“She knew I’d been having visions about the knives,” she says quietly. “It’s why she helped me train.”

  I shake my head, nothing but proud. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you like I should have been. I see now how much you’ve grown up, and I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks.” Her eyes fill with tears. “That means a lot coming from you.”

  “Juniper would be proud too. And Mom and Dad,” I add, tearing up at the thought of them looking down on everything Kendall has become. On what we’ve both become. The life we’ve built.

  “They’d be proud of you too, punk,” she says.

  I laugh. “Thanks, punk.”

  She sniffles.

  I reach for her, hugging her tight, grateful for the fact that we can do this again. When I release her, tears have tracked down her cheeks. She wipes them away hastily.

  I smile softly. “What will you do now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re capable of deciding your future for yourself. Just because I’m staying in Tartarus doesn’t mean you have to.”

  Her eyes widen. “You mean that?”

  “I do.” I squeeze her hand reassuringly. “And I’m sorry about Chase. He was nice to you, and he didn’t deserve what Uziah did to him.”

  “No,” she agrees, her expression hardening at the memory. “He didn’t.”

  I watch as she works to put aside her grief. So much stronger than I ever noticed. “So, where do you want to live?” I prompt.

  “Well… Caius asked me if I want to come work for him.”

  “Seriously?”

  “He said he can always use advisors with gifts like mine. Apparently, the glaistig annoys the hell out of him.”

  I snort. “Understandable. You’d be great at it,” I add. “Are you going to say yes?”

  “Not sure yet. It’s nice hanging out with people who aren’t going to die anytime soon.” Her gaze flicks to something over my shoulder, and her expression changes. “But speaking of saying yes…”

  She motions for me to turn.

  When I do, Legion is standing in the open doorway, holding a small black box in his hand. Inside the bar, the others are all hushed and crowded around behind him, watching us expectantly.

  My heart leaps. “What are you…?”

  “Torissa Emerald Sage, I am willingly and joyfully bound to you, in blood, in spirit, in heart and soul. I will belong to you forever.” He drops to one knee, uncapping the box to reveal a gorgeous emerald ring set against clusters of diamonds. “What I feel for you is something I want the world to witness. Will you pledge yourself to me before our friends and families in a Commitment Ceremony?”

  Joy rushes through me. His. Mine. Everyone’s.

  I glance over at Kendall, who smiles and nods encouragingly. Behind Legion, Chaya clasps her hands together, looking hopeful. Beside her, Klyn grins. Reagan and Caius stand with their arms around one another. And Styx presses herself against Corvin, who stands behind her protectively.

  Friends and family.

  It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

  I look at Legion with all the love in my heart and the pure devotion that now runs through my veins. “As long as we get to start with the hunt.”

  “With you,” Legion says, eyes gleaming with happiness and commitment, “the hunt never ends.”

  I hope you enjoyed Tori and Legion’s love story. Read Tori and Legion at their primal hunt ceremony here.

  The following is a list of characters we saw in Hunt Me and the name of their book.

  Caius & Reagan is MATE ME.

  Styx and Corvin is SHADOW ME.

  Stella is FORBID ME.

  Spencer is CAGE ME.

  And look for Kendall’s story coming later in 2024!

  Want more books from Heather in this world?

  PROTECT ME is a standalone Why Choose Romance that features 3 lion shifter bodyguards and the sexy silks performer they’re sworn to protect. You’ll also meet the other dragon that Legion senses during his conversation with Maricha and Uziah in Hunt Me.

  Turn the page for a sneak peek…

  Protect Me

  DUNCAN

  I’m torn between wishing like hell Sway never showed up and fucking terrified that she’s going to leave. Already, her mere presence has both Killian and Bracken acting like fucking love-struck idiots. It’s been a while since any of us got laid, but damn.

  She’s turning things upside down, and it’s only been a day.

  While I try to figure out how to stop whoever’s hunting her from finding her here, they’re both locked in a ridiculous pissing contest over who’s going to captivate the newcomer first.

  I reach the top of the stairs, a steaming mug of water in my hand, though I stop before I open the door to her floor. Sway’s battered face has been stuck in my mind since the moment we found her. And somehow, I know it won’t get any closer to fading into the throes of my other bad memories so long as she’s still here.

  With a deep breath, I push open the door and start down the hall.

  I make it nearly halfway to her room when my heart begins to pound. Something twists in my gut. Something is off. Wrong.

  An unexplainable tightness in my chest has me rushing toward her door at full speed even as some of the near-boiling water spills over and burns the skin of my hand. I withdraw my key and unlock her door then shove it open.

  Her scream splits the air the moment the soundproof barrier of the wards is broken.

  I slam the door shut and sprint toward her as she thrashes in the bed.

  “Please, no!” she throws up her arms, grasping at an invisible attacker.

  “Sway!” I reach the bedside. Her expression is pained, tortured, her eyes shut tightly. Nightmare. “Sway!” I touch her shoulder, and she swings. Pain explodes in the side of my face. “Motherfucker!” Gripping my jaw, I turn my attention back to her and see her staring at me through wide, panicked eyes.

