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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Thousands of tiny whitelights decorated the resort and many of the trees outside, shining so brightly it looked more like the afternoon than after midnight. Christmas decorations, a fabulously decorated tree, and lights also filled the lobby. Our pack had never celebrated Christmas, though we understood the holiday’s customs.
We stood off to one side while Brutus arranged rooms for everyone. Decker had flopped into a big comfy-looking chair, his phone in hand, scrolling with his thumb, but never stopping to look at anything. Mysakanabond with Seff had muted my senses where my brother was concerned, so I reached out on my own. I felt a sort of muddled conflict mixed with irritation. Nothing stood out more than anything else.
Sorrel and Carmine had already gone to their room. It was apparent Carmine struggled with the reasons for the rogue’s quick death. Once she’d seen what I’d done to him—how badly I’d injured him—she’d avoided me. She wouldn’t look at Brutus either, knowing he had killed the rogue and buried his body.
Carmine didn’t understand. How could she? Her pack understood there was a threat, but they had never been a target.
She doesn’t know what it’s like to hide her offspring and pray to the gods they stayed safe. She never tore into a rogue or collected the dead or—
“Desarae.” My name on Seff’s lips and the gentle squeeze of his hand tamped down my building agitation.
Seff held my backpack and his duffle bag in one hand and my hand in his other. His rapid pulse beat steadily through his palm and hadn’t eased up since we’d left the Garden of the Gods. Other emotions accompanied his pounding heartbeat and flowed effortlessly through oursakanabond—a wild sort of dark hunger that had nothing to do with food and everything to do with sex.
I looked up at him to see his jaw grinding. I gave his hand a small squeeze.
“Seff,” I whispered.
Slowly, his dark gaze swung around the lobby, his pupils so dilated, they nearly blocked out the chocolate brown of his beautiful eyes. He’d swept his long, wind-blown hair up and away from his face. Two deep lines furrowed his brow when his eyes locked with mine. Desire swamped me through our bond and made me gasp. Apparently, even though we should get some rest before heading back out on the hunt, sleeping was not part of Seff’s plan. I was on board with that. Spending the rest of the night—or morning—naked, making love with mysakana, sounded like heaven.
Brutus motioned to Decker, and they both walked across the lobby, followed by the gentleman from the front desk. The human led us around the beautifully landscaped grounds to our suites. Decker’s suite came first, then we moved on to the suite Seff and I would share.
My need, my desire, cranked higher and higher with each step. I had to lock down the urge to break into a sprint and race Seff to the door. Hard conversations? Not happening. At least, not right away. The last thing I wanted to do was talk.
The human man slid the key card in and swung the door open. He stepped aside to let us pass, then handed the card off to Seff, who thanked him. I turned to see Brutus move a few feet into our room. A sad smile curved his lips as his dark eyes focused on me.
“I need to speak with Seff for a few minutes,” he said quietly. “I won’t keep him long.”
The rogues murdered his son.
That awful reminder shredded me and cooled my desire. The San Francisco Alpha must have issued the kill order on Jarek long before the tribunal determined Rule Arwan had broken wolf law and Gunner had executed him. Still, in Brutus’ heart, he truly lost his son less than thirty minutes ago.
“Go ahead.” I nodded. “Take your time.”
Though neither Brutus nor Seff said another word, they seemed to hold a silent conversation between them. Seff gave a slight nod that seemed to end the exchange. He turned to me, set my backpack, and his duffle on the carpet just inside the door. He took my face in his hands. His pulse still pounded through his palms, speeding up my heart. The kiss he gave me was a promise of what was to come—soft and sweet, slow and deep—lifting me up on my toes as I gave into the breathless intensity.
He didn’t want to leave me. I didn’t want him to go.
Brutus spoke softly outside our door. “No problem, I can find my way. Thanks.”
I opened my eyes in time to see Brutus pocket the key card to his own room. Even I could smell the heavy scent of grief coming off the male.
I whispered, “Brutus needs you,” and pressed another soft kiss to the corner of Seff’s mouth.
