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“Well then, I suppose I’ll need your advice on what to get.”
“You’ve come to the right place!” Raura loops her arm through Cedara’s and leads her toward a nearby rack of clothing. “Now, what’s your favorite color?”
The two of them are quickly embroiled in dissecting fabric swatches and blouse styles, laughing and chattering like old friends. I lean back against the wall and simply take it all in, content to bask in Cedara’s obvious delight.
The bell above the door jingles again, and I glance over to see who’s entered. My satisfied smile slips as Casey stalks through the doorway, Tarkin Redburn close on her heels. Cedara doesn’t seem to notice them, too absorbed in whatever Raura is showing her, but Casey’s gaze immediately finds me. Her eyes narrow.
“I can’t fucking believe it,” she hisses. “When the report came up to me, I was pretty sure it was bullshit. But here you are. Are you really this fucking stupid?”
“What are you talking about, Stone?” I keep my tone neutral.
“You brought her here? Of all places? She’s supposed to be locked up, dammit!”
“Who’s supposed to be locked up?” Raura has emerged from the racks, Cedara behind her. Her features are clouded.
“She is!” Casey says sharply, jerking her head at Cedara. “Until we know she’s not going to go feral on us.”
“Feral? What are you talking about?” Raura looks over at Cedara, who lowers her eyes.
“Maybe Barrett should be telling you about it. He’s the one Jagger ordered to watch over her, after all.” Casey’s remorseless.
Chocolate eyes fly wide as Cedara jolts her head up to stare at me.
Shit.
“Ordered?” she whispers.
“Of course. Why else would he be traipsing after you, playing nursemaid?”
Cedara is still staring at me. “You said…” She stops, and then suddenly, she’s spinning on her heel. I watch in dismay as she bolts from the shop.
“Goddammit, Stone! You’re a real asshole, you know that?” I shoot a sharp glare at the woman before taking off after Cedara. She’s moving fast, pushing past shoppers on the narrow sidewalk.
“Cedara!” I know it’s pointless to call after her. She’s running on emotion. I can feel it streaming from her as she moves nimbly and at speed. I know I could probably catch her if I ran faster, but that feels too much like hunting her down. She doesn’t need to feel that right now.
Besides, I know where she’s going.
I slow to a steady jog, keeping her in sight up ahead of me. When I reach her, she’s resting her forehead against the blue panels of the front door to the apartment.
“You have the keys,” she mutters, out of breath, not looking at me. I reach past her to unlock it, then wait as she shoves the door open and storms in. When she spins to face me, wild-eyed, I remain silent.
“Nursemaid?” she barks. “You were ordered to watch over me?” She sets her hands on her hips, her cheeks flushed with anger. As small as she is, she’s intimidating when she’s furious. “What happened to all that ‘mate’ bullshit, huh?”
“I meant that, Cedara.”
“Right. Sure. Whatever!” She’s still glaring daggers at me, but when she dashes a tear away with the back of her hand, I reach out to her. She knocks my hand away from her. “I don’t know what the hell you’re playing at, Barrett, but I want you to stop it.”
“I’m not playing at anything.” I take a step forward. Her eyes narrow, so I stop. “I meant what I said. You’re my mate.
“I’m not anything of yours!” she snaps. “Nothing! Do you understand me? I want you to leave.” She points at the door.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why? Because your Alpha ordered you to keep an eye on me?”
“He did,” I admit. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
“Yeah. You’re here because I’m your mate,” she sneers. “God, I’m so fucking stupid!”
