Page 83 of Bones

“While they get those, you’re stuck with a freak like me. A fucked-up sinner who was created by the devil”—her palm pressed to her chest—“who bears his mark because she’s also cursed. Not in an honorable fight, but by God. And I’m not egotistical enough to think that being paired with me is worse than losing your siblings. Unlike all those unanswered questions you’ve had to live with, I will be easy to ignore. But on top of all you’ve been through, it still sucks for you, and I’m sorry.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

UNDO

DEKE

Fuck.

Fucking hellfuck.

Like she hadn’t meant to blurt any of that, her brows shot up her forehead, and her lips parted before pressing together like it would somehow get the words back in.

I reached for her, but she dodged me as she rocketed to her feet. She took advantage of my outstretched hand and quickly pinched it before my fingers could grasp her.

“Sorry, excuse me. I need to take Victoria out. Thanks for the drink and… sorry. So,sosorry.”

I hadn’t noticed the dog had returned to comfort her until she bent to pick her up before rushing from the room. I wanted to follow. Itriedto follow. But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

The front door slammed. Mental brick by brick, I could feel her try to build her walls. Not to keep everyone out but to block herself off.

That’s why I couldn’t teleport to her.

Her dark emotions stayed, and the seconds dragged before I could move again. Go to her. Help her.

Nate grabbed my arm as I passed, halting my progress.

“Let me go, brother,” I bit out, trying to dislodge my arm from his tight grip.

“Give her a minute.”

“That’s easy for you to fucking say. Your mate is sitting on your damn lap not running down the street to get the hell away from you.”

I knew my point was made when his other arm wrapped around Denny’s waist, but he still didn’t release me.

“She’s not bolting,” Juno said from right beside me, her focus and her magicks aimed out the window. A thin layer of red gauzy smoke stretched out to hover near the banisters, ready and waiting. “Did you know she could talk?”

As badly as I wanted to get out there to Aurora, if there was a chance my siblings had insight, I needed it. Then more than before.

And I’d already really fucking needed it before.

Knowing that Juno’s magicks would stop her from fleeing and protect her, I lifted my chin. “Don’t know the specifics. She went a week without saying anything. Not a single word, even when she was clearly frustrated about it. She finally spoke a couple of days ago.”

“She must’ve realized she could trust you,” Lilith said, her voice wistful like it was something romantic.

“She saw you in the yard, thought we’d disappeared to hook up, and spoke to insult me and insinuate I was a minute-man.”

Juno shrugged but didn’t look away from the window. “So she has realistic expectations.”

“It wasn’t just Lilith. Somehow, she knew about Juno and Denny being in the kitchen, too. But not Lennon, Nate, or Stellan.”

“The mate bond?” Stellan suggested.

“Itisstronger and more intuitive than what I’d ever imagined,” Juno agreed. “The longer we’re together, the more it develops.”

“Like being able to talk in each other’s heads.”

I ignored the way my sister’s face flushed at her mate’s words and asked, “I thought only The Four could do that?”

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