Page 102 of All the Devils are Here

“You’re telling me,” a new voice said. “Even self-preservation makes me miss everything.”

I turned, and standing, pure and whole, was Trin.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

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TRIN

My mate looked wrecked, and I was immediately on guard. She was wrapped in a sheet, covered in dirt, and there wasbloodon her skin. “What the fuck happened?”

“It’s going to take a while to fill you in on that,” Laurent said.

Meg was trying to get to me, and I got the feeling she would already be across the distance between us, but she was stumbling. Nearly clumsy, which was the opposite of what Meg was. She was grace embodied.

I caught her just before she reached me, wrapping her up in my arms, sheet and all. “I’m sorry,” she murmured into my skin. “I’m so sorry.”

Confusion rolled through me. “Why?”

“Your arms.” Meg’s hands fluttered over my ribs and stomach. “They were—and it looked like you had jaws around you. I couldn’t… You could have died.”

“I’m fine. See?” I asked. The injuries I had were serious, but if they’d been truly life threatening, I would have made sure she knew how much I needed her. “Perfectly all right. I promise.”

“You almost weren’t.”

I tipped her face up and kissed her. Fuck, I felt the time we’d spent apart like I hadn’t been unconscious. I was craving her, and I wanted to know everything that had happened. Missing things pissed me off more than the injuries.

Meg had a new tiny scar on her chest, and I glanced at Ariel to find him smirking. Idefinitelymissed something then. I brushed my thumb over the mark, and Meg flushed. There was also something like guilt in her eyes.

“Why do you look like you stole a cookie and are afraid of getting caught?” I glanced at Ariel again, but he pointedly looked at Meg. He could sense her emotions now, but he wasn’t going to interpret them for me.

“You were unconscious, and I—”

“Took comfort and pleasure in your other mates exactly like you were supposed to?”

She swallowed. “I just didn’t want you to think that I didn’t care.”

My mate was the sweetest woman alive. If it didn’t look and feel like she was about to collapse from exhaustion, I would take her back to my room right this fucking second. But she was exhausted, and though I was healed, so was I. “There was no reason for you to sit by my side being sad, uncomfortable, and bored while my body healed. I’m glad you didn’t do that.”

“You say that like it’s going to happen again.”

I smiled. “I hope not. But you’ve got a body full of magic. Something tells me protecting you is going to be a full-time job.”

“I don’t mean it to be.” Her sadness threw me. It wasn’t the reaction I’d expected to my teasing.

“Are you okay?”

Meg leaned her head on my chest. “I’m so tired,” she whispered. “I’m so happy to see you, but my body’s about to say that sleep is no longer a choice.”

I looked at the men who were my brothers, and their faces were grim. More happened while I was healing than they wanted to admit. “Come on,” I turned her and walked her back to the couch. “Sit with me while someone tells me what the hell is going on.”

My little mate was dragging on her feet. Ariel conjured a much thicker, softer blanket to replace the bloody sheet, and she didn’t fight him wrapping her in it. Or when Ban pulled her down onto the couch and held her close, offering his arms and his purr. The dirt disappeared from her skin, Ariel removing it so she was more comfortable.

It wasn’t a moment to be jealous of. The light inside of Meg had been switched off, and I hoped it was just exhaustion.

Sitting down, I pulled her feet into my lap and tucked the blanket around them. Whatever it was, I wanted her to feel the presence of her mates.

“What happened?”

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