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I agree. The prophecy says a light fae will mate with shadow beasts and end this war, so every beast thinks he can gain power or advantage by being with her. I don’t know what Wraith’s plan was, but she’s safe for now. And we’re going to keep her that way, no matter what it takes.
“She needs the protection of the mate bond,” I sign back. He knows this already, but I am giving him an opening to share his plan. Phantom always has plans and they almost always work.
He turns to look at her and the want is plain on his face, the desire dark in his eyes. I recognize it because I feel those same things deep in my gut. I want her too.
“She’s been through some…turmoil.” I haven’t shared anything she told me about her boyfriend, Rayne. That she confided in me isn’t something I take lightly. But she had told all of us about him and suggested he was part of the reason she didn’t want other mates or feel like this thing between us could be real.
He nods. “Yeah.” He doesn’t ask me what I know, and I’m grateful. I’m not sure if I would be able to tell him.
“We have to find a way to persuade her. This…stubbornness,” I know it isn’t wholly obstinance standing in her way, “could get us all killed.”
He nods, signing back to me, “The king won’t take her and she’ll be safe if she mates with us. It will happen. She can’t fight the mate bond forever.” I wish for the kind of confidence he has. Until he frowns, anyway. “I’ll also tell her that we can’t make her.” Because Phantom is nothing if not honest on a level I’ve never seen matched.
I follow him to where she’s sitting huddled with Dusk. That lucky fuck. He has his arm around her shoulders, her head tucked against him. As far as protectors go, she could do worse. And I smile. I won’t be telling him that.
She looks up and gives me a soft almost smile, then gives one to Phantom. Or maybe it’s him first, but it doesn’t matter. She’s not fallen apart despite what she’s been through and what she’s seen. That alone marks her strength.
“Are you all right?” I read the words off Phantom’s lips, then turn to her for the answer.
She nods. “Yes.”
“Wraith won’t be bothering you anymore.”
“He made a deal with the king,” she tells us. “He was tired of fighting.”
My gut churns. Phantom and Dusk didn’t think the others would betray us to the king, just that they would try to steal her heart. I reminded them that the last time they underestimated someone, we paid dearly.
They said nothing else, but I don’t think they believed it could actually happen until this moment. Now, I see it in their faces. Their people aren’t just exhausted and miserable. They’re looking for an easy way out, and that’s never a good thing.
Dusk looks at me and winces.
I nod back at him and sign, “It’s okay. Not all of us can be as jaded as I am.”
Their mother died, but she loved them every second of her life. My own mother sold me to a man she probably thought wanted to use me for unspeakable things. It was pure luck that the captain of the guard felt I reminded him of the son he lost, and so, took me in to keep me safe. Even as a small boy, I trusted no one, until Dusk and Phantom.
And I still didn’t.
Although Ann is growing on me.
I move to sit facing her, though I wish I could sit beside her. And I could. Neither Dusk nor Phantom would deny me, but I wouldn’t be able to talk to her if I did.
For a moment, I miss hearing. I’m angry that I can’t. It’s been so long since I’ve heard the sound of a woman’s voice. Since I’ve heardanysound. And I again wonder whether hers is sweet and soft or if she has a huskiness, a depth to her tone. I would love it either way.
It bothers me that this seems to matter to me. The knowledge that I can’t hear her seems to circle in my mind any time I’m alone with my thoughts. Since my injury, I’ve mostly kept any frustration at my circumstances shoved deep in a dark box inside me. I don’t understand why I can’t seem to do that now too.
I sign, “Are you really okay?”
Dusk speaks my words to her.
She smiles, and I watch her lips as they move. “It was a little scary, but you guys got there in time.”
We watch each other, her eyes piercing, as though she’s trying to see inside my mind just as I am hers. When she looks away, I smile. There are things I want to say, things I want her to hear, but I don’t dare because I’m not sure that I remember how to. And I can’t hear myself to know how I sound.
What if I embarrass myself? What if I horrify her?
She looks at me and holds out one hand. She offers the other to Phantom while Dusk continues to hold her. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
It seems like a year ago rather than only a few days since I wanted the others to leave her behind. Now, I’ve risked my life twice to protect her. And I would do it again. As many times as she needs. And as scared as some deep part of myself feels about that, there’s another part of me that feels excited.