  “I hit you.” She scrambles back against the headboard then winces.

  “Yeah, you fucking did.” She packs a decent punch too.

  “I’m so sorry.” Sway pulls her knees up to her chest and sucks in a breath, her shoulders shaking with violent tremors.

  I stare at her, trying to understand just what the hell—and then it clicks. She was brutalized by whoever is after her. Likely more than once. “You have a hell of a right hook,” I tell her with a forced smile even as the side of my face feels like it’s on fire. “Seriously. You hit harder than Killian.”

  Pressing the heel of my palm to my chest, I rub and try to loosen the knot that’s formed there. Why the hell it’s there at all, I don’t know, but fuck me if it doesn’t ache. “How do you feel?”

  “Sore,” she says.

  “Likely because of all the thrashing.” Reaching forward, I stick some herbs into the steaming mug of water. “This will help.” I mix it then sit back to let them steep for a few minutes. She’s wearing an oversized shirt that bares one of her tanned shoulders, and I get the urge to lean forward and brush my lips over the exposed skin.

  Sitting here with her, I’m captivated by her beauty and the fire in her soul.

  “Have Killian and Bracken been gentlemen?” I ask, clearing my throat and forcing my gaze from hers.

  She snorts. “Killian saw me naked and didn’t get handsy, so we’ll say yes.”

  My hand tightens into a fist at my side as jealousy churns in my gut. The fucker failed to mention that part of the story. “He said you fell in the shower.” I shift my weight, leaning toward her. “Can I check the bruise?”

  Sway eyes me warily then nods. “Why the hell not.” With a pained expression, she scoots down and lies so that her hip is angled toward me. I draw the comforter down, baring tanned, toned legs. I reach the hem of her shirt and slowly draw it up over her hip, my fingers grazing her flesh as I go.

  My cock hardens just enough to be uncomfortable, but I do what I can to keep myself turned so she can’t see what she does to me. This woman is not mine to have.

  Not ours to keep.

  Therefore, I have no intention of acting on a damned thing.

  A dark purple bruise, roughly the size of my fist, sits on her hip bone. “Damn. You did a number on yourself.”

  “That’s what Killian said.” She sighs. “What’s one more, right?” It’s meant to be a joke, but mention of the pain she suffered has a low growl rumbling deep in my chest. Quickly, I lower her shirt and pull the covers back up.

  “Do you need to use the bathroom or anything?”

  “Actually, yes.” She throws the covers off again then moves her legs over the edge of the bed and tries to stand. She hisses through clenched teeth, so I reach forward and steady her. “Can you ... help me in there?”

  I can tell how much it costs her to even ask, so I make it no big deal and offer a simple, “Yes.”

  Sway wraps an arm around my waist, so I do the same, holding her to my body as I take most of her weight and help her toward the bathroom door. Having her pressed against me is fucking cruel, but I don’t complain. Because it’s the closest I’ll get to a connection with her.

  As soon as we reach the door, she releases me and hobbles inside. The door shuts softly but then immediately reopens with a soft click. In the opening, Sway frowns. She reaches for the knob and tries shutting it again, but it only hits the doorjamb and swings out like before. A closer look reveals a busted latch mechanism, not to mention all the splintered wood around it.

  She sighs. “Killian.”

  My brows lift, but I don’t say anything before her cheeks flush and she says, “Will you, uh, turn around?”

  “Of course.”

  I do as she asks and listen as the water comes on. I stand where I am, waiting for her to return. A minute ticks by until she clears her throat and says, “Okay.”

  I turn and offer my support again.

  After helping her back toward the bed, I check the tea; then, as soon as she’s settled, I offer it to her and take my seat again. I’m fully aware of the chair sitting beside the bed, but I ignore it and perch on the mattress instead. It’s stupid, wanting to be this close to her, but I decide to allow myself this one thing.

  Sway takes a sip and groans.

  Once again, my cock responds, so I put both hands into my lap in an attempt to hide the growing bulge.

  “I’ve been trying to figure you three out since I got here, you know.”

  Intrigued by that, I raise my brows. “I see. And what have you determined?”

  “Killian is the troublemaker, Bracken is the silent muscle, and I think... Does that make you the leader?”

  I catch myself smiling before I can stop it. “You could say that.”

  “It makes sense.” Sway leans back against the headboard.

  “How so?”

  “You have a leader vibe to you.”

  “I have a vibe?”

  Her gaze lands on mine, and I don’t miss the way it momentarily flicks down to my mouth. Not surprising given both of my brothers have already taken their chances and kissed the woman. “You do. Calm and collected leader.”

  “Calm.” I laugh. “That’s a new one.”

  “I’ve yet to see you as anything but.”

  If only you saw me interrogating one of your hunters, beauty. “I have my moments.”

  “How long have you been here at the circus?”

  “A long time,” I reply.

  She eyes me curiously, but no matter how beautiful she might be, I’m not going to share more than that. Not when she won’t do the same.

  “Not overly chatty, then?” she asks.

  “You tell me what you are, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know about me.” It’s a bit of a low blow, but I refuse to care. This is the job, dammit.

  “I’ve already given you my name. You haven’t figured it out yet?”

