Page 34 of The Hunter's Heart
“You got the tattoos before you even had a chance to know what he would be like, though? Why didn’t you ask your dad to help you learn how to handle him? I can’t imagine locking my wolf up like that.”
“You don’t understand. I don’t have a fuzzy wolf that wants to chase deer on the full moon, okay? I have a monster. A fucking monster, Mia.”
She locked her fingers behind his neck and moved close, her nose almost touching his. “You stop calling him a monster this instant, Luc. I’m alive because of him.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said simply.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“I think you should be.”
She growled sharply. “Fine. So after we leave here, we’ll go see your dad.”
Before he could say anything, she pressed her finger to his lips. “Don’t even think about telling me I can’t go with you. You’re paper, I’m glue.”
“Mia, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “I’m sorry for everything.”
“You can make it up to me later. I like chocolate and orgasms.”
The berserker sat up with a purr. “You still want me?”
“I’m entirely yours.” She slid an arm around his shoulders and moved as close to him as she could, and then she addressed his teammates. “How about we get these chains off. My mate’s got a date with me, someplace not so prison-like.”
Geflin walked into the room flanked by several hunters. “If he so much as scratches the floor, I’m going to lock him up again.”
“He’s on his best behavior,” she said.
The shackles were released, and the chains fell to the tile floor with a thud. Mia plastered herself to him as if she was concerned he’d lash out at his captors, but it was the furthest thing from his mind. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her stomach.
“I told you he was fine. I think he could use some clothes.”
Simon disappeared. Geflin said, “I’ll expect you in my office in ten minutes.”
Lucian nodded, his throat clogged with emotion. He had no idea how Mia commanded such respect from his boss. Geflin was a notorious hardass. She scratched her fingernails against his scalp lightly and then curled herself around him, blanketing him in her sweet scent.
“What do you think will happen when we see your boss?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m most definitely fired.”
She snorted. “I hated this job anyway.”
He tilted his head to look up at her, and she leaned far enough away that she could see him. “Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous. The ravens probably weren’t even the most dangerous shifters you ever went after.”
He’d seen alotof dangerous shifters in his years on the job. Although the ravens were a special kind of dangerous – criminal intentions mixed up with scientific research and a liberal dose of crazy.
Simon came into the room with a stack of clothing and a pair of military boots. He and the others left, and Mia slipped from Lucian’s arms and picked up the clothes. “I’m ready to talk whenever you are.”
“I know. Let’s get out of here first, and then we’ll talk.”
She smiled, her blue eyes crinkling at the corners. Through their connection as mates, he could tell that she was happy, and his berserker was happy because of that. He couldn’t keep from reminding himself that his parents had been happy at one time, too, though. And then he’d buried his mother and shut his father out of his life. Hehadto get the beast under control. Maybe his father had learned over the years how to do that. Maybe Mia could really be safe.
There was no other option.
* * *
Mia sat next to Lucian in an office. Behind the mahogany desk, Geflin was ranting about all the damage Lucian had done in the span of twelve hours. Lucian hadn’t cared about the fallout, because only Mia’s safety had mattered. He still felt that way. He would die to keep her safe.