Page 149 of Knight’s Retribution

She nodded.

He lifted her, and Tobias immediately moved in, shoved Taren’s helmet back on Rocco’s head, and covered Kyler with a cloak, tucking it around her. Tobias yanked the door open, and she felt every jarring movement as Rocco carried her out. She couldn’t see anything under the cloak, just heard their boots hitting stone as they hurried away.

“Nearly out of the main cavern. Brace, baby,” he said a moment before he started running.

There was an oof and the clanging of steel behind them. Tobias’s footsteps fading. Rocco didn’t stop. Then a second set of pounding boots joined them once more. Tobias.

She didn’t know how long they ran. But now and then, Rocco would let go of her with one arm, and someone would shout, or there’d be a scream or a grunt followed by a heavy thud. Pain lanced through her as she was jolted—as the brothers cut down any demons who crossed their path—but never once did Rocco slow.

A long time passed with no fighting, then Rocco’s hold tightened and he sprinted.

“Quick, the door,” he barked a moment before he stopped moving completely.

He took another couple of steps, then silence engulfed them.

Rocco walked a few more steps and sat, pulling the cloak away from her face, and stared down at her. “Did I hurt you?”

She was sore everywhere already. She shook her head.

Rocco curled his big body around her then and pressed his face to the space between her neck and shoulder. “Thank god. I’ve got you. Oh fuck. I’ve got you, baby.”

Kyler had numbed herself for so long, it took a moment for it to sink in. She was with Rocco. He was here. He’d come for her.

“I’m so sorry,” Rocco was saying. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said, that numbness still there, her mind struggling to believe what was right in front of her.

“It’s not okay. You’re here because I fucked up. I did this to you,” he said, voice rough and agonized, and he held her tighter.

His arms were unyielding, and panic grew inside her. The walls were closing in, and she suddenly couldn’t get enough air. God, she couldn’t breathe.

He pressed his face against the side of hers. “Shit, Ky. I can’t believe I finally have you back…”

“Let me go.” Diemos’s face filled her head, and she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to force him out.

Rocco stilled.

“Ky…”

“Let me go!” She shoved, and he released her so fast she fell backward. He quickly caught her before she could hit the floor and do more damage.

Kyler scrambled off his lap to the other side of the couch, ignoring the agony of her still-healing body. Rocco shot to his feet and stumbled back a step, his hands in the air. “Baby, it’s me. I promise it’s me.”

She was trembling again, and she blinked up at him as her eyes stung with more tears. “I know,” she whispered. What the hell was wrong with her? This was all she’d wanted, all she still wanted, but when he held her like that, she panicked.

He froze and stared down at her, his enormous body heaving with every labored breath. “You know?”

A shudder moved through her. “I just…I don’t like to be held so tight,” she said, giving him the truth. “Not anymore.”

“Kyler—” He choked.

“He always, he…he always holds me too tight.” She shuddered again. “I can’t do that…you can’t do that.” She didn’t even know the words were coming until they were out of her mouth. “Not yet,” she said to soften her rejection.

His navy eyes flashed black, and his body seemed to move in an odd way. Rocco’s jaw tightened, and he ran a palm over his cropped hair. “Okay, pumpkin, anything you need. I’ll be more careful.”

There was no missing the pain in his eyes, and she felt like a fucking monster. She wanted him to hold her in those strong arms. She needed it so badly, but something inside her recoiled.

Tobias and Scarlet were not in the room, and she glanced at the doors across from them.