  “No.”

  The relief on her face is evident, and I don’t think she realizes just what she gave me. We were planning on asking around, but now that I know her name carries power—well—I’ll be sure to use that power carefully.

  She sighs, impatience in her amber eyes. “I’m looking forward to leaving this room.”

  “Is it not to your standards?”

  Something dark flashes over her gaze. “Better than where I came from,” she says. “But it’s still a cage.”

  My particular brand of torture has more to do with words and less to do with blades or fists. Which means that I have made it my mission to read people. Their expressions, body language—I live between the lines of what people say.

  And she’s not that hard to read.

  Still a cage.

  She’d been held captive, yet she’s spoken of being afraid to trust. Was it the one who broke her trust that held her prisoner? Did he have something to do with her entrapment? Or is it possible she has someone waiting for her, worried about her disappearance?

  “Aside from the ones who chased you here, is there anyone else looking for you? Someone who can keep you safe?”

  Her gaze lifts to mine. “No one.” She shifts uncomfortably, and I know instinctively she doesn’t want to answer these questions. “Do I still have three months, or are you already trying to find a way to get rid of me?”

  “As long as you can perform, yes, you have three months. But I’m thinking about the future. Eventually, your time here will run out.” And why the fuck does it feel like a sucker punch to my gut to think of it?

  She takes another slow drink of her tea. “I’ll figure something out.”

  I offer her a nod then sit in silence for a few minutes. “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask.

  “What?”

  “Your nightmare.”

  Her gaze darkens, and I get the sense that, for this brief moment, she’s a million miles away. “There’s nothing to talk about. You know I’ve been through shit, and that’s what it was about. Vocalizing it won’t make it go away.”

  “No. But sometimes it helps ease the pain to know you’re not alone.”

  I almost snort at my words. I’ve never once lived by them. Hell, I’m the kind of stony silences and tight-lipped control. But something about her makes me want to carry her burdens. Or avenge them.

  Her gaze holds mine. “I am alone,” she says. “Maybe not physically right now, but you’ll throw me out of here the moment I’m no longer of use. When that happens, it’ll be up to me to figure out how to survive. Therefore, I am one hundred percent on my own.”

  I grind my teeth together. “As long as you are here, you are not alone,” I tell her. “We will kill to protect you.”

  “You shouldn’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he can’t be killed. Not easily, anyway.” She sets the now-empty mug aside and draws her knees up.

  “What is he?”

  She shakes her head. “I want to sleep. Can I sleep?” Tears glisten in her eyes as she closes them, so I don’t press. At least, not yet. Once she’s stronger, we will push her for what we need to know. Until then, she needs to rest so that we get the full three months and not mere days to find out just who is tracking her.

  And eliminate them.

  “Yes.” I get up, but her slender fingers wrap around my wrist. At her touch, my heart thrums in my ears, and my lion surges to the surface. When my gaze meets hers, though, she does not shy away from the predator I know is reflected in it.

  “Don’t leave yet? Not until I’m asleep.”

  Her voice is small. Another favor she doesn’t want to ask for, and yet she does it anyway. She asks it of me.

  My gaze drops to her lips.

  To those perfect, pouty, pink lips that I so desperately want to taste even if it lands me in the depths of the underworld to do so.

  I lean in, and her gaze widens just slightly as it drops to my mouth.

  Instead of closing the distance, though, I pull the covers up further and nod. “I’ll be right over there,” I say, gesturing to the chair.

  “Thank you.” She releases me and lies back, so I retreat into the shadows and sit down on a chair as Sway drifts into a hopefully dreamless sleep.

  START READING PROTECT ME NOW

  About the Author

  Heather Hildenbrand lives in coastal Virginia where she writes paranormal and fantasy romance with lots of kissing & killing. Her most frequent hobbies are cuddling with her goldendoodle, riding country roads on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, and avoiding killer slugs.

  You can find out more about Heather and her books at www.heatherhildenbrand.com.

  Or find her here:

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  Also by Heather Hildenbrand

  One Dark Spark

  Two Blazing Hearts

  Three Scorched Kingdoms

  Dark Wolf Soul

  Deadly Wolf Bite

  Broken Wolf Heart

  Protect Me (Immortal Vices & Virtues)

  Hunt Me (Immortal Vices & Virtues)

  To Hunt A Wolf

  To Kiss A Wolf

  To Keep A Wolf

  Midnight Cursed

  Midnight Hunted

  Midnight Bound

  Wolf Cursed

  Wolf Captive

  Wolf Chosen

  Wolf Revealed

  A Witch’s Call

  A Witch’s Destiny

  A Witch’s Fate

  A Witch’s Soul

  A Witch’s Prophecy

  A Witch’s Hope

  Twisted Tides

  The Girl Who Cried Werewolf

  The Girl Who Cried Captive

  The Girl Who Cried War

  The Winter Witch

  The Spring Witch

  A Witch’s Heart

  Midnight Mate

  Goddess Ascending

  Goddess Claiming

  Goddess Forging

  Kiss of Death

  Knock Em Dead

  Death’s Door

  Dead to Rights

  Dead End