Dev nodded as Lark wiped a hand across her brow. “Yeah, I’d say that worked.” Dev smiled.
“I agree,” Lark said, but then her expression fell. “But to what degree? We don’t know how he might come at me—at us. This will protect us against anything magical, but what if he justcomesfor me? My magic has been growing, but I’m leaning toward those things, especially the outbursts, being a bit of a fluke brought on by increased emotional stress.”
I heard a click and looked over to my left, surprised at the sight of petite and feisty Schuyler brandishing a Glock she looked entirely comfortable handling.
“That’s what I’m for,” she said and raised a brow.
“And me,” Hanlen said and slung an arm around Sky’s shoulders, raising her shirt to show the holster she wore.
I shook my head. These people really were amazing.
I looked back at Lark and felt something in my heart shift. I loved her. I loved her so damn much, and I wassofucking glad she had a support system like this. With these people in her corner, I felt confident that her days of looking over her shoulder for Lionel and Balance of Light were coming to an end. And I was so glad I’d get a front-row seat tohisend when it finally came—because it would. With people like this going up against him, he didn’t stand a chance.
Chapter25
~Larken ~
Itried to rein in the panic as I got ready for day one of filming. The knowledge that Lionel and his minions knew where I was had been sitting like a lead ball in my stomach. I hadn’t been lying when I’d said that I refused to let him take from me what I’d worked so hard to establish. Yet while I trusted my intuition and knew a whole group of people had my back, the doubt that I could best him niggled. I had no idea what he’d been up to these last nineteen years. I had no clue what othergiftshe had appropriated.
Just as I was shoving a couple of sage and rosemary bundles into my bag along with some anointing oils, Kholt walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying that sandy-blond hair I loved to run my hands through.
“Hey,” he said, draping the towel over a chair and immediately coming to me, a frown creasing his brow. “What’s wrong?”
I just shook my head at first, and then realized what I was doing. I didn’t have to pretend anymore, not with those I loved.
That thought brought me up short.DidI love Kholt? He made me feel cared for and safe, which was ironic given how we’d reconnected and the fear still thrumming beneath the surface. But he also confused me. Not reallyhimper se, but the way he made me feel. Which brought me back around to my original thought.
I knew Icouldlove Kholt. Without a doubt. Still, it was awfully early to even be having that discussion—even with myself. The knowledge that he lovedmeand always had muddied the waters a bit. But I knew one thing for certain. I wouldn’t force anything. I’d just let it happen organically, come what may. I had too many other things to worry about. I didn’t need to add the pressure of trying to fit how I felt for Kholt into a nice little box. Relationships didn’t work that way—especially not the ones that lasted. Everything changed the minute you started to force things, whether that be changes in the players or the natural progression of events.
Kholt moved in closer and took me into his arms, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Where did you just go there?” he asked, rubbing soothing circles on my back.
I burrowed into his warmth, the soft, smooth skin of his chest heating my cheek. “Nowhere. I just started thinking about how my knee-jerk reaction is to hide how I’m feeling and tell people I’m fine—even when I’m not. And that got me thinking that I don’t have to hide anymore. Not from you or any of the rest of the gang. It just started a thought spiral.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” He ran his hand up my back and under my hair, gripping my neck and tipping back my head so I could meet his gaze. “As long as you realize that we’re all here to help you untangle the mess of that knot.”
I smiled. “I know you are.” His care and just the feel of him still damp from his shower, his jeans slung low on his hips, had my nerve endings coming awake. I flashed to everything we’d done the night before, and heat crawled up my body, stopping and awakening every interesting place it passed along the way. I rose on tiptoe to take his lips in a kiss, hoping everything I felt and didn’t know how to say or define came through in the gesture.
He moaned a little, leaned into the kiss more, and then pulled back just a bit. “Mm, what was that for?”
“For you,” I said and nipped his chin.
I grabbed a protein shake out of the fridge. I held it up in silent question.
“Nah, I’m good. But thanks.”
I cracked the lid and took a drink, plopping into a chair at the table. “Why don’t you grab your stuff and bring it here?” I said. “There’s no reason for you to be sleeping on a cot in the company’s shop when you can stay here.”
He sat across from me. “Are you sure?” He scrunched his brow. “I don’t want to impose.”
“I’m sure,” I said and reached across to take his hand. “But now that I know you don’t have a permanent place and just jump from extended stay to private rental to a cot in your workshop depending on your jobs, we are going to talk with one of Lennie’s friends. She’s an amazing realtor and should be able to find you something great and affordable in the area.”
He messed with his hair a bit, shoving it into place. I watched as his biceps and pecs bunched and had to give myself a little internal shake.
“Yeah, I should probably think about putting down some roots. Obviously, there’s no way in hell I’ll ever go back to the ranch.” He shrugged. “But now that I have you back in my life, digging in doesn’t seem quite as daunting. Home is good.”
I warmed at that, thinking it sounded an awful lot like he was callingmehis home, not anywhere he might find to hang his hat.
“Are you ready for tonight?” I asked, taking another drink of my protein shake.