Helen’s POV
“So, how did your first day of research go?” Justin asked me.
I put my hand over my mouth to finish chewing and swallowed before answering. “We found a little bit more on the Huntsman. It will help us some. But the biggest dead end that we found is his lineage.”
“What do you mean, his lineage?” Justin asked me, his brows coming together on a creased forehead.
“She means that we discovered the Huntsman isn’t fully human,” Russo told him.
“That’s right,” Julianne added. “But in all of the records that he made of himself, the only mentioned of his father was to call him a beast and say that he would never be mentioned because the Huntsman wouldn’t do anything to mark any sort of remembrance for the man.”
“Sounds like you’ve been busy,” Justin said. “Did you find out anything else good?”
“No,&rdqu
Helen’s POVAt first, it was awkward sitting on the floor on the cushion next to Justin. Behind us, Randy and Russo had taken opposite sides of the couch and munched on their popcorn. On the loveseat, Julianne had curled in against Peter’s shoulder, resting her head and leaning against him. But otherwise, they weren’t doing anything.All I could think while I was watching them was that if that were Justin and me, we would have our hands under each other’s clothes, rubbing various sensitive points, rather than sitting there watching the movie. I took a sideways glance at my mate. What was I supposed to do with him?The first movie started, and it was a comedy about an intern and their boss, and some mix-up with the intern’s identity, so that their first day on the job, the boss thought that they were the new social coordinator. And, of course, the boss needs a date for an event, and the poor intern has no idea how to get one and can&
Helen’s POVWhen I opened my eyes next, sunlight filtered in through the living room windows. I was still lying on Justin. Though now I’d slid down, so I lay sideways across his lap. Looking up, I saw him looking down at me.He smiled. “You look pretty when you sleep,” he said.I blushed. It was such an innocent compliment and so unlike our usual interactions. He got the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks, too.“You’re even prettier when you blush,” he said.Something hard throbbed against my cheek, and I hurried off his lap. I wasn’t ready to do that—yet.Justin flushed even deeper and looked away from me, rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry about that. It’s just—”“It’s okay. I get it,” I said. “That was kind of the expectation for our bodies in the past. So, naturally, it’s in your nature to be ready should the moment ar
Justin’s POVRandy sat at the table opposite me, going over reports of available warriors and supplies. While we weren’t openly fighting anyone at the moment, we still had dangerous adversaries lurking just out of sight. No one thought the Huntsman had given up.I cleared my throat. “Randy? Can I ask you a question?”“Mmm,” he muttered, not looking up.“Did I abuse Helen?”His gaze jerked up to me so fast that I was surprised he didn’t hurt his neck. “What?”I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair. I’d given this a lot of thought over the six weeks since Helen started living on her own. And my mind kept coming back to the frightening thought that maybe I’d actually gone so far as to abuse my own mate. Every time I thought that a sick feeling settled in my stomach. I’d finally come to the conclusion that I needed to ask Randy if I had.If Randy confirmed m
Justin’s POVI whispered the words, “He wants you back,” into my mate’s ear. My breath carried sincerity and desperation. Beowulf wasn’t the only one who wanted Helen.I held her in my arms, my apology still hanging in the air around us. I didn’t expect her to say she forgave me or that it was all in the past. I also hadn’t expected tears.Helen clutched at my shirt, chest jerking against mine.“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” I said, unsure of what to do next.“No one I’ve wanted to love has ever apologized to me before,” she sniffled out. “Somehow, they mean even more than ‘I love you’ does. Do you really mean it?” She pulled back, looking at me through her tears. “Because if I thought you were just saying this to get me back or for any insincere reason, I’m not sure I could live with that disappointment.”I shook my head
Justin’s POVHelen scurried away from me, tidying her skirt and pasting an innocent look on her face. I yanked the front of my shirt down to cover my exposed erection, holding one hand across the other in front of any indiscrete lumps.It wasn’t enough. At least not for me to remain uncaught. The warrior took one look at me and blushed crimson.“Alpha King, I-I’m so sorry,” he stammered. “I thought it was important. I didn’t realize . . .” His voice faded out, and he turned away, facing the door.“It is important,” Helen said, stepping in front of me.I used the moment and her cover to tuck myself back into my pants. If anyone had ever said I’d stop that close to orgasm, I’d have laughed at them. But I guess there are at least a few things that can interrupt, even at near climax.“She’s right,” I added. “Finish delivering your message.”
Justin’s POVI burst out laughing. “You three play one hell of a prank. A demon? Yeah, right.”“I wish we were joking,” Randy said. “Selina Crow left us the information and fled. She’s one of a handful of witches and wizards left, and they’re only alive because they hid from the Huntsman. But we looked up the Huntsman’s middle name and found Orias on the list of Solomon’s demons. Orias is thousands of years old. And like most demons, he has a gift of making trouble when he visits Earth.”“This article is one Selina Crow did,” Randy explained, “outlining all of the demons Solomon summoned thousands of years ago, what they’re capable of, and where they might be now. It seems Orias was on Earth making trouble one hundred and thirty years ago when Jacob Cypress’s mother caught his eye.”“Whether he took some human form and created a fictional relationsh
Justin’s POVSweet relief washed through me when Helen said she hadn’t slept with anyone else. Beowulf growled out that he didn’t believe her, but I ignored him the way he’d ignored me earlier.“Then are you suffering?” I asked Helen.“Not that I can tell. I assume that’s normal. I doubt the whole pack went through life either in pain because they were horny and not getting sex or involved in a sexual encounter. If I use my body as a guide, it’s just maintaining itself. I’m not getting any stronger, but I don’t feel any weaker, either. Does that make sense?”“Yes.” I cupped her chin and rubbed my thumb across her cheek. “Someday, I’ll earn enough of your trust back that we can sleep together again properly. Then we’ll take it slow and see how powerful the two of us can make you.”“Beowulf is good with this plan?” she asked.
Helen’s POVComing back to Justin’s father’s mansion was like returning to a bad dream. Even the smell of the gardens around the place conjured up horrible images in my mind and feelings in my chest. The closer we got to the property, the harder I prayed that we would find something in Juden’s library that would validate this whole trip and all of these nasty feelings. Otherwise, what a waste it would be not only to spend the time coming all the way out here but to dredge up all the joint horrors of our past.When we arrived, Justin went to the door and tried his key in the lock. Frustration took over his face, and he tried to jam the key in a second time.“My father’s been here,” he growled. “He’s changed the locks.”“Should we break a window to get in?” Randy said, tossing a rock up in the air and catching it, a wicked grin on his face.Justin shook his head. “I don’t think he’s here, or he’d have either come out to meet us himself or sent someone out to greet us, either in a good o