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Pan stared at the bite mark on my neck with such stark, desperate longing. Like he wanted to do it over again. Or did he want to be bitten instead? Ajax interrupted by bringing over a plate of food.

“I cooked all your favorites.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and warmth rolled out underneath my skin.

I wasn’t cold any longer, and something sprang between my legs that I didn’t expect.

Lust.

“I’m in the mood for something silly or nostalgic. Sound good? Why don’t we put it on the big screen?”

Within five minutes, I was situated in the theatre and Ajax flipped on an old cartoon I used to love as a child and I sighed with pleasure.

“How did you know I loved this?”

“Walden’s spreadsheet.”

We ate dinner in the sunken chairs and sank into memories. Lloyd made popcorn and tossed pieces into Pan’s mouth.

“We actually won a competition doing this, got free lunch at the canteen, which was a lifesaver for me,” Lloyd explained when I accused them of cheating.

The night felt like cotton candy. So sweet andnormal. Walden opened his laptop and worked, joining in on the conversation intermittently. He would scan the theatre now and then with a protective eye. It lingered on Pan and swept over to me.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked, hopeful.

“What about a sweet treat?”

Walden set aside his laptop and rushed to the kitchen to get me something to eat. I wasn’t hungry, not really. But Walden wanted to take care of me, and I wanted to let him. I could admit, in the safe confines of my brain, it felt good.

That night, I retired to the nest, but it wasn’t the haven I’d hidden in for so long. Nightmares jarred my sleep and finally, in the early hours of the morning, I gave in. I pulled out my phone and tapped on the video Seph sent me. It was only audio, and I made a noise as Chase’s smug voice filled the nest. The sound brought sweat to my upper lip.

“Everything between us was consensual. How do you like the little whimper she makes when you slide deep inside her?”

“She whimpered for you. She screams for us.”

Oh, my gods. It was too much. My scent burst out like the threat of him was real. Bile rose in my throat, but I was in too deep now to stop.

“You used Tully’s body, her heart, her legacy, for your own devious means. If she had a fortune, you would have taken that too, instead of settling for Seph Campion.”

Walden sounded like he was about to snap. I wished I could have seen his face in this moment. Chase would have felt scared.That brought some warmth to my churning stomach. I listened as Seph entered the room and tore strips off Chase for lying.

I don’t know when I started crying, but my cheeks were wet. My lungs caught in shallow breaths.

I didn’t need them to fight my battles. But there was strength in being able to accept help. I tossed in the nest, the blankets not the right warmth. I needed to be in someone’s arms.

My skin was tight as I padded down the hall to Ajax’s room.

“Are you awake?” I whispered, finding his door unlocked. I tugged at the corner of his bedspread until he opened a drowsy eye.

“Tully?” He shot up. “Is everything alright?”

I burrowed into Ajax’s chest, so desperate for him that he let out a sleepy, incredulous laugh. His hazelnut was earthier, draped in sleep and it made my muscles relax so fast that the back of my eyes stung.

Gods, I’d missed this.

“Tully, are you ok?” Ajax rested his head on top of mine, pulling me closer into his body. His legs entwined with mine, and I let out a soft sigh. His fingers searched out my scent glands, laying his rich hazelnut and coffee over my bitter frustration.

“Nightmares.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Ajax’s voice was gravelly.