color before and I wondered what it meant. Was he angry, sad, hurt … turned on? I couldn't tell and it was a little worrying.
"We should go inside," he finally said, and I legit contemplated throat punching him. How could he just ignore that kiss…
I jerked my head away, but Jacob captured my chin with his strong fingers, stopping me from moving. "I'm not ignoring the kiss, I'm postponing this conversation because your parents are standing in the front door, and I'm almost certain they're about to intervene."
I narrowed my eyes on him. "Better get out of my thoughts, Jacob Compass. Especially when I'm mad at you."
He laughed, a low sexy sound. "Better get used to that, Justice Winter. I'm not going anywhere."
For the first time in my life, I prayed that he meant those words.
21
Jacob Compass
I was barely keeping it together, but somehow I stemmed the fire inside, keeping my face neutral as I walked the long path with Justice. So much had just happened, from her confession about my song, to the kiss, to the fucking guard that was going to lose his head if he looked at her one more time.
Jealousy was not something I was overtly familiar with, but it had ripped through my chest hard and fast, and the guard was lucky he was still breathing.
If he hadn't walked away when he did…
There was no time for me to continue planning his death though. I had parents to meet.
Parents who clearly disapproved of me being near their daughter.
Considering I knew Justice better than them, their judgement pissed me off. To dismiss me so easily, without even speaking one word to me, told me there were issues that went deeper than either Justice or I knew. They’d soon learn one irrefutable fact, though … I was here for the foreseeable future. Justice was mine, I felt it in my soul, and I would not give her up without a fight.
Justice marched faster, trying to pull ahead of me. She had long legs, but mine were longer, so I had no issue keeping up with her.
"You still mad, Ruby?" I asked. In my mind she was built from the colors of her land, in shades of red and black and gold and amber. The ruby fire was in her soul.
Her footsteps slowed. "I'm not mad," she murmured, before taking a deep breath and turning toward me. "I'm horny, unsure, nervous, freaking out, slightly embarrassed to have dumped my life story on you, and beyond ecstatic that you're here with me."
Damn. I wanted to kiss the shit out of her again. My hands actually ached at not being able to touch her. When she was bluntly honest, they were my favorite moments.
I craved her raw and real confessions.
"There is nowhere in the world I'd rather be than right here," I told her. "And there's not a single thing I'd change about who you are, standing here, proud and beautiful and strong. You're a treasure, Justice. Just like the rubies that claim your land."
She blinked rapidly, her eyes watery as she shook her head. "You're a smooth one, Jacob Compass." Clearing her throat, she started walking again. "Too smooth," I thought I heard her mutter after, but the wind stole her words before I could be sure.
It was a decent trek all the way up her front path, and by the time we reached the door, there were two decidedly annoyed faces staring down at us from the steps.
"Your friends and family are waiting inside, Justice," her mother said, a snap in her voice. My power curled around me, but not in any sort of dangerous way. Just enough that it was clear I was annoyed, but not so clear that I was about to attack anyone.
I'd save that for later.
Justice's hand landed on my arm. "Calm," she said softly.
Hmmm, maybe I wasn't hiding my annoyance as well as I hoped. Something else to work on, apparently.
"I'm here now, Mother," she said, managing to keep her tone even. "Sorry we were late. It was a farther walk than I thought, and we had a few things to catch up on."
Two suspicious gazes landed on me; I kept my face impassive. It was confusing for most people when you didn't react to their emotions. I enjoyed that air of mystery. Only my pack got to know the real me. A pack that was growing larger every day, and strangely enough, I didn't have an issue with that. If anything, it