Her gaze softened, and my bear wasn’t sure how to take the look. “It’s okay, Rome.”
“I’m usually much better at controlling this.”
“I know you are, and you are in control.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. If I were, I wouldn’t be growling and ready to rip off anyone’s head who dared to come near you.”
She squeezed my hand. “You’re not. You’re not hurting anybody. You’re not hurting me. You’re doing fine.”
I still held her hand as I gave her an incredulous look before I went to the front door.
“How about I let myself in, and you walk around with me to make sure nobody’s here?”
“How did you know I was about to take the keys from your hand?” I asked, swallowing hard.
“I was trying to think of what I would do if someone had attacked you, and I was the one who needed reassurance.”
I nearly tripped over my feet. “Are you serious?” I asked, blinking.
“It’s okay, Rome. We’ll take care of each other. Now, your hands need to be free, or I guess they’re claws. I will get the door open. Rowen has wards here, and since it’s just me, it’s easier than a place of business.” Her lower lip trembled, and I cursed.
“We’re going to clean up the bookshop.”
“My aunt has put so much into it, and the revenants and Faith nearly destroyed it all.”
I shook my head. “Between the fae, Jaxton, and Rowen, it’ll look brand-new. The cosmetic things? We can clean that up. We can fix it.”
“Not the insecurity that Aunt Penelope feels. Or what you feel.”
“I’m not insecure,” I growled as I stormed around the small cottage she rented. My bear was about to burst out of my skin and prove that, but I held it back.
“You might not be insecure, but you’re still growling over the idea that we were attacked. We all took care of ourselves. I didn’t know my Aunt Penelope was so good with a dagger.”
That made my lips twitch. “Who do you think taught Laurel to use the sword?” I asked.
Her brows rose.
“We tend to fall back on what we’re good at—witches do magic, same as the fae in their way. And shifters use whatever predatory skill they have. Those who possess small power but not enough to protect those they love? They need to learn other ways. And when Laurel lost her magic, your aunt stepped up and taught her how to protect herself. That way, neither of them was forced to rely on anyone.”
“I hope Laurel explains it to me someday because maybe then I could help her find a way back.”
I smiled softly and reached out, pushing her hair from her face. “One day, she’ll tell you. But if anyone can find a way for Laurel to get what she’s lost and break that curse, it’ll be the coven. You’ll figure it out.”
“You say that. And yet, I sometimes feel that I’ll never be able to catch up enough.”
“Look how far you’ve come already.”
“Possibly,” she whispered.
I nodded as I looked around the rest of the cottage. “Everything looks good.”
“Good.” She looked down at her hands and sighed. “I’m going to have some tea and take a breath.”
“I need to…I should go.” I wanted to mark her right then, claim her so everyone knew who she belonged to. And that meant I needed to leave.
Her lips twitched. “Because you’re afraid to be alone with me? Or you need to be with our newcomer? Was that Ash?” she asked, and my heart stuttered, even as I nodded.
“Yes, that was Ash. I didn’t know he was coming back.”
“From the look on everyone’s faces, including his sister’s, I don’t think anybody knew.”
“I should go see him. He was my friend.”
She tilted her head, studying my face. “Was?”
My bear clawed at me, my heart racing even as my stomach rolled. “I can’t…I can’t talk about it.”
“It seems many people can’t talk about it.”
I shook my head, my brain hurting. “They’re not my secrets to tell. If I tell you what I feel about them, I’ll break trust. I want to tell you everything, Sage. I promise, I do. But I can’t.”
She reached out and cupped my face. I froze, needing more, needing to push into her, hold her close, and never let her go. “Okay,” she whispered. “I understand. I’m learning and figuring things out. I’m here if you need me.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone,” I said as I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. I couldn’t help it. I needed to touch her. Needed to be with her.
She might not be my mate in truth, but I needed her because she was mine. And as she looked at me, I had to hope that maybe she felt the same way about me.
“Will you be safe here?” I asked, not wanting to leave.
Her lips quirked into a smile. “Yes. We have wards, and this is the best place I can be for now. I’m going to call my aunt because she wanted to be alone, but Rowen still set the wards at her house.”
“I would feel better if all of you guys were together.”
Sage shook her head. “Aunt Penelope needed time. Rowen is doing too much and won’t let me help, and Laurel is off, either with her brother or dealing with other things. We’re all working with what we have. I’ll be safe in my small cottage with the wards set.”
“And with some of my people on your place.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I’m going to make sure the bears watch your place.”
“You’ve already had them doing it, haven’t you?” She narrowed her eyes.
I shrugged and stuffed my hands into my pockets. If I didn’t, I’d want to hold Sage close and never let her go. I was possessive. Sue me. “My bears protect this town. They protect the people I care about. And that’s you, Sage.”
She ducked her head then hugged me tightly. I wrapped my big arms around her, not wanting to let her go. “As long as they’re safe. Maybe I’ll bake for them.”
I grinned. “Just keep the honey buns for me.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, I can’t do that in this town. But I will find a special treat for you.” My cock hardened at that, and she laughed. “I didn’t mean it to sound so sexual.” She paused. “You should go.” She kissed me again, and I slid my hand around the back of her neck, tightening ever so slightly so I could hold her close.
“Be safe.”
“I am safe.”
“I’ll always want to protect you.”
“The same for me with you. Now, go see your friend. Rowen will be here soon. I think something’s changing. “
“I felt it, too,” I whispered and kissed her again, needing her taste, her touch. I wanted her, and with the magic swirling around me, I knew she wanted me, too. Tonight wasn’t the night for that, though, not with what we needed to do separately.
As I walked out of her cottage, my bear growled to go back. I looked up to find Ariel.
“We’ll protect her, boss. Go see what Ash wants.”
There was a bit of a rumble in her voice. I knew she didn’t trust him. I didn’t know if I did either, not after everything that had happened.