Page 88 of Chasing Shelter

“He’s right. Think about the black eye Shep was rocking a couple of months ago,” Arden cut in, Brutus leaning into her side, not liking the tension in the air.

Kye shook his head. “Not gonna make that mistake again. Thea scares me.”

Usually, I would’ve laughed at the reminder of Thea threatening Kye with garden shears when he gave Shep a black eye while sparring. But I couldn’t get my voice to make the sound or my lips to curve into a grin.

Kye didn’t miss it. He gripped my shoulder, his hand squeezing hard, bringing me back to the present. His voice dipped low. “I know she’s been hurt.”

My gaze flicked to him as my face hardened. “She say something to you?”

“Not a word. But you start to get radar for that sort of thing when enough people come through your classes who have been victimized in one way or another. I know how to watch for someone’s triggers, and I’m not going to take for granted that someone has given me their trust.”

My throat constricted as I struggled to swallow. “I’m sorry. I know you’re careful. I just?—”

“She means something to you,” Kye said.

It wasn’t a question, but I found myself answering it anyway. “Yeah. She means something.” I dragged a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have put hands on you.” I shouldn’t put hands on anyone in anger, but especially not Kye.

“You’re fine. Just breathe.” A grin spread across my brother’s face. “You were jealous, weren’t you?”

“Shut up.”

Kye cackle-laughed. “Youreallylike her.”

“Oh, fuck off,” I clipped.

Arden gaped at me. “Youcursed.”

Hell.I would never hear the end of it now.

Kye’s grin only grew wider until he looked like a maniacal evil genius. “You way more than like her, and you are so totally screwed.”

Arden winced. “I’m not sure how Linc’s gonna feel about that.”

I pinned her with my worst big-brother stare. “Do not say a word to him.”

Arden worried her bottom lip. “Trace. I don’t know exactly what happened, but she’s been through it.”

“I know,” I said, that hollow pain flaring to life again.

“She’s been doubting everything about herself. Trying to find her footing again.”

“Iknow.” I stressed the second word as I met Arden’s gaze.

Something shifted in my sister’s expression. “She talked to you.”

“We both talked,” I admitted.

Arden’s eyes misted over. “You talked.”

“We did.”

Her eyes filled then. “Oh, Jesus, these hormones are killing me. I am not crying,” she barked at me and Kye.

Kye held up his hands in surrender. “Of course, you aren’t.”

“Shut up,” she shot back. “I need to go.” Arden took off for the front door as Kye and I looked at each other.

“It’s gonna be a long nine months,” Kye muttered.

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