Free Charming the Alphas (Hex My Heart, #5) by Talina Perkins Page B

there’s no cell reception, and I didn’t spot a landline anywhere along my route to the mess hall.”
    Luc held up a crystal glass. “Now drink this. It’ll help.”
    He tipped the large glass to her lips while he steadied her with his other hand. Cool water quenched the back of her throat and she took several more gulps.
    “Goddesses yes! That was like sex in a tall glass. Hades on fire...” She pressed a hand to her mouth to hide a smile and half a groan from the pain.
    A creak of wood from across the room brought their gazes around. “I’d like to think we’re better than a simple glass of cold water.” Zane strolled across the threshold, performing a delicate balancing act of what looked like a week’s worth of food. He threw her a hurt look and feigned a bruised ego from the small smile that played at the corner of his lips. The telltale sign always gave him away, but that little secret was hers to keep.
    “Thought you got lost.” Lucian tucked her back into his front with an arm wound around her waist.
    It felt right. Safe. And honestly, she didn’t want to break the contact either, but it was time for answers. Now that Zane had returned, she could get down to digging for what they knew.
    Shadows caressed the contours of Zane’s face as he pushed through the double doors. She couldn’t look away. His long hair fell loose around his broad shoulders and brushed against the light stubble along his jaw in a way that made her fingers itch to reach out and comb a hand through it.
    “Good. You’re awake. Give me a hand?”
    Lucian gave her a squeeze that broke up her thoughts. “Go to him, baby.”
    She smiled and strode across the room, arms extended. Before he released his loot, he came in for a kiss. Her moan echoed his. Leaning in, he whispered against her lips, “I missed you, baby,” then pulled away, flashing a slow grin.
    Marabelle let her fingers skim across his as she helped him. “What did you do—raid the entire kitchen?”
    “Almost. Didn’t know what your stomach would hold down so I brought a little of everything.” Zane looked over at Lucian. “You should see the size of their gathering hall. Our entire pack house could fit in it. Hell, maybe two.”
    Amused, Marabelle showed Zane to a low table by the fire.
    “I ran into Obsidian. Something took him away and said he’d be back later.” Zane looked between them both with the news.
    “There’s enough to feed an army here.” Marabelle agreed as Lucian helped unload Zane’s bundle of treats of fresh baked rolls, a bottle of wine, fruits and vast amount of cut hams. And oranges. Probably the same ones Lucian had found at some point in his venture out of the rooms. She smiled. He made the citrus fruit taste damn sinful. Maybe later they could play...
    Lucian palmed her hand, guided her over to a plush couch and pulled her down to sit beside him. “What are you thinking about?” Every second that passed, they made this harder. Like a silly schoolgirl, a rush of tears stung the back of her eyes. She couldn’t cry. Wouldn’t cry. She dug her hands into the silk fabric of the couch. Dragons liked the shiny stuff. She got that now. Her breaths were ragged and as erratic as her thoughts. Damn, when did it get so hot?
    “I, uh...” she let out a big puff of air and dived in before she lost her nerve. “I’m sorry about tonight. I shouldn’t have put you guys in so much danger. A true mate would never have done that.” Marabelle let her gaze move over anything and everything in the room except them. If she looked at them, the hurt she felt coursing through their connection would snap her resolve like a twig and she’d beg for their forgiveness. No, she had to protect them.
    “That’s why I think it’s better we—?”
    Lucian spoke over her from her left. “You think we’ll stand by and let you get hurt? Or worse? Don’t even think about it. A few spells and balls of nasty aren’t enough to scare us away. Nothing is.