Page 19

L ast night went about the way I expected it to. Serena was worried about Pike, but I knew better. Pike would never do something to upset her without a damn good reason.

Harlow, for example, Pike did that because it was the only way he could think to keep her safe.

Serena isn’t in danger with Ryker, despite what Garrett might think. We’ve been going to that clearing for weeks now, and I’ve never seen a hint that he might harm her.

If anything, the look in his eyes hints at other feelings I’m not sure he’s even aware of.

Even so, these trainings are taking a toll on Serena. She’s been pushing herself as hard as she can, desperate to get control of her powers in order to save Lyle. I hate watching her push herself so hard, unable to help or carry the burden, but there’s nothing I can do.

Nothing but be there for her the same way I always have been and always will be.

At breakfast, Serena was damn near passing out while eating. She blamed it on having found a good book and staying up too late reading. It’s not out of character for her, and the others easily accepted it, all but me and Pike, who knew better.

With her on my back, I walk to the library, the sound of her soft snores making my lips pull up in a grin. I’d tried to get her to go back to the room and nap, but she’d insisted we go to the library and continue our search for answers that I’m almost positive aren’t here.

She’d been so tired I was afraid she was going to fall down the damn stairs, so I offered her a ride. I knew she wouldn't be able to resist.

Which is why I’ve been walking around the castle for the last hour to let her get a little bit of sleep.

Finally, I move into the library, the large door falling closed silently behind me.

The smell of old parchment and leather fills my senses, the sweet smell of the tree mixing with them.

It’s no wonder Serena loves it here. I mean, she always loved libraries, but something about this one is different in a way I can’t explain.

I roam the shelves, searching for anything that might stand out, anything that might help us, but as always, I come up empty-handed.

Ryker seems to think that Serena can save Lyle, and after watching the way she can boost my powers and her growth from training with him, I’m inclined to agree, which is why the library feels like a waste of time.

Serena shifts, and her breathing changes, her soft snores stopping as she wakes up.

“Were you going to let me sleep all day?” she asks, and I hear her smile even if I can’t see it.

“Not all day, just enough so that you aren’t a danger to yourself anymore.”

An hour is better than nothing, which is about what she was working on before this.

“I wasn't a danger to myself,” she says, and I swear she really believes that.

We emerge from the shelves in front of the tree, and I stop. No matter how many times I see it, or how often we are here, it still takes my breath away.

“You almost ran into the wall this morning on the way to breakfast.” I resume walking, heading to our spot at the base of the tree with her still on my back.

The fact that she doesn’t even attempt to get down fills me with pride.

Taking care of Serena is all I’ve ever wanted, and when she lets me, it’s everything.

Serena scoffs and smacks my shoulder as if I’m lying, but we both know I’m not.

“Well, I’m sorry, not all of us can just survive with no sleep,” she grumbles, flinging herself forward. Her arms hang over my shoulders, chest pressed against my back, head nuzzled to the back of my neck so that I can feel every breath.

Fuck.

Having her in my arms has always been my weakness, long before I had her, but now… now that I’ve tasted her, made her mine—she’s the most potent drug.

One of the worst things about this realm is the clothes. They might not shred when we shift, but they do nothing to hide arousal, the soft material tenting the way pajama pants would.

How do they not have jeans?

“Why are you so quiet?” Leaning forward, she nibbles on my ear, and I hiss out a breath, which she finds hilarious.

“Watch it, little one.”

She doesn’t realize she’s playing a dangerous game.

The smell of her arousal hits me like a punch to the gut. I breathe it in as if I need it to survive.

Or maybe she knows exactly what she’s doing.

We make it to the tree; her legs still wrapped around my waist, and I don’t want to put her down.

I reach back, grabbing her waist and dragging her around my torso so she now hangs on my chest. I didn’t think that would go so smoothly, but Serena looks up at me with her brows raised, and I know I’m not the only one impressed.

I drop down on the floor, my back pressed to the tree as she settles on my lap.

Her eyes are glued to mine as we sit in silence. I wait, knowing she will tell me what’s bugging her, eventually.

