Chapter 458 Chapter 458
His brows creased, a confused look appearing in his eyes. She swallowed, trying to figure out what had just happened. Noah leaned back away from her and then in slow motion, he lifted the side of her shirt up. Her scar. She sucked in a breath and tried to jerk the material out of his hand. His gaze flicked to hers, something soft and asking was in his eyes. She released his hand and let him lift the shirt up a little higher.
She watched his face when his hand stopped moving. He winced, pain on his face, then it changed to anger. When he looked up at her, she could see the hurt in his eyes. He touched the scar with a shaking hand. Without looking away from it, he spoke, barely loud enough for her to hear him.
“Who did it?” His breath was erratic as if he was barely holding onto his composure.
Emersyn grasped his hand in hers and pulled it from the scar. She held it and looked down at him. “The one that put the scars on you.” She said softly, knowing she didn’t have to describe the man to her. They would both see him when they closed their eyes, she knew this. “That night,” she swallowed, trying to force the words from her throat, “when-when,” she made herself hold his look as she said it, “that night,” his eyes narrowed, “after,” she huffed out a breath and tried to think of how to say it, “they brought me down to you,” his eyes widened, “you were on the floor, not moving, covered in—” she couldn’t say it, “they used you as an example so I,” she sucked in another breath and breathed it out fast when his eyes filled with tears, “I threw myself over you when they were going to—going to...”
Noah dropped his head down and pressed it against her chest. “I’m so sorry.” His voice was shaking, “I didn’t know.”
She shook her head and hugged him again, “I thought you were dead.” Her voice gave out on the last word, it was barely audible.
“It’s my fault.” He leaned back from her, jerking his head out of her hold. “I didn’t—,” he shook his head, scowling, “my cat, when we saw you come in,” he winced, then squeezed his eyes shut, “I didn’t know why but I had to protect you—” he looked up at her, the hard, unreachable look was back in his eyes, “I didn’t know.”
Emersyn huffed, “neither of us could know.” She shook her head, “I didn’t know about mates or any of—” she touched his face, her hand vibrating, “it’s not your fault.”
He pulled back from her and stood up so quickly, she teetered.
She knew where his actions were coming from, she’d lived it too, but that moment a few seconds before had meant something, and she wasn’t going to let him brush it away like it hadn’t happened. She stepped over to him, right in front of him, with hardly enough space between them for air. Looking up at him, she placed her hand on his chest and forced him to hold her glare. “It’s not your fault, it’s not my fault.” She used a hard tone, keeping his interest in what she was saying. “I know,” she nodded, “I know you will find him,” she corrected herself, “them,” he was looking down at her, a watchful expression on his face, “and you will stop them from ever hurting anyone again.” She held her breath, masking the shock from her own words. It hadn’t been where she was going with it, but on some level, her cat and his had connected a few moments ago and she’d spoken what both needed to hear to get through this moment.
He was motionless for so long that she wasn’t sure what he could be thinking. Finally, he let out a long-held breath and placed his hand over hers. “I will. I swear I won’t stop until I do.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. In all the years of captivity, she had never dared to imagine such a thing, but now, that was what she needed. Not for herself, not even for him, but to stop them from repeating it over and over again and ruining the lives of others.
He squeezed her hand like he was going to let her go.
“Noah.” She said it quickly. He looked back down at her, his movement stopping, “don’t take this away from me,” she looked at the wall beside them, “it makes me feel useful.” She whispered.
Some of the tension drained from his face, just enough that she knew he was seeing her and wasn’t blinded by the fury inside him. “Emersyn,” he touched her cheek with his other hand, “I would fight gods to give you the stars if that’s what you needed.” He winced. “That was a corny line, I don’t know where it came from.”
Emersyn smiled up at him, feeling like some sort of bridge had just been constructed between them. “I think it was lovely.” She swiped at the tear on her cheek.
“You,” he said softly, “are lovely,” his gaze moved over her, “paint and all.” He smirked so briefly that she almost missed it.
She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his chest. When he rested his hands on her hips, she decided that to them, this was the equivalent of hugging. They both knew what the other could or couldn’t handle. “Do you think we’ll ever be normal, Noah?”
She felt him rest his cheek against her head, “I don’t know.” She could feel his breath on her head as he spoke.
“Noah are you out there?”
They jumped apart and Noah braced for a fight.
“It’s an intercom.” Emersyn pointed to the box by the door.
He relaxed and went over to it and pushed the button. “I’m here.” He scowled at the speaker like he wanted to smash it.
“Uh, we need you in here, or-or the backyard.”
Emersyn glanced at the tray of paint and decided whatever was happening, it would have to wait for the panic in Julian’s voice had her cat on full alert.
“What’s going on?” Noah now watched the speaker intently.
“It’s Everett, his cat wants out, like now, right now.”
Noah swore softly, then pushed the button, “get him outside.” He squeezed his eyes shut, “get uh, Harrison and McKenna up.”
“Yeah.”
He turned and looked at me. “How old is Everett?” He bent down and undid a boot.
Emersyn opened her mouth and then stuttered, “uh, twelve, I think.” She kicked off her shoe and when he paused to look at her foot she shook her head, “I’m coming.” She left no room for any other comments.
He opened the door and then paused to take off his boots and jacket. “Okay, hopefully, five of us will be enough to keep him from running too far.”
Emersyn’s heart was beating rapidly as she tossed her other shoe to the floor and followed him. She was a tiger shifter. This was her clan, and she would do anything to ensure they were all safe. She jogged behind him, watching as he tossed his shirt to the ground, and so would the man in front of her, even if he thought he wouldn’t.