Page 38

"I woke up underground," she continued. "Buried alive. I had to claw my way out through six feet of dirt."

Pride's briefing echoed in my memory:A virgin witch. Murdered by her prospective mate. Brought back through reanimation magick.

But Juniper was talking like Xavier had left her for dead, not like she'd actually died. Did she not realize she had actually died? Either way, now was definitely not the time to correct such a gross misunderstanding.

Souls didn’t just show up to the Underworld, after all.

"He's probably running back to check the grave right now," she added bitterly. "Making sure I'm still buried. It's only been a week since he tried to kill me."

Envy materialized from the shadows, frustration rolling off him.

"Lost the bastard in the woods. He knows the territory better than I expected."

"Wait," Diana said, her voice going deadly quiet. "Let me understand this correctly. He murdered his fiancée a week ago, has a mistress, and tonight he shows up at a matchmaking event looking for someone new?"

Envy's lazy grin vanished. "He what now?"

"The absolute audacity," Diana continued, snarling.

"A week," Envy said flatly. "One fucking week, and he's already shopping for a new victim?"

"No," Juniper said quietly, and something shifted in her voice. Her eyes lit up with a new fire that sent odd flutters racing through my veins.

"This is actually perfect,” she whispered.

"Perfect?" I asked, halting my pacing.

"I want him to keep thinking Hazel Blackwood is dead and buried," she said, standing straighter. "Because she is. I'm Juniper Grey now."

I didn't have the heart to tell her that if he was heading back to check the grave like she thought, he would know soon enough. Still, I was impressed. She wasn't cowering or falling apart. She was rebuilding herself from nothing, creating a new identity from the ashes.

"Yes," I said, my voice rough. "You are Juniper Grey. And Juniper Grey works for me."

The possessiveness in those words should have terrified me. But looking at her standing there, refusing to break...If this was the mate bond…

Oh.

Oh, fuck.

The mate bond. The one thing I'd always said was bullshit. Apparently fate had other plans and a twisted sense of humor.

"Which means you're under our protection now," Diana added firmly.

"Anyone who tries to hurt you will answer to all of us," Envy said.

Juniper looked between us. "I don't understand. You barely know me."

"Doesn't matter," I said. "You're not alone now."

She wiped her cheeks, and for a second she looked like she might shatter. Then her spine straightened, chin lifted, and that steel was back.

"I should get back out there. The mixer isn't going to host itself."

Diana raised an eyebrow. "After what just happened?—"

"Especially after what just happened." She smoothed her sweater with steady hands. "I have a job to finish and a bet to win."

Most people would be hiding in a corner right now. Instead, she was choosing to walk back out there and face a garden full of supernatural beings who'd just watched her nightmare come to life.