“Ugh,” she groans, falling forward so that her head is buried in my chest, her words slightly muffled as she rambles.

“Why is everything so hard? I’m working my butt off, but these shadows aren’t getting any easier.

Ryker still whoops my ass, and I don’t understand my beast anymore.

Not to mention, if Pike found us, it’s only a matter of time before Garrett does, and he won’t be as easy to convince about Ryker, but I can’t give up on Lyle, Blair.

He needs us, needs me, and he’s never let me down before.

I can’t let him down. I won’t,” she groans against my chest, and I can’t help but chuckle, unsure how she managed so many words without taking a breath.

Serena pulls back, glaring at me. I know she means to be intimidating, but she’s not even close.

“It’s not funny, B. This is serious, and I’m freaking out.” She throws her hands in the air before face-planting into my chest again.

“Oh, I don’t need you to tell me that, Little Rabbit. I have eyes.” Running my hands up her back, I rub at her neck and shoulders to try to help her relax. It works in seconds as she melts under my touch, sinful noises falling from her mouth as she goes boneless.

“I don’t understand how you’re so calm about all of this.

Have you ever freaked out about anything in your life?

” Serena asks, and while I can hear the sarcasm, I know it’s more than that.

I’m calm and collected. It’s who I’ve always been, who she needs me to be even now, but that doesn’t mean I’m without emotions.

“Yes,” I answer simply, and she whips her head back to once again meet my eyes.

Her own wide with shock before they narrow, as if trying to decide if I’m telling the truth or not.

“The night we found you, I was worried you would never be the same again. That the girl we knew was gone, and for a while you were, but we found you. It didn’t matter much because I was already in love with you, but I was sad, upset that you had to face such a hateful world simply because you were born prey. ”

Her eyes go wide, brows damn near disappearing up into her hair, and I get the feeling she doesn’t believe me.

She’s quiet, breathing steadily as she continues to look at me, and this is the calmest I’ve seen her while awake in a while.

Might as well keep going.

“The night you disappeared. Garrett came to the house spewing all kinds of shit that we thought was crazy about other realms and magic. Things I couldn’t have possibly understood before we came through the portal.

Waking up here, seeing this vast world I knew nothing about…

” Reaching out, I tuck a finger under her chin, forcing her head back further before I lean in and press my nose to hers.

“I was afraid I’d lost you then. Little did I know that finding you would be even harder.

Alone on the forest floor, you looked so small and defenseless.

Just like you had that night, Harlow attacked you.

Waiting for you to wake up was torture, but you did.

” I move to press my lips to her cheek, gently, just a feather-light brush of my skin on hers.

Her reaction is everything. She sucks in a breath; her back straightening as the soft smell of her arousal becomes even more potent.

Serena is every weakness I’ve ever had rolled up into one little bunny that could be my undoing in a moment, and she doesn’t even know it.

If someone were to ask me my favorite color, I’d say blue, but not just any blue.

It’s a very specific blue, the same shade as Serena’s hair.

My favorite scent used to be the cherry blossom scent of her shampoo.

Now I have no idea what the scent actually is, but I know she smells like it.

Favorite animal, bunny, even before my own beast, and the worst part is… he agrees.

There isn’t a damn thing about Serena that I don’t love, no matter how broken, dark, or terrible it is.

If she woke up tomorrow and decided to burn the kingdom to the ground, I would help her, if only she asked.

But that’s another reason I love Serena; she would never do that.

I look into her eyes, her pupils blown wide with lust and love and other emotions I can’t quite get an accurate reading on, and tell her the one thing I know to be true above all else.

“I know everything will work out because I have you. You are the secret to all of this, the piece that will ensure we stop Draven and save Lyle.”

She purses her lips, slumping, and the look she gives me… I don’t even need her to open her mouth to know she thinks I’m crazy.

“I’m serious, Serena. You might not see it, but you amaze me. Have from the moment I met you. You make the impossible, possible.”

“That sounds like a cheesy pickup line,” she says with a dry chuckle, rolling her eyes.