Damon's priority was to get Talia out of there. He reached to hold her.
"Careful, Alpha…"
Damon paused when he heard Keith's voice, and he whipped his head that way to see Keith in a sorry state.
Damon was 99% confident that nothing happened between Talia and Keith, but Damon was irritated that Talia was releasing her sweet sounds for Keith to hear. And who knew what else she did for Keith to hear and see before Damon arrived?
Damon's hostility swelled at the realization that Keith didn't wreck his own body. It was Talia's doing. Why would she do that if Keith didn't get handsy?
"What did you do to her?" Damon growled.
One wrong move from Keith, and Damon was ready to end whatever was left of Keith's life.
"Nothing, Alpha," Keith said and quickly lowered his gaze. "There was a Guardian and…"
"I know. Caleb told me." Damon snapped.
Talia's pheromones affected their wolves, and as much as Keith fought against his urges because he was not Talia's mate, Damon was giving in to them because Talia was his.
Keith was not sure if he should talk more, so he kept quiet. His hair stood on ends, and chills down his spine told him his life was in danger.
Damon was visibly hostile. His mate was right there, vulnerable, in heat, and Keith was an unmated male. Even without their history, it was natural for Damon to see Keith as a threat.
Only the ones challenging Damon for the right to mate with Talia would dare to be present. Unfortunately, Keith was not in a position to leave. His body was wrecked, and he was sure that his left leg and right arm were fractured.
Damon suppressed his urge to kill, just enough so that he can talk without growling.
"What happened after that? Why did you bring my mate here instead of to me?"
"My only thought was to get her away from the crowd. I brought her here and… I kept her down… and then her magic exploded, throwing me against this wall. That's it." He didn't dare admit his lecherous thoughts, but he had a feeling Damon knew. "I mind-linked you to let you know about the situation. I knew I should respond to your summons, but I feared that if I broke my focus, my urges would take over. I held back, Alpha, and I didn't see anything."
Damon snorted, and Keith swallowed hard.
The silence stretched, and Keith felt that every second was like an eternity. He had to say something.
"You shouldn't get too close, Alpha. That light is dangerous. It can attack again."
Damon smirked, pleased that he had special access. It made him feel important. "It's dangerous only to the ones who are not her mate."
Damon returned his attention to Talia and reached to hold her.
His hands passed through the silver curtain like it was not there.
"It's OK, kitten… I've got you. I'm here now…" He chanted into Talia's hair while gathering her against his chest carefully like she might break at the slightest pressure.
Damon put Talia to sit on his lap and made sure to pull her skirt down because that wretched coach definitely got a good view of Talia's gorgeous legs.
"Damon?" Talia called, and then she smiled a little.
She was looking through him, but he was confident that she recognized him.
"I knew you will come," she said, and her arms wrapped with urgency around his torso.
Talia's fingers moved over Damon's back to confirm that was the right landscape, and only then she remembered why holding onto Keith didn't seem right. It was the lack of sparks of their bond.
The sparks were there now, dancing on her skin wherever they touched, confirming that the man holding her was the right one.
The silvery light enveloped them both, and then it sizzled away.
"Sorry, it took me so long. I am here now. I will take care of everything."
Talia's face contorted into a grimace, and she pressed her legs together. "I don't feel good. I…"
"Bear with it for a bit more, kitten," Damon said as he walked toward the exit while carrying Talia princess style.
He paused as he passed next to Keith.
"I will send you Caden and…"
"Don't worry about me, Alpha. I will take care of myself. You take care of our Luna. Be careful. I don't know if we were followed."
Damon nodded in acknowledgment of Keith's words. "You did good, Keith."
Keith lowered his head in shame. Would he get that praise if Damon knew what Keith was thinking just before Damon arrived? Would he get that praise if Damon knew how jealous Keith was because Talia had eyes only for one man, and that was not Keith? His Alpha was praising him, but Keith felt he didn't deserve it.
When Keith looked up, Damon and Talia were not there anymore.
Keith remembered the strange sensation around his neck while he was trapped by whatever the Guardian did. After that, Keith was able to move, and his body was energized like he got a boost. Well, that energy didn't last long.
Keith reached for his neck and fished the necklace from under his shirt. With one swift tug, the chain broke, and Keith observed that the stone which formed the pendant was cracked.
When Cassandra gave it to him, it was shiny like some whitish liquid was stored inside, yet now it had a dull white color. Whatever magic was in it, it was gone now.
Keith stared at the dull stone dejectedly. Was this it? Was this why Cassandra gave him the necklace? So that he can protect Talia for Damon to have her?
Keith threw the broken necklace to the side. It didn't matter. Talia was never his.
Will he ever be able to forget the feeling of Talia in his arms, coiling around his body?
Keith released a long breath and cursed his luck. His right arm was broken. How was he supposed to relieve this stiffness in his crotch area? Left hand it is…
Talia felt that she was being carried, and this was different compared to the previous time.
How was it possible that she mistook that other person for Damon?
Damon's hold was solid, and she knew he was running, yet she was so steady that those small lulls would calm her into sleep. Only Damon could hold her so firmly yet be so gentle. And the scent was right. Forest and dark chocolate, her favorites.
However, there was no way she could sleep. Her body was on fire, and she squirmed in Damon's arms.
"Damon," she called. "Where are you taking me? How much more?"
Her breath splashed on his chest, reminding him of their current situation. If not for the possibility that someone might interrupt them, Damon would stop running and indulge in Talia right where they were.
"Just a minute, kitten. We are almost there."
Talia gripped his shoulders to pull herself higher, and her lips deliriously searched for her mark on his neck.
"Fuck!" Damon cursed under his breath, and he flipped her so that she would come to his right side.
"Be obedient, kitten, or I will carry you over my shoulder."
Talia giggled weakly. "Will spanking be included?"
His cock lurched painfully in response to her invitation. Was she set for him to die from arousal?
"Whatever you want..." He groaned. "Can you stay still for a minute?" This was already a hell difficulty.
