Page 59 of Pack Ruin
“Who has hurt you, little queen? Tell me.”
“Grigor,” I said softly, reaching a hand toward him. I gasped when he took it, that strange surge of wind rushing through me, his eyes sparking fire in the darkness. Touching him, I could sense so much. A connection between him and… “Luke.”
“Flor.” I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was a rasp of pain. “Are you hurt? I smell blood.”
“Not mine,” I replied softly. “I’m not hurt.”My body wasn’t, anyway. My heart, though, ached like a piece of it had been carved away. I kept seeing that young wolf’s eyes as he realized what I’d done. The scent of silver was still in my nose. “I… I killed a wolf on my way here. With silver.”
“The pen from Brand’s grandmother?” Glen asked, one hand in my hair, pushing it behind my ear.
“Yeah.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“Not really. He barely scratched me, tried to do more, but?—”
“Then you did him a kindness,” Grigor said, his other hand wrapping around mine. “I can hear the pain in your voice, but I promise, the death you gave him was far more merciful than what would have happened if he had succeeded in truly harming you.” The tunnel floor trembled around us as he kneeled in front of me in the darkness, his breath warm and rich as he murmured in my ear. “Though I wish you never had to lift a hand to protect yourself, I am proud to have such a fierce and deadly mate.”
“Mate?” I was glad it was dark, since my cheeks were flaming. “Pretty good at counting chickens, ain’t ya?” His laughter was like melted chocolate. It soothed some of the raw places inside me, softened the pain. “What are you doing here, Grigor?”
“That’s not his name,” Glen said for some reason, settling onto the floor next to me. His naked skin was warm, and I ran a quick hand over him. With both males touching me, the invisible wind rushed even harder through me, through us. It was odd,but I could feel something between me and Grigor, and Glen. “His name is Joaquin,” Glen finished.
Huh?
“Pup, you have no reason to fear me.” Grigor’s tone was half exasperated and half amused.
“Said the boogeyman in the dark,” Glen grumbled, but I could tell he was trying to distract me.
I was plenty distracted, but it was by the sound of Luke’s body hitting the ground.Oh shit.Luke.
“I’ve got you, brother,” Glen murmured, shuffling away from my side.
“Is he okay?”
“He’s weak.” Grigor moved away to do something. “Ah, good,” he muttered, before returning. I heard something slosh, and then, “Drink slowly.” I remembered the last time I had hidden here. Grigor had slipped me energy bars and water, and sang songs in Spanish outside to keep me company. I had left some water and an energy bar down here, and when I heard the telltale sound of a wrapper, I knew Grigor had found the remains of that meal.
“What happened?”
“He’s been comatose. Starved. When he didn’t die, that fellow Torran tried to kill him. He was very nearly successful.”
“And you saved me,” Luke rasped. “You… tied us together, didn’t you, Grigor?”
“I did,” Grigor said. “I am as bound as you are, brother.”
“I know. I can feel you inside me.”
It was definitely not the time to laugh. But after a moment of holding it in, Glen and I both let out a long, breathy gasp. Glen’s chuckle bounced around us, like we were sitting inside a bubble.I supposed we were, with Grigor using magic to keep us all safe.
It took me more than a minute to collect myself, and when I finally had my laughter under control, I apologized.
“Your laughter, little queen, is the most beautiful music I can imagine,” Grigor replied. “May I hold you while I explain what has transpired? Touching you gives me more power to conceal us.”
Glen muttered, “Slick move, grandpa,” when Grigor shifted position to pull me onto his lap and wrap his arms around me. He had on pants of some kind. Leather, maybe. I tried not to be disappointed.
But his arms were bare, and his hands. I shivered, but not from the temperature. The feeling of his skin on mine was incredibly distracting, and I had to force myself to pay attention as he sketched out all that had happened.
Grigor had followed Sergeant to Southern, thinking he might be an enemy, then discovered the rogue encampment in the woods. “Of course, they’re not rogues now. Sergeant has the power of your family line, as do you.” Luke made a shocked sound.
“You know about my family? That we came from the Western pack?”
