Safe.
Protected.
“I suppose I haven’t found the right person,” he says. Then, after a pause, he whispers so quietly I almost can’t hear him add, “Until now.”
Chapter Fourteen
Lawrence
WE’VE DILLY-DALLIED long enough. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but when Julie and I kissed, I felt this warm comfort descend over myself. It was kind of wonderful. I’ve never really felt anything like it before and I don’t know if I’ll feel anything like it again.
My inner-dragon thinks she’s our mate.
I think it’s a fairytale, but I kind of want it to be true.
I stand up and stretch under Julie’s watchful eye.
“How are you feeling?” She asks. “You seem to have regained all of your strength.”
I nod. “I feel normal. Pretty good, really.”
“Are you ready?” She asks.
“Not really.”
“How far is it to your clan?”
In lieu of answering, I jerk my head toward Nicole, who is definitely awake now.
“Let’s get her and go,” I say. “We’ve been loitering long enough.” Julie moves to untie Nicole’s legs. She removes the woman’s gag and whispers something to her. Anyone else wouldn’t be able to hear, but my shifter hearing enables me to clearly hear her asking if Julie needs anything before we go – the bathroom, a drink, food. I shake my head. Julie is so fucking considerate. Most people aren’t that way.
Most people would give her a hard time.
Hurt her.
Julie doesn’t do that.
She treats the woman like she’s still important, like she still matters, and I have to respect her for that. After a minute, Julie gets back up and helps Nicole to her feet. She leaves the woman’s hands bound, but Nicole remains silent.
“All right,” she says. “We’re ready.”
“Are you going to give us trouble?” I ask Nicole. She shakes her head. I’m not sure what changed overnight, but some of her bravado seems to be gone. Okay, all of her bravado seems to be gone. I can’t pinpoint exactly why she’s being so meek, but I sure as fuck hope it isn’t some sort of weird trick.
“No,” she finally says.
“Fine.” I look at Julie. “Do you have a bandana?”
Julie fishes one out of her backpack and I motion for Nicole to come closer. She almost looks afraid as she steps forward.
“What’s wrong?” I’m not as kind as Julie. “Scared of the monster you tried to kill?”
“I didn’t try to kill you,” she whispers.
“I just...it was just...”
“You just wanted to capture me,” I say simply. I shrug. “I get it. That’s what Lucky is good at, after all. You guys capture shifters and then torture us until we give in and die.”
Nicole gasps.