“But you had a bunch of supporters before you left, I thought. You must’ve had friends. Kingsley brought a bunch to our territory when he helped us out. He even left them with you. Aren’t they speaking up?”
He suddenly looked drained. “And that’s just it. I created a divide when I left. I’ve heard that a bunch of people took off after I did, seeking out other packs. Kingsley weeded out a few others whose loyalty he questioned. Now, here I am, back again, the guy who walked away with his middle finger in the air—or so they think—and bled the territory of good shifters. Not everyone thinks that way, sure, but some of these people hate that they need my help. Hate it. They’ll listen to their alpha, but they won’t like working with me. They’ll be watching me closely, making sure I don’t step out of line.
You just saw the first little ripple.”
“Okay, I get that. And I get them being…annoyed about our people suddenly playing G.I. Joe in their territory. I’m sure that must be jarring. But I’m the co-leader. Why did you carry me back to the house to be sequestered here?”
He cupped my cheek. “James was sending me a message earlier. He knows that the most important thing in my life…is you. And the way to hurt me the most would be to hurt you.”
Shivers ran through my body. Then fire lit up my middle.
“I will—”
He put his thumb over my lips to stop me from speaking, shaking his head. “This isn’t about you, Jess. I will always let you fight your own battles. But this isn’t your battle to fight. This is mine.
Threatening you is an act of war. Against me. They think their threat will cull me. Fifteen years has dulled their memories, I think. You are mine. Mine to protect at all costs. I made my own statement by bringing you back here personally, and now I will make another.”
He paused, not elaborating.
“Just do me a favor, Jess, please,” he said after a moment. “Watch yourself. Respect my wishes.
You know I would never put Baby in a corner unless I had to.”
I huffed out a laugh, moving in to hug him. “I know. I had no notions of rebelling against my house arrest. I just wanted to understand.”
He pulled back so that he could look down at me. His breath dusted my face.
“I’m going to get a little possessive from here on out.” He tilted his head back and forth. “Maybe a lot possessive. Maybe not totally rational. My beast feels the threat to you, and I don’t have the power to freeze air to stop myself. I hope your gargoyle enjoys the ride.”
He winked at me before turning and walking down the steps.
Butterflies filled my stomach. I had a feeling my gargoyle would greatly enjoy that ride, yes. I just worried how crazy this was going to get.
TWELVE
Jessie
I GLANCED up from my magical theory book as the doorbell rang. Sebastian wanted me to start learning the principles in addition to doing spell work. Given we were both exhausted from making potions all afternoon, this was supposed to be my break for the evening.
“I’ll get it,” Nessa called from the kitchen before exiting, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “I hope it’s an angry local come to pick on Austin’s woman, because I’m going to get dibs on shooting them with the crossbow I found.”
“Where’d you find a crossbow?” I called after her, sitting forward. “And don’t kill anyone! It might just be someone selling magazines.”
Her footfalls stopped. Then started again, coming toward me this time.
She poked her head around the corner. “Did you just reference selling magazines? Did I hear that right?”
I felt my face flush. “I just aged myself, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did, Jessie. Yes, you certainly did.” She laughed and turned away as the doorbell rang again. “Just hold yer horses, pardner,” she said like a cowboy.
I hurried in her direction, in time to see her pick up the crossbow from the little table beside the door.
“Did you bring that in your luggage?” I asked, mystified.
“Nope.” She loaded it as a knock landed on the door. “I was nosing through Austin’s things, and I found it in the hall closet. Cool, right? I’m going to steal it. Don’t tell him.”
She flipped the lock and swung the door open while stepping back and lowering the crossbow, all in one smooth motion. An arm jetted forward, followed by a large body, the hand grabbing the end of the crossbow and jerking it upward. Nessa squeezed the trigger as another hand reached for her throat. The arrow lodged in the ceiling above the door as Tristan forced her back to the wall behind her and pinned her, leaning in to trap her there.