Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
His eyes barely glowed as he studied me. “I’d like to talk openly with you, and I want you to know that I’m here if you need to cry.”
I sagged. “Well…at least you’re not hairy, I guess. And have hopefully showered.”
He shook his head in confusion.
“The hair—” I pointed back the way I’d come. “Never mind. It’s fine. What’s up?”
“Nathanial had a sixth sense where it concerned you. He could anticipate you better than anyone aside from Alpha Steele. Maybe even better than Alpha Steele when in the sky.”
“Yeah,” I said darkly. “And look where that got him.”
“A hero’s death.”
I lifted my eyebrows, not having expected that answer. I definitely hadn’t expected to hear the raw longing within it.
“Without him, we are weaker in battle,” Tristan went on, stating fact as he knew it. “You are our most prized weapon. In order to best utilize you, we have to help you overcome or conceal your weaknesses. He could do that. No one else can. We’re weaker without him.”
“Maybe I do need a hug,” I murmured. “But the thing is, I can’t allow you to hug me right now. Not while being naked and…you know. Being you. I might need to go get Dave.”
“Being me… Meaning being incredibly dangerous?” he asked with a crease in his brow.
“Yes,” I said sarcastically, “in order to avoid your incredible danger, I’m going to go hug a completely safe and not-at-all-deadly basajaun. Yikes, bud. How do you fit that ego through doorways?”
A crooked smile worked at his lips. “Ah.” He spread his arms and looked down at his body. “I’m incredibly handsome, is that what you mean? Well built, glistening, nice dick—you’re afraid you’ll make your mate jealous?”
“Now you’re just making it awkward.”
He laughed. “You started it. And yes, I do somehow manage to fit this enormous ego through doorways. It just took practice. Listen, Jessie, no one could ever take Nathanial’s place. We can all agree on that. He will be missed and remembered forever. I do think, however, that someone needs to try to assume his role. We can’t have you passed around from person to person. You have to have a proper wingman. After speaking to the others, I would like to request the honor of that position.” He put a hand on his heart. “I’m not asking for admittance into the Ivy House circle. I am simply asking for a job that cannot be left vacant. I’d like to shadow you and try to better understand your movements and motivations. I’d like to include you in more of our trainings so I can learn what it is like to lead a team while half carrying, half throwing someone around.” He smiled briefly, but his eyes were sad. “I’d like to know your battle strategies well enough to anticipate when you plan to sacrifice yourself so that I can take your place.”
I shook my head, turning away. “If you knew me better, you would’ve never uttered that last bit, because that’s a hard no.”
“If I had understood you better, I would’ve been the one flying you,” Tristan said urgently, stepping forward. “I could’ve lasted longer. Protected you better. Not because of size and strength, but because of my ability to repel magic. I would’ve lived longer than Nathanial. Maybe I would’ve lived, full stop.”
“And if not, we both would’ve died because no one would’ve been fast enough to get us to Indigo in time to save our lives. You did that.”
He stared at me for a long beat and then deflated. He blinked a couple times, dulling his eyes even more.
It became suddenly clear to me how deeply this had affected him. He blamed himself for what happened, just as we all did. The what ifs were preying on us.
“Dave,” I called, realizing I was crying. I had no idea for how long.
He came jogging through the trees immediately.
“I need a hug. Can you get someone to hug Tristan?” I asked. “We’re too naked to hug each other.”
“But I am almost naked,” Dave said, stopping close to me.
I didn’t know how to explain that his extreme hairiness and small loincloth negated the naked factor. I worried that I’d somehow cause offense, and we’d be in a weird situation where his culture dictated that he should kill me to make it right, but his place on my team meant he really shouldn’t.
So I just said, “The loincloth is…enough.”
The rest of the basajaunak were clearly eavesdropping, because Her burst out of the trees in an instant. I really needed to start paying attention to where my team was located. Although…that seemed like so much hassle.
Tristan tried to wave her away. “No, no, I’m—”
She wrapped him in a tight hug, her hairy bosom in his face, and his hands dropped limply to his sides. His expression—what I could see of it—was one of deadpan annoyance, and for some reason, that was utterly hilarious.