Page 113 of Bones

Guilt that they’d been in danger because of me swirled in my churning stomach. Gratitude that they’d been there battled with it.

And grief at Deke’s continued absence.

That was what I selfishly felt most of all.

“I asked you a question, pixie,” Stellan said. “Victoria scratched a hole in your front door to get down to the stores. She wouldn’t stop barking until Lea called me. None of us could feel or get messages through to you all. So again, where were you?”

Victoria did all that?

That dog deserves the fanciest of feasts.

Or is that just a cat food?

“House party in a warded basement,” Juno answered. “Very exclusive. Just us, a few dozen rats, a thousand roaches, and like a million birds. Plus, a few soulless bastards.”

“Training in the back room. That’s what you said you were doing. I was good to go to work because you’d be training in the back room.”

“And that was the plan. But on our walk in there, Aurora froze, and an Absolve bastard grabbed her.”

His gaze tore away from his mate long enough to give me a clinical scan to check for injury or trauma. “She froze?”

“I thought she’d seen the asshole, and it was just her four-Fs response to being scared.” At everyone’s confused faces, Juno lifted a hand to count off. “Fight. Flight. Freeze. Or… mate. The four Fs.”

“How did he overpower all of you?”

“By the time we realized what was happening, he had her. So I jumped in the van, too.”

“You—” He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “You jumped in the van? Willingly?”

“Yeah.” Theduhwent unsaid but was heavily implied.

“And you?” Nate asked.

Denny shrugged. “Juno was my ride, sooo…”

Juno put her hands on her hips and leveled Stellan with a fierce look. “If you think I’m the kind of woman who doesn’t takeovaries-before-broveriesas gospel, then you don’t know me at all, Detective. Iamtheir ride. Their ride or die.”

“It’s thediepart that’s giving me grays and reflux.” His shoulders relaxed slightly, and a hint of a smile played at his lips. “I’m well aware of your stubborn loyalty. I’m asking why you didn’t use magicks to stop him, oh powerful one.”

“I love when you talk dirty to me, and flattery will get you out of trouble for raising your voice.” I wasn’t sure if it was the adrenaline draining or the concern on Stellan’s face, butJuno dropped the jokes and turned somber. “I wasn’t sure if he was warded. There were people out shopping. Customers in the store. And by the time we realized what was up, he had her.”

“What happened?”

Juno quickly recapped us fighting the scrawny Absolve guy. “Then Aurora’s fiancé showed up and tried to force her to go with him.”

I opened my mouth to correct her, but I didn’t get the chance.

“Herwhat?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

FULL

AURORA

Spinning, I saw Deke stormacross the room wearing a fancy white suit.

Heaven must have a dress code.

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