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“Shh,” I say. “You’re safe now. You’re safe. We’re here. We’ve got you. You’re safe.”
Once we arrive at the bikes, I help her on mine and we take off for home, exhaust fumes trailing behind us.
One question still lingers on everyone’s mind as we leave though. Who is giving the Serpents orders and why did they want Sienna eliminated?
28
SIENNA
Once we arrive back at the house, Bastian slings an arm over my shoulder, helping me inside while Caleb assists Dominic. He’d been injured trying to save me, blood running down his arm where he was stabbed.
My wrists are bruised from where they bound me and I feel sore all over from being manhandled, but I’m mostly fine, so I beeline over to Dominic.
“Let me,” I say, gently pushing Caleb away. “I had an alcoholic mom, so I know how to help tend to injuries.” Guilt washes over me as I clean him up, every touch a reminder of my recklessness. His stoic facade cracks, betraying his fear and anger. His gaze softens as I examine the knife wound though, showing his relief that I’m safe at last.
It looks bad but the knife didn’t go too deep, thankfully. Caleb brings me the first aid kit and I start bandaging him up. “You guys saved me. I didn’t think anyone was coming.”
“We got your text,” Caleb says. “I kept thinking something was wrong because you didn’t answer your phone.”
“It rang when you called and they found it and took it away from me,” I admit. “They smashed it up.”
“I’m sorry we left you alone,” Bastian says, pacing the room. “I know you don’t want us following you around everywhere but …”
“No,” I cut him off. “I understand now. The Serpents are dangerous. I’d prefer if, at least for now, I don’t go anywhere by myself.”
The metallic tang of blood hangs in the air, a stark reminder of how close my brush with disaster really was. The entire ordeal left me shattered, desperate to be with the Ravenwoods again. Every thought was about getting back to them and being in their arms once more. I don’t understand how, but in the short time I’ve known them, I feel so safe with them, so protected.
And I think I might be falling in love with them. Despite the darkness, they make me feel safe and secure. I don’t think I’ve felt that around another person since I was a kid.
“One of us will be happy to stay with you from now on,” Bastian agrees. As soon as I’m finished fixing up Dominic’s arm, he pulls me away, holding me tightly to his chest. “I was so worried about you, Princess. Don’t ever scare us like that again.”
“I won’t,” I murmur into his chest. He kisses the top of my head and I wrap my arms around him and rest against his chest for a moment, breathing in his warm, campfire scent.
As soon as I break away, Caleb hugs me from behind, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me towards him. “We’ll have to teach you some basic self-defense,” he whispers. “You shouldn’t ever worry about being taken by surprise again.”
“I wish I knew why they targeted me,” I say, turning to face him. His brown eyes look worried, so I pull him in for a kiss, heart racing with our closeness.
“How do you feel?” I ask Dominic, turning to check on him again.
“Better, now that you’re here,” he says. “I was so angry that they took you and I just went into a blind rage when I sawwhat they were trying to do to you. I think if I hadn’t been so angry it might have been worse for me, but I was fueled by my adrenaline.”
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I say, crawling into his lap. He wraps his arms around me and I snuggle against him. “You guys were amazing back there. I can’t believe you took them out. Lucky there was a fire distracting the other Serpents.”
“That was us,” Caleb admits with a nervous laugh. “We started the fire to distract them.”
“Then it was very clever of you,” I say, reaching out to pull Caleb towards us. “You guys deserve a reward.”
My thoughts race, desire swirling in my mind. Do they feel the same pull, or am I alone in this newfound connection?
Bastian’s fingers reach out, cupping my cheek. A jolt of electricity passes through me, leaving me breathless in anticipation of what’s to come.
“Are you sure about this?” Bastian whispers, leaning in to look into my eyes with his penetrating icy blue gaze. “You were just kidnapped.”
“I think I need it,” I admit, my outward bravado hiding the vulnerability I feel inside, masking the fear that still threatens to consume me. “I want to feel connected to you.”
“We can take care of you,” Bastian says.
As he joins us on the couch, the space between us seems to shrink, the magnetic pull drawing us closer with each heartbeat. Hands trembling, I reach out, my fingers tangling in Bastian's hair as our lips meet in a desperate kiss. At that moment, all my worries and fears melt away, leaving only the intoxicating rush of desire.
