Page 356 of Power Play

“Not like that.”

“Easton and I do.”

Bliss looked at her. “We know.”

Aura picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. “I told him I forbade him from going.”

“I heard.”

“I sounded like my mother.”

The admission cost her something.

“You sounded scared,” I said.

“I sounded controlling.”

“Did you apologize?”

“Not yet.”

“Aye.”

“I will.” She looked at me. “I’m still angry.”

“At Easton?”

“At all of them. At you. At myself for being angry with Ryan when I know he has every right to want us away from him.”

Bliss leaned forward with her elbows resting over her knees. “I don’t want this creating something between Cade and me.”

“It won’t.”

“You don’t know that. The bond between them was impenetrable before Cade was stabbed. It became even stronger afterward.”

“I won’t let it.”

Aura turned toward me. “You can’t control what this does to everyone.”

“No, but I can stop asking all of you to protect me from it.”

Neither woman spoke.

I pulled away from Bliss’s arm and stood. My legs remained unsteady, but I held myself upright.

“Go apologize before they leave.”

Bliss frowned. “Charm—”

“Cade needs to go to Ryan. Easton does too, and so does Rider. Ryan trusted them enough to tell them about us when I wouldn’t tell either of you. They are his family, and I won’t become the reason you make them feel guilty for acting like it.”

Aura’s eyes searched mine. “What about you?”

“I’ll stay here.”

“Alone?”

“I deserve to be alone tonight.”