Chapter Seven

Rett

 

I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Laia had gotten sick on purpose. Because honestly, she was enjoying herself a little too much at the moment. 

It’s for Tristan, I told myself over and over. You can put up with her until he gets back.

Deep down, though, I knew I was telling myself that so I wouldn’t feel like I was betraying my friend. Not because I didn’t want to, but because of how easily I’d agreed to having her in my house, never mind complying with her every need and demand.

Striding up the hill to Cobalt, the dewy summer morning unrolling slowly around me, I looked down again at the list of requested items she'd compiled. Everything from chocolate to books to new shoes. I mean, okay, she did need new clothes, but damn. She was going to put a dent in my tab and have me out here hustling for her stuff all morning.

On the one hand, I did owe Tristan and would do anything for the Llary family. But on the other hand, I wasn’t sure I trusted Laia. If she had risked her life to bring us that weapon, as she claimed, why were there so many holes in her story? What was wrong with her shifter form? Why was she afraid of Alphas? And whom was she running from?

I didn’t think I’d ever forget the flicker of pain in Laia’s eyes when she’d realized I was an Alpha. I wanted to do everything in my power to make her feel safe, to show her I could be trusted, and to help her make a home in Winfyre.

Besides, she wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Heavy guilt twisted and turned every time I thought about it. I hadn’t meant to lie, nor had I, not exactly. But I also hadn’t cleared up the new, extra conditions about the claim.

A punishment claim in addition to the protection.

Xander, Luke, and I had come up with them after I'd talked to Laia. As of right now, no one else knew—like Rogda and Reagan, who would flip out if they did. They'd declared Laia off-limits till she was healed. No interrogation, no putting her to work, no undue stress.

I'd agreed to their ideas eagerly, to the amusement of Xander and Luke. I think I was hoping it would offset the crappy situation I’d put Laia in without her knowledge. It was kind of a low-handed, manipulative thing to do.

Not something you’d expect of the honorable Northbane.

But the problem was, Laia had broken Winfyre Law. In front of three rookies, who’d inevitably blab to other patrols, and suspicion would fall on the Llarys. To put them off, I’d already complained about it in private to Malloy, who’d seemed satisfied and commiserated that I had to be the one to deal with her.

But I hated that I’d had to claim Laia as punishment. It was an unusual thing and something I’d never done before. Xander had promised it was temporary, to keep the peace among the rookies and head off any nepotism accusations.

I groaned and rubbed my face. If only Kal had been there that night instead of me. He was far better at subterfuge and hiding feelings, most likely because he didn’t have any.

Usually, I was better at hiding my feelings. But they were such a jumbled mess, I knew it was starting to show on my face.

It didn't help that Laia had a hold on me.

One I couldn't understand, and one I was desperately trying to ignore.

Hard to believe I’d met her only two nights ago.

 

When I got back from the market, laden down with Laia’s many items, the house was quiet. I wondered if she’d fallen back to sleep. She’d been alert this morning, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had nodded off again. My entire body strained as I held myself back from going upstairs and checking on her.

Her scent tickled my nose as I walked down the hallway, and I came to a stop, inhaling deeply. Jasmine and sage, with a bite of something clean and wild behind it, like a wind racing ahead of a hurricane. In my house, haunting my rooms, it seemed to lock something into place inside of me. I almost wanted it here. Made me wonder if I wanted Laia here.

Laia, with her dark auburn hair, flecked with fiery tones, her smoky hazel eyes, and her full lips.

From the second I’d laid eyes on her, she’d lit something in my blood. God, it was bad enough I had to both protect her and keep her in line—now I couldn’t control my physical reactions to her. She hadn’t woken up just a claim within me, she’d woken up a dark and dangerous hunger. It was as sensuous as a midsummer night sky, melting with starlight and heat.

Without meaning to, I remembered what it was like to hold her. Her firm curves had filled my arms as though she belonged there. No one would ever know I’d kept glancing down at Laia during that run to the infirmary both to check on her and to look at her.

 

Glancing up, I jumped. Laia was sitting on the stairs in front of me. I gaped at her, wondering how long she’d been sitting there. An amused smile played around her mouth.

One I wanted to return. One that made me want to ask her what the joke was. One that made me want to memorize her lips with mine.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked. “Daydreaming?”

“Sure,” I said gruffly, annoyed she’d one-upped me and furious at how hard it was to look away from her. Some color was coming back into her golden-brown skin. “That and trying to make sure I didn’t forget anything.”

I moved past her into the kitchen, hoping Laia wouldn’t follow. But she did, and I noticed how stiff and slow her movements were as she sat down in a chair at the bar. Beyond her was a full wall of windows, the midday light falling over her. It was always bright here. When I'd redone this place, I'd fit in as many extra windows as I could.

Laia was wearing baggy gray sweats and a rumpled t-shirt, still pale and tired, but her smile was still full of mischief. That was a Llary smile, all right.

“You’re telling me you went and got all that stuff?” she asked in a teasing voice.

I turned around and frowned at her, not in the mood. “Yes. Who else?”

“You’re an Alpha,” Laia said, and there was a slight tic in her cheek. “Don’t you have people running around, happy to bow and scrape for you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I have a staff, as a Command, who helps to run our home, but no, I don’t have people who do my bidding because I’m an Alpha. That would be creepy.”

