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Fear and sadness stabbed at Cole. What had happened to Julian to put him so on edge? To Keira to make her panic like that? Something incredibly traumatic. Someone had hurt them. Both of them.
Whoever did that had to die.
“Julian, you watch over us while I take care of kitten,” he finally ordered.
Julian nodded, more tension leaving him at the order. Okay. Cole hadn’t been certain whether the other man would listen or fire up. But, if he needed Cole to take charge, he could certainly do that.
Whatever the two of them needed, however they needed it, he was all about that now.
“Kitten, listen to me, it’s Cole.”
Nothing. She had her legs curled up against her chest, her arms wrapped around them. Her eyes were staring ahead of her, her brain locked in her memories. Her breath shuddered in and out, a whisper of a sound. Fast and too shallow. Sweat coated her skin, her hair was plastered against her forehead.
“Kitten, listen to me. Listen. It’s Sir. Both of your Sirs are here.” He felt a little silly saying that. And braced himself for rejection. But there was still no response. Shit. If he couldn’t get through to her, they’d have to call in a doctor and sedate her.
Her whole body trembled, and her breathing grew worse.
Without giving it much thought, he reached for her. She tensed and let out a loud m
ewling that broke something inside him. The sound was filled with pain and fear. He tugged her onto his lap, holding her tightly as she tried to fight him.
“No!” Julian roared, reaching for her, trying to take her.
“Julian, stay there. Guard us.” He didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. Maybe he should just let Julian take her. He was her husband. He’d been taking care of her all this time. But Cole couldn’t let her go.
Julian stilled, staring around. Fuck. Maybe he was just feeding into his paranoia. Maybe he should be easing him out of his need to watch everything frantically. But, right now, Julian was okay physically. Keira on the other hand . . .
Her breath came in rapid, shallow pants.
“No, no, no, nooo,” she cried. “Please don’t hurt him. Please.”
Don’t hurt whom? The sub who’d been tied to the St. Andrews cross?
“Baby, no one’s hurting anybody,” Cole soothed. “They’ve gone now. It’s just me, you, and Julian. No one else is here.”
“Julian. Don’t hurt Julian,” she cried.
Shit. Christ. His heart hurt, and a rage filled him towards whomever had done this to them.
They. Had. To. Die.
“I’d never hurt Julian.” Gently he raised her face, keeping a tight hold on her with his other arm, even though she wasn’t moving. “Julian’s safe, baby. He’s safe. No one’s hurting him.”
“The whip. The whip.”
He saw Julian flinch at her words.
“Hurt him. Blood. Ohhh.” The pain in her words tortured him. He found himself rocking her as much to soothe himself as her. He kissed the top of her head and took a deep breath to calm himself. He had to keep it together for them.
“Kitten, I need you to take some slow, deep breaths. I need you to come back to me now. Slow and deep. You’re not in any danger. If I have my way nothing will ever harm you again.”
It was a vow. A promise. He didn’t expect them to believe him, but he meant every word.
“J-Julian.”
“Julian hasn’t been harmed. He’s right here. Nice slow breaths for me.” He placed his hand on her chest, almost as though he could force her to breathe slowly.
Her breathing was still erratic. And she started to push against him.
