Page 59 of Guardians of the Assassins
It didn’t work.
Morgan tucked her face against Ryder’s chest, hiding from all of them, and Ryder glared at Draven for making things worse.
Draven smirked, then kissed the back of her neck. “Just think of this like your birthday and Christmas all wrapped up into one. We’re gifts sent to you from the gods. You’ve unwrapped and enjoyed us, so you can’t return us. You have one gift left. They wouldn’t send you another mate unless they thought you deserved it…or that you both needed each other.”
Ryder heaved an exasperated sigh, lifting his hand to deckthe stupid asshole, then froze when Morgan gave a snort of laughter.
Draven raised an eyebrow and shot him a cocky smirk.
Ryder leaned back, and Morgan lifted her head, her bruised eyes locking on him once more. “You weren’t ready to admit it, but you knew the instant you were marked that he was your mate. He gave you time to get used to him. He’s made a place for himself within the pack and your life. You need him just as much as he needs you.”
As much as it felt like he was pulling off his own skin, he stepped away from the girl who owned his whole heart. Draven slid his hands down her sides and over her hips, before he, too, retreated.
Morgan reached out and grabbed the front belt of his uniform, holding him in place. “You…you’re not…” he sputtered, then tried again. “He’s a wolf and…”
She gave a frustrated growl, her nose crinkling adorably, and Ryder took pity on her. He pressed his hand over hers until her palm settled over his heart. “Caedmon is an honorable man. He’s saved your life more than once. He’s been trying to give you time to develop feelings for him instead of forcing you to mate. It’s the only reason why the rest of the guys and I didn’t kill him and dispose of his body on the first night.”
He bent and pressed his cheek against the side of her face, marking her with his scent, his wolf practically purring when the two smells combined.
Mate.
“You’re worried that my wolf will be jealous or the other guys will be pissed.” It was hard not to turn and glare at Kincade for her insecurity, since the asshat had blown a nut when he discovered that she had more than one mate when they’d first met.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing you can do that would make us regret a second of the time we spent with you.” Ryder slipped his hand to the back of her neck, his fingers threading in her hair so she couldn’t look away. “Wedon’t get a vote on who you accept as a mate, but if you’re asking my opinion—do it. You attract trouble like a magnet. It takes all of us to keep you safe. I worry that soon, we won’t be enough. Caedmon could be the answer.”
He lifted his head and brushed his lips over her forehead. “You’ve been subconsciously avoiding the issue. I’m sorry that we can’t give you more time. You either need to claim him as your mate, or you’re going to have to let him go.”
Well, fuck.
Morgan’s gut clenched at the idea of Caedmon being forced home to become nothing more than a slave. He’d spent most of his life at the mercy of someone else’s whim. She couldn’t send him back knowing that they would destroy a part of his soul until he was only a shadow of himself.
He’d barely been able to pull himself back from the abyss last time. She still saw the shadows lurking in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.
She feared he wouldn’t be able to survive that happening again.
She turned her back on the room, absently rubbing the moon on her arm, trying to differentiate between whatever sympathies she felt for him and her true feelings.
It was impossible.
The two were so wrapped up in each other, she couldn’t tell them apart. Maybe it was foolish to even try. No one just caught feelings. Their relationship was complicated, built through hardship and trial by fire. It had forged a bond that took most people years to develop.
Taking that away would be a disservice.
With carnivorous fairies flying around in her stomach, she slowly turned toward Caedmon, ignoring everyone else in the room. Her heart cracked against her ribs at seeing him down onone knee before her, his head bowed, a sword pointed at the ground, like a knight of old presenting himself to their queen.
“You have every right to be angry. I have no excuse…except to say that after centuries of searching, after having long since given up hope, I finally found peace and it was all because of you. You are my home. You calm the chaos in my soul.” He lifted his head, his yellow eyes piercing as he gazed up at her, his heart bared for her to see and judge if he was worthy.
“You give with your whole heart and fight for people that have no one, just because it’s the right thing to do. You have no idea how rare that is. You terrify me. Your courage. Your bravery. The thought of me not being here to protect you and keep you safe keeps me up at night.” He swallowed hard, and he took a shuddering breath. “I know you don’t love me like your other mates, but I hope with time, you’ll come to care for me, because the thought of going on with my life without you in it is unthinkable.”
Morgan blinked furiously, the back of her eyes burning at his confession. How the hell could she not have noticed how he felt? Everything he did was for her comfort. He kept the wolves settled, kept the house running smoothly. He was up before her and went to bed after. He hovered in the shadows, never drawing attention to himself, as if he’d been afraid that if she noticed him, she would kick him out.
It was only then that she realized everything he did wasn’t for the coven.
He did it for her.
To make her life easier.
Without her noticing, he’d woven his way into her life. The thought of him no longer being there felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest with a pitchfork. She strode forward, coming to a stop before him.
