Air of Seduction (Elemental Enforcers #3)

Chapter 32

Ronan

Olivia shakes her head. “Payton’s in the bathroom, and I don’t want to bother her right now. She will talk to you later.”

“How do you know? What if she decides she doesn’t want to? I need to talk to her. I…” Pain radiates through my chest as fear threatens to choke me. I need her. I need my mate.

“I can’t give you a time, but she will talk to you. She’ll let you know when she’s ready.”

I want to scream, beg, cry, anything to make Payton listen to me. But it’s only going to make it worse if I do. The last thing I want to do is to scare her away from me and make her run.

Even the possibility that she might be pregnant doesn’t scare me anymore. Not like the thought of losing her. If she wants a family, I’ll happily give it to her, as long as I can have her by my side.

I pull in a shuddering breath. “Thank you for trying. I’ll be back later to check on her. And you.”

She just nods, and I turn and head toward the door while I remind myself that I haven’t lost Payton. Not yet.

I’m reaching for the doorhandle when I suddenly remember my promise to Noah, and I spin around to see Olivia taking a seat on the couch. “I have one more favor to ask you.”

Crossing her arms over her chest like she knows what I’m about to ask, she settles back against the cushions. “What is it?”

“Will you please talk to Noah?”

Her eyes narrow, and her lips part like she’s about to object, so I quickly continue. “He won’t touch you, and there can be someone else in the room with you if you want. I know it’s a lot to ask, but it would help him a lot. He cares about you.”

She lets out a short humorless laugh. “How can he care about me when he doesn’t even know me? I don’t care if he thinks I’m his true mate. That’s nothing short of manipulation. Where is my choice in this? Is he going to see reason if I talk to him?”

So, she knows about true mates. My shoulders sag as I let out a silent sigh. Noah’s fucked, perhaps even more fucked than I am. Who knew finding our true mates would be so agonizing and infuriating? Was it like this for Lucas and Aidan? “Just think about it please.”

I turn around and leave without waiting for a response.

Noah is on me as soon as I close the door to the suite behind me. “What did she say?”

I know he’s asking about Olivia and not Payton, but my heart still clenches painfully in my chest. “She didn’t give me a definite answer, so I asked her to think about it.”

“Fuck.” Tipping his head back, he fists his tight black curls. “If only I could kill that fucking vampire again.”

“You can always help us find the master. It won’t fix this mess, but it might help take your mind off things for a little while.”

His arms drop to his sides as he shakes his head. “I can’t leave. Not yet.”

“Okay.” I take a few steps in the direction of the stairs, before I stop and turn around. “Olivia seems more angry than scared right now. I think that’s a good sign.”

He nods. “Let’s hope so.”

I hurry away as I try to keep my emotions in check. Hopefully, the others are done talking to their mates and are ready to leave. Because I need the distraction if I’m going to have any hope of staying away from Payton until she’s ready to talk to me.

∞∞∞

Payton

I don’t know how long I’ve been lying on the bed with a pillow over my head when I finally push it away and stare up at the ceiling. When I came out of the bathroom, I heard Ronan talking, but I didn’t want to hear the soothing cadence of his voice or what he said to Olivia. Not until I’ve had some time to think and prepare for what he’s going to say.

The last thing I want to do is to break down in front of him when he tells me I’m not his true mate. So, I need time to steel myself for the inevitable rejection.

If I wasn’t so concerned about the women who were killed last night not far from Olivia’s apartment, and the similarity of their appearance to Olivia and me, I would insist that we leave this house and go back to one of our apartments. But I can’t risk my best friend’s life just because my heart is breaking.

Although, I don’t understand how it’s possible. I’ve only known Ronan for a couple of days. How is it that I’ve grown so attached to him in such a short time that it feels like my heart is shredding in my chest?

“Payton?” Olivia’s soft voice brings my gaze to her where she’s standing in the doorway. “How are you feeling? Ronan was here. He left ages ago, but I didn’t want to disturb you.”

I nod, my heart rate speeding up just at the sound of his name. “What did he say?”

She walks into the room and sits down next to me on the bed. “He—”

“No, don’t tell me.” I swallow hard as tears fill my eyes. I’m not ready to hear it yet, whatever it is.

“Okay.” A gentle smile curves her lips. “It wasn’t anything bad, though.”

I study her face, looking for any sign she isn’t being entirely honest with me. But of course, there aren’t any. Olivia would never lie to me or twist the truth in any way. She isn’t like that, and that’s one of the reasons we are such good friends.

“Fine. Tell me then.” Biting down on my top lip, I stare at her with a mixture of hopefulness and dread.

“He wanted to know why you wouldn’t talk to him. If something had happened while he was gone. And he said he cares about you. That you’re amazing.”

My heart slams against my ribs like it wants to break free of my chest, and my voice is wobbly when I ask, “Anything else?”

Her smile widens. “He said he thought you’d feel better once you talked, and he looked utterly devastated when I told him he had to wait until you were ready.”

A tiny thrill races down my spine. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”

“It doesn’t. Unless…” Concern tightens her features. “Are you sure you want to be his true mate? I mean, it sounds awfully permanent, at least for him. He’ll be devoted to you for the rest of his life. What if you find out you don’t want that? What will happen then?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.” I scrape my teeth over my bottom lip. “Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think I’d ever want to leave if I was his true mate. I’m more worried I’m not, and that what we have is just temporary until he finds the woman who is.”

I let out a sigh. “But I don’t think that really matters anymore. I’ve already fallen in love with him, and I will take whatever he gives me for as long as he gives it. Because I won’t be able to turn him down. Not now, not ever.”

“Does that mean you’re ready to talk to him?” She lifts an eyebrow at me.

“No. I need to plan my reaction for when he tells me I’m not his true mate, because that’s the most likely scenario. Accepting that fact before I talk to him will make it easier for us to continue whatever we’ve started.”