Page 20 of Mortal Guardian (Shadow Shifter)

Darren beamed. His smile infecting Colton and Riley. “Thank you.”

“Dannika has told me so much about you. I feel like I know you already,” he said, giving Riley a quick hug.

He pulled back when Colton growled. “Darren, it is unseemly to touch another man’s mate.”

Darren’s face paled as he backed away from Riley. “I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect.” He scurried down another tunnel as Riley turned to Colton with flaming eyes.

“What the hell was that?” she hissed.

Colton stared down at his woman. “You are mine, and it’s best to make others aware. I do not wish another altercation.”

“He hugged me like a brother, not a potential mate. He was terrified of you.”

“Good,” Colton said.

“If you think you can lock me up and keep me to yourself, you’re sorely mistaken. I’m not interested in being your arm candy. I want a partner or nothing at all.”

Colton growled, then chastised his demon. Intellectually, he knew she was right. Darren posed no threat, but his demon had wanted to tear the poor boy apart. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to get control of the anger, but apparently, the possessiveness is worse.”

Riley sighed, glancing down the tunnel Darren had taken. “He will never feel comfortable around me again. All he wanted was a family portrait for me and Dannika.”

“You should be more concerned about my feelings than his.”

Her eyes met his, but it was the sadness in them that made his heart skip. “If that was your takeaway from this conversation, then you are far more gone than I realized.”

His chest squeezed when she walked away.

CHAPTER10

Guilt was a bitter pill, and Colton gagged on it as he ran after Riley. He grabbed her arm, halting her progress in the caves, as a wolf clan member walked by giving him an uneasy glance. Yup, he was being a jerk and if he wasn’t careful, he would lose the most important person in his life. “Riley wait. I’m sorry.”

Her cool glance at his hand wrapped around her upper arm made him release her. “You were out of line.”

“I know. I won’t give you excuses because I don’t know what happened,” he said.

Her eyes narrowed on him. “You were scary. I honestly thought you considered fighting Darren.”

Colton rubbed his forehead. “I did. There’s no excuse. Darren is the sweetest kid ever. When Raine told me he was possessive with Dannika when she started her friendship with Darren, I laughed at his ridiculousness. Who is the fool now?”

Her features softened. “You’re not a fool.” She winked. “A little thick-headed at times, maybe.”

He pulled her against his body, allowing the tension to ease as her hand slipped around his waist. “I don’t deserve you, but I have no intention of letting you go.”

Her smile lit her eyes. A sparkling cascade that soothed his soul and calmed his demon. “You can get away with a lot when you’re sweet like this.”

He kissed her temple. “I’ll remember that.” He took her hand and led her towards Dannika and Raine’s suite.

“I will talk to Dannika. I’m sure she can talk to Darren and explained the situation. I know you wouldn’t have acted like that under normal circumstances.”

Colton wanted to agree with her, but he wasn’t sure. Riley didn’t understand what she meant to him. The never-ending darkness that represented his day-to-day life before he met her. The unending loneliness and the acceptance that it would never change. That if he had found love, he’d be destined to abandon it and destroy the one woman who completed him.

He knocked on the door when they reached Raine and Dannika’s suite.

Raine opened the door, motioning for them to come in. They sat on the couch that allowed a perfect view of the wolf portrait Darren had made for the couple. Damn, he had been an idiot.

Dannika exited her bedroom with her fingers over her mouth. She looked pale and worn down, making Colton wonder if the stress of being the Queen of the clans was taking its toll. He almost asked Raine why he wasn’t taking better care of his mate, but he saw the same concerns on his friend’s face.

Still, the queen smiled when she saw them, walking over and giving Riley and him a hug. “I’m glad you’re here, despite the circumstances. Tell me what’s going on.”

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