Chapter 31

31

J en

I look up into his eyes. My lips feel swollen. Other parts of me are a little sore. The last few hours have been some of the best of my life. It wasn’t just the sex; it was opening up to Steel. Talking. Being heard and accepted. Listening to him right back. I know him so much better now. I understand him better. I know how he ticks.

Steel finishes tying the laces of his boots and stands. “Ready?”

I shake my head. “I don’t like it. I’m worried.”

“Natalia is good people. You can—”

“I don’t mind being babysat by Natalia. That’s not the problem.”

He smiles. “Don’t call it that. You don’t need babysitting, but you do need protecting. Especially with everything going on. Roscoe has guys posted outside. Natalia will stay by your side while I’m gone. You don’t have to worry; she’s shrewd and loyal to a fault. Also, I’ve seen her kick a male’s ass without even breaking a sweat.”

I smile. Actually, I can picture that.

“I would prefer if you weren’t alone. I need a clear head when I talk with Arctic. The only way that’s going to happen is if I know you’re safe.”

“About your talk—”

“I’m going, Jen. I’ve made up my mind. I know you don’t like it, but we need to do something. It has to be proactive, and it needs to be now. It would be better if I went to him instead of being captured and brought in, which will end up happening sooner or later. This should work better for us.”

“I still think you should let me go with you. Let me speak with him and explain…”

He shakes his head the whole time I talk.

“Yes!” I inject venom into my voice. “Let me do it. Let me help. You’re the one with a bounty on your head. You’re the one they want to put in jail.”

“Except, I know Arctic. Things are different between us now, but I know him through and through. I know how his mind works. We were friends once. I’m sure he’ll listen to me. Our history has to count for something. I’m not putting you at risk, and that’s final.”

I chew on my lip. “I hope you’re right. I hate that you’re putting yourself in danger for me.”

He cups my cheek. “Now that I’ve heard your story, I understand your desperation to get home. Your drive to protect your family. It makes perfect sense. I need to do this.” He takes my hands, and then he kisses me softly on the lips.

How do I tell him that I’m not sure I want to leave anymore, that my place feels like it’s with him? But my family needs me as well. It all seems so impossible.

My throat clogs. My eyes sting. I put my arms around Steel and hold him close; my cheek is pressed tight against his chest. “Please be careful. Please don’t do anything stupid. Don’t put yourself in the line of fire.” I lean back, looking into his beautiful brown eyes. “Not for me.” I shake my head.

“I’d do just about anything for you.” He kisses me again.

That’s what I’m afraid of.

There’s a knock at the door, and we pull apart.

Steel looks into my eyes, giving me a soft smile. Then he walks to the door, opening it.

Natalia is standing there. “Hey. You called.” She looks just as good in casual wear. She’s wearing a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a white tank top. She has a beautiful brown tan and legs that go on for miles.

“Thanks for helping out,” Steel says.

“Anything for you, sweet cheeks.” Natalia winks at him.

I roll my eyes.

She turns her attention to me. “Hellooo, human. It looks like it’s just you and me for several hours. Steel tells me you like watching movies. That you’re particularly partial to Jamie Dornan and Drew Barrymore.”

I go warm inside. I nod. “Yep. I’ll make the popcorn. You can choose a movie, but it doesn’t have to star one of them. I don’t mind,” I tell her, my eyes on Steel.

I don’t want him to go.

I quickly close the space between us. I’m not ashamed to admit that I throw myself at him, and we kiss. Steel picks me up so that my feet are off the ground. I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Come back to me,” I whisper as we pull apart, our noses still almost touching.

He doesn’t make any promises. He doesn’t even nod his head. Steel lets me go and turns to Natalia. “Take good care of her.”

“I will.” Natalia is on the sofa, flicking through the channels and then pulling up a list of movies.

Steel looks at me for a moment longer and then leaves. I stare at the closed door. My stomach is in knots.

“You promised popcorn,” Natalia tells me. “I have a sweet tooth. Do you know how to make caramel?”

“Yep. My brother likes his with caramel, too,” I tell her, partially to remind myself why I have to let Steel go. Why I have to leave Mistveil.

I go and grab a pan and get started on the sweet treat.

“How did you do it?” I almost jump out of my skin when Natalia talks from directly behind me.

I clutch my chest as I turn. “Holy moly, but you shifters sure know how to sneak up on a person. How did I do what?” I swirl the pan as the sugar starts to melt, placing it back on the heat and turning back to Natalia.

She sighs softly in a defeated fashion. “How did you get Steel to fall in love with you?”

I laugh. “It’s not like that. I mean, we get along really well. We’re attracted to one another, but…nah…he’s not in love with me.” I snort like the idea is absurd.

“You are delusional, human.” Natalia smiles at me. “He’s completely head over heels in love with you. Like out of his mind in love, and I really didn’t think it was possible. I thought he had a block of ice for a heart when it came to love.”

Funny, I thought so, too, when I first met him. Actually, I thought he had a block of ice for a heart full stop.

“Do you know that every single female who works here is in love with him? Females on Mistveil are outnumbered by males. We can pick and choose who we want. And we all want Steel…every last one of us, but he’s been completely indifferent. Cold as freaking ice…until you came along. How did you do it? What magic power do you have?”

“I don’t have a magic power.” I shake my head.

“I hope you’re worth it.” Her eyes narrow on mine. “Steel is putting his life on the line for you. He may very well die out there.”

“I didn’t ask him to go. I tried to stop him.” My heart is pounding. “For the record, I’m in love with him too,” I blurt.

Oh shit! Did I just say that out loud?

She holds my gaze for a few moments longer, and her whole demeanor changes. Her shoulders relax. Her eyes soften. “Good. You’d better not break his heart, or you’ll have to answer to me.” Her throat works.

I nod.

“Your caramel is burning,” Natalia tells me, a wry smile growing on her face.

I turn, and my caramel is indeed burning. Smoke starts to billow from the pan. “Shit!”

I grab a dishcloth and take the pan off the heat.

There is a knock at the door, and Roscoe enters without waiting for a response. “Is Steel still here?”

“No,” Natalia and I say in unison.

“Crap! I was hoping to catch him.” He looks worried. There are frown lines marring his forehead.

“What’s up?” Natalia asks, looking concerned, too.

“I have a couple of inside sources at the palace. I’m told that a Draiger and a Red female were caught using the tunnel. They were brought in for questioning. It’s serious.”

“Tunnel?” I ask, walking over to him. “What tunnel would that be?”

“There’s an underground tunnel between Mistveil and Draig Islands,” Roscoe says.

“Wait a minute,” Natalia narrows her eyes in thought, “I thought that they stopped excavations when Arctic took over as king.”

“Apparently, someone completed work on the tunnel.”

“Noooooo,” Natalia says, eyes wide. “That’s completely illegal.”

“Yep. Anyway, they have a Draiger in custody. Looks like Draig is planning a raid on Mistveil. That’s beside the point. I wanted to give Steel a heads-up. There’s a lot of focus on interrogating the Draiger and the Red female right now. It could make it easier for him to get in unnoticed.”

“It could also be more difficult,” Natalia says. “Especially for him to get to Arctic. There might be more of a presence after the discovery of the completion of that tunnel.” She whistles low. “That’s a big deal.”

My stomach churns. I’m not sure how I’m going to make it through the next few hours.

Natalia must see something in my face. Maybe I’ve gone pale. Maybe I look like I might just pass out at any second. I feel like it.

“You should sit, Jen,” she tells me, taking my arm. “I’ll make the popcorn. It’s going to be alright. If anyone can do this, it’s Steel.”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine,” Roscoe says, but not before I catch the worried look in his eyes.