She jutted out her chin. “So you don’t think I can handle it?”
She’d gotten to him. She could see it in the way his mouth curved up at the ends.
“It’s not that. But what about the rest? You’ll have to give up your life on The Outside. Yes, you can visit, but you’ll live here with us.” He swept his arm around the room. “Here. Without modern conveniences and everything else that you’re used to.”
“You mean like guns and pollution and the rest of it? Yeah, I think I can do without a microwave for a life in Shangri-La.” She came near him, needing to touch him, to feel the way his body reacted to hers. She skimmed her fingers along his arm and felt him tremble.
“What other obstacles do you have in mind, Mr. Deacon? Or don’t you want me anymore?”
He jerked back, stunned at her question. “I want you more than life itself. I love you, Callie. Even with all the trouble you’ve caused.”
“Me? I haven’t done anything except try to bring peace to this place.” She placed her palm against his cheek and loved how the bristles of his beard tickled her skin. “But that brings me to the other promise.”
Pete slid behind her and pulled her ass to his crotch. “Tell us.”
She crooked her finger at Raine to bring him closer. “I want you to help me bring peace between your people.” She grinned and added, “Between our people and The Cursed.”
They broke away from her at the same time, leaving her heart and body bereft. She hadn’t expected them to like the idea, but she hadn’t thought they’d react in such an extreme fashion.
“Come on, guys. Can’t you see that it’s possible after what happened with Scrunch? He protected me against his own kind. Doesn’t that show that he’s not an evil creature?”
“No. All that shows is that you were able to train him like a pet. And pets often protect their masters.”
Was Blue that resistant? “Look, that’s what I’m going to do if I stay here. I’m not going to spend my days tending to your needs like some 1950s wilderness wife. I want to make a difference, and with your help, I can.”
“You’ll be breaking your promise to Charlton.”
“I know and I’m willing to risk it.” She turned to face Pete and Raine. “Will you two help me even if Blue doesn’t? If you want to say no, I’ll understand.”
They both glanced at their older brother before Pete took a step forward. “To have you stay? To have you be our mate? Then yeah, I’ll help you no matter what Charlton and the rest say. It’s time for a change around here.”
Raine joined him. “Me, too. I think maybe you’re right. Scrunch did protect you. A few of the others saw what he did, too. So maybe there is a chance. If there is then, yes, I’ll help, just as long as you stay safe while playing ambassador to The Cursed. No more running off in the middle of the night, okay?”
She placed a hand on each of their arms. “Deal.” Turning, she held her breath, not asking, but simply waiting for Blue to take his stand.
“Come on, bro,” urged Pete.
She saw his resolve waver in the blink of his eyes and in the way his body relaxed. “Blue?”
“Fine. We’ll give it a try, but that’s all I’m promising.”
She squealed with delight and spun in a circle. “Great. Then let’s do this. Do you want to change me now or later?”
Blue grabbed her and held her to him. His eyes blazed with amber and his scent overwhelmed her. Her knees felt weak, but she knew he wasn’t about to let her fall. At least not until he laid her down on the quilt.
“We can do it now, but claiming a mate is usually done after The Pledging Ceremony.”
“What’s The Pledging Ceremony?”
Pete lifted a carafe of dark liquid from a nearby shelf. “It’s a ceremony where we pledge our love to you and you to us. Then the rest of the community accepts you as one of us.”
Raine held up two goblets while Pete filled them. He passed one to Blue and one to her, then got two more for Pete to fill. “Should I tell Charlton that we want the ceremony as soon as possible?”
“There’s nothing I want more. Still…”
“Still what? Are you changing your mind?”
“Not on your life. But a lot of the people here aren’t very happy with me right now.”
She hated to think of that, but it had to be said. She lifted the goblet to her mouth and took a sip. The wine, unlike any she’d ever tasted, caressed her throat and made her dizzy. “Maybe a private ceremony would be better.”
Blue brought his goblet to his mouth, then wiped his lips. “She’s right. Charlton can do the honors right here. Pete, go ask him if he can do it right now.”