Page 43 of Born Free

Elena and I are so alike in so many ways. We both have smart mouths. We’re both sarcastic. Neither of us is soft or sweet.

Jon has never made me feel like I’m a mess. He’s never acted like I’m a handful or like the way I think or talk is going to push him over the edge.

Jon just loves me.

If Jon can love me, why couldn’t he love Elena?

“But you’re my best friend, and I understand what finding a family member must mean to you,” Elena says. She leans forward and takes my hands in hers. “So, if this is not okay to you, if this is hurting you in any way, just say the word, and I won’t look at him again. And he says the same thing. We both love you and would never want to put you in a position where you are uncomfortable.”

Uncomfortable really isn’t that bad. There are far, far worse ways to feel.

I am uncomfortable with this.

Because it’s complicated.

And new.

And I think it’s just going to take a few damn minutes to get used to it.

But for Jon? For Elena? I can be uncomfortable. I can put in the mental work to sort through my feelings.

I can be happy for two of my favorite people on this planet.

“If you’re happy with him and he’s happy with you, how could I not be happy for the both of you?” I say, my brows furrowing together as I convey my genuine feelings. “I love you. And you deserve to be with someone who makes you feel like the goddess you are. So, if that’s Jon, I’m not going to give you shit about it.”

Her expression of worry breaks with joy and appreciation. She throws her arms around me, squeezing with that vampiric strength she has. “Thank you. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be so damn sweet about this. This is why you’re my favorite person in the world.”

“I know,” I say nonchalantly. And we both laugh.

She sits back with a sigh, and I’ve rarely ever seen her look this happy and light.

“Okay, I don’t want to be a mood killer, but I seriously have to ask,” I say as I prop my head on my fist, elbow to the back of the couch. “You agreed to not kill Sebastian if he came back to Chicago. Why?”

Elena’s expression instantly darkens, and her brows furrow. “You were kidnapped, Juliet. An associate of a Royal House took you, whisked you halfway across the globe. Sebastian was close. We were all desperate.”

“So desperate as to make a deal with Sebastian? After what he did to you and so many others?” I ask doubtfully.

Elena shakes her head. “We don’t let the Royals control us here, Juliet, and it’s the worst-case situation to have a Royal here. But that man, he was taking you straight to Austria. To theKing. You have so many people who love you here. Do you know what that desperation felt like?”

I don’t know if I do.

Maybe I’m too broken. Or maybe I’ve just never been placed in that position.

There isn’t much I wouldn’t do to protect Elena. Or Mason or Sigrid. I’d burn down the whole world if I had to in order to keep Roman safe.

I don’t know what that level of desperation feels like, but maybe I can imagine.

“What are we going to do about him?” I ask, hating the complicated feelings buzzing inside of me. “He’s here in Chicago. I don’t think he has any plans to leave. He wasn’t particularly thrilled when I told him he couldn’t follow me around. And it seems pretty likely he’s already following me again. What was the extent of this deal?”

“There weren’t specific terms worked out,” Elena admits, and I can hear the annoyance at herself in her voice. This is a businesswoman who is ruthless and thorough. “The deal was with the council. But there’s nothing to say any other vampire or gifted he hurt won’t take him out in the next hour.”

I nod. It makes my chest hurt, thinking that it’s likely to happen. “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll leave Chicago and won’t look back.”

“What do you think his plan is?” Elena asks.

I shake my head. “I honestly don’t know. I think he knows there’s no reconciling between us. He hasn’t shown up at the hospital. Echo hasn’t said anything about him trying to take back the blood trade. I don’t know what he’s doing.”

“I don’t like it,” Elena admits. “Sebastian is organized, calculating. He always has his next move planned. There’s no way he’s just hanging out in that penthouse, taking it easy and licking his wounds.”

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