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Coby shrugs. “I can’t call it, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”
“I’ll go right now and hunt this motherfucking son of a bitch down.” I turn to walk out, but I’m stopped, not by Corbin or even one of my brothers.
“Primal, don’t go,” Sibley whispers, and suddenly I’m frozen in place. Everything in me is screaming to do what I’m made to do. Hunt. Destroy. Protect.
But the sound of her voice overrides it all.
“No, she’s right. You need to stay here,” Justice says, siding with her. The conversation continues before I can ask him why it’s me who needs to stay.
My mind is swimming, torn between the need to keep her safe and the desire to find this Kakos so I can rip his head from his body.
“In the meantime, we need to get in contact with Aziz and Orpheus to let them know what’s going on. They need to know that Sibley is staying here for the time being. Maybe find out what they know about Kakos,” Corbin growls.
“No,” Sibley pipes up.
“What the hell do you mean, no?” I snap at her. “If they were able to fight him before, maybe they can tell us what to look for. Something that can end this quicker.”
“Not that. Aziz and Orpheus will need to know. I’m talking about staying here for the foreseeable future, and I can’t do that.”
“Sibley, now isn’t the time to try to prove you’re brave. We all know you can take care of yourself, but this isn’t the same thing," Justice snarls.
“I’m not delusional, Justice. I know I can’t take on Kakos on my own. I don’t want to fight him. I just can’t stay here. I was honest the last time I was here when I said it was too loud. I’ve only been here for a few hours, but my head feels like it’s about to pop off my shoulders. There are too many of you here. I need to be somewhere quiet and on my own.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I hear myself say.
“He’s right. That’s definitely not going to happen.” Corbin backs me up. “If you need to go back to your house, Primal will stay with you. We’ll keep our distance, but we won’t be far. We’ll rotate in and out, patrolling the perimeter of the property.”
“Wait, that’s not what I meant.” I don’t think I’ve ever backtracked so fast in my life.
Corbin huffs and glares at me. “What other option would you prefer? Is there someone else here who is better equipped to protect her?”
The honest answer is yes. Every other member of the Spiked Raiders, besides me, can be seen as more than capable of protecting her, and they have a better rapport with her, but just thinking about someone else being in my position makes me feel sick.
It has to be me.
“Really, you don’t need to stay with me. I’m sure a few patrols will keep Kakos away,” Sibley adds.
“Must you really make everything so damn difficult? We’ve already decided that you won’t be on your own.”
Sibley cocks her head to one side and sneers at me. The fire she lost was back with a vengeance. “And you’ve already decided you’d rather not do it. I’m doing you a favor.”
“Please don’t. I don’t need any favors. All I need is for you to do what we ask so you don’t get captured or worse.”
“Who do you think you are—”
“Children!” Corbin raises his hand to make us stop arguing. “For heaven’s sake, I swear I’ve seen toddlers with better social skills than the two of you.”
A few of the guys laughed, but I really don’t see what’s so funny. How the hell am I supposed to last in a house alone with her for who knows how long?
“Are you turning down the assignment?” Corbin asks me, back to business.
“No, I’m not," I grit out. "I’ll stay with her. Just make sure to send someone to check on me. She may try to kill me in my sleep.”
“I don’t think I’ll wait until you’re asleep,” Sibley mutters under her breath.
As much as I don’t want to leave her on her own, I’m not looking forward to being alone with Sibley. Not only because I’m genuinely worried she might get pissed enough to try to kill me, but also because even I can no longer deny that something stronger keeps pulling us together.
Something I’m not sure I’m ready to confront.
