“Got it.”
“Tell him what I told you to tell him.”
“Don’t worry, I will. I trust you.”
She guessed it was easier to trust the person who tells you they think the girl you love is actually a good person than the person who imprisoned her and forbade you from ever seeing her again.
It was at that moment the familiar, sickening, icy feeling shuddered through her body, and a wealth of new information poured into her.
“Crap,” she whispered.
“What, what?” Vil asked, frantic.
“Nothing. Nothing. It’s not about this. It doesn’t affect this. Go!” She pushed him toward the door and watched impatiently as he ducked his head out to make sure the corridor was clear. Caia closed the closet door behind her and nodded at him. “See you soon.”
He smiled tremulously. “Hope so.”
With that, they spun away from each other and headed in opposite directions. At the elevators, Caia picked up the intercom system.
“Center Reception, Chloe speaking.”
“Chloe, it’s Caia Ribeiro. Can you put me through to Marita?”
“One second, please.”
The line was silent for only a moment.
“Caia?” Marita’s imperious voice rang down the line. Caia felt her face grimace in anger; she scolded herself for being obvious even if the witch couldn’t see her.
“Could you please gather the tactical team for the MacLachlans?”
“What’s going on?”
“I have some important news.”
16
You
“I thought we were going to spend more time apart until Lucien gets back?”
She stood slouched and languid against her doorframe, her mouth twisted in mockery, her tone suggesting irritation. But Ryder was not deterred. He grinned cockily into her dark blue eyes and found in them attraction, happiness that he was on her doorstep.
He mirrored Jaeden’s pretended indifference. “I’m bored. Thought you might be bored, maybe desperate to get some air.” He nodded behind her shoulder, his eyebrows raised pointedly. He watched, amused, as she struggled to hide her smile of relief.
Yeah, she would definitely enjoy escaping her parents for a while.
“Come on, Jae,” he taunted at her hesitation. “You know you want to.”
She huffed in response, “You are such a tease.”
Grinning wolfishly, he gestured with a sweep of his hand to his truck. “Not tonight.”
Her eyes lit up, and he had to stifle his groan of frustration. He had no intention of doing what she thought he intended on doing. The truth was, he couldn’t seem to last a few hours without her, despite the restrictions he put on the activities allowed during their time together. But he’d rather she was alone with him than Reuben, who was constantly in her kitchen.
“Fine,” she pretend-grumbled and then shouted inside as she shut the door, “I’m going out with Ryder for a while.”
Grabbing his sleeve, Jae tugged him at full speed toward the truck. “Hey, where’s the fire?”
“We need to get out of here in the next ten seconds or the—”
“Jaeden!”
“Oh, great.”
They both turned at the sound of Dimitri’s voice. He glared at them from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, feet spread apart.
“Where are you going?” The question was directed threateningly to Ryder.
Great. He scowled at Jaeden as if to say, “nice going.” He really hoped her dad would back off once they were actually mated.
“With it being such a nice night and all, I asked Jaeden if she would like to go for a run.”
“We’re going for a run?” He was relieved to hear that her surprise was tinged with pleasure.
“What about asking me?” the Elder grumbled.
Ryder straightened his shoulders. “Well, sir, I never thought. Would you like to come for a run?”
“Not me going with you, you idiot.” He shook his head in disgust. “How on earth did you make it to Rogue Hunter status?”
“Dad,” Jae warned.
He gestured toward Ryder. “He’s the one asking the stupid questions. I meant … why did you not ask permission from me to escort my daughter on a run?”
“Dad, I’m eighteen.”
Dimitri snorted. “Yeah, and that makes you mature.”
Ryder stiffened, feeling Jae’s bristling between them. And Dimitri thought he was the dumb one.
“No,” she snapped, stepping menacingly toward her father. “But weeks in a cage at the hands of a psychopath and then months living by myself hunting kind of does.”
Dimitri blanched. “Sweetheart, you know I didn’t mean—”
“Dad, I don’t want to argue.” She threw a meaningful glance at Ryder, one he couldn’t help but enjoy. “I just want to spend some time with Ryder.”
The Elder stared at them for some moments and then nodded stiffly. “Okay.” He pointed a finger at Ryder. “No funny business, though, or I’ll kill you.”
“Daddy,” Jae groaned, “Ryder is a perfect gentleman.” She lowered her eyes, blushing and murmuring, “So embarrassing.”
Ryder struggled not to laugh as he grabbed hold of Jaeden’s hand. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“You do that.”
They lay side by side on the hood of Ryder’s truck, their limbs torpid and warm from their run in her father and Lucien’s woods. She smiled, comforted by the heat of him next to her, by their recent playfulness in their wolf form. Ryder was a big gentle beast; no matter how hard she came at him, he would just shrug her off and tickle her with his snout. It wasn’t like Lucien with Caia. She’d watched them play together, and Lucien was a rougher kind of guy, nudging Cy as hard as she nudged him, nipping, biting, tumbling. Ryder just seemed happy to be there with her, despite the bruises she inflicted.