you, Katherine.’ Killian’s fingers dig into my shoulders, desperate for me to understand.

I break away from him. ‘I’m going back. You can’t—no, you won’t—stop me, Killian. This is my choice.’ Pity fills my heart. ‘Besides, she’s not the only one who needs help.’

Killian’s eyes shine with hurt. ‘You’re… going back to your first mate?’

‘It’s not like that. Carter needs my help too. The alpha beats on him. He’ll help me get to Moira.’

Killian folds his arms over his chest. ‘No. You’re not going.’

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