be alive. People wouldn’t be starting riots in the streets if Davis wasn’t so determined to get me.
I could just hand myself over to him, but then he would have exactly what he wanted, and I shuddered to think what the world would look like if a man like him had that much power.
Really, this would all go away if I didn’t exist.
“Maybe I should just . . .”
I trailed off, not quite able to say the word. The fact that this thought had even crossed my mind scared the absolute shit out of me. My whole world tilted on its axis as cold dread trickled down my spine.
Tyler propped his hands on his hips. “You should just what, Eve?”
He asked and his ability filled him in. His eyes widened in shock, horror, fear.
I looked away, willing myself not to cry even as my eyes started to sting from impending tears.
“Evelyn, no one is suggesting you leave permanently.” Stacey was oblivious to what had just gone through my mind, but Tyler cut in.
“Don’t,” he growled, stalking forward to stand directly in front of me. His hands cupped my cheeks and lifted my face until I was looking directly into his intense gray eyes. “Don’t you dare think like that, Evelyn.”
Panicked, I glanced around as much as his grip would allow, worried he would expose to the whole room the single darkest thought I’d ever had.
But he just said what I needed to hear. “You are mine and I love you. You are the most important thing to me. I won’t stand for it. Do you understand?”
I nodded weakly, and Tyler closed the distance, placing a searing kiss on my lips. I wrapped my arms around him, and he didn’t stop at what would’ve been proper in a room full of people. He darted his tongue out and I met it with mine.
Alec had no idea what we were talking about, and he wasn’t asking—although I was sure there would be questions later—but he could clearly tell something was wrong. Instead of giving us space, he closed in and pressed his front against my back. Tyler continued to assault my mouth, driving any depressing thoughts right out of my mind for those blissful few moments. I was exactly where I wanted and needed to be—with them.
Tyler broke the kiss and touched his forehead to mine. “I love you,” he whispered against my lips. “Please don’t leave me.”
I took a shuddering breath. He’d gotten to the crux of the matter. If any one of them was taken from me, left me, I would be a mess. A broken twisted mess. How could I possibly do that to them?
When Tyler finally stepped away, giving me some room to breathe, the first person I made eye contact with was Stacey. The other two were averting their gazes, but her full, stunned attention was on me—on us.
I think that was the first time Stacey had seen Tyler and me together—really together—the first time she’d glimpsed what it meant to be in a Bond. On some level, I felt a little bad for her; she clearly had a crush on Ty, and I knew what that was like. I was still crushing on him too. But as a human, she could never fully appreciate the level of devotion and connection we shared. We were tethered in every way imaginable and in one way even science couldn’t explain—by the Light.
She’d finally seen for herself that she truly had no chance with him. He was mine, always was, and always would be.
With a little cough, she looked down at her tablet. To her credit, she didn’t give much away, didn’t throw me any jealous looks or childish sneers. She simply fixed one of the many stray hairs that had fallen out of her bun, smoothed down her skirt, and got back to business. I had to admire her strength and professionalism.
Before she could speak again, Tyler did. “Can we finish this conversation tomorrow, Stacey? You have the lockdown under control, and Melior Group are all in place with additional agents called in for backup—all bases are covered. I’ll speak with Evelyn about her classes at home, and we can finalize the details tomorrow.”
“Of course.” She smiled politely. “You should get her home. I have a free hour at eleven tomorrow morning?” She tapped at her tablet, and Ty took out his phone.
“That works. Lock it in.”
They set the meeting, Tyler made sure everyone was clear on their orders,