Page 34 of Runt's Haunted Ride
"Maybe, but it might be more of a feeling. I know I feel afraid of Mortis. But I've never had a mate before, so I'm not sure what will happen."
"I guess we'll see." Jack quickly kissed me. "Everything will be alright, Kai. It has to be. I love you, and I'm not losing you."
"You love me? I thought it was just me. I mean, who loved you." I was overjoyed with emotions and not making any sense. "I love you."
"Good. Now that we have that established," Jack laughed, kissing me again. "I have to go. Be strong." He pressed my mate mark, causing it to shine again. "You're not alone anymore."
Jack made to leave, but before he exited the tent, he turned back to face me.
"Kai, just so you know, next time we're together, I'm going to take my time and savor every inch of you."
My stomach flipped, and my vagina ached. "Promises, promises." Smiling, I winked at him.
He smiled back, then left the tent. And for the first time ever, I was excited to get dressed in the hideous dress. To be on show in front of everyone. To burn on Mortis' command. Because now I had something Mortis couldn't take from me—love and hope. And tonight's rejuvenation wasn't for Mortis. It was to show my mate just how bright my fire was.
Chapter 11
Jack
I have a mate. Me. I have a mate. And even more than that, I have a claimed mate who is wearing my mark.
Did I ever think I would have a mate? No. Did I want a mate? I'm not sure. I guess when you figure you'll never have one, you don't want one. But now that I have one, I'm thrilled. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she's safe and taken care of.
I'd just claimed Kai as my mate less than two hours ago, and every instinct I had was screaming at me to go back to that tent and never leave her side. But I had business to attend to. Important business.
I stood positioned near the stage in the big tent alongside my so-called brothers, waiting for the show that would either set Kai free or get us both killed.
My hand kept drifting to my chest, touching the spot where her phoenix mark burned into my skin. Even through my shirt, I could feel it—a constant warmth that reminded me she was mine and I was hers. Mated. Bonded. Connected in primal ways.
"You alright?" Swinger wandered over to me. He and I were assigned to the big tent tonight. "You look like you're about to shift and rip the roof off this place."
"Do I?" I growled, forcing myself to appear calm even though my gorilla was pacing inside my skull, demanding I find our mate and protect her. I shook out my arms. "Just anxious, I guess."
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't too." He leaned forward and looked around us. "Truth, this place gives me the creeps. I'll be glad when this assignment's over."
The big tent was just starting to fill up for the VIP show. Rows of plush chairs had been set up for the VIP guests—rich assholes in expensive suits and designer dresses, all holding champagne flutes and murmuring to each other with that particular brand of excited silliness rich people had when they knew they were richer than everyone else in the building.
"Did you hear about Leaper?"
"No." I didn't want to say what my head was saying.Who gives a shit what happened to Leaper?
"That orange clown blew some of that dust at a lady, and the wind caught it and blew it into Leaper's face. He was right next to the lady. Dude went silent, just stared straight ahead. Mortis told Fang it sometimes happens and Leaper would just have to wait for the effects to wear off. In the meantime, that weird ass said to have some fun with him. So, Fang made Leaper walk around like a chicken." Swinger laughed. "He was crowing and flapping his arms. It was hilarious."
I knew if I didn't laugh, Swinger would think something was really up. I forced out a laugh.
"I'm sorry I missed seeing that."
"Yeah, that's some messed-up shit. Like I said, I'll be glad when this is over."
"Me too, pal. Me too."
Swinger nodded and continued on with his patrol. I stayed right where I was.
I glanced across the tent, and there, of course, standing right at the front near the VIPs, were President Silver and Fang. Those two always had to be in the middle of things. That way, it's easier to take credit when things went right. Also easier to blame others when they didn't. The President's eyes kept scanning the tent, calculating, planning. Fang stood beside him with his arms crossed, his filed teeth glinting in the spotlight.
Peering around, I saw the other Silverbacks were scattered throughout the crowd, positioned as Fang had ordered.
I touched the pocket where my two bullets rested, feeling their weight. Kai's phoenix fire and human essence woven together into the only weapon that could kill Mortis. I'd loaded them into my gun before taking my post, replacing two regular rounds Fang had given me for tonight's chaos.
