a little. “It was a good deal for me, he could have negotiated for more.” Her emerald eyes turned as dark and as stormy as a raging sea. “Being a drug dealer had its benefits. It gave me a chance to search for that bastard, Walker. I never did find him, but I was getting close when someone ratted on me and my partner, Blue.” There was another pause and she said quietly, her throat moving as she swallowed. “The Fae royal guard came for us. When we got back through the portal to Som’s lock up, someone had killed him. Red—I mean Zander, or whatever his bloody name is, was waiting for me. Doherty had done some bullshit deal with the fae. They got her. And Doherty got me, but he didn’t recognise me thanks to Som’s glamour spell. ”
My chest tightened. Doherty was rounding up females, I knew that; but it looked like it was just dumb luck he didn’t recognise Ember. What the hell he was doing making deals with the fae I had no idea. Then again, what did it matter? Right now, I had bigger problems to worry about. Like my mate’s safety and getting us out of here. “I’m sorry.” I put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my side, trying to give her some measure of comfort as a strange warmth filled my heart settling in deep.
This trust, her sharing her life with me was as intimate as the honour of sharing her body, maybe more.
“I’m going to get Blue back. Somehow, I’ll find a way back to Faerie and I’ll find her. I promised I would.”
I squeezed her tighter and ground my teeth. Thankfully she wasn’t watching my face. Not if I can help it; at least not alone. Promise or no. You’re mine to keep safe even if you can’t admit it yet. But that was a conversation for another day so I remained quiet. She shuffled under my hold, then sighed, turning her body into my hold. My chest squeezed as my wolf rumbled a satisfied growl. Godsdammit, I was utterly fucked. There was no way I could let her go, not now, not ever. She turned her head, kissing my bare chest and I swallowed hard. Her lips were soft and warm, the sight of her gorgeous mouth touching my skin went straight to my cock. Fuck me, I needed some space or there would be no more talking tonight. I dropped a kiss on her head, inhaling her scent like it was sustenance for my soul then reluctantly stepped away. Unable to make myself go far, I kept hold of her hand like some teenage school boy.
“So this warden and Doherty? They can inflict pain and injury on the people you and your wolf have taken a vow to protect.”
I let her change the subject. She’d trusted me with some of her life, she’d share more when she was ready. “Yeah.”
Her fingers squeezed mine. “And you hate to see them suffer. Connor, you are not as cold-hearted as you make out, not even your wolf is.” Her eyes softened. “You have tried to protect the ones you love, the only way you can.”
I swallowed hard as my wolf whined at her assessment of us.
“I have. And because if there is no Prime, anarchy would spread. There would be countless challenges and countless atrocities. Not everyone here is innocent, and violence would rain down on the weak. I keep control, and in return my alpha brothers and I are kept out of the fight rings—usually.” I ground my teeth together as the warden’s demands for my brothers to fight filled my head.
Ember fell silent, staring at my chest as I continued to hold her hand, giving her time to process that.
“What else is going on here? Charlie said something about the females from gen pop being taken? And Doherty seemed hell bent on getting me, even though he didn’t know who I was.”
I rolled my head and neck trying to loosen my tense muscles. “It’s true. But what I’m about to tell you can’t go any further. Do you understand? If you breathe a word of this, and it gets back to Doherty or the warden, you will disappear.” I clicked my fingers. “Like that.”
Her face dropped into a blank mask. I’d worked out that expression meant she was not committing to any answer. Worry twisted my belly. “Ember. This is important. I need you to