Page 8 of Guardians of the Assassins
MacGregor harrumphed, but Morgan could tell that he was impressed by the warrior. “You will spar tomorrow with the guys before you’re allowed to go off alone with Morgan.”
Heat seared her cheeks, and she sputtered, suddenly feeling like a teenager bringing a boy home for the first time. “MacGregor! That’s enough.”
But both men ignored her.
Caedmon bowed in a way that looked formal. “I look forward to it.”
She looked at Kincade with wide eyes, not above pleading with him to put her out of her misery. The fucker just chuckled, not even bothering to hide his amusement. Before she could smack him, he straightened, a smile still playing about his face. “Let me show you where you can put your bags.”
Said luggage was already starting to pile up behind them as it sailed through the mirror. Draven was chucking them through from the other end, while Ryder was more circumspect, carefully shoving the bags along the floor.
The others headed toward the door, talking about improvements they wanted done, but she couldn’t help but linger as the amount of baggage continued to grow, quickly overtaking the library. A frown gathered between her brows, and she turned to follow the others. “Just how long did you say you were going to stay?”
CHAPTER FOUR
KINCADE
Asmall, content smile curled Kincade’s lips as he listened to Morgan chat with her old mentor. Ryder stood next to him at the stove, his wolf giving a pleased rumble as he dumped the cake mix into the pan. Draven and Ascher chatted with the trio as they set the table, while Caedmon and Atlas played butler and host, serving snacks and drinks and keeping Loki, Stanley, and Séamus from arguing, which was a fulltime job in itself.
MacGregor sipped his whisky, regaling the group with tales of Morgan’s youth, while the men listened with rapt attention and lots of laughter at her exploits. “And she came home dripping wet, covered in slime, and a stink that lingered for a full month.”
She gave him a playful shove. “Give me some credit. I was fourteen. How was I supposed to know there was a nest of baby hydras? The whole area was infested.” She pursed her lips and scowled. “Those little buggers had sharp teeth. Thankfully, it was a stroke of luck that they were young enough that as soon as one of them was injured, they weren’t able to control the bloodlust and started eating each other instead of going after me.”
“You went alone?” Kincade’s humor drained, and he turnedaway from the stove, absolutely furious, even though the incident had taken place years ago.
The rest of the group fell silent at his scolding, glancing back and forth between them with avid curiosity, not the least bit repentant for eavesdropping.
But he didn’t give a fuck.
Instead of being pissed at him, like she would have earlier in their relationship, Morgan’s face softened and she rose to her feet. She walked toward him and didn’t stop until she was in his arms. He tucked her tight against him, loving the feel of her curves, then he inhaled the heated scent of home he associated with her, and the tightness in his chest loosened a smidge.
“I’m going to be okay,” she murmured, brushing her face against his chest. “Ryder and Caedmon won’t let me out of their sight for even a second. Nothing bad is going to happen to any of us.”
He released a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders relaxing only a fraction, then he leaned down and buried his face in her hair. “I wish you’d let us all go.”
Letting her leave tomorrow was akin to ripping out his own heart.
He wasn’t able to do it.
He couldn’t watch her walk away.
“We need to go. You know why.” She cupped his face, leaning back only enough to stare up at him with her beguiling eyes, and he couldn’t help the way his arms tightened around her. He wasn’t ready to let her go yet. “And I don’t trust the gods not to take advantage and set a trap while we’re away. I’m trusting you and the others to hold the coven while I’m gone. Keep yourself and everyone else safe.”
Kincade gave in to the impulse to kiss her, struggling not to take things further to try and change her mind. Unfortunately, she was so stubborn, he knew that nothing he did would ever alter her from her course, not when she thought it would keep them safe.
He reluctantly pulled back when the buzzer on the stoverang, giving a grateful nod to Ryder when he turned it off. Breathing raggedly, Kincade pressed his forehead against hers, nothing else in the world existing for him in that moment. “If you so much as get even a scratch, nothing will stop me from coming after you.”
It was both a promise and a threat.
Instead of being cowed or angry, she beamed up at him, her smile stealing his breath. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
She brushed her lips against his once more, then whirled away before he could deepen it, the little minx tossing a smile over her shoulder as she resumed her seat. Ascher held out the chair for her, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head even as he tucked the chair in close.
Kincade’s resolve firmed—no matter what came after her, he would do whatever was needed to keep her safe.
She was his life.
His everything.
