Louis tipped his eyes down to meet mine. “Just talk to them, Jess. There wasn’t a supernatural in Stratford who didn’t know how much they loved you. They will never leave you.”
I exhaled loudly. “It’s not as easy as that, you know how possessive we are. Already vamp chick was giving me the evil eye, and I won’t ever ask him to choose between us.”
“It will work out, and I’m not opposed to smacking a few of your men into line.”
I laughed in a short burst. “Thank you. I might just take you up on that.” This sorcerer was actually a pretty badass threat to have in my back pocket. “So quick subject change, but how worried should I be about Mischa?”
His facial expression remained calm. “I’m not sure. The twins are not to be trusted, but something tells me that they are not evil in the true sense of the word. We need to take our time, any big reaction will only work to push your sister closer to them.”
He made a very good point. We walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes. I decided to ask him something which had been bugging me for a bit. I trusted Louis, but he was filled with secrets.
“You remember when we talked in Stratford, about the dragon marked, and you said you thought they were all killed at birth. If Quale is your brother, shouldn’t you have known about this place? About the dragon marked being imprisoned?”
I examined him closely as he answered, scenting his words even though I was pretty sure he was powerful enough to get around my truth and lie hormone detector.
“I never knew what my brother protected here. I just knew that he lived in a sanctuary for supernaturals. It wasn’t until I chatted with you about the marked being held in the prison that I started to question further. I contacted Quale and applied a little bit of pressure. He finally admitted that this mountain range had been slowly commandeered over the years by the mystics, and that they housed the marked. Their duty was to protect them until the rise of the king.”
Truth. For whatever that was worth with Louis.
“The existence of this place is a heavily guarded secret, Quale shouldn’t have told me. But I’m glad he did. I knew this was the perfect exit strategy for you.”
My lips quirked into a slight smile. “Thank you. For always staying a step ahead. For helping me.”
He kissed the top of my head.
I was quiet for the rest of the walk and Louis let me keep my thoughts. He was strangely relaxing to be around. Despite the immense power vibrating from him, he was still a little less intense than the Compasses. I closed my eyes for the ride up in the box, relieved when I could finally step free from all that metal. The door opened for me, silent, letting me into the cool apartment. Louis peeled off toward the kitchen and I followed my nose and stepped into the living room. Maximus was on the couch, his head buried in his hands. I knew the other quads were in the building, but the vampire was all alone right now.
He shot his face up and I stopped in my tracks. I’d never seen him look so miserable. I wanted to run to his side, throw my arms around him and pull him close. But for the first time I hesitated, he wasn’t mine to comfort now, he had someone for that. Someone who would not appreciate my scent all over him.
The vampire stood, filling the space with his giantness. “Don’t do that, Jess, don’t treat me differently.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying my best to calm myself. “Things are different.” My scratchy voice irritated me.
Maximus crossed the room, crowding right into me, warming my cold limbs with his heat. “You’re my girl, you have been our entire lives.” He lifted his head up to stare at the ceiling, as if trying to find the right words to say next. “I love you. I always have.” Truth. He dropped his face again to meet my gaze. “That love has changed over the years. Sometimes it was platonic, sometimes it was romantic. You have no idea how many times I wished I was Braxton and at least had a shot at being your true mate. But I always knew that you were shifter and I was vampire.”
My mouth must have fallen open at some point during his speech. I flicked out my tongue to moisten my lips. I was processing what he was saying, but I don’t think the true meaning was actually registering.
“What about Mischa?”
His eyes darkened, and I sensed it was guilt which tugged at his features. “She was you … but not, if you know what I mean.”
Ah crap, no wonder my sister was pissed off.
“Cardia doesn’t change anything about us. She knows you are my family, my pack, and that if she makes me choose, I will choose you.”
Truth. An absolutely astonishing truth.
“I have no doubt that the shit will hit the ceiling more than once, but eventually our pack will find its dynamics.”
I couldn’t hold myself back from him any longer, I dived into his arms, and as the strong limbs wrapped around me – lifting me off my feet – a few tears finally leaked from my tightly squeezed lids.
“I love you too, Max, I need you to know that.”
Footsteps sounded behind us. Tyson. “Thank the gods you two finally sorted it out, I’ve been waiting to get my hands on our disappearing Jessa. I’m going to need one of those hugs too.” I pulled back, so happy to see my wizard’s smiling brown eyes.
Maximus gave me an extra squeeze, as though he was afraid to let go. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered against his soft shirt.
He kissed the top of my head before handing me off to Tyson. I sank into the wizard. I was done now. My exhaustion was going to force me to sleep.