Chapter 680

To my shock, Rafe just wraps me up in his arms and pulls me into a tight hug. "If you get killed I'll never forgive you," he murmurs, his head ducked low against my own. "And dad will slaughter me. So. Avoid that, please. I would like to live long enough to meet my mate."

I go still but then laugh a little, hugging my brother back for a long moment before he lets me go, still looking down at me like he hates me a little bit but giving into it.

Jesse just sighs and wraps me in a hug next. "Give 'em hell, baby trouble," he murmurs. "And don't shoot me in the face when you come for me - I'm very pretty, it's my only saving grace. Don't take that away."

I laugh, shoving him away next and turning to Jackson - who is hardest of all.

He just sighs and nods towards the helicopters, to where all the troops are gathering - some of them his, waiting for him. The four of us walk together, me close to Jackson's side.

His wolf snarls and howls, scratching at the edge of our bond, desperately unhappy though Jackson holds him back and doesn't allow any of this on his face.

You know this is killing me, right? He asks, speaking directly into my mind.

I turn my face up to his, sad to put him through it. I know. But thank you for trusting me. I promise I'll be safe. What I have planned wont' take long. The minute you feel unsafe, you call for me, okay? He says, looking directly into my eyes, his pain and worry showing directly there. No matter where you are, I'll hear you and I'll come. I promise.

I step closer, biting my lip a bit as I look up at him with shining eyes and nod. I don't think we have to worry about it, I whisper, back, still grinning. But I will. I promise I will.noveldrama

Jackson narrows his eyes at me, smirking a bit like he can't help it. What on earth do you have brewing, fire sprite?

I just grin up at him and shake my head, letting nothing out. But my wolf trots across the bond, pressing herself warm against his gigantic wolf's side. His wolf snarls a bit, dipping his head to press his teeth to her neck and pretending to give her ruff a little shake like a wayward pup who doesn't listen. But I laugh, taking it for the joke he means it, and my mate beams down at me.

Jackson stops outside his own set of helicopters, where his troops are massing. Jesse stops too, going to stand with Tony, who is also on Jackson's team as well. "Well go on," Jackson says to me, his words tight as he nods towards the small helicopter at the end of the row. "Quit spying on my strategy, enemy."

I just beam at him, standing on my toes, resisting the urge to jump into his arms. He just grins and forces himself to turn away.

"Shoot straight!" Rafe calls to me,

eto

waving me off, though I can tell it's killing him to let me go too. I wave my brother, beaming at him, and start towards where I can see Blythe kneeling by our supplies, checking through them as he waits for me.

"Ari!"

Someone catches at my arm and I turn in surprise to look up into Luca's eyes.

"Ari, where are you going?" he gasps, staring at me in shock before turning to look at Rafe and Jackson. "Didn't they - what are you -" "I'm playing the Games, Luca," I say, deftly pulling my arm from his hand. "Just like you."

"But you..." he frowns at me, confused.

"Is there something you need?" I ask, deliberately cold, staring blankly up into his eyes. "I have to go join my team."

Luca sighs, giving up the pretense and pursing his lips as he looks down at me. "Ari, look, I'm really sorry I didn't come up last night -"

"No time now, Luca," I say, turning away and starting for Blythe.

et

Luca grabs my arm again, pulling me back, and this time I snarl as stop, looking deliberately downzat his hand and then slowly lifting my eyes to his face.

Luca's eyes go wide and he drops my arm. "Ari..."

“Anything you wanted to say, Luca, you could have said to me last night,” I say, quiet and controlled. “Right now, I'm out of time.”

"I was really tired last night –“ he whispers, affronted.

"We're all tired, Luca," I say, my voice flat. "See you tonight for dinner, if you can muster up the energy."

I stride away to Blythe, not bothering to look back at my mate. Because I'm still livid with him, even if I've got

now.

bigger things on my plate ro

UMS