Page 114 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

I hovered on the precipice of sleep, my task abandoned in favor of indulgence, until the suite door opened and Yelena stepped inside.

Don’t get up.Yelena’s voice rang in my head before I could propel myself into motion. “Hello, darlings. You’re all awake?”

“Mhmm,” Logan replied. “How did everything go?”

“Well enough. We had some tea, we discussed some coping strategies after they calmed down, and I sent them to bed. Do you mind if I scooch in? Since you’re all so close already.”

I glanced up at Logan from her lap, and she didn’t look opposed to the idea. Caden was the one most likely to refuse, and I could see on his face that he was prepared to do so, but Logan answered first.

“I don’t mind.”

Caden seemed to bite his tongue after that.

“Thank you, precious.” Yelena disappeared briefly to tuck her hair into a satin bonnet and slip into a barely there nightgown. Neither of us wore clothing to sleep, but I suspected that even Logan’s accommodation had its limits. The heavens knew Caden wouldn’t stay silent if Yelena had walked over without a stitch on.

“You should change for bed,” Yelena said. Logan was still dressed for the day, while Caden wore nothing but his fur, and since Seth was still technically under hospital observation he was wearing a gown for easy access.

“Am I allowed to have a shower?” Seth asked. “It feels like a million years since I’ve had one.”

“Of course you’re allowed,” Yelena replied. “You should have assistance, though.”

I can help,I offered.If Seth is okay with that.

Yelena eyed him. “Are you comfortable with Haru helping you?”

Even in the dim light, I could see the flush of Seth’s cheeks. “Sure, that would be okay.”

I reluctantly climbed off Logan’s lap, tapping her cheek with my nose before trotting over to get a robe for Seth and me, shifting into my human form so I could drop it over my shoulders. Logan helped Seth stand. Caden looked torn, like he couldn’t quite decide if he trusted me or Yelena less. His choices were to leave Logan with Yelena, or Seth with me, and he looked happy about neither option.

Seth leaned against me as we walked, his legs as shaky as a newborn deer. Gods, it felt good to have him pressed against me again. Yelena’s shower had a wide bench, and after a moment for him to adjust to the fact that he would be stark naked in front of me, he let the robe fall and sat down.

My gaze helplessly followed the pattern of scars that decorated his skin. A few were new and I found myself tracing them before I realized I had even reached out. Seth’s hazel eyes were filled with a mix of longing, guilt, and anxiety. I broke eye contact to get the shower running and left my own robe hung on a peg outside of the shower. Every sweep of his eyes on me was like a brush of heat. I had as many scars as he did, but also a lot of tattoos to cover them up.

“Haru…”

I missed you.

“I thought I would never see you again.”

I sank to my knees before him, and took his face in my hands, savoring our first moment alone when he wasn’t on the brinkof death. His breath shuddered, his palm cupping my neck to stroke his thumb across the vicious scar at my throat.

“I should have made us run sooner. I’m so sorry.”

I laid a thumb over his lips, silencing any further words of regret. Nothing that had happened to me was his fault.

You were the only reason I survived. Please don’t blame yourself.

Seth nodded, but I wasn’t sure he believed me. I used the detachable showerhead to soak his hair and then set it aside so I could scrub shampoo through the strands, gratified when his eyes closed and he let out a soft sound as my fingers massaged his scalp. He was just as sweet and pliable when it was time for the conditioner, and then the soap for his skin. Seth shivered and let me take full control of the process, his cock rising to attention.

Some things haven’t changed.

Seth let out a laugh. “Did you think they would have if we ever found each other again?”

The years make a difference. You’ve gotten yourself a mate since then.

“That was by accident.” He sounded pained to acknowledge it. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about it. I don’t even know if she knows.”

How do you matebond someone by accident?

---