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Daisy grabbed her again, hugging her so tight Jaz squeaked. Else had cleaned out her wounds, and dressed them, including the one at her throat. Watching Jaz in more pain had been fucking hard to bear, but none of us knew what kind of shit was on those monsters’ claws. Her wounds would need to be closely monitored and Else had given us strict instructions before she slathered Jaz in balms, while Mags had given her spoonful after spoonful of potions and tonics.

I watched her now, a tired smile on her face, and my fucking heart clenched.

She loved me.

Jasmine loved me.

And right now, my female was exhausted, especially after losing so much fucking blood, but there was no way she’d say so. No, that’s what I was for.

I pushed away from the wall. “Time to go, everyone. Jaz needs her rest.”

Else turned to me. “I’m not leaving. She needs looking after.”

“Love you, Else, but I’m kicking you out. All of you. I can take care of my mate.”

Bram chuckled low beside me, and Mags nudged him to be quiet.

Daisy beamed. “Yes, we should go. Ren’s got this.”

Draven, Warrick, and Ronan collected their mates, and Relic and Rome said their goodbyes. Daisy and Art and Mags and Bram followed, and Else left last after giving me a list of instructions.

“I’ll call if we need you,” I said to her and pulled her in for a hug.

She wrapped her arms around me in return and nodded, then lifted her head and held my face in her hands. “Take care of each other,” she said, then left.

I closed the door, and turned to Jaz.

She was watching me, a small smile on her lips. “You can take care of your mate, huh?”

“Yeah, I can,” I said and strode over to her, scooping her up in my arms. “Doesn’t matter that we haven’t made it official, butterfly, it’s a done deal.” I carried her down the hall and into our room. She froze in my arms, twisting to take everything in.

“Everything’s new.” I pressed my nose to the side of her throat and breathed in her scent. “We wanted our female to have a den that was all hers.”

“I can’t believe you did all this,” she said, then she shook her head. “No, I can believe it.”

Leaning forward, I carefully eased her to her back on the bed. “I’d do anything for my beautiful, precious female. Anything.”

“I know.”

I tugged off my shirt and climbed into the bed with her and we stared at each other through the dim light. “The block he used to lock away what you felt for me…” I rasped. I knew the truth, I could see it in her eyes, she’d said the words. But I needed to hear her say it again. “It’s really gone, isn’t it, butterfly? You…you love me again?” My voice sounded as desperate as I felt, and I didn’t give a fuck. Jasmine knew me like no one else, she’d seen every part of me, I didn’t have to pretend to be anyone else but the male I was with her.

She cupped the side of my face. “The block’s gone,” she said, her voice a husky whisper. “And everything I felt for you is back, and it’s so big and so wild and, goddess, all consuming.” Her eyes danced and glistened. “I’m so desperately in love with you, Ren, it’s kinda ridiculous. And somehow, I love you even more now than before, when I thought that was impossible.” She traced my lips with her thumb. “Does that answer your question?”

“Yeah,” I said, my fox rumbling his approval through my chest. My heart pounded. “And in case you were in any doubt? I’m so fucking in love with you, Jasmine Thornheart, I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve loved you a long time, even before I allowed myself to see it. You’re the reason I’m still here. You’re the reason I woke up and chose to live one more day. It was your eyes in my head, your face, your voice, that pulled me back from the ledge every time I stood there. You are literally my reason to walk this earth, and I promise I will never, ever hurt you again.”

A shuddery breath fell from her lips, then she thrust her fingers into my hair and pulled me to her, kissing me fiercely. She tasted fucking perfect, like autumn and home.

Her fingers dug into my flesh, her movements restless against me. She grabbed at the front of my jeans, trying to tug them open, and I took her hands and lifted them, shaking my head. “Butterfly, you’re still too weak from blood loss—”

“I don’t care, I want you.”

“Baby—”

“I need you, Ren. Please,” she choked out.

And I needed her. No way was I strong enough to stop this with her looking at me like that, with that tremble of need in her voice. “Okay, but first, I make you come.”

She growled under her breath.