Page 82 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Bastien

Do you want us to get inside the prison or can we help from outside?

I shuddered at the thought. How was that even a question? What were my brother and parents thinking? Our mates should get nowhere near that place, especially if there was a chance Electra could be pregnant.

Fuck no. You’re not going anywhere near the prison.

We have to get close, honey. This type of magic is short range.

Shit. Fuck. The idea that my maybe-pregnant mate was preparing to go into danger for me went against all my instincts. I’d agreed last night that help would be useful. But that was before she’d told me she might be carrying my baby.

No. It was unacceptable.

Forget about it. I’ll get myself out. Just have a plan for getting me away and a place to meet you .

My little Pixie’s voice was hard when she replied. I could imagine her little chin tipping up, her eyes flashing at me. In case you don’t recall, I am the strongest Witch in two hundred years. If you think that I’m not coming to help, you can think again, honey.

Somehow, she made ‘honey’ sound like ‘asshole.’ No. It’s too dangerous.

Tell me something I don’t know. What the fuck do you think I’ve been doing for the last five years Bastien?

I punched the wall. I was angry and frustrated that my mate still insisted on putting herself in danger, but I also wanted to see if the guards would notice the noise.

“Keep it down in there,” called a voice from the corridor.

Getting through to the next cell wouldn’t be hard, but it would be noisy. It would attract attention. Nothing I couldn’t deal with, but it would slow me down.

Fuck. I didn’t want her to be in any danger. Just the thought made my chest tighten. But she was right. She had been fighting for me for the last five years, and refusing to let her help was not in my best interests.

I gripped the back of my neck in frustration.

I needed to make smart decisions. I’d already made so many mistakes and trying to tell my mate not to help was the very definition of stupid.

It wouldn’t help me get out of here and it would hurt her feelings.

I remembered the toxic thoughts that she’d shown me.

How my need to protect her had backfired.

How it had made her doubt herself. Her identity.

She was so much more than her power. But she didn’t see it.

I had to help her change how she saw herself and that wouldn’t happen overnight.

Compromise. I had to compromise.

Some help with keeping my escape quiet would help , I told her. But keep your distance . Have your guards with you.

We can do that, she said, her happiness glowing down the bond.

No getting close, I growled .

We’ll be careful, I promise .

You get hurt and I’ll take it out on your body as a punishment.

You wouldn’t!

Her voice was shocked, but her curiosity and arousal pulsed down the bond. I could imagine her gasp of surprise. The tightening of her nipples. Her eyes dilating at the thought. Oh little Pixie. You like the idea of that? Try me, I purred. A single scratch on your little body and you’ll pay.

Be ready at eight, she choked out before breaking off the contact. My dark chuckle filled the cell.