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Her eyes narrowed at me as she shoved a finger at me. "I don't like being bossed around."
"Noted. Now, am I carrying you or what?"
Tess growled at me as she bolted in the direction we'd been heading. Relief washed over me as I realized I wouldn't have to force her, though it sounded like I'd pay for my threat later.
Voices called after us as we sprinted away from them. Unfortunately, Tess couldn't outrun two highly trained retrieval specialists from the council. We didn't have to escape them, just avoid capture until Kael could get here. Sharp pain sliced through my feet as I ran barefoot. Everywhere the glass had sliced my skin felt like it was covered in acid.
I cued Tess to turn, and we sprinted down a side road. Kael and the team always ran in a zigzag pattern when waiting for a pick up. The prearranged pattern helped reinforcements predict where we'd go next. A moment later, we turned again, following the roads until two black SUVs skid to a halt next to us. The back door flew open, and I helped Tess in before jumping in after her. The two council retrievers skid to a halt in defeat as the SUV lurched forward.
Kael leaned around the passenger seat to gape at us. "Holy shit, it really is you. Even with the code word, I wasn't convinced. What the hell happened?"
"Give me a minute." I turned my attention to Tess, taking both of her hands in mine. "I'm sorry about that. As soon as we get to the safe house, I'll answer any questions I can for you."
Tess let out a giggle as she slumped against the door of the SUV. "Don't worry about me. I'm content to rest for the drive."
My head tilted as I watched her. Her face was flushed, though that was likely from the run. She pulled one of her hands free and propped her head on it while bracing her elbow on the door. A quick glance at my watch revealed it later than I'd realized. Usually she was in bed by now, so she was probably just exhausted. I kept one of her hands, holding it as my thumb rubbed circles. I'd make sure she got enough sleep tonight.
Turning my attention back to Kael, I relayed what information I knew. "I was doing rounds with our contacts, checking on all the at risk shifters. Then I noticed two shifters following me. They tried to capture me, but I managed to escape. I ran into Tess's shop to hide, but got hit by vanilla. Just like that, I shifted. Except they must have hit me with some kind of a spell because the countdown was wrong. I didn't shift back. Not until a bit ago, right before those assholes showed up again."
Kael frowned as he processed what I said. "You were a bottle of champagne this entire time?"
I nodded.
"Also, why the hell are you dressed up as Santa?"
A chuckle bubbled out of me before I could stop it. "My clothes didn't come back. Actually… Tess dressed the bottle up in a Santa cozy. Which came with me when I finally shifted back."
Confusion clouded Kael's face. "That's, uh, strange."
"Yeah. All of this was strange." I murmured as I watched Tess's head bounce as she slipped in and out of twilight sleep. When her head drooped, I pulled her close, guiding her head to rest on my shoulder. Why did she seem tipsy all of a sudden? I thought back to earlier, but she hadn't had anything alcoholic to drink.
"Who is she?" Kael's voice barely carried through the vehicle as he tempered his voice to not wake Tess.
A smile pulled at my lips before I realized it. "My Tsigo."
Kael made a face I couldn't decipher. I was torn between being happy for having found her, but another part of me was terrified. She wasn't safe with me around… not as long as I was cursed and we didn't know enough about it to reverse it.
The rest of the drive was silent. Tess cuddled against me as Kael watched me in the rear view mirror. I didn't recognize the driver, though a lot had probably changed in the year I was gone. Once we got to the secure facility where Kael, the team, and I worked out of, I scooped Tess into my arms and carried her from the underground garage to the suite I lived in. Thankfully Kael hadn't reassigned it to anyone because he hadn't wanted to give up on me.
The room was small, but not quite as small as the others in the facility. One bedroom apartment, but I couldn't complain. It was secure, met all my needs, and would keep my mate safe. I set Tess on my bed, taking a moment to remove her shoes and settle her in the blankets. Her cheeks appeared more flushed than before, which bothered me. She'd been resting, not running, so why would she get worse? I took a quick shower and tended to my feet. Once that was taken care of, I pulled on some loose shorts and climbed into bed with my Tsigo.
Tomorrow would be a long day, one with a lot of explaining and even more groveling as I tried to explain my actions tonight.
Chapter Five
My eyes blinked open, disoriented, as my human was still unaccustomed to being free. Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I found myself in my bed, the soft sheets tangled around my limbs. Tess sat on the edge of the mattress, her hand gently gliding over my chest. My pulse picked up at her touch, responding to the mating call.
"Morning," she murmured, her voice sultry and inviting. "Or should I say evening. We slept the day away."
Her touch reignited the fire inside of me. Every instinct I had wanted to claim her, to mark her as mine. My beast roared for me to take control, but the desire coursing through me was deafening, drowning out any semblance of reason. "Tess," I rasped, my voice gruff with need.
She leaned down, her lips finding mine in a passionate, explosive kiss. Her tongue danced with mine, tasting, teasing, stoking the flames of my need until they threatened to consume me. My hands found their way to her hips, pulling her closer as my cock throbbed. I wouldn't be able to resist the mating call much longer at this rate.
"Let yourself go, Hadrian," she breathed against my lips, her fingers digging into my chest. "Give in to your desires... I know I will."
Her words were a siren call, impossible to resist. I rolled her onto her back, my body hovering above hers, needing every inch of contact our skin would allow. In that moment, I hated every thread of fabric separating us. Her legs clung to me tightly as our passionate kiss grew deeper and more ravenous. Every part of us was desperate for each other, wanting to experience the pleasure that only our bond could bring.
My fingers tangled in her hair, holding her head in place as I devoured her lips and neck, marking her as my own. The scent of her arousal filled the air, intoxicating me, driving me to the brink of madness. The fire of our mating bond burned hotter, fueled by every touch, every caress.
