Assassin's Kiss by Sharon Kay Page B

shook his head. “They got Fenrick on the other side of the tree line.”
    “I’ll go get him,” Scorpio said.
    “Wait,” Orser growled. “Restraints back on. It’s great that you helped us, but we’re not letting you sneak off.”
    “I won’t leave.” Scorpio looked at Orser then at Tessa. “I promised to get you back home and I will. You have my word.”
    His eyes seared her. The air pulsed with the weight of the decision she had to make. Put the cuffs back on, or assure her wary people that he didn’t need them? She squared her shoulders. “No restraints.”
    An emotion flickered across his eyes, something between hope and thank fuck.
    “Kharv, go with Scorpio and show him where Fen is.” Tessa knew Scorpio could find him on his own, but she hoped it would reassure her guards if he didn’t go off alone.
    Kharv nodded and headed away. Scorpio gave Tessa a barely perceptible nod, and turned to follow him.
    “I don’t like this,” Orser grumbled.
    “Then you can join them,” Tessa muttered. “But the demon means what he says.”
    “Since when are you on his side?”
    “I’m not. I’m doing my best to keep us all alive.” She glared at Orser, hating the defensive edge to her voice. Why couldn’t she keep her emotions straight? “He could have killed all of us just now, but he didn’t.”
    “I’m not leaving the two of you.” Orser set his hands on his hips. “So what if he jumped in to play hero today? You think a leopard changes his spots that easily?”
    And that was the big question. One that she had no clue how to answer. “He jumped in because we needed him. And his aura…it’s not malicious.” She held Orser’s gaze. “Winston agrees.”
    Orser softened his tone. “I don’t trust him. And I don’t want any more bad things to befall the coven.” He glanced to where Scorpio and Kharv came back into view, Scorpio carrying Fenrick over one shoulder. “And that demon is a bad thing.”
    She tracked Scorpio’s powerful body as he brought back her fallen guard. Despite Orser’s conviction, the roiling conflict in her heart wouldn’t stop. Killing had been Scorpio’s life and she despised what he’d done—but today he’d used his lethal power to kill for her coven. In defense of her little group.
    A lump formed in her throat at the idea of judging him for killing in one instance, and thanking him for doing it in another.
    Could his past actions be forgiven? Did he deserve it?
    She laid a hand over her heart and drew a deep breath, trying to regulate her insane thoughts. The concept of forgiveness hadn’t been in the same realm as Scorpio’s name until this moment, and the lapse left her with an ugly, chest-tightening sense of guilt.
    “You okay?” Zeebi rubbed a hand down Tessa’s back. “You look pale.”
    “Just uh, the adrenaline let down, I guess. I’m fine.” Tessa adored her friend, but wasn’t ready to share the jumbled knots in her mind with anyone yet.
    Scorpio gently set Fenrick on the grass and Zeebi rushed over to check on him.
    Kharv shook his head. “He was gone in minutes, Zee.”
    “Shit.” Zeebi dropped the hand she grasped to check for a pulse. “Him and Samuel.”
    “I can carry them both back to the coven,” Scorpio offered.
    Tessa’s eyes darted to Scorpio’s massive shoulders, knowing he could carry both males with minimal effort, then to Orser, seeing the same assessment in his eyes. “He can do it. But he needs to be at full strength.”
    Orser’s eyes dropped to the collar Zeebi had cast to the ground. He exchanged glances with Kharv. “Fine. Let’s go home—but bring the restraints, just in case.”
    Carefully, but with absolute confidence, Scorpio lifted first Fenrick and then Samuel, one over each shoulder. With Orser leading the way, they headed back across the river.
    Tessa felt the familiar pang that clawed her every time she left their true land. This time it was accompanied by the sadness of losing two noble men who she