It’s only the second day of the fights, and it feels like I’ve watched them for years. Killian fought first, and it was no surprise he won. I feared he’d have Tate fight against Anson, but they both had different opponents. They won their fights, of course. Anson’s fighting technique is remarkably similar to Tate’s.
“That’s because we learned to fight together,” Tate says in my mind.
I look over at him, sitting alone across the room. Inside his mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I want to go over there and touch him just once, but I’m so afraid everyone will see right through us and know we’re mates.
Micah nudges me with his elbow. “Come on. I’ll walk you over there. He’s getting ready to have to leave.” Tia nods for me to go and she stays put with Colin right beside her. Tate stands when we draw near, and it takes all I have not to run into his arms.
“It’s hard for me too, love.”
Micah squeezes his shoulder reassuringly. “You’re doing good.”
Tate smiles, and it’s such a welcome sight. “I’m trying.”
Micah glances around the room. “There’s not many of you left.”
“Grayson, it's time to go,” Roman shouts.
A low growl rumbles from Tate’s chest, but he bites his tongue. He looks at me with those bright blue eyes of his, and I give in. Throwing my arms around his neck, I close my eyes and breathe him in.
“I don’t want to let you go.” My eyes burn, but I hold back the tears. Seeing him leave gets harder each time.
His grip on me tightens. “Neither do I.”
When I let him go, Roman and three of Killian’s other men are ready to take him away. “Be safe,” I whisper.
Tate nods. “I will.”
As soon as he walks out of the room, it feels empty. Micah latches onto my arm, his voice a little lower than a whisper. “Let me call Cedric and Laila. She can get us out of this.”
I’m starting to wonder if that is our only hope. Laila has some powerful friends among the fae, but I can’t expect them to go out of their way to help me. I don’t have ties to them. It’ll be left up to Laila herself. “That’ll be our last resort. Until then, we need to figure out our own way. I’ll never forgive myself if something happened to her or the baby.”
“I know,” he agrees. “I don’t want that either.”
Tia and Colin are over by Killian, but they leave him to come to us. My brother is my eyes and ears on the inside. So far, he’s had nothing to report. Tia smiles at me, and I can tell it’s forced. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Killian watching us. “Killian wants to know if he can see you tonight. After everything going on, I’m sure he’ll understand if you’re too tired, though.” Colin’s back is to Killian, and when I look up at him, he mouths the words say you’re tired.
“Actually, I am exhausted. I’d really like to go to bed,” I say.
Tia nods, and I can see the relief on her face. “I’ll let him know.” She walks off toward him while Colin and Micah escort me out of the underground pit.
“Good choice,” Colin says as we walk out into the fresh air.
I snort. “If only I could use that excuse every time.” Eventually, Killian won’t take no as an answer.
Midnight has come and gone, and I’m still wide awake. I’m so afraid that if I go to sleep, something will happen, and I’ll never hear Tate’s voice again.
“I’m right here, Faith,” Tate murmurs, sounding as if he’s right beside me.
When I close my eyes, I can almost imagine he is. “One day, we need to travel to Aruba or the Turks and Caicos. I hear the snorkeling is amazing.”
Our future is uncertain, but it feels good to think about how things could be. Tate chuckles in my head, and it brings a smile to my face. “One of my friends and his wife just got back from the Turks and Caicos a couple of months ago. They said the food was awesome.”
“All right, it’s settled then. We’ll go there.”
“Sounds good, love. I quite like seeing you in a bikini.” Our time in Florida will always hold a special place in my heart. I’d give anything to feel him inside of me again. “Trust me, Faith. I’d give anything to feel that too.” A click at the door makes me gasp, and I bolt out of bed. “Faith, what’s going on?”
“I think someone’s trying to come into my room. It could be Micah or Colin. But if not, someone’s about to have a terrible night.” I tiptoe to the door and rest my back against the wall. The door opens slightly, and Tia sticks her head in.
“Faith, it’s just me.”
“Jesus,” I huff, opening the door the rest of the way. “What the hell are you doing?”
She sneaks in, wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt. “I wanted to talk to you.”
