Darkest Sinner (The Dark Ones Saga 5)

And that was the problem.

“He’s thinking too hard,” Alex whispered.

I shot him a glare while Cassius locked eyes with me, like he was waiting for me to say something. “What?”

“We can’t help you if you don’t tell us everything, Timber. You know this and yet you hide the details—one part of you is still living in fear, while the other is attempting to break free, both cannot coexist.”

“Thank you, Yoda.” I saluted him and ignored the pang in my chest and the pulsing on my tattoo.

Kyra moaned from her spot on the couch.

I rushed to her side, only to have Hope, Serenity, and Genesis sprint in my direction and huddle over her like moms looking after baby chicks.

“She’s stirring!”

“A little less strong.” I patted Genesis on the back, “You know, with your mothering.”

She gave me a sour look and continued to hover, basically shoving me out of the way while Kyra came to.

“Oh you poor thing!” Hope sat her up. “Do you need food?”

“Water?” Genesis offered.

“Wine, get her wine!” Serenity intervened.

I snorted. “Nobody gave me wine last time I passed out.”

“Riiiight,” Alex piped up. “Because you destroyed both gardens with your massive body falling onto the grass, so no wine for you, no wine for you ever. If there is ever a family dinner with wine, you get water.”

I scowled.

“Still won.” Mason chomped on granola bar.

I threw up my hands in exasperation. “Why are you eating all my food?”

He just shrugged.

Werewolves, Watchers, immortals, when would it end?

“Oh!” Kyra jolted up, her eyes taking in the beautiful women surrounding her and the pulsing awareness of the siren sitting a few feet away not to mention a vampire, angels, me, yeah she was in for a rude awakening.

I just had to lose my temper, didn’t I?

She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Where am I? There were eyes, red eyes, and so many of them, and then Timber—”

I cleared my throat, so she’d know I hadn’t quite disappeared like the nightmare she wanted me to be.

She jerked back like I’d attacked her when I’d saved her, and I’d like to think I was used to that reaction except I wasn’t, not from her, not from the girl who made me taste the sunshine in the air for the first time in centuries.

I frowned.

“Your kiss is like life,” I whispered against her neck. “I want you…”

“We can’t.” She shuddered against me. “You would have me and lose me.”

“It would be worth it.”

“The oracle said I would find my soul mate and we would be apart for centuries, always searching, always repeating, until one day, we would make choices and reunite.”