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Anxiety flickers through me, and I reach out to grab his hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Please don’t leave. Not yet.” My voice is quiet and pathetic, but it seems to have an effect on him, because he sighs and drops back down onto the bench.
“What’s been going on in the outside world?” I ask, wanting to know everything and extend my time with him for as long as possible. “Have you been in touch with Tina?”
Jack fills me in on everything that’s happened since my assessment, including his conversation with Tina when my release was denied. Apparently she was livid and ready to track Dorine down and show her exactly what she thought of the troll. Thankfully, Jack managed to talk her down and has been in touch with her daily. His interaction with Zane has been minimal, but he’s been working behind the scenes to get me released.
Far too quickly, he glances up at the clock, and I see disappointment flicker over his face. “I should probably get going. I have a meeting with a judge, and I don’t want to be late.”
My heart sinks. It feels like he’s only been here for a couple of minutes, but glancing at the clock, I see it’s been over an hour. Holding back my sigh, I climb up from the bench and gesture for him to stay put. “I just need to run back to my room. I have something I was hoping you could give to Tina for me.”
“Of course.” Standing, he brushes down his uniform. “Don’t worry, I’ll come with you. It saves you from having to come back later.”
Nodding, I lead him from the room and try to keep a smile on my face despite the ache deep in my chest.
Chapter Fifteen
Swinging open the door to my tiny room, I gesture grandly. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
Pushing the door open wide, I watch him take in the small space that I’ve made my own. I managed to scavenge plastic cups and fill them with flowers from outside, brightening up the space as best as I can. There’s not much else I can do with my down time, and being around flowers lifts my spirits, so it only made sense. When Tina brought in some of my normal clothes, she also brought my favourite blanket from my bed. She jokes that I have so many blankets she’s pretty sure there’s not actually a bed underneath the nest I made myself. What can I say, I like blankets.
While most of the duffle bag she brought was confiscated, including my clothes, they did allow me to keep my blanket. The soft fabric is a deep purple and currently neatly spread across the bed.
“I like the homey touches,” he comments, his smile knowing, and it makes me curious.
“Thanks, it reminds me of home.” Letting the door close behind me, I step right up to him and look into his handsome face. I gently touch my fingers to the corners of his lips. “What’s this look for?”
He chuckles and rubs a hand over his head, his cheeks tinging pink. “Ah, you caught me.” He gestures around the room. “This is very… you.”
My brows shoot up, irritation making my face tight. “Oh, and what do you mean by that?”
“Shit, that didn’t come out how I wanted it to.” Chuckling awkwardly, he looks uncomfortable. “Being alone with you makes me nervous for some reason.”
Getting more and more offended by the moment, I take a half step back to look at him. “You? You run into gun fights and rescue people, yet being in a room with me is scary?”
Wincing, he holds his hands up in surrender. “Okay, I’m messing this up.” His eyes drop for a moment, and for the first time, I see past the strong macho man that he is and see a glimmer of uncertainty that hides beneath the surface. “I love the room,” he starts again, his smile reaching his eyes, showing his honesty. “It’s full of personality, something that’s usually impossible to do in these sterile environments. Somehow, you brought your light with you and made it beautiful.”
All of my irritation melts away, his heartfelt words doing something to me that no one else is capable of doing. He’s the perfect contradiction—strong and fierce when needed, protecting the weak, but also possessing the heart of an artist, trying to see the beauty in everything. He’s like sunshine, brightening the shadowed corners of my soul. I feel giddy, like a schoolgirl, and I’m unsure how to express my emotions.
He saves me from having to answer by clearing his throat and continuing with a smile. “And yes, being in your room alone with you makes me nervous because I’m worried I’m going to make a mess of everything, and that is the last thing I want to do.”
Make a mess of everything? Does he mean my case and getting me out of here? He’s been nothing but confident up until now about finding a way to get me released. Also, why would being in a room with me affect that, and what could he possibly do that would mess things up between us?
“Why would you make a mess? I don’t understand.” My voice is soft, as is my expression as I look up at him, waiting for clarification.
Indecision wars in his eyes. He’s clearly trying to make a decision, and he seems to be warring with himself internally. I wish I could do something to help with his dilemma, but I’m pretty sure whatever he’s trying to decide involves me.
Something suddenly changes about him, and I see he’s made up his mind.
“You know that conversation we had about us feeling connected despite you having a mate?” he asks, waiting for me to acknowledge him with a nod before carrying on. “I decided to do some research, and it turns out I was wrong. It’s not common, but there have been cases where someone, usually a female, has multiple mates. It might be more common, but people push away the instincts like we were going to do, thinking that you have one mate, and one mate only.”
Wait. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? I might not just have one mate, but two. Does Gabriel fit into this as well? I can’t deny the pull I feel towards him, even though I don’t want to be around him.
A not so small part of my mind is screaming in victory, telling me that he’s right, that Zane is not my only mate, and he’s one of them. Now that he’s said it aloud, things seem to click into place, and I can see him for what he really is to me—my mate. Happiness blooms in my chest.
“Why, Officer Hart,” I purr, closing the gap between us and pressing a finger against his chest, “did you walk me back to my bedroom just to tell me this? Are you trying to get in my pants?”
I’m only teasing him, but it backfires immediately as his eyes widen and his mouth drops open while he tries to come up with a response.
“What? No, I—”
