Page 84 of Broken & Bound

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, princess. You knew this was going to happen. I only let Sebastian believe that Allison and I were messing around because I wasn’t interested in getting my ass kicked prematurely.”

The last remnants of my anger crumbled. A shaky breath escaped me as I turned and buried my face against his body. His arms tightened around me, surrounding me with warmth.

I inhaled deeply. The scent wrapped around me like a blanket. His heartbeat thumped steadily beneath my ear. Strong and familiar. Unwavering as a lion. I’d spent the last seven weeks listening to it whenever the nausea became unbearable or the weight of everything threatened to crush me. Somehow, it always pulled me back.

My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. The frantic pounding of my own heart gradually slowed, matching the rhythm of his. Safe. I was safe. I was home. I turned to my girl, ready to thank her.

She was buffering. Blinking like mad with her brows knitted together. I watched the wheels turn. It was a slow and painful process. Tori caught on first. Probably the minute he said he had been lying to my brother.

Her gaze shifted to me. “Oh, boy.”

“Exactly,” Pasha muttered. “And then some.”

Kinsley looked at Tori. Then at me. Then at Pasha. Then at me again.

Her hands flew to her mouth. “No way.”

“Oh, dear God,” Tori whispered. “Here we go.”

“For real. Like for real-real?” Kinsley demanded. Then she started bouncing. “No fucking way,” she added, and then clasped her hands over her mouth. “Sorry.”

If I hadn’t been so upset, I would have laughed.

“You two are a couple?” Her hands clapped together. “A piece of me knew it. I’ve been manifesting it forever. Tell her, Tori. Was preparing to do a ritual.”

I jerked my head up at that.

Manifesting? A ritual? Wonderful. New hobby unlocked. Watch out world.

She pointed triumphantly at Tori. “I told you!”

“Uh huh—” Tori rolled her eyes.

“No, no. I told you.” She spun in a circle. “Should of made you take the bet. Tell her I told you.”

“Why don’t we let them sort this out, instead?”

“Fine,” Kinsley huffed.

“Ladies, I’m going to insist you keep this to yourselves until we’re ready. Marcel knows, but no one else,” Pasha said.

I was never more thankful for him than right then.

“Got it,” Kinsley said, and then she pointed directly at Pasha. “But if you make her cry again, I’m telling Alek. It’s not his night tonight or tomorrow night either. So he’ll be extra cranky.”

“I think we’re a little past the point of her not crying again,” Tori said.

I closed my eyes to distance myself. A light touch on my shoulder had me opening them. Tori cupped my cheek. The gesture was so gentle it nearly undid me. Her eyes drifted downward. Not long enough for anyone else to notice. Long enough for me to understand exactly what she was looking at.

Then they returned to my face. “When you’re ready, we’ll be here. Understand?”

My throat tightened. I nodded. Oh, boy did I ever. I understood exactly what she meant. She knew. And somehow that realization filled me with equal parts comfort and sorrow. Keeping this from the two of them had been brutal. And to think I’d kept Pasha from seeking counsel.

God. What a bitch.

The moment they left, I was releasing him from that promise. I snuggled closer to his side.