Semua Bab Mated To My Step-brother And His Best friend: Bab 21 - Bab 30

SAINT.Why do people smell filthy when they are scared?And why the fuck was I blessed with such a sick curse of being able to smell every shade of people's emotions so easily?I guess that's the price I had to pay for being born on the cursed day of the Blood Moon. You wouldn't even want to know the half of the consequences I have been bearing just for being born on the wrong day.The room reeked of filth. But I still didn't rush. I took my time, finished the stick of cigarette in my hand and disposed of it, before turning my attention to Eve.Her throat worked as she swallowed a big lump.Did I also mention that I hate when people try to fake bravery when it's already bleeding out of their eyes?I held her sorry gaze that kept bouncing around the room like it was searching for an exit that didn't exist, waiting for her to say something."Would you rather prefer this room? You seem to admire it a lot," I finally spoke. I didn't have the time she might think I had.She bit her lower l

SAINT.I've never been this pissed on a mission before. And not because we were losing.But because we weren't even playing.We'd been holed up in this damn room for over forty-eight hours with nothing but recycled air, useless reports, and Kester's spiraling mood swings to keep us company. And that's because Nagel wasn't on land. He was on water.Fucking coward.Nagel was always a crafty bastard – slippery and unpredictable – but this time, his craftiness was getting on my last nerve.Kester was unraveling like a loose stitch. He had become a shadow of what he used to be. And what's worse? The man didn't even seem aware of it.He kept muttering orders, pacing restlessly, breathing hard, and muttering her name under his breath like a prayer that wasn't going to get answered.That's what obsession looks like... The sleeplessness. The spiralling. That thousand-yard stare he now wears permanently.And for what? A mate?Couldn't be me.We had tracked Nagel's ship through satellite feeds a

KYRIE.I ducked behind an iron beam, shots flying past me. One of our guys went down near the east stairwell. His vest caught most of it, but he was out cold."Saint, we're under fire. Layout's changed," I snapped into the comm, already knowing there wouldn't be a reply.Nothing. Just more goddamn bullets.Typical Saint Rollins. Always radio silent when shit goes sideways.I scanned below and saw two of Nagel's men dragging a crate across the floor. Probably weapons. One of ours took a shot and clipped the taller guy in the shoulder. He dropped like a bad habit. The other bailed.I scanned again. Where the fuck was she?I didn't give a shit about the objective anymore.Let Saint chase glory and help Kester play hero for his Luna. They could all go circle jerk in a puddle of blood and vengeance for all I cared.My mission had shifted.Eve.That was it. That was the whole fucking mission now.I dropped down the metal stairwell in twos, cutting through the upper floor toward the east hal

KYRIE.The moment I got home, all I wanted was a hot bath, a strong drink, and to be left the hell alone. Just me and silence. A rare combo I'd kill for lately.I desired some alone time to reflect on everything that had happened during our mission.But of course… I had company.I forgot I told Cole to bring Jessa over.In fact, throughout the mission last night until we returned this morning, Jessa hadn't crossed my mind.I didn't think about her. Not even once.Because Eve was the only name bouncing around in my goddamn skull.After my blowout with Saint, I walked out and didn't look back. I didn't even bother to check in on her again. I just dipped.Coward shit. I know.I made sure to arrive at the airport a few minutes earlier than they, just so I could settle into my own cabin before they arrived. Didn't want to set eyes on Saint or Eve.Not because I was angry at Eve. No. The poor girl didn't do anything to offend me. But because the guilt was beginning to eat me alive, and it w

EVE.6:58 am.I had two minutes to convince myself I was okay.I smoothed my dress one last time and tugged at the hem of my short sleeves. It was pointless, really. It wasn't like they could hide the panic clawing at my chest.My hair was combed, clipped, and as neat as I could get it considering the throbbing pain I'd been ignoring since 4 am.I hadn't slept.The moment I closed my eyes last night, I had felt his fingers around my neck, his breath behind my ear, and the sound of my body hitting his chest.The pain. The fear. The absolute powerlessness of it all.No matter how hard I tried to replace that haunting memory with the most recent memory of safety I had felt in a very long time – in Kyrie's arms – it just didn't work.But all that didn't matter right now. I had to act fine. I didn't want to make a bad first impression at my new school.Even though life was moving so fast and I hadn't even had a moment to process how fast my life was spiraling in the wrong direction, I stil