I flip on the lights and walk over to the bed. “Where’s Killian?” I ask.
“Asleep,” she says, shutting the door behind her. She comes over to the bed and sits on the edge. “I had to wait until it was safe to talk.” Her eyes close, and she chants a few words under her breath. When her eyes open, it’s as if everything comes to life around me. Before, I couldn’t feel a single shifter nearby because she had hidden them. Now I can sense them all, including Killian. No one is around. “I can’t stay long, but I had to warn you. Killian’s impatience grows stronger by the day. It’s getting harder to control him.”
Her words send shivers down my spine. “What happens if you can’t?”
Fear runs through her eyes. “I don’t know. I’m hoping we don’t find out. I wanted to warn you earlier, but there were too many ears around.”
I don’t want to think about what’s on my mind, but I can’t help it. “So, if Killian were to force himself on me, your magic would keep me from overpowering him.” It’s not a question but a statement.
“Holy fucking shit, I will lose my mind if that happens. Nothing and no one will be able to stop me from ripping through the front gate to get to you,” Tate thunders.
Tia averts her gaze. “Yes. I’m doing everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. He hasn’t been with a woman in a long time. There isn’t a lot of options here in Baker’s Ridge. Humans are too fragile, and he doesn’t want any of the women in his pack.”
Unmated males who experience the rage let out their frustrations with sex, mainly with human women. If Killian’s been suppressing those urges for that long, he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
“Great,” I grumble. “Just what I wanted to hear.”
“He better not fucking touch you,” Tate snaps.
Tia blows out a sigh. “Tomorrow, there will be three fights. Tate’s not in this group, but Killian is. The three winners will get to spend an hour alone with you. It’s up to you on what you’d like to do in that hour.”
The mention of Tate catches my attention. “Why did you mention Tate Grayson?”
Her brows furrow. “He’s your friend, right? Plus, I’ve seen how you are when he fights. You care for him.”
“I do. Tate’s a good person.”
Her eyes never waver from mine. “Is he your mate, Faith?”
“No,” I answer in all seriousness. “We’re just friends.” I feel like I can trust her, but I’m not ready to disclose my secrets.
“Speaking of friends,” she mentions. “When you were in Wyoming and staying with Laila and Cedric, there was something else blocking me other than her fae magic. I didn’t tell Killian what it was, but I have my suspicions.”
“And what are they?”
She nods at me. “That when your kind finds their true mates, you become indestructible. Outside magic won’t work on you because you’re stronger.”
“You’re right,” I confess. “We do become a force to be reckoned with. It’s one of the perks of finding your true mate. I don’t think those same rules apply when a mating is forced. The goddess of the moon doesn’t reward evil.” It’s times like now I wish that Killian could hear everything I say. Yes, my power would join with his if we were to mate, but it won’t be as strong as my bond with Tate. Tia stares off into space, and I wave my hand in front of her face. “You still in there?”
She blows out a sigh. “Yeah, sorry. Just thinking.”
“About what?” I question. I can tell the wheels in her mind are turning.
“I don’t know yet, but I’m hoping it comes to me soon.” She slides off my bed and goes to the door. She stops and glances at me over her shoulder. “One of these days, I hope you can learn to trust me, Faith. I really do want to help you.”
I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing at all. A look of disappointment passes across her face when she walks out. I expect her to block me from Killian and his men like she had before, but she doesn’t. I can sense where every single one of them are.
“Maybe that’s her attempt at hoping I trust her?” I say to Tate.
“It’s a start. At least now you know who’s around. No one can sneak up on you.”
It does make things easier.
I lay down in bed, and my disappointment grows. “I’m not going to see you tomorrow.”
Tate’s frustration grows through our bond. “I know. It makes me sick to think of you in the same house as Vilkas. What if he loses control around you? Your brother and Micah won’t be able to kill him.”
It’s something I refuse to think about.
“Please, let’s not talk about it. I need something happy in my life right now. Tell me about all the places you’ve been to. Don’t leave out any details. I want to see it in my mind.”
And just like that, I can see a whole new world in my head. Tate takes me through all of his adventures, and it feels like I’m right there. It’s my only escape from the hell I’m in.