Page 96 of Guardians of the Assassins
“Shouldn’t we let the villagers know that it’s safe?” She rested her head against his shoulder, too exhausted to hold it upright, needing the comfort of his touch.
“I’ll go.” Atlas brushed his fingers down the side of her face. “Rest. I’ll be back.”
She grabbed his wrist before he could step away. “You’ll be careful and come back to me.”
“Always.” He grabbed her hand, pressed a kiss to her palm, then placed it gently against her chest. He glanced up at Caedmon. “Keep her safe.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CAEDMON
Caedmon used his shoulders to push open the door to the house, his hold tightening around Morgan as he scanned the interior for threats. There were only three rooms—a kitchen and dining room combination, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
The dust on the floors and along the surfaces said the owners hadn’t been home for a long time.
When he glanced down at his mate, he found her fast asleep, and his heart softened. He leaned down, lightly resting his cheek against the top of her head, and breathed a sigh of relief that she was still alive.
When he saw Morgan pinned beneath the arachne, he’d thought his world had ended. He’d gone off to battle many times, fought wars, been imprisoned for centuries, but nothing had prepared him for the helpless feeling of nearly losing his mate after he’d just gotten her in his life.
The sight of his mate in danger came close to breaking him.
After being away from Faerie for so long, he should’ve been thrilled to be home. He wanted to show Morgan the wonder of his youth, the magic of this world, but all he saw now were potential dangers.
As he gazed down at the woman in his arms, he realized he had a different home now.
One he wouldn’t trade, even if Faerie welcomed him back with open arms.
He headed toward the bedroom and came to a stop beside the bed, but couldn’t bring himself to set her down.
She was safe in his arms.
Protected.
He cursed himself for a fool. He should’ve never allowed her to get dragged into his world. He knew the dangers of Faerie better than most, yet he said nothing to prevent her from coming.
When Morgan shifted in his arms, he swallowed hard, then gently lowered her to the bed. The instant her back touched the mattress, her eyes fluttered open, and he found himself inches away from her stunning violet eyes.
Suddenly nervous about being alone with her for the first time since they became mated, he straightened to his full height, glancing around the room for inspiration. “I’ll get you some water.”
As he turned to leave, her husky laughter followed in his wake. “I doubt you will be able to bring me enough to remove this sticky residue. It’s everywhere.”
He chuckled at her wry tone, then nearly swallowed his tongue when he glanced back at her over his shoulder to see that she was on her feet, stripping out her clothing. Against his command, his cock hardened like he was an untrained youth that couldn’t control his body.
He should have turned away and given her some privacy, but his beast craved the sight of her too badly and he was unable to deny himself the view when he didn’t know if he’d ever get the chance again. He justified it by saying he needed to confirm that she wasn’t seriously hurt, but even he didn’t believe the lie.
That was until he saw the nasty burn on her neck that extended down to her shoulder.
The angry red skin looked raw, and his gut clenched at how close she’d come to being seriously hurt. He hated that she wasin pain. He should’ve been watching her better, protecting her more, and he failed. “I’ll run you a bath. Leave your clothes out, and I’ll clean them.”
“Ah…thank you.” Morgan fiddled with folding her shirt, standing in only a tank top and pants, fighting a blush.
Despite having six mates, she still retained a youthful innocence that he found enchanting. When she was with her other mates, he saw the hint of a sexy seductress just coming into her power. The combination of both was part of her charm and completely fascinated him.
It took all his resolve to leave and start her bath. He touched the runes on the wall, the magic in the spell heating the water and filling the tub, the ritual of taking care of his mate helping calm him. As soon as the tub was filled, he headed toward the kitchen, looking for ingredients to soothe her burns.
When the door to her room opened, it was all he could do not to turn and catch a peek of her naked glory. It was only when the door to the bathroom closed that he allowed himself a shaky breath. He quickly assembled the salve, then collected her clothing, using a dab of magic to get the material clean.
It wasn’t long before he was standing outside of the bathroom door, her clothes in one hand, the salve in the other. The need to see her, not let her out of his sight, was like a compulsion that was painful to ignore.
