“Because,” he begins, a mischievous glint in his eye. “I’m in here,” he tells me, tapping on my forehead. “I’m deep, deep inside of you, Sable,” he purrs.
I nearly choke at the implication. “Noted.”
He nods and looks me over again, though his lip curls up into a sneer. “For the record, I don’t like you like this,” he says, clear contempt in his expression.
“What? You decide you have a thing for Cinderella?” I say mockingly, throwing the name he used earlier in with the dig he made during our dream meeting at my filthy state while in the dungeon.
“No, not Cinderella. Just you,” he tells me casually, like it’s an everyday, no big deal kind of confession. Ire steps back from me and reaches down and grabs my hand. I’m too startled to wrench it back, my fingers curling instinctively around his palm.
“So, what now?” I ask, trepidation rolling through me as he reaches for the curtain. I know we don’t have time to waste, but I don’t feel ready to leave the safe seclusion of this space.
Everything has been so crazy since I was taken. Concealed away in this little alcove is the safest I’ve felt in a while. Maybe that’s stupid, because I know Morax and his minions are right outside, but I feel like I just found a moment of respite, and I didn’t even realize how desperately I needed it. I know as soon as we walk out of here, it’s game on, and part of me wishes I could hide away a little longer.
But my sisters’ faces pop up in my mind, and all at once I remember the feel of Toreon’s lips against mine before the compulsion forced him away. An image of Vudu waiting by the tunnel, guarding Shateel so we have a chance against Morax settles my resolve, and I push my thoughts of safety and peace away. I still have work to do.
Ire pauses and reaches up to cup my face, gentle this time, his blue eyes filled with a surprising amount of empathy and understanding.
“Now, we stop Morax,” he tells me in answer to my question. “And don’t worry, Sable. I’ve got you now.”
30
Ire doesn’t give me any time to respond to his tender reassurance before he pulls me from our hiding spot and starts to guide me upstairs.
His hand grips mine, and I can’t help but feel like it’s exactly the tether I need to get through this. We climb the last of the steps that lead to the second story balcony, and before we’ve even spilled out into the room, I’m searching for Tazreel, my mind once again completely focused on the task at hand. I need to get to him, explain the situation, and hope somehow he can help us figure out how to best Morax. The room is basically just a large, open indoor balcony, with windows at the back wall. Marble pillars, food tables, chairs, and their very own alcohol fountain take up the space where the select few Abdicated are mingling.
I immediately spot the blond Sin of Pride to my right. Something in me just knows that’s him. That’s my father. Taking a steeled breath, I move to go to him, but I’m yanked back when Ire doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he uses our threaded fingers to pull me back against him, his grip vise-like around my hand.
“Where are you going?” he asks with confusion and a tinge of suspicion in his tone, his body aimed in the opposite direction as I’m trying to go.
“I need to speak with Pride,” I explain, turning back toward where Tazreel is and trying once again to move in his direction and shake off Ire’s hold.
But I’m yanked back. Again. I turn to Ire with exasperation. “What the hell?”
“Pride clearly can’t protect you the way he should. If he was doing his job as your Sire, you would’ve never been taken in the first place,” Ire announces cockily. “Wrath is who we need. My Matron will protect you. She will dole out punishment to anyone who dares hurt the mate of her progeny,” he declares, treating me like I’m a rubber band as he starts pulling me in a different direction.
I try to yank my hand away again, but that just earns me a glare. “You’re my mate, Sable. You will listen to me when it comes to your protection,” he