“I’m sorry,” Snooke murmured.
“You have no reason to be. You went through something traumatic and had to work it out in your head.” Kane ran his hands over Snooke’s back as he thanked the heavens above that Snooke was finally coming back to him.
“I don’t feel safe anymore.”
“Do you want to live with Chris for a while?” Kane hated asking. It would mean he would spend most of his time at Chris’s house, but if it made Snooke feel safer, he would do it.
“I don’t feel safe anywhere.”
“I know, shorty.” Kane exhaled deeply, wondering how he was going to make his mate feel safe once again in their home.
Panahasi had said that the keeper was close to a new spell, one that would keep out anyone not of warrior descent. The warriors themselves could bring people through, but no one who wasn’t living there in the building could come in.
He jerked when he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. No one was there but the two of them. Snooke began to shake in his arms as Kane stood and placed his mate in the chair. He walked quietly and with measured steps as he neared the kitchen.
He glanced back to see Snooke balled up and staring in horror. Kane placed a finger over his mouth, and Snooke nodded.
As he rounded the corner, he raised his hands in the air, ready to freeze whatever threat there may be. He stopped dead in his tracks, staring in a horrific wonder at the sight in front of him.
Chapter Ten
Panahasi thought of Kane’s apartment and then appeared in the living room. The first thing he noticed was Snooke balled up on the chair, his gaze terrified as he stared at the kitchen. He hurried across the room and entered the kitchen, coming to a halt.
“Well, fuck, the keeper really does have a sense of humor,” Panahasi said as he walked further in.
“What the hell is it?” Kane asked as his eyes darted from Panahasi to the trapped creature.
“It looks to me like the person that kept breaking in has been snared in the keeper’s spell. I knew he would come up with a good one, but damn.” Panahasi crossed the kitchen, staring at a pair of arms and legs suspended in midair. “Seems our burglar is trapped between your home and wherever he was using the shadows.”
“I still want to know how he managed to get in the first time,” Kane said as he walked around the limbs. “This is fucking gross.”
“I think it’s Marino that has helped this person. He’s starting to learn the crystal, getting closer to unlocking it. Only with the use of the crystal can you go to the forbidden places. This is some wicked shit.” Panahasi laughed. “Wicked indeed.”
Kane quirked a brow at him. “Is it that entertaining?”
“Hell yeah it is.”
“What is that?” Snooke gasped from behind them.
* * * *
Snooke wasn’t sure what he was looking at. How could a pair of arms and legs be suspended in the kitchen?
“I think it’s the man who tried to take you,” the leader said as he turned toward Snooke.
Rage like he’d never before felt consumed Snooke as he shot forward, attacking the limbs in limbo. “You bastard.” He shouted as he clawed at the arms. “You fucking bastard.” The anger and helplessness that had been living inside of Snooke broke free, turning him savage.
“Shorty.” Kane wrapped his arms around Snooke and pulled him away. “Wait until we have all of him before you go Rambo all over his ass.”
Snooke looked over at the now-bloody limbs and began to laugh. It started off small, little chuckles until it turned into a hysterical laughter. Snooke bent over, placing his hands on his knees as tears fell from his eyes. “I just beat up a set of arms.”
“Are you okay, shorty?” Kane stepped closer. “Do I need to get Phoenyx, a glass of water, a straightjacket?”
Snooke dried his eyes as he stood. He pointed over at the limbs dangling in midair. “You got me, you bastard.” He chuckled. “You had me running, afraid of my own shadow.” Snooke faced his warrior and sent Kane a weak smile. “I’ll be fine, honest.”
“Glad to hear it.” Panahasi grinned. “Never allow someone to replace your laughter with fear.”
Snooke nodded. That was sound advice. “Is he okay?” Snooke nodded toward the bizarre scene.
“He’s alive. I’ll take care of this. You two go reconnect.” Panahasi waved them off.
“Who is he?” Snooke asked. “Why did he target me?”
“He’s one of your uncle’s.”
That’s all Snooke needed to hear. So Marino wasn’t letting him go that easy. We’ll see about that. He was tired of his uncle’s influence ruining his life. He followed his mate from the kitchen, feeling like he was getting his life back. Snooke reached his hands into the back pockets of Kane’s jeans, following behind his mate as Kane led him into the guest room.