“Sorry, bro,’” I mumbled and my eyelids drooped, the hard on I’d been sporting for Ember, nowhere in sight.
“It’s okay, I’ll stay with him.”
I smiled drunkenly at the sound of her voice.
“Good luck. He looks like he’s been on a major bender.” Rawson smiled, clearly not going to argue with my Firecracker.
“I’ll be back when he’s awake.” Zander’s bass voice resonated through the small room.
Knowing Ember was safe for now, I allowed myself to drift off. I’d have the mother of all headaches when I awoke. I had no idea how much tranq was in my system, but I couldn’t even lift my head to look at Ember when she sat next to me. Her fingers entwined in my hair and her lips were gloriously soft against my cheek.
“Sleep it off, you idiot. Then when you wake up I can kick your selfish arse.”
I managed a smile, but that was it before I was out.
I downed my fourth cup of water in a row and sighed, smacking my lips. Ember raised her brows. “Damn, do you want some more?”
I grinned, and shook my head, then swore under my breath. That was a dumb move. My head thumped until I had to hold it in my hands. “How about some painkillers?” I asked, leaning my elbows on the table.
She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
We both turned as the door opened. Zander strode in, his eyes bright, but not burning with flame. His presence pushed against me. He might not be a shifter, but his power pushed against mine. He’d done something to boost it and it’s weight pulsed against mine. Did he have to kill one of his own to get such a boost—like I did? My fingers curled into my palms, but I kept the self-disgust off my face.
“We need to talk,” Zander said, staring meaningfully at Ember.
Her spine snapped straight and she cocked her head, a sly smile curling her lips. She had her vest top tied up to expose her flat stomach and her toned arms pushed her breasts into a sexy cleavage when she crossed them. “Then talk.”
“Not to you, to him.” Zander’s attention flicked to me.
He might have saved me, but I still didn’t completely trust him around Ember and I was in no fit state to help her if he decided to hurt her. Gingerly, I pushed myself up from the chair and walked over to her. She eyed me disapprovingly.
“You should stay sitting down before you fall down,” she advised sternly.
I grinned, albeit more like a grimace. “Listen, it’s okay. Zander isn’t after harming me. He wouldn’t have brought my jacked up arse back here, now would he, if that was the case?”
Her eyes narrowed on him and then me. “Yeah, he would. Bringing you through the prison and back here proved a point to the inmates; that you could be stopped and therefore so can they, and that he is strong enough to haul your arse on his back and jump from a platform twenty odd feet in the air. It showed them all he is as strong as you and should be feared.”
I took her chin between my fingers and thumb and peered down into her narrowed eyes. “You’re right, but Zander doesn’t do anything without a plan. I respect what he did, and he got me back here before they could kill me. If he wants to talk to me, it’s for a reason.”
“I’m not leaving,” she said, her jaw muscles tensing under my touch.
I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. I loved her stubborn streak and defiance and normally I’d rise to the challenge, but I needed to talk to Zander. I could see the tension in his body as he paced, his gaze flicking back and forth between me and Ember.
“How about a deal?” I asked gently against her lips. “You send in Owen, so I’m not alone.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and glanced at Zander again. “I’ll leave if Owen comes in. I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
Zander stopped pacing. His eyes flashed red. “If I wanted to hurt him none of you could stop me, but if it makes you feel better, the beta can come in. No one else.” His boots clicked on the floor as he resumed pacing.
Ember nodded. “I need to make sure Charlie’s okay, anyway. She’s been chosen for the entertainment rooms.”
“I’m sorry.” I sighed, knowing I could do nothing for