“You’ll stay with Talley?”
“And protect her with my life.”
Of course he would. Protecting his friends, no matter what it cost him personally, is what Charlie does.
Within minutes the dining room became a war room. The guys talked defenses and perimeters, most of their plans sounding like video game strategies. While they talked, I Googled bloodless coups. The results weren’t what I would call optimistic, but I still held on to hope.
The next night was the full moon. At Toby’s request, Marie and Michelle moved into the Safe House. The Hagans were keeping watch over them while Liam and I went to guard over Rachel, who refused to be “bullied by a little girl with delusions of grandeur.” Luckily, her apartment complex was on the edge of town, which meant there was a nice big field less than half a mile away where Liam and I could stand sentury.
“One of these days, I would like to wander up on a spot where I know something fantastically wonderful is going to happen,” I said. “Like, ‘Oh, look at this dirt path. This is where someone is going to give me a new car and a lifetime supply of ice cream.’”
Liam dropped his bag. “Talley’s vision?”
“Talley’s vision,” I confirmed. “If you want a front row seat, I think the big showdown is going to happen right over there.” I pointed back towards the little stream cutting through the field.
Liam turned in a slow circle, finally stopping once he faced the direction of the town. “We’ll go that direction once we Change instead of sticking around here.”
“No. We’ll stay. No use in trying to run away from it.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in fate.”
I dropped my bag beside his, then knelt down to dig out our food. “I don't, but I do believe in Talley.”
We continued to get our things in order in silence. I was heading towards a patch of trees where I could Change in privacy, when Liam said, “It was when they were holding you captive.” I stopped walking, but didn’t turn around. “It was perfect. They were cautious the first few days, but once the Hagans started falling in line, they let up, thinking they were free of threats. I had everything I needed. I could have rigged it up and gotten Jase, Talley, and Charlie out of the way before it actually blew, but I knew there was no way to save you. I told myself it was because of Alex, that I couldn’t let you die because he would never forgive me, but it was a lie. It had nothing to do with Alex, and everything to do with me.” He was behind me then. I turned to meet his gaze. “Sometime, and I don’t know when it was, you ceased to be Alex’s obsession and became mine. The way you reacted to everything happening around you… It was strange and unsettling. But the stranger and more unsettling you got, the more intrigued I was. I wanted to know why you were like that. What made you so… Scout. And I knew if I did what I was supposed to do, if I blew up that cabin with you inside it, I would never get to know you.” His hand trailed over my cheek, resting at the crook of my neck. “That was when I chose you, Scout. And even knowing what’s to come, I would have done it again.” And then, he kissed me.
There is something to be said for being kissed on purpose. Sure, out-of-control passionate kisses are all sorts of breathtakingly sexy, but knowing someone has actively made a decision to put their lips against yours is even better, especially when that person is as focused and thorough about the whole matter as Liam. He didn’t pull back until my knees were weak from it.
“We’re going to win,” I said, hands clenched in his t-shirt so I wouldn't slide onto the ground into a puddle of properly kissed goo.
“Damn straight.”
“And then, we’re going to figure this out.”
A slight lifting of the corners of his mouth in a classic Liam smile. “I look forward to it.”
This time, I kissed him on purpose.
Chapter 29
“Surrender now, and I will let the others live.” It was nearing daylight when I heard Sarvarna’s voice echo through my head.
“I haven’t issued a formal Challenge yet, your majesty. Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun a little bit?”
“You’ve gathered a group of Shifters together with the express purpose of overthrowing the Alpha Pack. Your brother has already admitted to it. As per our laws and customs, you are guilty of treason and subject to death.”
I finally caught her scent, and not just hers. Liam was right, there had to be at least twenty of them, and they were close. Too close. They stayed downwind, which was the only reason we hadn’t noticed them before.