“Stone, you tell me what the fuck you’re talking about or I will snap your neck right now for threatening Ember’s life.”
He swallowed and stared at the ceiling.
My stomach lurched. He was actually considering letting me end his life. It dawned on me how close to insanity Stone had existed these last years. I hadn’t seen his pain, mainly because I had been drowning in my own. He actually thought ending Ember’s life was better for me than dealing with a broken heart—like his. What he couldn’t see was how broken I’d been all this time, and that Ember had put me back together. I watched him closely. If he didn’t talk, no matter how much I cared about him, I’d end him. I couldn’t afford to be challenged by him, not now, and I needed to be able to trust him with Ember.
“I’d do anything for you, Stone, you know that, but I can’t let you take Ember away from me in some fucked up belief it will keep me from harm.”
I flipped him onto his stomach and yanked him up to his knees. I placed one hand on his head and one under his chin. He didn’t even fight. I swallowed hard.
“They will always be our biggest weakness,” he whispered.
“Who?” I steeled myself to do one of the worst things I’d ever done. But Ember came first.
“The ones we love with every fibre of our being.”
“Tell me who she was, you stubborn bastard.” My grip tightened, I was ready to jerk my grip and break his neck, no matter how much I didn’t want to do it. I’d killed so many, it frightened me how easily I justified my intentions.
He swallowed against my hold. “My mate.” Those words almost choked him, but still he remained compliant in my hold.
I loosened my grip a little, releasing a whoosh of breath.
“She was the most beautiful thing in my universe, the little bit of light I had in my life. I was always nothing. I existed between this world and Faerie. A child of both, but I belonged in neither. Both worlds saw me as an abomination, something that should be killed. But she saw me as someone worthy of her love. She gave me purpose and a reason to live. And then Doherty took her away. When he came for me, he killed her.”
I swallowed and let go of his head. Life was just shit at times, it really fucking was.
Silence fell between us, only the sound of our heavy breathing audible.
“Stand up.”
He did, his eyes downcast.
“Her death was not your fault, Stone. I can’t make you believe that, only you can, but taking Ember away from me isn’t going to be something you ever contemplate again.” I forced my will on him, using the power of compulsion I had as his Prime. It might not work, he was an alpha in his own right, but I was willing to use anything in my armory to keep Ember from harm. Fuck, if I couldn’t trust my brother, who could I trust?
He nodded, still not looking at me.
I sighed, suddenly weary. “You can go now,” I said.
He looked up at me, the devastation clear on his face. “I am still loyal to you, Connor, I would never challenge you.”
I rubbed my face not sure how to make him understand. “I know you are loyal, but taking Ember from me when I ask you to keep her safe… It would devastate me. I’d lose you both.” I looked him in the eye. “If you ever hurt her, directly or by omission, know that I will not hesitate to end you.”
Stone nodded, and with his head lowered he opened the door. Before he stepped through, he hesitated. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, not turning to face me.
“I know,” I replied to his receding back. “But I will still kill you if she is harmed on your watch.”
Chapter 17
Connor
* * *
After my ‘talk’ with Stone, desire to go and find Ember nearly consumed me, but I held back. She needed to come to me. As much as I wanted to bury myself inside her warm body, I also didn’t want to crowd her and send her running. I’d wait.
I grabbed some food, not caring what it was and sat with Owen. Disappointment laid like a led weight in my belly when she didn’t come to the food hall. After we’d eaten, mainly in silence, we went