Her bag fell from her shoulders a second before she flung herself into his arms. Cole crushed her against him and lifted her off the ground. Her sweet scent enveloped him as his fingers threaded through her silken hair to grasp the back of her head.
Relief descended, and the lycan within him stirred. During the trials, he repressed the lycan part of himself, but it had made its demands for its mate known since returning to the Gloaming.
He cradled her face in the hollow of his shoulder. When her tears wet his neck, he pulled back to gaze down at her. The water glistening in her enchanting green eyes made them shine brighter.
“Don’t cry,” he told her.
“I can’t help it.” She clasped his face between her palms and rested her forehead against his. “I’m so happy. I knew you would survive, but… but… I was so scared.”
“There’s no reason to be scared now. I’m back.”
More tears slid down her cheeks as she grinned at him. “You’re back.”
When he claimed her mouth, the kiss quieted the lycan as the heat of her scorched him to the center of his soul. The taste of her was sweetly familiar and all the more exciting because of it.
Each time he kissed her was as exciting as the first time. She made him feel like he was drowning and she was his safe harbor. Every time their mouths touched, he lost a piece of himself to her, and he didn’t care.
As their tongues entwined and his cock hardened, he knew he should break away, but he couldn’t bring himself to part with her yet. He was ravenous; both the dark fae and lycan were clamoring to be sated, and she was the only one who could do it.
It was only the fact they were out in the open, with his brother somewhere nearby, that stopped him from taking her. There was a time when he wouldn’t have cared who or how many others watched him with a woman, butnoone, other than him, would ever see or hearherin such a way.
Reluctantly, he broke away from her. Her dazed eyes blinked up at him as she searched his. Her swollen lips were far too enticing; he had to set her down, or he would finish what he started.
He stepped a little away from her but couldn’t bring himself to release her completely. He kept a hand at the small of her back as he held her against his side.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
Her brow furrowed as she studied him, but she didn’t push him any further.
“Areyouokay?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she assured him.
“Were there any problems at the manor?”
“Some of the Lord’s men came to search it, but they didn’t cause any problems.”
Her words caused his skin to prickle. Did the Lord already know about her? It was only a matter of time. And once the Lord learned of her, her life would be in a lot more danger.
“Why did they search it?” he asked.
“They’re searching all the residences for rebels, but we know who they’re really after,” Brokk answered.
Cole scowled. “Orin and Varo.”
“Yes.”
“They really didn’t cause any problems?”
“No.” Lexi rested her hand on his arm. “They were fine, and they didn’t stay long. Everything else was quiet.”
Cole glanced at Brokk. His brother’s face didn’t reveal anything, but the set of his jaw said he wasn’t thrilled by the experience.
“Is there anything else I should know?” Cole asked.
“I asked Brokk to teach me how to fight,” Lexi said.
