Page 85 of Fighting Shadows

“When?” Tobias asks.

“Soon. I’ll call him this week, play along with his delusions about his love for her, and convince him that I’ll bring Autumn to him at Aidan's warehouse. Aidan will stay with Autumn at Kelvin's place, where there will be guards surrounding them at all times as well as Kelvin,” Noah says, looking at Dad, who nods his agreement.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he says, giving me a soft smile that I return.

“Great, then you will all position yourselves around the warehouse, and I’ll drive in just before he arrives. Sebastian, I need you to pretend to be Autumn. I want you lying down in the back of the car with a cover over you, and I’ll tell him I drugged you just like he arranged for Autumn the first time.” Noah winces when the others grunt; Dominic practically snarls at his words, “We must play along for as long as possible. We need himinthe warehouse for this to work. We’ve found no trace of him for weeks; his cabin being burnt to the ground should have been enough, but it wasn’t.”

“What makes you think he’ll believe you when you call?” Sebastian snarks, but it lacks the heat it usually has.

“Because if you saw how delusional he was when I saw him, you would know that all I have to do is play along. Tell him that I understand that she loves him, and I want to help him gether back,” Noah says, his fists clenching on top of the table like remembering hurts.

We spend the next few hours planning, Charlie's surprise ruining any happiness from the dinner. Sebastian's parents leave soon after with soft assurances that if we need them, they’ll be there, a massive change from Mrs. Miller's typically brash attitude.

My eyelids droop, but I shake myself awake, not wanting to miss anything important. I might not be going with them; being there is too much of a distraction for us all.

“Come on, Princess,” Zander scoops me from where I’m nestled between Atlas and Sebastian.

Zander carries me to my room.

“Where’s Parz and Nanook?” I mumble tiredly as he lays me down on my bed.

“Downstairs with the others. They’ve been sleeping at your feet most of the night; I swear you never notice them now since they are constantly your shadows,” he says, a huff of laughter leaving him while he strips off my clothes.

“I really don’t. I’ve tripped over Parz at least three times already this week.”

“You need to be more careful, Princess; I hate the idea of you getting hurt.”

I huff out a laugh, smiling up at him, “I’m going to get hurt at some point. Probably a paper cut or cutting myself with a knife while cooking.”

“You don’t need to cook—that’s what I’m for—and you don’t need paper. If you need to write something down, ask one of us to do it.”

“You’re being unreasonable. I get it, but I can’t live the rest of my life without some small injuries. I could trip and hurt myself…” I point out.

“I’ll carry you,” he grunts.

“I could burn myself with my drink.”

“I’ll add cold water before you get it.”

I wrinkle my nose in disgust, “That just waters it down. You can’t stop me from getting hurt, Zander; it’s part of life. Hell, one of you could hurt me by accident, a simple knock to the elbow with a doorway, stubbing my toe…” I trail off, hoping he gets my point.

Zander sighs, dropping to his knees in front of where I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, still half naked, “My chest aches at the mere idea of you being hurt. If I could stop every stubbed toe, papercut, or even when you cry at those sad movies, I would. I would stand between you and anything that could hurt you.”

My hands reach up and pull Zander’s hair free from the messy man bun that I’m still envious of, his chestnut brown hair flowing freely over his shoulders. Digging my fingers into his hair, I rake my nails into his scalp, a sexy as fuck groan slipping from his lips, “Y’know, I quite like you on your knees in front of me.” I smirk down at him, his eyes narrowing on my face.

Zander rolls his eyes when my nails scratch the back of his neck, but I see the shiver that rolls over his body.

“I thought you were tired,” he grumbles but makes no move to pull away, his mahogany brown eyes staring into my hazel eyes.

“I don’t feel as tired right now; in fact, I feel wide awake,” I lie.

Exhaustion weighs down on me like a heavyweight, but I need this moment between us; he’s been so lost since I was taken.

The panic attacks hit him out of nowhere, stealing his breath away, and it’s like I’m watching the man in front of me crack, chipping at him piece by piece.

Zander narrows his eyes, flicking between mine as he tries to determine if I’m telling the truth or not. He must see the needI feel because he sighs, his hands coming to rest on my bare thighs. “Color?”

“Green…” I hesitate, not because I don’t want him but because of what I’m about to ask of him. When I pause, looking away, his calloused hand grips my chin, turning me to look at him, “Princess?”

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