When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,15

out of town already, Zeke had moved Kita and Tank to Miles’ backyard. Originally, we’d been worried they wouldn’t do well with the shifters that came around, but it had been quite the opposite. The wolf hybrids simply accepted the shifters as if they were their own.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I need you tonight.”

Damn, the way he said that had heat pooling low in my belly as I fought the urge to squirm at the sensation. “Well, you got me tonight.”

“Thanks, Baby.”

“What happened while I was gone?” I asked as I prayed that my body would cool down.

“Weapons practice,” Zeke said. “We went up against the shifters and for once we managed to hold our own.”

“Wait.” I finished my bite. “Tell me this wasn’t with live vials in the staffs?”

Zeke turned his head, giving me his profile. “It was.”

“You guys can’t practice with live weapons,” I snapped. “You’re going to kill someone.”

“We don’t have a choice.” Zeke’s hard voice sent a shiver down my neck. “We need to know how they work and have practice using them.”

“Zeke—”

“This is war, Lexie,” he reminded me. “And we’re training to fight for our lives. We can’t pull any punches.”

He was right. I hated it. I hated that they were a part of this, but he was right. “Tell me you guys took the blade off?”

His shoulders relaxed. “Yeah, we used a blunt wooden blade for practice.”

“They’re talking about attacking Jadis.” I took another bite, not really tasting it before I set the bowl onto the ledge on my right.

“We figured,” he said.

“We could lose people,” I reminded him, the thought making my throat tight.

He grunted in response.

A question had been haunting me for some time, and I knew Zeke was the one to ask. He wouldn’t try to sugarcoat anything. “Do you ever regret meeting me?”

Zeke rolled his shoulders as he shook his head. “Not once. Not ever.”

“What if we lose one of the others?” I asked, even as my heart twisted painfully at the mere thought.

Zeke half turned to look down at me. His eyes went straight to my face and stayed there. “Even then.” He reached out and lifted my chin with his knuckles. His face was calm, his eyes certain. “No matter how this ends, how it goes, no matter who we lose …” His thumb brushed my lower lip. “I will never regret knowing you, not for a second.”

A tear slid from the corner of my eye as I sat up and kissed him softly. Just a brush of my lips that settled my heart. He pressed harder, his mouth making it clear he meant his words. My hands moved to his scruffy jaw as his lips took mine. Lights danced behind my eyes. It wasn’t until I shifted closer and water sloshed that I remembered that I was in the tub. I dropped back into the bubbles, smiling as the front of his jeans and pant legs were soaked with soapy bath water.

He shook his head.

“Sorry.” I cringed.

“I needed to change anyway.” He turned back around and put his gaze on the wall. “You want my room or yours tonight?”

“Yours. You sleep better there.” My smile faded as I remembered what other news I had. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

His shoulders grew tense.

“It’s about—”

He shook his head as he got to his feet. “Tell me after your bath.”

“Zeke.”

“Not while you’re in the tub, Baby,” he said in a rough rasp, refusing to look at me.

The tension radiating from him stopped me from telling him about Riley. “Okay.”

He slipped out of the bathroom.

I sunk back into the hot water. How the hell was I going to tell him? Was he going to blame himself? Was he going to blame me? My heart ached at the thought of either of those happening. Zeke wasn’t responsible for Riley being taken. I was. If she hadn’t been with me that day, she’d still be here at home. Still living with her family. She’d still have a future.

My thoughts went to the guys. Ethan had changed. Asher was a werewolf. Isaac was seeing auras. How long would it be before something changed Zeke and Miles too? Was I going to ruin their futures one at a time? I shoved the thought as far away as I could. There was no point in hiding from the truth in the tub. I needed to face Zeke and tell him.

With renewed energy, I finished my bath, got dressed in my pajamas. With