Page 79 of Snag
I blink at him. “Are you mad at me? For rescuing Presh?”
“Incensed.”
“I should have left her with Chains and Breaker?!”
“My point is, that situation won’t happen again because I’ll be at your side, or near enough, the next time you mount a rescue operation.”
“Sometimes … the universe moves me.” I flick my eyes between his blue-green orbs, looking for understanding in their depths.
“Was that the case with Presh?”
I flush. “Well … I made that happen.”
“Exactly.”
I poke him in the chest, then ruin the gesture by smoothing my hand over the same point, luxuriating in simply being able to touch him.
“You lose some of yourself when you die, Zaya,” Rought says, voice low. “What is the point of having three soul-bound mates if not to stop that from happening as much as possible?”
I nod, murmuring, “As much as possible …” just to acknowledge what he’s saying to me.
He hesitates for a breath, actually dropping his gaze.
“You … don’t believe me?” I whisper.
“No, it’s not that. I know you’ll always do what you think is best, but … I … we need to have a conversation about Reck.”
‘Three soul-bound mates,’ Rought said while trying to fortify his position. But now he’s rethinking that statement.
“My relationships,” I say, “or lack thereof, or bond or connections, or whatever you want to call them, are for me to navigate.”
“I know,” he says. “Always. I just don’t think …”
“I was there,” I say, not certain why my back is up about it at all. “I saw Reck with Bellamy in the hotel hallway. I know he’s with the Authority. I understand he’s not the same kind of asshole as Rath. And you, supposedly.”
Rought scrubs a hand over his face, leaning back in his seat to stare out the front window. “I still don’t fucking believe it.”
“That Bellamy’s your half-sister?”
“Fuck me, no.”
“She could be Reck’s twin.” Silence falls between us. The rain picks up. But even as I realize I’m getting cold, Rought settles his hand on my thigh again.
“Ironically, a blood connection will make Bellamy easier to locate,” I muse. “Especially if she shares DNA from two sources with Reck. Harlee, Cayley’s mage, can probably do it. She’ll need to collect the sample directly from Reck. And I’d suggest she doesn’t cast alone. Gigi might be coerced to hold a protection circle. Bellamy is powerful … even I’m not certain what she’s capable of. In fact, it might not be a good idea to try to use a blood-based spell against her at all. Something to discuss with the mages …”
I glance over at Rought.
He’s just gazing at me.
“What?”
He shakes his head, then shrugs. “I like you.”
“That’s good,” I say. “Because I’m fairly certain that we’re bonded on so high a level that it might really hurt you to get rid of me now.”
“I know you’re joking … but … don’t, Zaya. I can’t lose you again.”
I press my hand over his on my thigh. “Sorry.” My own heart aches at even the mere thought of hurting him. “I can’t imagine …”
