Page 62 of Fractured Memories

“You can sort it out with Lochlan,” I cut in, trying to redirect them. “Do you know where Eden is?”

“She’s in the guest room with Mika.” Ash wiggles her brows at me, and I watch as a vein in Till’s forehead pops. He’s dying to tell her it was inappropriate.

“Thanks, Ash.” I step around them. “Have a good night.”

I’m not even around the corner when their bickering starts back up again, but I don’t mind. I actually like my guards to have a personality to them.

Gale is standing in Eden’s doorway when I approach, not quite blocking it but clearly having been dragged into the conversation. She steps back with a shy smile when she sees me, and I nod my head toward her.

“I don’t know,” Mika hums as I stop behind her. “The boots are kickass, but do you think with that top⁠—”

“She looks perfect.”

They both whip around, my voice having caught them off guard. But it’s true. Eden’s wearing a tight, midnight blue top that shows off her toned arms, and those black shorts that make it impossible to look anywhere else. Her thigh sheath holds the blade I gave her, and I spot another tucked into the high top of her black boots.

She looks deadly, and nothing has ever turned me on more.

Her amber eyes slide up my body, taking me in as slowly as I did her. My outfit doesn’t change much, but the partially undone button-down that I keep rolled up to my elbows always has her gaze heating. And why mess with perfection when I know how much it turns her on?

“Woah.” Mika chuckles, looking between us. “I’ve seen people actually fuck with less intensity than what’s going on here.”

My lips twitch. “Can you blame me?”

“No, I can’t.” She twists back around. “He’s right. You look great, Eden.” She offers my wife a hug before heading toward the door. “I’m going to raid Lochlan’s kitchen. Try not to keep my husband out too late!”

I wait for that golden gaze to land back on me. “Ready?”

* * *

The cages are packed tonight, not that I’m surprised. The damn things could be on fire, and people would still shove into the building, eager for just one glimpse or a chance at the betting tables.

Normally, I love the chaos, but tonight, nothing is stealing my focus from Eden. I’ve got her caged between my arms and walking in front of me, following Jude as he leads us to the back. Her eyes are darting everywhere, taking it all in, and I can feel the energy buzzing off of her. Eyes bright and a deadly smirk on her lips, she’s feeding off of the environment just like I thought she would.

It’s too loud for us to talk, so she can’t ask me anything as Jude clears us a path. I spot heads turning in our direction, many noticing that we are here. Our marriage has always been public knowledge—despite me not letting Lochlan turn it into a spectacle—and no one knew she was missing. To most of the people here, they are getting a glimpse at the Elites that dared to come down from their mountain tonight. But if any rebels see the broadcasts, we’ll be making a statement, too.

Jude forces the crowd around the back cage—what was once Eden’s primary domain—to part. The guard at the door lets us through, and I see Eden taking in the mat with almost frenzied enthusiasm.

Oh, this is going to be fun.

My seat sits in the center of the small crowd gathered at the mat’s edge, and Jude takes his position slightly behind it. He’s just as on edge as I am tonight, scanning the crowd for any sign that Eden’s in danger. Briefly, his eyes connect with mine, narrowing with warning, before going back to the frenzy outside the cage.

He already snapped at me that I was under no circumstances to join the challenges. I swore to be on my best behavior, knowing that there is a good reason I promised Eden and I would stay off the mats. Tonight isn’t about toeing that line. I have an entirely different goal in mind.

I take a seat, and Eden doesn’t protest when I pull her into my lap. She wraps an arm around my shoulders, leaning back into me but keeping her gaze on the screaming audience on the other side of the chain-link.

“I have so many questions,” she breathes, eyes bright.

I know she got a glimpse of the other fights on the way back here, and I have no doubt the bloodlust coloring her expression is from that. From the violence vibrating in the air and the broadcast screens showing off every cage.

They can take her memories, but they can’t rip away who she is. Violent, bloodthirsty, and dangerous? That’s my girl.

“Ask them.” I smooth a hand along her thigh, glad to have nothing covering her bare skin.

“Did I use to come here?”

It’s not the question I expected her to ask first. I thought she’d want an explanation of the gambling, of the fighting, of what we were doing here. But I think a part of her already has those answers.

“All the time.” My palm moves farther up. “It’s where we met.”