Trusted Bond

20

    THEY were all looking at me. I had a roomful of people hovering around
    instead of packing themselves, and what had started as my retreat to the
    bedroom alone had become a visit. I didn‘t want to talk; I just wanted to
    concentrate on getting ready to leave after what I had just done.
    ―What?‖
    Logan was dumbfounded.
    ―What?‖
    Mikhail cleared his throat. ―If I may, my reah, I think perhaps the
    fact that you just said yes to everyone that came to see you over the last
    half an hour is where the looks of distress are stemming from.‖
    I scowled at him. ―Why?‖
    ―Why?‖ Logan growled at me, pointing at the door. ―Jin, the semel
    of the tribe of Opet just invited you to their next tribal meeting, and you
    said yes, before I could even—‖
    ―Crane‘s gonna be living on his land,‖ I reminded my mate as I
    packed my clothes. ―He‘s the semel in Vegas. I just want us all to be
    friends.‖
    ―Jin, you—‖
    ―He said Yuri could come.‖
    He growled at me. ―And then you told Ebere El Masry—‖
    ―Ammon‘s yareah asked me last night at the concluding rites if she
    could bring her daughters for a visit. I see no problem with that.‖
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    Mary Calmes

    ―My reah!‖ Mikhail shouted at me. ―You cannot have the mate and
    children of the semel-aten on your land. What if something were to
    hap—‖
    ―What could happen?‖
    ―Oh God, you did not just tempt fate like that,‖ Delphine moaned
    from where she was sitting on the corner of my bed.
    They should have all been packing, in my opinion, instead of
    watching me do mine.
    ―What you promised the priest is the worst,‖ Yuri told me. ―When he
    asked you if it was all right, you should‘ve been honest.‖
    I shrugged. ―I was honest, if the priest of Chae Rophon wants a
    member of the Shu to be with us, watching me, making sure I don‘t turn
    into a monster and reveal us to the whole wide world, I say okay. It eases
    the mind of the priest, calms the semel-aten, and proves to the council of
    Ennead that I have nothing to hide. And besides, I like Shahid Alon, he‘s
    quiet and he smiles a lot and he‘s scary fast. This way, I finally have
    someone to run with.‖
    ―You only run with me,‖ Logan assured me, stepping in close, hand
    in my hair, tugging gently until I looked up at him.
    All I saw was gold, his eyes, his lashes, his thick brows, his skin.
    ―Yes?‖
    I nodded. ―Yes, only with you.‖
    He exhaled sharply. ―You do realize that I‘m taking a member of the
    Shu home with me, to my house, to live with us?‖
    I shrugged.
    ―And that tiny little girl, Femi, who has you wrapped around her
    finger, just so happens to be the daughter of the man who tried to kill me.‖
    ―True.‖
    ―And you agreed to attend a tribal gathering of a tribe that‘s not
    yours.‖
    ―No, I know.‖
    ―Jin!‖ He was exasperated.
    ―But the good news is I had a really nice talk with your father on the
    phone,‖ I soothed him.
    He made a noise in his chest.
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    265

    ―And Simone and Ethan are coming to visit.‖
    ―Yeah, super.‖
    ―They‘ll be there in time for the gathering that you and Christophe
    are having together.‖
    ―Jin—‖
    ―Did you know your guy Shahid knows Domin?‖ Crane chimed in,
    waggling his eyebrows at me.
    ―Like, knows how?‖ I asked suspiciously.
    ―Jin.‖
    ―Like, how you‘re thinking.‖
    ―Are you kidding?‖
    ―Jin.‖
    Crane shook his head.
    ―Well shit, then Shahid can‘t come home with us. I gotta go talk to
    Jamal; I need to take Taj instead.‖
    ―Jin!‖
    I looked at my mate. ―What?‖
    ―You‘re ignoring me.‖
    ―No, I heard you.‖
    ―Could you maybe acknowledge me, then?‖
    ―But I‘m concerned about this Shahid thing.‖
    ―And that‘s why you should ask questions before you just agree,‖
    Markel said, yawning.
    ―Shut the hell up,‖ I snapped at him. ―Who asked you?‖
    He chuckled at me as I looked around the room full of lounging
    people.
    ―Can you guys all go pack already? We‘re leaving in three hours.‖
    ―Yeah, but—‖ Yuri began.
    ―Now!‖
    There was groaning and complaining as everyone filed out.
    ―Logan, I—‖
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    ―Just… stop,‖ he ordered me. ―I‘ll talk to the priest or Jamal or
    whatever. I promise not to take home anyone that will put the moves on
    Domin and piss off Koren.‖
    ―The moves?‖ I teased him.
    ―Christ, you‘re a wiseass.‖
    I waggled my eyebrows at him.
    ―I