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Thinking they would leave, and she could get away from all of this drama, she was surprised when Kahler ordered Quinn to take the children away, the command of it crackling through Devin’s spine to the point she huddled against Rey.
Something wasn’t right.
Devin stayed where she was seated as Rey rose to meet Kahler on the other side of the table. Their conversation was quiet and intense, her straining ears unable to catch much of what was said. Something about the challenges, Kahler’s interests, and other snippets Devin didn’t understand.
“I’m not in charge of keeping your house in order,” Rey said, loud enough for Devin to make out clearly.
Kahler snarled, fisting the front of Rey’s shirt and lifting him up. “You will do as you’re told, Rey.”
“Then you protect your own damn kids so I can do my job,” Rey growled, despite the fact his feet skimmed the floor.
Devin clapped her hands to her mouth to silence her shriek as Rey went flying through the air to slam into the dark panel of the wall. She didn’t understand why he’d been so aggressive, hadn’t placated the far more powerful Alpha in that moment. Kahler’s quiet threats whispered their way past her defenses, curling her up around her middle in a defensive huddle.
This man could do much worse than kill Rey. He’d already threatened to take Devin away once, to do horrible things to her…
Feeling ill, Devin climbed to unsteady feet as Rey snapped an order for her to come to him once he rose. Grip cruel, he led her outside to the waiting SUV, shoving her up into the backseat with little care before he climbed into the front passenger seat.
They travelled back to the house in utter silence, Devin not daring to broach the subject of what happened with Kahler’s man driving.
Once back inside the relative safety of their home, she rounded on him with furious, tear-filled eyes. Hammering at his chest as she demanded answers to her miserable questions hitching on low sobs. Devin didn’t know if she was even making sense, so hysterical she’d become at the idea of what would happen now.
“Sweetheart, it’s all right,” Rey said through a low growl as he caught her flailing arms and pinned them tight against his chest. “He needed to know things have changed. This, between you and me, it’s made all the difference. He can’t keep going on thinking I’ll just bow to him without a fight.”
“He could have killed you, you idiot! What good is your ego if you’re fucking dead,” Devin shouted, wrenching at her arms to be free. “If he takes me away and does Gods knows what to me.”
“He will never touch you,” Rey roared, sweeping Devin up to crush her between the wall and the solidness of his presence.
“You don’t know that!”
“You are mine.”
He wouldn’t listen. Didn’t hear a word she cried against him as he rushed her to the bedroom, forever thinking he could allay her fears and solve all her problems by mounting her. It didn’t help that she lost herself in him. Drowning in his scent and the false sense of security he always gave her.
Hours later, when they’d both sated their individual needs from the savage act, Devin curled up on the sofa in her sitting room and sighed against Rey’s chest.
“Let me go into the club,” she murmured, shivering as she tasted the salty musk of his skin. “I can only do so much from here.”
“No.”
“Daniel, listen to me. What I saw… What he’s done to her—”
“You’re not like—”
“I will be,” Devin whispered, petting at the broad expanse of his chest as she snuggled closer. Quieting his claims before he could launch into a tirade and drag her back to bed. “I know what you want of me, but it won’t be enough to make me happy, Daniel. Please, just give me this one thing. An hour or two is all I’m asking for.”
Arms sliding around him as he tightened his hold around her back, Devin’s breath left her in a weary sigh to scatter over his skin. She bolstered her courage, forcing the words off her tripping tongue. “You saw her. She was a ghost, not even a real person anymore. Don’t make me that. Give me this small thing.”
“She’s been sick,” Rey said quietly, voice gruff with something Devin couldn’t name. Concern, maybe, but nothing that riled her possessiveness.
“That wasn’t just sick, Daniel.” Devin squeezed out from under his crushing grip, pushing his grabbing hands aside so she could straddle his thighs. Cupping his jaw in her small hands, she traced the coarse stubble there with a sad smile. “She looked empty. Used up. Whatever it was, she wasn’t happy. She was beautiful before all that. Now she’s just miserable.”
He was quiet so long, just staring back at her, Devin didn’t think he’d answer. She wondered if she’d gone too far with comparing herself to Quinn. It’d seemed the best course of action, but perhaps Kahler’s mate wasn’t the best subject. Opening her mouth to negate everything she’d just said if he’d only speak, Devin squeaked as Rey covered her mouth with his in a sweet violation. Tongue teasing over hers, he drew her into a deeper kiss, his hand tangling in her hair.
“One hour and not a minute more.”
Devin kissed him fervently to show her gratitude and a glimpse of the love swelling deep in her chest.
Chapter Eight
