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“And yet we recovered from that,” I said smoothly.
“Nothing was really keeping you two apart other than an explanation.”
“Maybe so. And maybe Jax wants more than just an explanation.”
“I’ve tried to apologize,” Nico growled, his whole body tensing up. But then he slouched down. “I know I can’t make up for the past.”
“Maybe he wants something more than an apology.” I couldn’t help it — my lips twitched up into a grin. “Are you willing to get on your knees and beg for forgiveness?”
“Would you have groveled for Mel?”
“Of course.” I laughed at the surprise on his face. He thought he’d had me. “But I was too busy bleeding out at the time to do it properly.”
Nico let out a single bark of laughter. I remembered confessing all my secrets to Mel as the metal poisoning worked its way through my system while Nico drove crazily to get me to a healer in time.
“I probably shouldn’t take relationship advice from you, then,” Nico grinned. “Maybe she’s only with you because she pitied you.”
I punched Nico in the shoulder. He winced, and I just shook my head.
“Look, our coven will be so much stronger if you and Jax work your shit out. I know you’re worried about our coven bonds breaking, but we’re all vulnerable to that, Nico. And—”
I started to go into full-on lecture mode, but Nico held up a hand.
“I know all that, but…” He opened his hands in a helpless gesture.
“I know it can’t be easy overriding a decade’s worth of shutting everyone out, but we’re a coven now, Nico. And we all care about one another. It frustrates me to see how much you and Jax are hurting each other.”
“I know it affects you all,” Nico said defensively. “But I don’t know how to overcome his jealousy.”
“Jealousy?” I asked. That wasn’t what I thought my brother was hung up about.
“Mel’s brought me out of the frenzy twice now.”
“She’s also the reason you went into it in the first place.”
“Exactly,” Nico said. “I never frenzied when either of you two were in danger.”
“Ah.” I sat back in my chair, suddenly recognizing Nico’s dilemma.
To Jax, it felt like proof that Nico cared more about Mel than about him. That had to be a major blow. I had nothing useful to say about that.
“All you can do is try,” I told him at last.
“What if it’s too late to win him back?”
“Maybe at least he’ll stop giving you the cold shoulder, and then over time, you’ll get through to him.”
Nico nodded. “I’ll keep trying. As long as it takes.” His determined gaze bored into me. “You should take the next watch.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nico
My little witch had demanded I make amends with Jax, but he wasn’t making it easy for me. When he came in from his shift, I tried to intercept him in the front room of the Roost, but he sidestepped me, moving with vampiric speed between me and the couch I’d slept on so many times.
Two could play that game, so I followed him into the hallway. He darted into the first bedroom — the one Mel was sleeping in — and closed the door in my face. Tempest’s tail flickered with frustrated lightning in the darkness beside me.
He’d done it so quietly that Mel didn’t even stir from her slumber until he joined her in bed. With an angry snarl, I turned away and headed for Mel’s home gym. I would work off this aggression, and then see about bringing Jax around later. He wouldn’t get rid of me that easily.
