Page 108 of Finlay

Nothing about how they were ending Clyde was clean or quick.

“Tell me what you were doing with the ladder,” I said urgently, my hands keeping Chester’s attention locked on me.

“Umm, I was putting Christmas lights up.” He flinched as a human scream rent the air. Clyde must’ve shifted into his other form, perhaps hoping it’d inspire mercy. Instead it had just made it easier for Logan to perform his party trick. Clearly doing it once before had inspired him to go for a repeat. “Blue and white ones.”

“That’ll look so magical,” I said, speaking louder than usual. The screaming had stopped now, but I wasn’t sure theschlickingsound filling the air was any better. “Have you decorated inside yet?”

“Not yet,” Chester said faintly. “I thought it’d be cute to do it together.”

“I’d love that.” I brought my forehead to his. “You’re doing so well, m’eudail. Just keep breathing. Tell me, do you want a real tree?”

“I’ve never had one before.” Chester’s trembling was easing with every inhale. “I’ve always wanted one though.”

Behind us, Logan and Calan were dragging the larger pieces of what remained of Clyde towards the woods. Evan had shifted back into his human form, disgust and fury on his face as he used a shovel to load what remained into heavy duty black sacks.

I made a mental note to buy Chester a new shovel next time I was in town. “Tell you what, why don’t we go into the woods soon and pick a tree? We can cut it down together and I’ll carry it back for you.”

There was a ghost of a smile on Chester’s face as his hands encircled my biceps. “Good to know these muscles are useful for things other than looking good.”

“They’re very good at tree carrying.” I lowered my hands from his face to wrap my arms around his middle instead. “Among other things.”

My words had the desired effect as Chester flushed. I knew he was thinking of two nights ago, when I’d held him clean off the ground to fuck him against the wall.Good. I’d much rather him be thinking about that than what was happening behind him.

Honestly, I was so beyond pissed. At Clyde, for targeting Chester when he couldn’t get to Reid. At myself, for not realising that might happen.

Most of all, I was pissed that Chester was having to experience this side of my life. If he became my mate, it was likely just the first time of many. But the difference there was hewouldbe my mate. We’d be bonded. I wouldn’t have to rely on my wards being tripped as they had been today. I wouldn’t need to run at breakneck speed through the forest, desperately praying I’d get to him in time.

That wasn’t to say Chester would never be in danger, but the odds of him surviving such an encounter would be much higher.

I couldn’t push him in that direction though, not after what he’d been through with Matt. But the reality was that we’d likely just started a war with the Clarkson Clan. I could guarantee Clyde wasn’t the only one who knew about my relationship with Chester, which meant the likelihoodof this happening again was far greater than I’d like. What was the alternative though? Ending things with the person who’d come to mean more to me than any other?

There was no fucking way. It might be selfish, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t giving Chester up for anything.

Evan flashed me a thumbs up and I nodded. He disappeared in the same direction as the others to burn the remains. One of us would need to go and inform Reid too.

I doubted he’d shed any tears over his father’s death.

“Okay,” I said, stroking Chester’s side soothingly, “everything has been taken care of, but I’m going to ask you not to look behind you until Logan has been back to do a proper clean-up.”

Chester flinched. “I’m assuming Clyde is dead?”

I inclined my head. “He signed his death warrant the moment he touched you. I’m not sorry for it either, m’eudail. I’ll happily kill anyone who hurts you.”

He let out a shaky laugh. “That shouldn’t be a turn-on.”

I pulled him in to kiss his temple. “Like I’ve said before, nothing about what turns you on will ever shock me.”

“The others? Are they okay?”

“Perfectly safe and healed.” I sighed. “I’d like to say this doesn’t happen often, but it’d be a lie. All of us are highly trained to deal with situations like this. In truth, any of us could’ve taken Clyde down without an issue, but the others wanted their piece of him too.”

“They did? Why?”

I rubbed my nose against his. “Because they see you as clan, Chester. You’re theirs to protect almost as much as you are mine.”

“You didn’t get involved though,” Chester said thoughtfully. “In the killing, I mean.”

“I wanted to, almost more than my next breath, but ye needed me more. And Chester? You’ll always come first.”

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