Page 63 of Hunted By Fear

“I’ve lived for so long, yet these last few months felt like they were longer than even the fall to Hell, Aerilyn. I can’t…” he trails off, his voice thick as if the words get caught in his throat.

I should leave; we all should. This is a moment that should be between the two of them, but even knowing that, I can’t bring myself to go; my body won’t move, and if I’m being honest, I don’t really want to.

“I can’t live a life where you aren’t in it. Never again.”

It’s impossible to miss her tears as they well in her eyes, but she manages to keep them from falling.

A watery smile pulls at her lips, and despite the tears, it’s much closer to her usual happy smile. Unable to resist, Bast smiles back at her. She chokes out a laugh before she lunges at him. She slams into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as they fall back into the bed.

I can’t watch a moment longer; she’s fine, and that’s all I needed.

I have things to do that don’t involve watching them cuddle; voyeurism has never been my thing. Too bad Talian left so quickly.

“What made this time different?” I ask before I go, the question pestering me until it forces itself free because she can try to deny it, but I feel the difference.

This fear wasn’t the same as before, when she was scared and confused from waking up in an unknown place, believing we had kidnapped her. I’d felt that fear, fed on it, and it wasn’t this.Plus, she knew at first. When she woke up, she knew what had happened and who we were.

If I didn’t know better, it felt like he made her forget on purpose this time.

Of course, nobody has the answer, but I intend to find it.

MINE!

The most primitive part of me demands I take my mate back to my room and comfort her. Seeing her in their arms is driving me crazy. Even if they are my brothers, I am the King.

No.

It’s not about me. If my mate is happy in their arms, is comforted by their presence, then that’s all that matters. I can swallow my pride for her.

Fuck, I don’t even know this woman, this tiny mortal who the universe deemed a fit for me, the King of Hell, a monster.

Maybe it was wrong?

I close my eyes and find her in my castle, my chest feeling warm knowing I’m providing for her. Like most nights, she lies in Bast’s arms, but tonight Ruin is also in the room, though not in the bed.

I’m unsure if that’s a comfort or not.

I’d brought him here because she seemed to miss him when they spoke of him at breakfast. I hadn’t thought about the wayit would twist up my black heart to watch her with him. The familiar way they have with each other is driving me crazy.

I want her to be comfortable with me.

Bast and Ruin talk, though I don’t care to tune in; I just needed to see her, make sure she’s okay.

If you can even call it that.

Rome needs to die…

The beast inside has been calling for his blood since she wrapped those dainty little arms around me for the first time.

I want to hold her, as I did the night she attempted to take fate into her own hands, but I have no reason to, not when others are much better at comforting her.

I need to do something with all of this restless energy before I go topside and bring my mate back the wings of that filthy angel. The others might not be able to kill him, but I’m pretty sure I could.

I’d be willing to try, even if it killed me. I’d do enough damage to ensure he never had the power to touch her again.

Pressing my thumb and finger into my mouth, I blow a high-pitched whistle, calling my hounds.

I sit alone in the throne room, a room I don’t often have a use for, but it’s a good place to be left alone. Nobody ever checks here.