“Isn’t that how it works?” Laia asked idly but with a pointed edge that irked me.

There was nothing I hated more than the idea of a pecking order if it didn’t serve a purpose. For me, having these powers and abilities had only proven one should wield them with absolute caution. To use them mainly to help others.

Otherwise, they would corrupt you. Worse, possibly hurt the ones you loved.

“Alphas put themselves between enemies and the pack,” I said, more shortly than I meant to. “Yes, we lead, but only to serve our people’s best interest. No Northbane Alpha takes that honor lightly.”

Now I was starting to figure it out. Laia must have been around Alphas who didn’t take the same caution we did. My jaw clenched. Please stop comparing me to the asshats who abused it.

“I was just talking about running errands…” Laia said, and I stopped, surprised to see the high spots of color in her cheeks. “Wait, are you saying you went out and got everything I asked for?” She sat up straight as I raised an eyebrow. “Rett!”

“Yeah, hello, that’s what I said I was gonna do. And that’s what I was doin’.”

"You're serious," Laia said and stared at me, pressing her hands flat on the counter. There was such a surprised, awe-filled look in her eyes, I almost felt embarrassed. But also, rather pleased. I liked that sparkle of happiness around her. “You really got everything?”

“You’re welcome,” I said and brought a bag over to her. “Here.” It was a piece of chocolate cake, wrapped up from the bakery. “Not always easy to get a hold of, but you were in luck.”

“Rett, I didn’t think…” Laia’s lashes fell, and she hugged herself. “I put half those things down as a joke. I didn’t think you’d actually go and get them.”

My jaw dropped, and I had to swallow a growl. “So, you don’t want this stuff?”

“No, I do,” Laia exclaimed, and her head flew up. “I just…”

“You thought it was a long shot,” I said slowly. “Or that I was humoring you. And you were probably testing me.” Laia cringed. “Right?”

“Sorry,” she whispered, now bright pink.

“I get that you’ve probably been through some shit, but that’s not how things work in Winfyre,” I said. “I’m here for you, Laia.”

“No catch?”

“Well, when you’re feeling up to it, I do need to go over everything you’ll need to know. That way, we can make sure you don’t break any Laws, which I know will be hard for you.”

“Hey,” she said and made a face at me.

I went to tell her about the punishment, but I hesitated and said instead, “You’re a Llary. It's understandable. You guys can't resist trouble any more than most folks can resist breathing."

“Most?” Laia asked. “What, you know some people who don’t have to breathe?”

“A smartass like your cousin,” I muttered and went across the kitchen to the other bag.

“Hey, Rett, I wouldn’t have asked for all of this if I…” Laia sighed, and I looked back to see her twisting the ends of her hair. “I wasn’t thinking straight earlier. I know you’re a busy guy, and I’m sorry.” Her eyes lifted to mine. “I didn’t mean to make you run around.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I said it in a harsher tone than I’d meant, but I meant it. God, this sucked, though. I hadn’t wanted Laia here before she’d even gotten here. For one thing, I was expecting her to be a recalcitrant and mischievous houseguest. Also, I had a million things to do. And finally, of course, now that she was here, she was growing on me. Her sweet side was a little unexpected under all those claws and sass. It made me curious.

Don’t go there. Not again.

Laia was looking down at her lap, her shoulders hunched and posture tense.

What a strange jumble of tension mixed up in here, with Laia’s law breaking and vulnerability brushing up against my torn desires to help her and to protect Winfyre.

“You’re feeling better?” I asked, to soften the air.

“I mean, I’m a little shaky, but I’m not toppling over,” she said. “Thanks again.”

I nodded. She needed to stop thanking me. I didn’t like the sense that she felt indebted to me personally. She was indebted to Winfyre, and I was indebted to her cousin. It evened out.

“You don’t have to stay in here while I make lunch,” I said. “You can go rest and read in the living room.”

“Kind of like the view in here,” she said.

I almost dropped what I was holding, and desire flared up my spine in a sinuous curl, like the lilt of Laia’s voice. “That’s nice,” I grunted.

But I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder, wondering if she’d flirt again. Then I saw that Laia was gazing out the windows, her knees hugged to her chest and her eyes soft.

A slight furrow appeared between her brows, and she looked over at me. “Wait, what?”

“I said, ‘it’s nice.’” I swallowed, feeling like an unforgivable ass for assuming she’d been flirting, and being disappointed she hadn’t been. “I haven’t gotten much sleep lately.”

“My fault,” Laia said and made a face. “Once I’m better, I’ll make it up to you.”

Oh, really? I wanted to ask and stopped myself. Much as I liked how Laia was trying to make amends and be nice, I couldn’t give in to chasing that feeling. Or more compliments.

Laia and I were entering a weird truce-like limbo, not quite friends, but acquaintances with a similar enough goal. That would suffice. Nothing more, Deacon, I warned myself.

She cupped her chin in her hand and gave me a soft smile. “Good thing you were at the gate that night, Rett. Who knows where I would have ended up?”

As someone else’s problem, I thought even as I nodded and smiled, filled with hellish guilt.