Page 72 of Eternal Light

“But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have ripped his heart out for touching what’s not his. I amyouromega. Jamie’s. Gideon’s. Grayson’s. Rowan’s. Finn’s. Leo’s. Understand? I decide who I belong to.Me.”

“Good. Now, let’s find my soulmate because I think I’m going to puke.”

“Alright, baby. Up you go. Just try to not get it in my hair this time.”

A piggyback is much preferable to his own two feet, as Nix breaks into a run. He refrains from telling Nix he feels like abetter-looking Bella fromTwilightbecause his baby hates that movie with a passion.

It’s another ten minutes to get to a main road, and instead of a cab—because where could they go—they find a forgotten public phone outside a gas station with a quarter just sitting in the coin return slot. This time, it’s Luca’s turn to call the number he had memorized at his mother-in-law’s earlier insistence.

“Speak,” Gideon says tersely.

Luca can hear the tears in his own voice when he finally says, “Sugar, it’s me. Can you come get us?”

Gideon catches his breath, his voice quivering with relief. “On our way, baby. Are you okay?”

“We’re okay, but I need you.”

There’s the sound of running, car doors closing, and an engine starting on the other end.

“Is Jay…okay, too?”

Gideon hesitates, the ache in Luca’s chest piercing before it fades away as quickly as it had come. “He’s being his usual clingy self.”

His alpha’s weakHey! Don’t kick a man when he’s downis so overwhelming that he begins to cry.

It’s one thing to know Jay is alive and another entirely to hear him alive.

Nix hugs him tight, wiping his cheeks with soft fingertips. “We’re okay. We’re okay,” he whispers, like he’s convincing himself as well as Luca.

“We will see you in twenty minutes, kittens.”

“Will you stay with me, Sugar?”

“Always. So… how do you feel about another dog in the family…?”

14

Love’s Soothing Balm (Jay)

They are almost to the car—Grayson’s magic still buzzing under Jay’s skin—when the burner phone rings.

Lauren had promised she would call back as soon as she could with news about his mates, but Jay hadn’t been able to wait.

He’d left Ansel’s room—Leo and Gideon all that’s keeping him on his feet—with a one-track mind; the fear that Carnell and Withers had their claws sunk into Nix and Luca for even a single minute was one minute too long. No matter that it meant driving around, waiting for Gideon’s soul bond to ping or their phone to ring—at least Jay would be doing something.

He’s grateful for whatever Grayson had done to speed his healing along, and going off the mid-grade pain and stiffness, it’s shaved five days off his recovery. It might make all the difference in Jay being ready to take Carnell on sooner rather than later.

It can’t have been easy to watch them leave on what could be a jailbreak situation, but Jay is proud of his mate for choosing to save a life and for trusting them to keep Nix and Luca safe. He only hopes his faith isn’t in vain this time.

“Unknown number,” Gideon grunts as he buckles Jay in behind Leo’s driver’s seat before sliding into the passenger seat.

“Speak.” The CR-V door is still wide open.

“Sugar, it’s me. Can you come get us?” Luca sounds tired but relieved, which is a good sign—he wouldn’t sound that way if Nix weren’t there, too.

Jay uses his good hand to rub over his heart. He tries to send love along the bond, even though he’s never sure if Nix can feel it like Jay does.

The car fills with Gideon’s thunderstorm scent, relief palpable in the air. “On our way, baby. Are you okay?”