Page 42 of Hunted (Love and Revenge #5)

Ruya

“R uya.” Sadavir voiced softly, pulling me out of my thoughts—worries about what everyone else was up to right now, fears about Robin losing herself.

.. I had warned her, when I first learned about her ruthless pursuit of revenge, that such things could darken a person’s soul.

I’d thought I was getting through to her.

Getting her to reconsider just how ruthless she should be when it came time to purge the syndicate.

She had shown mercy to the unwilling servants she had freed during her first attempt on the emperor’s life.

She seemed to be softening. But now... her birthday was in a week, and it was obvious she wasn’t overexaggerating the consequences of coming of age without her birthright.

In fact, I was pretty damned sure she had been under exaggerating before. And Acacias demands, sending her out to do cold-blooded murder at her the enemy’s whim... I was afraid it was eroding the change of heart I had worked so hard to nurture in her, extinguishing the light I wanted to nurture.

Would there be anything left of the woman I loved, once this mess was all over?

Especially if I robbed her of her vengeance.

I still hadn’t found the right time, or the courage, to tell her about my bargain with the wild fae elder.

How he had made me promise to kill the emperor myself.

All question of how the hell I was supposed to even manage that task aside.

.. I had a feeling it would break something in Robin, if she wasn’t the one to avenge her family.

I nibbled at my fingernail as I paced the length of Sadavir’s room, avoiding any trip hazards through pure muscle memory.

I could feel a shift in me, since our bonding.

But I worried that I still wasn’t enough to bring Robin back to herself, to keep her from permanently giving in to the blackness I could sense in her these days.

“Ruya,” Sadavir said again, this time with a little push of alpha influence.

I stopped pacing and turned my head toward his voice. “Hmm?”

Josh spoke for him, since I couldn’t see his signing. “He says to stop pacing and come lie with him on the bed.”

I sighed, forcing some of the tension out of my shoulders. There was nothing I could do about any of my worries right now.

The others had all left on their mission to kill an innocent fae.

Josh couldn’t go because they didn’t trust him.

And I was grounded because my lack of physical prowess would only be a liability.

So, Sadavir had been ordered to stay, to protect his “hot new omega mate” from his “sweet, deranged vampire boyfriend”—Robin’s orders, delivered in Sanka’s crass words.

Pacing across the room, I headed for the bed. Josh met me halfway and gently took my hand, guiding me around something. “The ottoman has moved,” he murmured quietly.

I squeezed his hand, but he released me the second his touch was no longer needed. As if he was afraid he was contagious. Another problem. There were so many complications going on all around me right now that I hardly knew where to focus, which hurt to attend to.

I reached the bed and Sadavir took my hands, drawing me onto the soft blankets to lie beside him. “You too,” he said aloud, his tone calm, but brooking no argument.

“Why?” Josh huffed, the dark blur that must be him moving across the room. Pacing just like I had been moments before. “You have your shiny new omega. Lavish her with your attention!”

I don’t think he meant the words to sound so bitter. But they did, and my heart ached for him. Sadavir tensed and made some adamant motion with his free hand. Josh sighed. “Fine. Yes. I know.”

The bed dipped slightly as Josh crawled up with us, settling in on my other side. “I’m sorry, Ruya,” he said tiredly. “I didn’t mean to snap. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

I fumbled for him, finding his cool hand and giving it a squeeze.

“We should have talked to you about bonding. I... I thought I was being bold and decisive. But really, I was just being a coward. Avoiding difficult conversations.” My belly clenched as I rolled toward him, wishing I could see his face.

“Do you hate me? Do you resent me for coming between you and Sadavir?”

Josh scoffed. “What? I could never hate you, Ruya. And you haven’t come between us.” He paused before continuing in a soft, bitter voice. “ I’ve come between us. I’m a danger to everyone I love. I don’t understand why I’m here with the two of you right now, when I should be locked away in my room.”

Sadavir shifted beside me, reaching across me toward Josh. “Idiot,” he murmured.

I smiled a bit in response. “I agree with Vir. Why wouldn’t you be here with us, Josh?

Sadavir loves you. And I... I’m well on my way there too, if we’re being honest.” He tried to pull his hand from mine, but I clung to him.

“No. Don’t pull away. Don’t you dare!” I pushed up onto an elbow so I could glare in his general direction.

