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“All I want is to be safe when I walk out of here.”

“If you don’t tell us what we want to know, you won’t be walking out of here. You know what the church is to the Sovereign,” I tell him, and he nods slowly. “Then you’ll know that beneath this thick concrete floor are cells that will keep you safe, but there are things down there that will eat you alive.”

A smile graces my lips. It feels as if my blood is on fire, burning up just to see this asshole shit himself. I don’t want to play games anymore.

“I’ll go back and get the contract drawn up, and when I return, you’ll sign it, tell us everything, and then we’ll think about letting you go.”

Turning, I make my way out of the church, hoping being away from him will calm me the fuck down, because I’m ready to rip into him. A breeze picks up just as I make it to the gardens, which look like they’ve seen better days.

“Etienne,” Ares calls to me, causing me to glance over my shoulder. “I can do it if you want to stay?”

“No, I need to get away from that asshole. I also need to talk to Rukaiya. She wanted to come here and see him, and I wonder if it’s better for her to talk to him before I lay into him.”

A chuckle springs free from Ares, and he nods. “I get that. Do you think she should come here? Once he’s given us the information we need, I’m not sure I feel comfortable letting him go. I don’t trust him.”

“I don’t either,” I tell him. “But a contract is just that, an agreement.” He nods, and I wave a goodbye at him, before slipping into the driver’s seat of my car. Thankfully, I chose to follow him here. It’s not been that long that I’ve been away from her, but I miss my little wolf. I feel like I’m missing a part of myself when I’m not with her. And normally, that would scare the shit out of me, but I’m happy. For the first time in my life, I feel like this is the right thing.

As I make my way through the quiet streets toward the Lancaster mansion, I’m not sure what I’m going to tell Rukaiya. My feelings for her have changed, they’ve become… more. And I don’t know how to explain it without saying the three words I’ve always steered far away from.

Love is volatile. It’s meant to be that way. Passion resides in violence, it’s the only way for something to grow, to burn hot and unyielding. That’s how I feel about her and I know that will never change.

I knew since the moment I met her that she wouldn’t be a pushover. She’s a challenge, and it makes me want more of her sass. It’s one of the main reasons I crave being near her.

It’s strange being home with her in Tynewood; having her beside me last night was new and refreshing, something I didn’t expect, but ultimately, I loved every moment of it. After everything we’ve been through, I want to protect her more than anything.

I hear her footfalls before I see her. Rukaiya steps toward the entrance hall as I walk into the house, and I can’t help my eyes almost bulging out when I take note of what she’s wearing—nothing but a tiny pair of shorts, and an extremely tight tank top that hugs her slim frame like a glove. My jeans become far too tight in the crotch when I drink in her curves. She smiles over at me; there’s excitement painted on her face.

“I’m glad you’re back, I was starting to worry about you. Also, dinner is ready,” she tells me in her gentle way as she reaches me and presses her lips to mine in greeting. It’s the best damn greeting I’ve ever received.

Since we’ve been back here, I’ve seen a very different side of Rukaiya. She’s more relaxed, her eyes no longer hold the fear that was so palpable in her gazes. But it’s not only her that’s changed. I have too. My focus is on us, on building a future that I never thought I would ever have. What I found with her has made me believe happiness if possible.

Even though Thane is still out there, I know we’ll get through anything if he ever tries to come back and take her from me. But I have faith that Tarian will find him, and he’ll make sure Thanatos Calvert never sees the light of day again.

30

Rukaiya

“There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he says quietly, making me nervous. Etienne doesn’t look angry, but something tells me that my wanting to meet with Fergus is going to be a challenge. It’s the only thing I can think of right now that would have him so tense.