Page 83 of Eclipse Sector

There’s nothing to talk about,I countered, my palm lifting to his cheek. “This is what it feels like to have a partner, Cillian,” I added aloud. “You don’t have to do this alone.” I went up onto my toes to brush a kiss against his mouth.

Then I shadowed to the lodge before he could reply with a contradictory statement or something snarky.

He didn’t get to have the last word this time. I did.

And I would show him what I meant about having a partner.

By taking care of the Night Sector Omegas and trying to put them all at ease.

Easier said than done.

However, I had to try, not only for them but for Cillian, too.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CILLIAN

I stood dumbfoundedon the icy street for too long a second after Ivana vanished.

When I’d sensed Cael’s arrival, I’d shadowed out here to stand between him and Ivana. It wasn’t that I suspected him of drugging Sylvia; I just didn’t want him near Ivana. She was mine to protect. Mine to… Well, justmine.

I couldn’t seem to stop my wolf from trying to claim her, even though I knew I shouldn’t.

“Fuck,” I muttered, my palm running over my face. This day was not turning out how I’d expected at all.

“Mate her,” Lorcan said as he appeared beside me.

I glanced at him, my eyebrow arched. “What?”

“You heard me.Mate. Her.”

I didn’t need to ask him whom he meant. “You sound like Kieran.”

He lifted one big shoulder in a shrug, his expression saying nothing at all. Lorcan rarely ever spoke, which made his commentary all the more important. Because he’d felt it necessary to voice it aloud, something he would never do unless he truly meant it.

“Speaking of,” I began, changing the subject. “What did Kieran decide?” He and Lorcan had been discussing how to handle Sylvia when I’d felt Cael’s arrival. I’d shadowed outside on instinct, leaving Kieran and Lorcan to debate next steps without me.

It’d been an unusual reaction for me, but my wolf had demanded that I shadow to Ivana. And I’d been too caught up in the sensation to fight it.

If it had bothered Lorcan, he hadn’t said anything.

Just as he didn’t comment on my shift in topics now.

“He wants me to shadow Sylvia to Blood Sector. I’ve made her as comfortable as I can; Kieran will need to do the rest.”

“Blood Sector and not Night Sector?” I asked, clarifying.

Lorcan dipped his chin.He doesn’t want to leave Quinnlynn unguarded, he informed me mentally.

I see, I replied, a frown tugging at my lips.He’s concerned this is just the beginning of something nefarious, isn’t he?

Lorcan shrugged again.If it is, we’ll handle it.

Indeed, I agreed.

“Mate her,” Lorcan said for the third time, causing me to narrow my eyes.You’re not the only one adept at abrupt topic changes,he thought at me, his expression and mental tone devoid of emotion.

“She deserves better than me,” I bit back at him.