“You’re hurting,” I said firmly, wishing I could just get him to see sense.

“You’ve been attacked, manipulated, and used by Acacia.

You’re entitled to struggle with the trauma of that.

But you don’t have to do it alone. Just let us help!

At least let us do the one thing we can right now.

Let us give you some comfort, you stubborn thing! ”

He stopped trying to pull away and his fingers gripped mine. “Ruya...” He drew in a shuddering breath, then rolled toward me so we were facing each other. “How can you... how can you not hate me for what I’ve become? For everything I’ve done? Cicely... Yukio...”

I cut him off, pushing into his space until I managed to kiss his chin. “That wasn’t you,” I said firmly. “Are you listening to me? That wasn’t you who did those things, Josh. Stop blaming yourself. I don’t hate you. I don’t blame you. I just want you to be happy and safe.”

He relaxed a bit, sank into me as he scooted a bit closer. “Whatever you are doing with your magic right now, it feels like heaven .”

I chuckled. “I’m not doing anything. I’m just telling you how I feel.”

“Omega,” Sadavir said smugly from over my shoulder.

I shook my head. “I’m not—”

“You might not be doing it on purpose,” Josh said, his voice losing some of its tension, dropping a bit, taking on the extra richness and sensuality he had gained when he was turned. “But it’s happening all the same. I just want to wrap myself up in the energy you’re putting out.”

I huffed and shook my head. “Well... you’re welcome to it, I guess.”

Sadavir pressed a lingering kiss to the side of my neck and moved around, signing something to Josh.

“He says that’s the power of a happy, well cared-for omega in the presence of her bonded true mate.” I could hear the eye roll in his tone of voice. “And you can stop looking so fucking smug when you say things like that, you giant reptile.”

Sadavir just wrapped an arm around me and nuzzled my neck as he held me close. I relaxed between him and Josh, happy that this issue, at least, was on its way to being fixed.

Josh stroked cool fingers over my face, brushing my hair back so he could trace the outline of my cheek and jaw. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So sorry for all of it. But... I’m so lucky to have you both. Your grace and your faith in me.”

I turned my head to kiss his fingertips, warmth unfurling in me. “An apology kiss might go a long way,” I prodded, waiting expectantly. Josh wasn’t interested in sex. But he loved kissing and cuddling, showing affection in every other way—or at least, he used to, before Acacia turned him.

He chuckled. But his voice was serious when he spoke. “Are you sure? You kiss me, and you could end up making out with Acacia? Sadavir can tell you just how lovely that little surprise can be.”

I huffed. “Ruining the apology kiss mood here.” I puckered up my lips and made a ridiculous smacking sound.

Josh huffed another laugh, but he leaned in, gently pressing his lips to mine.

I could feel the tension in him as he waited to see what would happen, waited for Acacia to take over.

But he was wearing his amulet, and I knew that was at least some buffer between him and Acacia.

I lifted a hand and ran my fingers through his soft hair, opening to him, urging him to relax.

The fangs were a new addition, but I was used to that thanks to Sadavir, and Robin.

..and Martina... even Yukio had sharp canines.

.. actually, fangs might just be my thing.

When Josh pulled back, he let out a shaky breath. “Oh. I’ve missed that. Missed you. Both of you.”

I lay back as Sadavir leaned over me to steal a kiss of his own.

Josh groaned as his friend and lover showed him just how unafraid he was of a little vampire possession.

My whole body warmed, something tense uncoiling and settling inside me like a cat purring in the sunshine.

Eventually, Josh spoke again, a bit of laughter lacing his voice.

“Okay, okay. Enough. Acacia could decide to make an appearance at any time.”

“Amulet,” Sadavir voiced.

I nodded agreement. “You’ve got your protection amulet on.

I know it’s not perfect, but it’s something.

And Sadavir is strong enough to fight you off if you go crazy.

” Pausing, I decided to just lean into the ridiculousness of our natures.

“And now that he and I are bonded, I’m pretty sure the big, bad naga alpha wouldn’t let you hurt his omega mate.

Which means he’ll actually stand up to you if you lose control. ”

Sadavir hummed in agreement. Josh sighed. But he slowly moved closer again, kissing me softly on the lips, then trailing kisses over my cheeks, my eyelids, down the side of my neck. I sighed and leaned into him, gentle, easy pleasure unfurling through my body at his closeness.