Page 70 of Rising Reign

I reached out and stroked his stubbled cheek. “I’ll be safe.”

“Damn right, you will be. Because I’ll be at your side.”

I kissed him quickly. “All right.”

Since our bond was so new, it would be difficult for him to even allow our fellow bondmates around us, let alone someone who’d tried to kill me yesterday. My hand dropped to Ender’s. “Do you have some clothes I can borrow?”

A small smile pulled at Ender’s lips. “I do like the idea of you wearing my clothes, my scent all over you.”

“I’m pretty sure your scent is in my skin at this point.”

Ender leaned forward, running his nose down the column of my neck. “Yes…it is.” He growled and nipped me playfully.

“Clothes, now. Sexy times, later.”

He let out a growl but forced himself away from me. “All right.” He stood and hauled me over his shoulder, slapping my ass. “Let’s cover this perfect backside before I decide to keep you chained in my room for the rest of the day.”

I giggled as he carried me toward the closet. “You know, this room isn’t really what I expected.”

“How so?”

“It’s all peaceful neutrals and gorgeous impressionist landscapes.”

Ender set me down in the closet. “What did you expect?”

I shrugged. “A lot of black and the skulls of your kills?”

Ender snorted. “I save that for my armory room.”

“You mean your pussy palace and armory room?”

He groaned. “Don’t say pussy. You’re going to make me hard, and I need to focus on dark magic and demons.”

I choked on a laugh. “Sorry?”

“You damn well should be.”

I grinned as we got dressed. I looked ridiculous in a pair of Ender’s sweats and a tee, but I couldn’t deny that I loved the scent of leather and spice being that much closer. As we headed for the door, I felt a slight pressure in my mind, as if someone were asking for entry.

The pressure built behind my eyes, and my nose stung as I looked up at Ender. “Pack bonds?”

He nodded, his smile soft.

It had been so long since I’d felt the mind-speak that came with being a pack member. I could’ve been blooded in at some point, meaning Kingston and I would’ve combined blood, and I would’ve sworn loyalty. But that wasn’t a good idea when you were partially mated to members of an existing pack. It could mess with the bond mojo. But now that I was bonded to all of Arcane, I was automatically a part of them.

I lowered my mental shields, and Ender’s voice filled my mind. “We’re coming down.”

“We’re all here,” Kingston answered through mind-speak. “Including Franco.”

“Is he okay?” I asked.

“Love hearing you here,” Kingston purred through my thoughts. “And, yes. Physically, he’s fine. Emotionally, he’s still processing. I think it will help for him to see you.”

That spurred me on. I hurried out the door and down the stairs, the sound of voices pulling me toward the kitchen. But before I could get there, Ender caught my arm.

“Careful, Kitten. We take this nice and easy.”

“He’s not going to hurt me.”