Page 56 of Tethered Magick

Lorn giggled, the sound small at first and then turning into a full-on laugh that had her bending to clutch at her stomach.

“Terrible delivery,” Jolon teased, “but absolutely accurate.”

A glance at my packmates showed me they were all smiling and containing laughs. The best fucking stress relief after the day we’d had.

“I think—” Lorn breathed through her giggles, trying to calm herself. “I think I’m okay.”

“You sure about that?” My voice was low and sinful. I pulled Lorn into me, closing the mere inches between us. “Why don’t we try when I’m a little closer.”

Lorn’s breath caught, her laugh dying away.

I brought her hand to my chest and flattened it over my heart. “I love you,” I murmured.

“I’m different now,” she replied, trying to warn me off, but I wouldn’t hear it.

I shook my head. “Not to me. You’re still you, and that’s all that matters.”

“To me as well.” Chayton moved behind Lorn and placed his hands possessively on her hips. She closed her eyes on a gasp as he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her shoulder where his mate mark used to be.

From my vantage point, I saw the sadness in his eyes as he gazed at the spot, but it was quickly followed by determination. It wouldn’t be long before he claimed her again, and I was on board to do the same, whether Kota was ready or not. I couldn’t wait any longer, not after almost losing her.

“Nothing will ever change how I feel about you,nizhóní,” he rasped.

I lifted her chin, and our lips collided. Her sweet berry flavor erupted on my tongue as I begged her to part her lips and swept inside. Every brush was a jolt of lightning, an electricity only the two of us could create.

“I love you, sweetheart. I’ll always love you,” I whispered against her mouth between consuming kisses. When I was done, Chayton tilted her head toward him, leaned over her shoulder, and grazed his mouth over hers. It was whisper sweet, a tease after the intensity I’d claimed her with. They played a game of give and take, and then Jolon was there, slipping her out from between us.

Sharing Lorn had always been easy, but letting her go was suddenly harder than it had been in the past. Would there come a time when I would be okay letting her out of my sight again? Not anytime soon.

Jolon tugged Lorn into his body, and his gaze devoured her face.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, alright?” Jolon’s icy blue eyes demanded the promise, and Lorn gave it to him.

“I promise.” It was hollow, a promise she couldn’t keep, but he needed to hear it.

“I’m so sorry we weren’t there to protect you.” Jolon’s regret was so thick it nearly choked us through the pack connection.

I winced and took a deep breath, rubbing my chest. Dason noticed, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he studied us.

I couldn’t look at him, my own guilt rising.

Lorn dismissed Jolon’s apology. “Don’t.” She pushed up on her tiptoes, bringing herself closer to eye level. Any other time it would have been cute that she’d tried. “It wasn’t your fault. You did protect me. Those assholes would have bitten me if given the chance, and you kept them away from me.”

Jolon wanted to argue, to tell her it wasn’t enough, but she pulled him down and stole his self-reproach with a drugging kiss that had him growling by the time she pulled away, panting.

Lorn winced, stepping back and bending at the waist as she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Babe!” Jolon went to follow, but she threw a hand out behind her, stopping him.

“Give her a minute,” Dason instructed, and went to her.

Dase pet her back in long strokes until she calmed and eventually straightened.

Lorn uncovered her mouth, and her fangs glinted like the twinkling stars above us. Stretching her jaw open, she slowly retracted them until they were gone.

She tucked her hair back, looking around sheepishly.

“Sorry. I’m still working on my control.”

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