“And what if I hurt you again?” he asked.
“Then we’ll go back to sleeping separately, but you won’t.”
“Neither of us can be so sure what I will or won’t do while I’m sleeping,” he said. “I could kill you.”
“You won’t.”
“I’m glad you have so much faith in me, but I don’t.”
“I have the same faith in you that you have in me. You have to trust yourself.”
That was the problem. “I don’t trust myself around you while I’m sleeping. My nightmares are too intense.”
And most of them were about the war, being attacked, and having to defend himself. He always woke primed for a fight.
“I know that, but let me trust you enough for both of us,” she said.
She held her hand out, and though he wanted to argue further or leave so it wasn’t an option anymore, he didn’t move. Even after his shower, he still felt dirty from today, and she could help ease that.
He yearned to hold his mate, reassure himself she was safe and exactly where she belonged… in his arms. However, he was afraid he might somehow taint her.
“It was bad today, wasn’t it?” she asked.
“I’ve seen worse.”
But he hadn’t seen much worse. What he’d seen before was done in the name of war and self-defense. What he saw today, the Lord did in the name of cruelty. What he’d done with the pixie was an act of mercy, but it still sickened him.
“That doesn’t make it any better. Come on, Cole,” she coaxed.
Unable to resist her, he changed direction and approached the bed. If anything, he would leave the bed when she fell asleep, like he always did. She’d be pissed if she discovered the truth in the morning, but he’d wake before her and return to the bed.
Pulling back the blankets, he crawled into the bed beside her, and she rolled into his arms. He discovered her T-shirt remained on, but she’d ditched the yoga pants. A small thrill went through him when she draped her bare leg over his.
Resting her hand over his heart, she snuggled closer. “I put my fingers into the moonlight.”
“And?” he asked as he inhaled the crisp scent of her shampoo and stared at the moonlight spilling through the windows.
“It wasn’t as strong of a reaction.”
“But there was one?”
“Yes.”
He hugged her closer. “Wewillfigure it out.”
“I know. What happened with the Lord?” she asked.
He didn’t go into all the gory details, but he told her most of what happened. He also revealed how Malakai earned his amulet.
“That bastard,” she murmured. “How many lives do you think he helped take?”
“Knowing the Lord, it took a lot for Malakai to earn the amulet.”
“They’re both pricks.”
“That they are.”
“But at least the harrow stone worked and you’re here. I was so worried.”
