He slid his arm around her, almost a claim, but more likely just because he wanted to touch. And she didn’t mind.
“We were at the house. The whole thing’s lost, Jonah.”
Jonah let out a growl, and Poppy reached around to pat his chest with her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“You do not get to apologize for them again,” Jonah growled. “The place wasn’t my home, and I’ll rebuild or find something else. My home’s in the lion realm.”
She didn’t have a home, so she understood not having connections, but she still blamed herself.
“I need to go back to my mate and child, but I’m going to leave some of the lions to guard and protect you and Poppy.”
“Thank you very much, Alpha,” she whispered, feeling as though she’d walked into a dream.
“Call me Malik.”
“Sorry, I’m not really good at the rules of etiquette with other realms. I was never taught.”
“You have time to learn. You can always call me Malik. You’re Jonah’s, therefore, you’re family. Jonah, stay here as long as you need to. If you have to come to the realm to stay safe, do that, but I have a feeling that you’ll want to take care of it here.”
“I’m not leading the gorgons to the lions.”
“No, we can’t do that,” Poppy added quickly.
“I figured as much. Take care of it quickly, and then come home.” Malik looked at her. “If the lion realm is where you choose to stay.” She didn’t know if he was talking to her or Jonah, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
“We’ll help you however you need,” Malik said.
“It’s the queen though, she wants me dead.”
“Do you deserve death?”
Poppy opened her mouth, but Jonah was the one who answered. “No, they’re the ones that caused this, and now they want her head for their own mistakes.”
She swallowed hard. “That might technically be true, but it’s not the whole story.”
“It’s enough of it. So, we’re going to figure it out,” Jonah put in. “Thank you, Malik. You didn’t have to come here in person.”
“If I didn’t, a certain lion cub would have tried to scratch my face off with her tiny little claws. Fix this, the both of you. We will have your back if you need it. And you know Dante is already here to help.”
“Dante?” Poppy asked.
“That dragon considers you part of his hoard.” Malik rolled his eyes.
“Really?” Poppy asked.
“Yes, you’re one of us now,” Jonah said.
“Seriously, it’s like a cult.”
“It’s not that bad,” Malik said. “You won’t be alone in this. My men will be here for you, and any of the seven and their mates will be here, as well. There’s a lot of us here that can help. Protect yourselves, and then come home when you’re ready. But I have a feeling that you two have more to talk about than just a fight to the death.”
And with that, Malik nodded and walked out, his guards following. She could sense other lions near, but only just. She was learning that part of her powers.
Jonah had his hand on her hip as the others left, and she turned in his hold, swallowing hard.
“They’ll help you, no matter what. They don’t even know me.”
“They don’t have to know you. You have the chance to be mine, so of course, they’re going to help. That’s who they are. That’s who we are. We protect those in our circle, we safeguard the innocents.”
“I already told you, I’m not innocent.”
“You are, Poppy.” He kissed her again, and she swallowed her words, just wanting his taste, wanting him.
“I should tell you more about me, and then this will make more sense,” he said as he pulled away.
“How?”
“Because Malik was there for me when no one else was, and I want it to make sense for you. Why I am how I am.”
And so, she let him lead her to the couch, and he squeezed her hand.
“You told me your secrets, so maybe now I should tell you a few of mine.”
She leaned closer and wondered if this was her next path set by fate. If somehow, amongst the darkness, in between the running, she had run smack into her destiny.
Chapter 5
Jonah hadn’t told his story. Ever. Malik had gleaned it, had been part of the end of it, the resolution, but Jonah had never gone through it all step by step, day by day for anyone before. But he would. For this woman that he hardly knew but felt as if he had known his entire existence, he would. Is that what soul mates did? Is that what true halves did in this world of supernaturals and paranormals?
He hadn’t seen it happen with Eliana and Malik, but their mating had been far different than anyone else’s. After all, she hadn’t been a paranormal when they met. The way the lightning worked, meant that she wouldn’t have changed until she was bonded to her mate. And a lion shifter couldn’t mate to a human, so they were in a constant state of flux until Malik could mark her as his.
So, no, while their connection might have always been there, it wasn’t like this. At least, he didn’t think. Maybe one day he would ask, but would that be too personal? Did he have a right to ask?
“What are you thinking?” Poppy asked, her hands at her sides.
He knew he needed to tell her, and he would. He just needed to figure out exactly where to start.
“I’m not as old as many of my friends, but I’ve been through a few wars.”
“You mentioned that. You call yourself a soldier. And I can see some of what you’ve lost in the turmoil.”
He shook his head. “My physical scars and losses are only part of it.” He reached out and ran his knuckle down her cheek. She leaned into his touch, and he held back a smile. He wasn’t even sure she realized she’d done it.
As soon as she did, her eyes widened, and she leaned back again, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he whispered. “I’ve been a soldier my whole life,” he continued. “I was born into the jaguars, and I fought for them. I grew up in the rankings, just like most jaguars my age. I was not of royal stock, but I wasn’t a commoner either. So, I went into our military, just like all boys and girls of my age and rank did.”
“It was required?”
He shook his head. “More like there wasn’t much else to do. I didn’t have land or a real income, and the best way for me to make sure I could take care of my family was to join the military.”
“Your family.”
It wasn’t a question, but he still answered.
“My mother and my two sisters.” He knew his voice was a little soft, but he held back anything that could potentially make him break. It was hard to think about them. But he was doing his best to live on and honor their memory.
“My father died in battle when my mother was pregnant with my youngest sister. We were fighting against other jaguar clans at the time. While some Packs and clans around the supernatural world have been at peace for long enough that there aren’t as many wars, the jaguars have never really been able to settle down. They don’t like to be in groupings, but they also can’t be by themselves for too long. Meaning, there’s constant infighting and blood battles. It doesn’t help that, during the time of the war where I lost so much, most children didn’t make it past the age of two.”