Page 83 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Electra

I was glad that I’d moved away from the table. I was going to need some time to calm my racing heart and get my arousal under control. My mate was a psycho. A total psycho. And I liked it.

Later, I’d think about his words and the absolute certainty in his voice when he’d threatened to punish me.

I’d never thought that it was something I’d be interested in, but when he’d said it…

scorching heat had flashed through my body.

Surreptitiously, I fanned my face, trying to soothe the blush that I knew stained my cheeks.

When I thought the redness had faded enough that I didn’t look like a tomato, I turned to my sister and Bastien’s family.

From the frowns all round, it looked like they were locked in a stalemate.

“Bastien has admitted that he could use some help. And I will do this with or without your assistance.”

“You’re not doing this alone,” Caly said, partially twisting to meet my eyes.

“I’m helping,” she added, poking Luc in the chest. Even though she was obviously angry with him, she hadn’t left his lap.

Her tone gentled as she turned back to him.

“You can’t wrap me in cotton wool all the time. I’ll go nuts.”

The tension in his large body loosened and he rested his forehead against hers. I looked away, giving them privacy.

“Obviously, if the two of you are going, so am I,” Simon added. Beside him, Marguerite grumbled, but that was the extent of her complaint.

“Great,” I said, moving back to my seat. “Let’s work out the details.”

By afternoon we had a plan. Bastien’s press secretary Patrick as well as Sam and Billy from Luc’s team sat in to give us their input.

Our planning was interrupted when Patrick said that it was time to watch the Council’s media statement.

The lies that Maximilian Veder spoke made me sick to my stomach.

Luc’s muscles bunched in anger as he listened to the poison that the leader of Humans First spewed and his claws left deep gouges in the polished wood of the table before Caly leaned in, calming him down.

Marguerite’s gaze was glittering and fierce, while Simon just looked as sick as I felt.

“I knew I should have ripped his head off,” Marguerite said, repeating her comment from the day before, when Luc clicked off the remote with a disgusted flick of his wrist.

I sat, stunned. I still hadn’t explained to her and Simon why Bastien was impeached, but she seemed completely on our side.

She wasn’t going to question what Bastien and I had done.

She seemed to have no doubt that everything out of Veder’s mouth was a lie.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then I shut it again when realisation hit me. She trusted Bastien. She trusted me.

Reeling, I was glad that I was already sitting down.

This was what parents should be like. One hundred percent supportive.

I had no frame of reference for this unconditional support.

I’d been bracing myself for their suspicion and doubt.

For his parents to blame me, or Bastien or both of us.

I wasn’t really sure. But this was more than I could ever have dreamed.

Just quiet acceptance that our bond was right.

I’m alright , I said down the bond, before Bastien could panic. I just really like your parents and I’m having some big feelings.

They’re your parents now too baby, he said .

That was too much for my self-control.

Simon caught my eye as I wiped tears off my cheeks, trying to control the wobble of my lower lip. Quietly, he rose from his chair and came to mine, dropping to a crouch beside me. “You look like you need a hug,” he said softly.

Gulping, I fell into his outstretched arms, letting his soft murmured words soothe the storm in my chest.

We called in the lawyers afterwards, asking their advice for how to best respond to the statements that Veder had made.

We were going to attack him from every angle.

Sims smiled like a shark when I said that Bastien and I would sue.

I hadn’t known it was possible for the woman look so delighted.

She and her partner also promised to send through final copies of the statement I’d given them yesterday.

Wisely, they didn’t ask why we needed it.

They didn’t stay for the next part of our meeting.

Even with lawyer-client privilege, it wasn’t a good idea to tell your lawyers that you planned to break a prisoner out of jail.

But, to their relief, we did finally call in the bodyguards who’d been waiting outside.

Before we gave them any details, Luc gave them the option not to participate, but they all demanded to be involved.

Their loyalty to Bastien was heartwarming.

We then threw around and rejected numerous ideas while we worked out the issues that most needed to be addressed.

First, how to best discredit Maximilian and get public opinion on our side.

Second, get Bastien out of prison and safely out of the city.

Third, find a place where we could safely stay until we knew which way events were going to unfold.

Phone calls were made. Favours were called in. Bribes offered.

Exhaustion dragged on me, slowing my mind, despite the caffeine I’d already consumed. It was going to be a long night. I reached towards the coffee pot but Marguerite smoothly drew it out of the way.

I frowned.

“You need to rest,” Marguerite said. “All of you.” Her eyes pinned me, then Caly, before moving to her mate. They returned to me. “But you especially. Bastien won’t want you running yourself ragged. You’ll need time to recharge your energy before you cast spells tonight.”

She was right. But I didn’t think I’d be able to rest. I wanted to go over the plan another few times. I wanted it to be perfect.

Caly yawned. “I’ll second that. I’m ready for a nap.”

“But—” I began.

“No buts,” Caly said, pushing back a lock of hair that had fallen loose from the messy bun she favoured.

“Chances are, something will happen that we haven’t planned for and we’ll have to adapt our plan.

” Her eyes were soft with understanding.

She knew what I wanted to say. She knew I wanted it to be perfect.

“Life’s not perfect, Elie. It’s messy and chaotic and unexpected. ”

I heard what she wasn’t saying. I didn’t have to be perfect. I didn’t have to put that burden on myself anymore. I didn’t know if I could truly let go.

But I could try.

I nodded. She smiled.

And the funny thing? When I returned to Bastien’s suite and the bed where he’d put my broken pieces back together… I pulled one of his shirts over my head then I fell onto the bed and was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.