“I only ran off to find you.” She tried to squirm away, but our hands on her easily kept her between us. “Do you know what it was like, not knowing if you were all right?”
Her panic flared into me and there was only one way to soothe her. To know we were whole and here with her. Not just as warriors, but as her mates. We would give her what she needed.
I ignored her words. “Submit, Kristin.” Her eyes widened slightly, but she licked her lips at my dominant tone. I had enough energy to give her what she needed after all. “We’re here. We’re safe. You found us, now it’s our turn to take care of you, to keep you safe.”
She shifted against our palms and I didn’t feel her anger through the collar now, only…acceptance. Yes, our reassuring presence was exactly what she needed. She wanted to be caught between us. Held. Secure in the knowledge that we were the ones in charge. That we were all safe.
“When we were taken, your world spun out of control, didn’t it?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Your confidence was shaken, your protection gone. Your mates were gone.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“You were so brave, mate,” Hunt added.
She turned her head to look at him, tears sliding down her cheeks and onto the bed.
“You don’t need to be brave any longer. We’re here.”
Yes, Hunt was right. She didn’t have to take all the responsibility on her small shoulders any more.
“Feel us, mate.” With a finger, I turned her cheek so her shiny eyes met mine. Held. “Feel our power. It’s keeping you between us. Right where you want to be. Stop fighting. Yield,” I insisted.
The tears came then in a hot wave. I turned her into me, put her head on my chest and let her cry.
I glanced at Hunt, who nodded, stroking her back as she let it all come out. Exhausted herself, her crying tapered to hiccups, then sniffles, before she fell asleep.
Only then did we relax, give over to our own exhaustion, content in knowing Kristin was right where she should be. Between us.