REGRET WAS THIS AWFUL, nagging feeling. What I had done—it couldn’t be erased. My transgressions would no doubt haunt me for the rest of my life.
It wasn’t my fault. I had been tricked, but that didn’t make me feel better. Just the thought of Nathaniel touching me made me shudder.
“Are you ready to go?” Nico asked. His hand at the small of my back warmed me, but that warmth couldn’t erase what I had done either.
I lifted my chin and met his gaze for a second before looking away, embarrassed. And I couldn’t even bear to look at Tristan. With a shake of my head, I said, “Can I stay behind?” My voice trembled. “I don’t want to be anywhere near that guy, and I want to go back to work.”
Nico and Tristan exchanged a look over my head as I stared down at my fingernail like it was the most important thing in the room.
“It would not be safe for you to stay behind,” Nico said gently.
I lifted my gaze again. “One of you could stay with me, make sure I’m safe. But I thought with Nathaniel apprehended, I’m safe now anyway, right? So, what’s the big deal?”
Tristan ran a hand over his head and looked like he was actually considering it.
“And you didn’t need me the first time the spell was cast, so why do you need me this time? I’m sure this witch, whoever she is, can handle casting another spell without me.”
“What’s going on?” Dane asked, stepping into the room. “We need to get going.”
“Elyse wants to stay behind,” Nico said.
“No,” Dane replied. “Absolutely not. She comes with us.”
“She would be safer staying behind,” Tristan said. “As long as one of us stays with her.”
“And like I was saying,” I added, “now that you have Nathaniel, he’s not a threat to me anymore. Especially if I’m in the city and he’s with you.”
Dane sighed, clearly conflicted.
I hugged my arms to my chest and looked away as a tear slipped down my cheek. “I just can’t stand the thought of being near him.”
He crossed the room and cupped my cheek in his hand, lifting my chin so I had to look at him. His eyes searched mine. “You really want to stay?”
I nodded. When he bowed his head and pressed his lips to my forehead, I leaned into him and clamped my eyes closed. Another tear slipped free.
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into a tight embrace. After a moment, he lifted his head and said, “Okay. Tristan will stay with you.”
I wanted to protest, to ask him to choose someone else—anyone else—but instead I nodded. “Thank you.”
“He will drive you back to the city and make sure you’re safe.”
“Okay,” I said quietly.
His gaze held mine as he slid his hands down my arms. Then he said, “I don’t remember if I ever said this, but you mean so much to me, Elyse.” His fingertips brushed my hair aside. “I want more time with you. So much more.”
Blinking back more tears, I said, “When you get back.”
He nodded. He kissed me again. “Don’t cry.”
A sob slipped out anyway.
He hugged me to his chest again, cradling my hand in his.
I almost said I had changed my mind. Did I really want to be apart from them for so long? Would it be a few days? A week or two? If it was just a week, I could live with that. But if it was going to be longer…
He kissed my forehead again and then cradled my face in his hands. “I’ll see you soon.”
I nodded and gave him the best smile I could manage. I cupped his cheek in my own palm and stood on my toes to kiss him one last time. “Hurry back.”
He turned to Tristan and pulled him into a tight embrace, clapping him on the back. “It shouldn’t take us longer than a week, two at the most. But you know how to reach us.”
“I do,” Tristan replied.
Nico reached for my hand. “Walk with me.”
I placed my hand in his, following him out of the room and down the hall. He led me up a staircase and into another room. Then he walked me out onto a small balcony where the morning sun warmed my skin. Before I could take in the view, he pulled me into his arms.
I buried my face in his shirt as a sob bubbled up in my chest.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked, smoothing a hand over my hair. “I sensed hesitation.”
I sniffled and wiped at my eyes. “I feel horrible about what I did.”
He pulled back to cradle my face in his hands. “Hey,” he whispered. “It wasn’t your fault. Nathaniel fooled all of us. Tristan knows that. Okay?”
I nodded, my throat tight.
“Enjoy your time with him. When we get back, we’ll all be together again.” He kissed me. Then, against my earlobe, he whispered, “I can’t wait to make love to you when we get back.”
A shiver ran down my neck at the touch of his soft lips, making me giggle.
He smiled. “Come on. Everyone is waiting at the car.”
Outside, Jack stepped forward and took me into his arms.
I held on tightly, letting the steady beat of his heart calm me. They had a way of making me feel at ease. It wasn’t just the wine that had relaxed me before. It was them. Their presence. Their touch.
Jack pulled back and cupped my cheek. “I’ll see you soon, Elyse.”
“Be safe,” I whispered.
He kissed me, fingers slipping through my hair, and stepped aside for Ethan.
“We’ll be back soon,” Ethan said as he hugged me close. His hand grazed my back. “I can’t believe Dane is letting you stay behind. I want you with us.”
I pulled back to look up at him. “So you can sleep with me?”
He chuckled and bowed his head, lips brushing my neck. “So I can be near you. So I can bury myself inside you again.”
“Mm hmm. I knew it.”
“Can you blame me?”
I shook my head.
“Enjoy Tristan while we’re gone. We’ll see you soon.”
He lingered for a moment, then stepped away and climbed into the front seat.
I checked to make sure Nathaniel was secured in the back.
When I sighed in relief, Dane said, “Take care of Elyse, man.”
“I will,” Tristan replied. “Find the woman. And hurry back.”
As they all said goodbye, I cinched my robe tighter and hugged my arms to my chest. I’d convinced them to let me stay. But watching them leave felt like something in me was unraveling.
I took a deep breath and waved as the car pulled away.
