Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

He hoped Devon was up to the task.Chapter Forty-ThreeDevon stirred, followed by a wince. Every part of his body seemed to hurt. That old vamp had beaten the hell out of him. Devon had held his own against a mid-level, but…well, now he knew his own limits.

He flexed his toes, followed by his fingers, making sure everything worked. It was then he felt the small, delicate hand clinging to his.

In a moment of panic, he thought it was Yasmine. She was persistent, and a girl like her would absolutely sit by her alpha’s bed to stake her claim and get in good with her desired mate. Marry the same girl, though, and she’d turn distant in a flash, having gotten what she was after.

Devon let his head fall to the side. An ethereal beauty marred with cuts and scrapes lay next to him. Her hair fell around her face in thick brownish-red waves, her lower lip was swollen, and her cheek was black and blue. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his life.

He squeezed her hand, willing her awake. Her breathing was deep and heavy, not like her. Usually, she was an extremely light sleeper who’d stir if he so much as shifted.

“Don’t worry. She’s fine.”

Devon’s gaze snapped to the door. His neck protested painfully at the sudden movement.

Roger stood in the frame dressed in a T-shirt that strained at the shoulders and hung loose at the waist. He didn’t bother coming further into the room.

“How do you feel?” he asked in his customary calm tone.

“I hurt, for the most part, but I’ll be fine. That old vamp was something else. He was… I’ve never seen anything move so fast and react so savagely.”

“Puts hair on your chest.”

Devon wheezed out a laugh. “Exactly. I should be as fuzzy as you.”

Roger’s gaze drifted to Devon and Charity’s entwined fingers. “Girls like to know how you feel about them. They like to know where they stand.”

Relationship advice from his boss? How’d Devon get so unlucky?

“Got it,” Devon said absently. Then, because he didn’t know what the hell he was doing, he added, “But she doesn’t ever bring that stuff up. I’d feel like an idiot saying anything.”

Roger shifted, getting more comfortable. “Well, you’re a ladies’ man, and she’s smart. She probably doesn’t want to feel like a fool. You have to suck this one up.”

“Nice pep talk, coach.”

Roger grinned. “Take it from a failed pro. She’ll eat it up.”

Devon shook his head and looked back at Charity. “She saved my life.”

“You saved hers.”

“Nah, I was trying to give her some time to run. Or give you an opening to force her away. But she went and saved me. For the second time.”

“I did try to force her away. I also tried to keep her in her room to heal. You’re alive, and she’s next to you. A smart man knows what that means.”

“When have I been a smart man?” Devon whispered, drinking in the sight of her.

“When it counts.” Roger straightened up. “I’m keeping her in your pack. I’m also pushing your pack up a level and adding some members. It’ll mean you have some older, more experienced, and possibly unruly pack members under your command, but it’ll give you a chance to show what you’re made of. I wouldn’t be giving you this role if you didn’t have her by your side. She gives your pack more power, as warrior fae did in times of old. In the event someone stronger than you defies you, remember that fighting is awfully hard when you’re being flung through a window.”

With a grim face, Roger gave him a slight nod and stepped away.

Apparently Roger had heard about Devon and Charity’s fight. It had been a sliding glass door, though.

He sighed as Charity stirred against him. She issued a little feminine mew before running a hand up his chest and hooking it around his neck. She squeezed a little as her eyes fluttered open.

“Hey,” he said softly.

Her eyes darted up to his, and supreme relief crossed her expression, followed by a beautiful smile.

“Hey,” she said, and turned a little, covering more of his side. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.”

Her smile burned brighter. “Liar.”

It hurt to chuckle.

“I hear you saved my life,” he said. “Again.”

She shrugged and winced. “You tried to sacrifice yourself so that I could get to safety. Again. I think we’re even.”

He pressed his lips against her forehead. When that wasn’t enough, he tilted her chin up and kissed her sweet lips.

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he whispered.

Moisture caught in her thick lashes. “Thank you. For everything. I know I haven’t made this easy on you, but you never backed down. You’ve always been there for me. It means more than I can express.”

He smiled and kissed her again, rolling just a little so he could feel more of her body. Feeling his ardor rise, and the pain of movement rise with it.