Page 49 of Moonlight and Mischief
“They won’t get away with it again.”
I can feel the expansion of his chest as he takes a slow, deep breath. “And then Zephyr was saying that Nyx is invading their boundaries. Wants sanctions against her. So we agreed to attempt to arrange communications between them.”
Pulling back, I frown. “Nyx wouldn’t do something like that.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Why would they say that?” I twist to face him, pulling my legs up to sit cross-legged. Our dinner plates sit forgotten on the coffee table.
He rubs at his jaw, thinking. “What if something has changed with Nyx’s leadership?”
“I can ask my dad,” I say. From the blank look on Jasper’s face, I realize he doesn’t know, “My mom was from the Raven Pack. My grandparents live there.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Really. You’re the connection Heath mentioned.” My shoulders tense in a quick shrug.
“Yeah, we visit them maybe twice a year. The Raven Pack is tiny. They can’t keep watch over all that land effectively. I’ve always wondered why Ironcrest or Granite Ridge don’t try and buy some of that acreage.”
He stares at me.
“What?”
“That’s it,” he says. I can see thoughts flying behind his eyes.
“What’s it?” I prod when he falls silent.
“That’s what Zephyr wants. If he says Nyx is the aggressor, he can set them up to take her territory without consequences. Or at least without full consequences. He has an excuse.”
Winding a lock of hair through my fingers, I consider his theory. Logically, it makes sense. But the idea that a pack would attack another pack unprovoked is barbaric. Shifters don’t go to war without a serious reason.
“Are you going to tell Heath about your idea?” I ask.
“Definitely.” He chews his lip. “I’ll see him in the morning. That’ll give me time to think it through.”
“Do you think Granite Ridge is in on it?”
“That’s the thing, I can’t tell. Ferris knows now that the other packs know what they did to Hazel. He should be defensive or at least angry. He was so calm, it felt unnatural to me. And Sienna hardly said a word.” His voice begins to wobble. Sensing his need for support, I scoot closer.
“You’ll figure it out.”
“I can’t shake this feeling they’re after me. Or after Slate and Hazel. I’m not sure. It’s like they’re so carefully not looking our way, the absence of any snide remarks or threats feels wrong. Sneaky, I guess.”
There’s real fear in his eyes. Cautiously, I reach out and brush his mussed hair behind his ear. “They can’t do anything. We won’t let them. And we have allies to help if they really do throw everything they’ve got at us.”
He has no answer and instead studies the floor, his worry a heavy thing clinging to him. The droop of his shoulders, the tightness around his mouth. I can’t stand it.
“Hey!” I say, squeezing him tighter. “No more of this. We are a badass pack, and we have the most incredible leaders protecting us, including you. And I know you’ll keep us safe.”
Remembering our deal from a week prior, my hands find their way to his shoulders and I dig in, thumbs kneading his muscles. He lets out a long exhale and his eyes close. I urge him to turn away from me, giving me more access to his back
Working my way down, the heels of my hands press along the line of muscle on either side of his spine. His head falls forward. The tension starts to ease once I begin long strokes down the line of his shoulder blades.
“Better?” I ask.
He turns those soulful eyes on me and I can’t breathe. I couldn’t move if I wanted to. The depth of adoration mingling with sadness paralyzes me.
“I don’t deserve you,” he murmurs, twisting toward me. My hands glide from his shoulders up to hook around his neck. His blonde hair slips over my fingers.
Feeling dizzy, I suck in a ragged breath, trying to keep my head. But his hands are on my hips, pulling me into his lap.
