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I reached for the shampoo, squirted some in my hand, and turned her around, and she instantly tilted her head back as I worked it through her hair.

If she was worried about having me inside her after witnessing what she just had, she didn’t say. Still, I worried. “You’ll like it, dove, the way I fuck you, I promise you that,” I said, trying to reassure her.

But again, she didn’t deny it, or tell me it wasn’t going to happen—no, a sexy little quiver moved through her, and I had to bite back a snarl of triumph, even as I was filled with contentment, because nothing had ever felt better in my long fucking life than being in this shower with Willow.

I’d made my dove come and now I was tending to her other needs.

It was only a matter of time before I made her mine in every possible way.

Before I claimed my mate.

Chapter 18

Willow

The house was quiet when I walked in.

I knew it would be. Iris was out with Brody, and Mom, Arthur, and Else had taken Rose for a drive to pick up supplies for the shop. I wasn’t sure where Mags was, with Bram somewhere, no doubt.

Kicking off my heels, I turned on the kettle. The funeral was rough. Rebecca had no family to speak of, and Jane apparently had only a few friends. I’d held Rebecca’s hand the whole time, her pain like a bleak gray cloud around her, the horror she still felt over the way she believed her daughter died, rolling off her in waves.

I’d slipped some calming herbs in her tea, but it’d barely made a difference. Twice I’d nearly taken her aside and told her the truth. Jane’s death was horrific and heartbreaking, but at least it’d been quick, not the gruesome, drawn-out murder Rebecca believed it was. Knowing her child hadn’t suffered would ease her pain.

And then I’d seen Maddox. He’d been on the other side of the cemetery, watching from a distance as Jane’s coffin was slowly lowered into the ground, the small stuffed bear Rebecca had placed on the top going with it.

He’d seen me and walked away before I could go to him, his howl echoing from a distance several minutes later, so mournful and broken it brought tears to my eyes.

I’d texted Warrick, told him where I’d seen his brother, then left. The urge to run to Warrick, to seek comfort from him, had been strong, so much so, it kind of frightened me. And after what we’d done that morning, it would’ve been easy to go to him, but I couldn’t allow myself to get emotionally involved.

There was no point catching feelings for a guy who couldn’t return them. That was just asking for a flying kick to the heart, and I wasn’t that much of a masochist.

But resisting the physical attraction between us was something I couldn’t do anymore. Maybe that made me weak? Probably. But I wanted him like I’d never wanted another male. And I’d been having no-strings relationships my whole adult life, why would this be any different? What could possibly go wrong?

My brain flashed up one disastrous scenario after another. I shoved those images back, and all thoughts of Warrick from my mind, and instantly guilt worked its way back in.

Maybe I should have stayed with Jane longer? Her neighbor had been at the funeral and had offered to drive her home. I’d hugged her goodbye, and she’d been so broken. I drew in a steadying breath. It was selfish, but it’d been a struggle being around that kind of pain, that kind of loss.

I took down a mug, my eyes sliding to the herbs and tonics, the oils and elixirs that Else had prescribed Rose.

They weren’t helping.

Nothing was helping.

If I lost her—

I squeezed my eyes closed as tightly as I could, praying to the mother to give me the power of healing—though Cora was a healer and nothing she’d tried had helped—or the power to stop time then, anything to make sure we never lost our Rose.

A scream came from upstairs, followed by a bellow.

My blade was in my hand a moment later, and I sprinted up the stairs. The scream came again, filled with panic, with pain.

Magnolia.

I rushed into her room.

Mags was on the floor, Bram clutching her to him, terror in his eyes. She was covered in blood.

“What the hell happened, what’s…” My voice trailed off as a wicked slice appeared out of thin air across her thigh, like an invisible blade slashing her flesh. Oh goddess, she was covered in them.