Page 100 of Born Savage

My God. To think how much he’d risked in coming to find me was incredible.

Wrath finally turned his head in my direction and while I was uncertain if he was waiting for a reply, my guess was he wasn’t. He was waiting, hoping that I’d make the right decision with the information I’d just learned.

I took a deep breath and moved behind him toward the door. When he slumped as if he’d failed, I placed my hand on his arm, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Will you do me a favor?”

“If I can.”

“Keep the boys downstairs for a little while.”

His laugh was heartfelt. “That I can do. Good luck cracking his armor.”

“I think I know how.”

CHAPTER 21

Star

I’d never been very good with telling anyone I was sorry. Maybe because I’d been so angry all my life, furious with everyone for not being able to live and enjoy the life read about in books and seen in pictures.

But it was time I stopped living in what had been and forged what could be into what would be. Wrath had confidence in the strong connection Rage and I shared. It was past time I do the same.

I rushed up the stairs, moving to the bathroom first. He wasn’t there. I noticed a slight glow across from the room where Wren was staying and moved closer, taking a deep breath before walking inside.

His massive body was wrapped in a towel, the material barely enough to surround his torso. As soon as I walked in, his body stiffened. There was little more than a glow of light from one of the phosphor sticks, but I didn’t need any further definition of his incredible physique. Although I hoped we’d be allowed to spend a few hours under intense exploration.

I closed the door, feeling strangely much more adult than I had my entire life. Being with him created an entirely different aura about being alive. Instead of merely working to survive, around him I was allowed moments of excitement and longing. Nothing had prepared me for the strange feelings rumbling in my stomach or the flutter of my heart.

No books. No pictures of romantic settings.

No discussions with my adopted mother or with Peter.

And not even from hearing raucous stories as told by old timers during wishful moments. The here and now was something else entirely.

“Did you come to finish what you started, princess? Go ahead.” He swept his arms out, nodding in encouragement. That was when I realized he was talking about the sword in my hand. “You can kill me if that’s what you want.”

“No,” I threw out, nervously lowering the sword to the floor. “Why would you think that?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to carve my heart out? Then you wouldn’t need to worry about whether I was planning on using you for God knows what. Did you think I would come all this way to betray you?”

“Others might.”

“Yeah.” He nodded, slowly lowering his arms. “You’re right, absolutely right to be cautious. But here’s the thing, princess. I’m not just one of those guys. I was sworn to protect you and that’s what I intend on doing whether you want me to or not.”

His angry vehemence should infuriate me, but he was hurting. I’d hurt him and that killed me. Peter would never allow me to leave with anyone he didn’t trust. The arrival of the Verndari had been planned for a long time. The reason why would matter at some point.

But not now.

“Phoenix,” I whispered, fighting tears and anger, the wave crushing me. “I’m so sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” While he spoke the words, I could tell by the tension lingering, the way he held his arms at his sides that he’d heard such an atrocity before. Neither the insult nor the comparison was one he deserved.

“Yes, there is.”

“You said so yourself. I’m a monster and you’re right.”