Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6)

by Ilona Andrews

“This is going to suck,” Curran said. “It will suck much less if you come with me. You want me to level, here it is: I need you. I need you because I love you. Three months without you will be hell. But even if we weren’t together, I would still need you. You’re a good fighter, you’ve worked as a bodyguard, and you know magic. We may not have many magic users, but we don’t know if those packs do, and if they hit us with magic, we have no way to counter.” He spread his arms. “But I love you and I don’t want you to be hurt. I’m not going to ask you to come with me. That would be like stepping in front of a moving train and saying, ‘Hey, honey, come stand next to me.’”

That does it. I leaned forward. “Hey, you. Either put your claws where your mouth is or shut the fuck up. Nobody wants to hear you yip.” Jarek’s eyes bulged. Green flared in the depths of his irises, an insane hot flame. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. “Yes, just like that,” I told him. “Less talking, more quiet.”

“But how will Princess Wilson survive without your manly protection while you and I talk?” Gold rolled over his eyes. “I tell you what. She is over there and I’m here. Pick.” “It’s not that simple.” “Then I’ll pick for you.” Watch me walk away. “Is that a threat?” “No, that was a test and you failed it. Don’t follow me.” He grabbed my arm. I jerked back. “Do not follow me,” I snarled through my teeth. “Or I swear to God, I’ll get my sword and fucking stab you in the heart with it.”

“I did the only thing I could do. Everything I’ve done and everything I’ve said was to keep you alive. I’m sorry I made you go through it, but if I had to do it over, I would do it again. Even if that means you’ll leave with Hugh tomorrow. You being safe is more important to me than having you. I love you.”

“I don’t deserve you,” Curran said. The same desperate thing I saw last night flickered in his eyes. “But I got you and I’m an entitled selfish bastard. You’re all mine. Don’t leave me.” “I won’t. Don’t leave me.” “I won’t. If you ever disappeared, I would leave the Pack and I would look for you until I found you. However long it took.”

“Great,” Curran said. “Another fine addition to your collection of uncanny misfits.” “I take offense to that,” Barabas said. “Don’t worry, I count myself in, too,” Curran told him.