I didn’t know who I was.
My entire life, Tyler had dictated so much. Hell, at times, I’d felt like I wasn’t allowed to breathe without permission. Then, Brock had jumped at the opportunity to attend Kortright University with me, and he was just as bad as Tyler. Brock had smothered me and tried to control me, despite being from a different pack. “How do I do that?”
“You take things day by day.” He intertwined our fingers. “You don’t have to figure everything out today.”
“I just don’t want to live with a lifetime of guilt if something bad happens.” I moved back to look him in the eyes. “Not only to my mom but to you too.” The whole day was catching up to me in a flash. “You got captured because of me.”
“But I didn’t get hurt,” he reassured me.
“No, but you could’ve.” Everyone I was close to seemed to have a target on their backs. Roxy had taken on more hostility and pettiness from Tyler than she would’ve if we hadn’t been friends, and a vampire had targeted Donovan. Was I cursed? “Those fae used each one of you to get to me. They separated you. They have to know you’re my mate.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Emotion laced each word. “There is nowhere else I want to be than here with you. I’m okay with the risks.”
“I’m not sure I am.” The thought of him dying hurt so much. That was why I’d bitten him in the first place. “You deserve to be happy—”
He kissed me, cutting off my words. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. There’s no getting rid of me.
It’s not that I want to get rid of you. I should have pulled back. He was trying to distract me, but the distraction was too enticing. I just want to protect you. What was the point of changing you if you’re going to wind up hurt anyway?
Sadie, he warned and ended our kiss. “I get that I was an ass after you changed me, but I felt so different and strange. I didn’t have control over my emotions.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad.” This conversation was heading in a different direction than I’d intended. “I get that.”
“Let me finish,” he growled. “Can you do that for me?”
I wanted to say “bite me,” but he had a right to say what he wanted. “Fine. But I can’t promise I won’t interrupt.”
“Clearly.” He rolled his eyes. “Should I get a muzzle?”
“Not funny.” I tried to stop the smile from peeking through, but I must have failed because he smirked with pride.
“But seriously.” His mouth straightened, and his face filled with adoration. “I’m so damn glad you changed me. What we have is stronger because of it, and I’ve never been this happy.”
“Even with all the death threats?” I challenged. Normally, that would have been a deal-breaker.
“Yes.” Donovan tangled his fingers in my hair. “For the first time, I feel like I belong. Before, I always felt strange in my skin.”
“It was probably your wolf.” That was one reason supernaturals tended to date within their own race. It wasn’t forbidden to dabble with other supernaturals or even humans, but it caused instances like this. He hadn’t felt human because of his shifter bloodline, yet there had been no way for him to know he was so much more than that.
“Maybe, but you have something to do with it too.” He placed his forehead against mine. “The first time I saw you, my world shifted, and I knew it would never be the same. There’s no place else I’d ever want to be, even with a scary green fae on my ass.”
“I’d be lost without you.” The words were simple and their meaning scarily deep. I booped him on the nose. “So one day at a time?”
“With me right by your side the entire way.” He winked.
“That could be a hardship.” I had to tease him. I couldn’t completely melt.
“Too bad.” He kissed me once more.
I moaned and deepened the kiss, enjoying his minty taste.
His hands rubbed down my sides as he responded eagerly. He groaned and pressed into me, igniting heat throughout my body.
A knock sounded on the door, followed by Roxy’s scent. “Sadie? Donovan?”
“We’re trying to nap,” I called back as my hand slipped inside Donovan’s shirt.
He chuckled sexily in my ear.
“Now that’s a load of bullshit. I can smell what’s going on.” She knocked even harder. “We need to have a group discussion down here, so come on.”
That was the equivalent of pouring a bucket of ice water all over me. “Did they find something?”
“What part of ‘group discussion’ did you not understand?” Roxy retorted. “Now get on down here.”
“Come on.” Donovan rolled off his side of the bed, frowning. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”
“Fine.” I stood, and we walked out the door.
We followed Roxy downstairs and into the living room. Everyone was waiting.
Cassius, Dawn, Titan, and Winter stood against the wall while Katherine, Lillith, Luther, Julie, Paul, and Athan sat on one of the L-shaped leather couches. Roxy, Axel, Egan, Donovan, and I sat on the other one across from them.
My attention went to the four people standing. “Did you find anything?” Maybe their time in the library had been fruitful.
“One small thing, but it’s quite problematic.” Cassius sighed, and his shoulders sagged. “As we expected, killing fae is very hard. With their powerful magic, it’s almost impossible.”
Lillith crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat. “Okay, this doesn’t sound good so far.”
He glared at his daughter. “I never said this would be a good conversation, dear, but facts are facts, and it’s time we all knew them.”
“Hard and nearly impossible.” Axel winced and waved two fingers in the air. “I got mixed vibes from that sentence.”
“Oh, dear God.” Cassius shook his head. “And I thought Lillith was bad enough. Now we have more smart alecks.”
“It makes things interesting,” Dawn said warmly. It surprised me how they acted nothing like all of the other vampires I’d encountered, and I’d met my fair share. With Tyler being the key, it made sense he would surround himself with cruel, heartless supporters he could buy and manipulate.
“Can we focus here?” Titan scowled at me. “We have enough going on without putting up with comedians.”
That prick had directed that right at me. “Just know I didn’t start any of the drama you’re referring to.” I hated alphaholes. Each day, they irritated me more than the last.
“Not sure I can agree on that.” He glowered. “My mate is an emotional wreck right now.”
“And you don’t think Sadie is too?” Donovan spat and scooted closer to me, our sides now touching. “It’s not like Winter is the only one struggling with this revelation.”
“You two, stop it,” Winter scolded. “We have to focus on the fae. They will be back, and any of us getting hurt is not an option.”
“When you say it’s hard, what do you mean exactly?” The thought of killing them, though, didn’t sit well with me. They were my people, after all. “And is there a way to shut them down instead of flat out killing them?”
“Are you serious?” Titan asked, looking at me like I had two heads. “You don’t want to kill them?”
“In all fairness, if we kill them, we’ll only anger the rest of the fae.” Roxy gestured to me like it had been my point the entire time. “So that’s a good point.”
You know that was not what I was getting at. I loved that girl with all my heart.
Bish, please. Roxy huffed. Own it before Titan attacks your pretty face and Donovan and I are forced to kill him.
Titan bared his teeth at me. “Is this amusing to you?”
“I get you’re upset that I’m hurting,” Winter touched her mate’s shoulder. “But you need to chill out. She’s hurting too. This is a horrible situation, and she needs time to process it all.”
The fact that she understood and stood up for me caught me off guard.
Titan looked like he was in pain. “But you thought she was dead …”
“It doesn’t matter.” Winter sighed and scratched her head. “I lived with him for nine months, so I know what it’s like.”