Fionn traveled, appearing in front of Rose, who gasped at his sudden appearance. His mate was pale and drained, and he knew why when he saw her wrists. She clutched them to her chest, shivering.
“Fionn,” she whispered, expression slack with relief.
Fury boiled in his blood as he reached out and tentatively took hold of her fingers, pulling her wrists out, hands palm upward. Her right wrist was healing from a cut, but that wasn’t what made him want to hunt down the Blackwoods and kill every last one of them.
Three-inch burn scars wrapped around each of Rose’s wrists.
Fionn took in the chains and manacles scattered at their feet.
Two of the broken manacles were made of pure iron.
“I’m going to kill them all,” he promised.
Rose tugged her hands from his, but only to rest them on his chest. Her blue eyes pleaded with him. “No more, Fionn.”
“I’m sorry.” The words were torn from his throat. “I failed you.”
Rose pissed him off by giving him a tired grin. “Whose voice do you think was in my head when I needed to get myself out of this? Whose training?”
He shook his head. “It’s not—”
“Fionn.” Her fingers curled into his shirt. “You wanted me to be able to take care of myself …” She swallowed hard, lowering her eyes. “For when you’re gone. And I can.”
Her words were like an iron blade in his gut.
“You saved my life,” Thea interrupted, reminding Fionn he wasn’t alone with his mate. Roaring at her that she was an idiot if she thought he was ever fucking leaving her again would have to wait.
Rose turned toward the wolf wrapped in Conall’s arms. The alpha was holding Thea so tightly, it was a wonder she could breathe.
Fionn looked down at Rose. She should be in his arms like that. Why wasn’t she? He scowled at her. Come to me, mo chroí.
She didn’t.
So he hauled her against him and although she gave him a slightly startled look, she slid her arms around his waist and held on to him as she addressed Thea. “I have the feeling you would have done the same for me.”
“Thank you,” Conall said to Rose. “Sincerely. I owe you a debt.”
“We owe you a debt,” Thea corrected, caressing his chest.
Fionn glared down at Rose. Do that to me, mo chroí. I need soothing.
She didn’t. Fionn gingerly lifted the wrist that wasn’t healing from a cut and placed her palm over his heart. Rose curled her fingers into his sweater and buried deeper into him.
“I’m calling in that debt,” she addressed the alpha wolves. “Go back to Scotland. Stay there. Keep your pack safe.”
“We’re past that.” Conall glared at Layton Blackwood. “Once the coven discovers this, they’ll come for retribution. It’ll be war once I call upon my allies.”
“No, they won’t,” Fionn said. “I know the Blackwoods. Nate Blackwood is not as ruthless as previous coven leaders. His son”—he gestured to Layton—“disagreed with his father’s methods. This was a kamikaze mission. There’s no way Nate Blackwood would have agreed to kidnapping Thea. He knew that would start a war with all the packs. I’d place a high bet that the rest of the coven have no clue about this. The Blackwoods know the gate is only miles from here, which offers an excuse for why the trail will lead to Ireland.
“There’s no reason for them to think any of us were involved.”
Conall frowned. “Do you know that for certain?”
“I know for certain that the Blackwoods have no idea of your involvement. I’m telling you, Nate would never sanction action against you.”
The alpha couple shared a knowing look and Thea nodded, turning back to Rose and Fionn. “They came to us after I turned and I had to prove I was just a wolf, not fae. Obviously, they had their suspicions we were lying, but with no evidence, they were given orders to leave us alone once we proved I was a werewolf. So, you’re right, we’re safe … but what about you two?”
“I doubt they know we’re involved, but even if they do, they’ll have a hard time catching us,” Fionn promised, his hold on Rose tightening.
“And Niamh?” Thea asked Rose.
Rose tensed and Fionn tried to pull her closer into him, even though she was as close as she was going to get. “Thea, I’m guessing you’re a pretty kick-ass wolf, but you’re not fae anymore. You can’t do what Niamh and I can.”
Thea winced, contemplating the dead bodies littered around the