Page 11 of Fractured Souls
At the same time, I knew she was safe with Dr. and Mrs. Nadar—even their three sons could be trusted to keep Maggie safe both physically and emotionally. She always seemed happy around them, even when they were ‘arguing,’ if you could call it that. Bickering like an old married couple, more like it. Their closeness was something I had struggled to accept for a while, especially in the face of thinking I would never see Lorcan again. At the time, it felt like our family against the world, especially when my dad passed. But our familial circle was only expanding, and not just with Maggie and the Nadar brothers, who’d soul-bonded with her when they were mere infants and had been around ever since.
No, it also included Cormac and his bonded.
Almost as if summoned by thought, I could hear Lorcan talking to him as she finished getting ready, the conversation with our sister probably having spurred her to check on her own sibling. I had no doubt that he was fine, though—the bastard had always managed to land on his feet no matter the situation.
It was one of the reasons it had always been easy to be friends with Cormac. Sure, he got himself into shit, but he also got himself out of it…and honestly, he was pretty fucking fun when it came down to it.
Zander appeared at the door of the bathroom, and I heard him ask her brother something about his ‘cousin’—a woman I was gathering was a siren nearly as old as himself. I saw Lorcan’s brow dip slightly, but then relief flashed in her gaze when Cormac responded. Zander chuckled about something before saying his goodbyes and leaving the room to get ready for dinner.
When Lorcan walked out, completely ready aside from her clothes, I motioned for her to come over. “What was that about?”
“Cormac was just ensuring me that they’re good.” She sighed happily. “And apparently training is going fairly well. Elora, Zander’s cousin, is super helpful.”
There was an odd note to her voice, and when I arched my brow, her lips pressed up.
“I don’t have confirmation,” she began, “but there is totally something going on there. I don’t really know her, though…so hard to tell.” Her eyes softened with a bit of sadness. “I miss Cormac.”
I wasn’t surprised by that at all. Lorcan and her twin had always been remarkably close. I gently pulled her closer by the hand so that she was standing between my legs. I ran my other hand over her jaw, her gaze searching my face with a soft affection I wanted to see every day for the rest of our damn lives.
“We’ll see them soon,” I promised. “I know you don’t like being away from him for long.”
She looked relieved at my words, giving a small nod. I always felt a bit surprised, in a good way, at the amount of trust she put in me. Outside of her recent belief that she couldn’t be loved, when I said something she almost always believed me. It was a level of trust that I felt honored to have.
“Oh.” She perked up. “His bonded are doing well. Apparently the four of them are making a big deal about the holidays. Cormac is totally freaked out, and I’m here for it.”
I smiled at the amusement in her gaze…but before I could respond, her stomach fucking growled.
“Shit,” she grumbled, watching my reaction as a concerned rumble left my throat, everything else taking a back seat to my mate’s immediate needs.
“Clothes, now. We’re going to eat,” I demanded. She offered me a mock salute before sashaying across the space towards her bedroom. Standing up, I saw the others getting ready to leave and my chest relaxed just a little bit knowing that she would eat soon.
If it wasn’t for the panic of her being hungry, there was no fucking way she would be leaving the room in the dress she walked out in. My heart nearly seized in my fucking chest, my cock already hard and only becoming more so as I looked over every inch of perfection that was my mate.
Her golden skin was covered in a snow-white silk dress that wrapped around her frame, her shoulders bare except for thin straps and a pair of blue heels on her feet. With how the dress clung to her, she looked fucking naked to me. If she was just walking around the house, I would have fucking loved it, especially since it gave me such easy access to her soft skin—and the ability to rip it off was one swipe away considering how delicate the fabric was.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the same when so many eyes would be on her.
“Here,” I said as I slid my oversized coat onto her shoulders, trying to cover her up a little. The action backfired though, and I nearly groaned at the sight of her in my clothing.
The elevator ride down was short, and when we stepped into the luxury cabin-like lobby, everyone’s attention turned to us. Lorcan mumbled a curse, her unease filtering through our bond, and our group tightened around her, people talking in excited whispers that only grew while pulling out their phones. I wanted to crush each one between my hands, and if it didn’t mean leaving her side, I would have attempted the task. Instead I used my body to block their view of Lorcan, me and the others gathering in to create a protective barrier around her as we walked to the restaurant located right off the lobby.
How had it only been such a short time ago that this had been her normal, something she’d been used to and faced alone?
No more.
Luckily, the restaurant staff ushered us right in, leading us to a table that was slightly separated from the rest of the restaurant. It wasn’t complete privacy, but Lorcan did relax a bit once she was tucked away in the least visible seat, our bodies once again forming a wall between her and her would-be gawkers.
“Well that was interesting,” she murmured as she shrugged off my jacket and hung it on the back of her chair, looking frustrated.
“Is it always like that for you?” Zander asked.
From across the table, Lorcan nodded, her eyes filling with a sadness I didn’t like. “Fucking sucks,” she muttered.
Before Zander could say what was on his mind, the server arrived and took our orders. I couldn’t even fucking tell you what I ordered because I was so focused on the tension in her shoulders and the way her hands were clasped in her lap almost nervously.
When the server left, Zander spoke up. “I can show you how to block it so your power doesn’t affect others as much.”
His words brought the table to a full stop.
