Chapter 43 – Jarred
Jarred had never considered himself to be a cuddler, but he had no complaints when Irishen pressed Wave between them and clasped Jarred’s shoulder, tying them together. They were all sticky as hell, especially his Claimed, and somehow that fed the possessive beast inside of him.
“Ours,” Irishen said, echoing his thoughts.
“Ours,” Jarred agreed.
Wave twitched, aftershocks still running through her. Jarred felt the echoes in the bond, alongside the blissful relaxation that coursed through her veins. Irishen dropped small kisses over her hair and murmured soft praises.
He had needed this as much as his Claimed had.
The way Irishen took control from Wave allowed her to relax, and that, in turn, allowed Jarred to relax.
It was surprising how well Irishen toed the line.
He never called him his pet; it was always his mate’s pet, or precious pet.
He didn’t push, but he didn’t really need to when his orders were clearly made to please Wave.
“We need to get into the shower before you fall asleep, sweetheart,” Irishen murmured.
“Not moving,” Wave slurred.
“That’s all right, love. We’ve got you.”
Memories of Marc and Hellion fussing over her after the power buildup flashed in his mind. Hellion had been so worried about pushing Wave then and he never had after, but Irishen… the male seemed to be at ease with the way he had pushed his mate.
“Right, I’ll carry you. Just hang on, sweetheart. Jarred, can you get the water running?”
“Sure.” Reluctantly, he pulled back and rolled out of the bed.
“Hey, Jarred.” Irishen’s voice stopped him. When he turned back to look at him, the male smiled softly. “She’s too out of it to say it, so I will. Good pet. You are an amazing Claimed for my mate, okay? I’m so proud to share her with you.”
Well… fuck? What was he supposed to say to that, when his jaguar was preening and his heart gave a little squeeze?
“Best pet.” Wave sighed, between huge yawns. “Mine.”
That brought a smile back to his face. Yeah, hers.
“Get moving, you two,” he mock huffed and then headed to turn on the water.
Irishen carried Wave in a moment later and together they washed off. No one had any energy left to fool around, so it didn’t take long before they ended up back in bed. Wave fell asleep as soon as Irishen pulled the blanket over her. She was exhausted, more so mentally.
Jarred thought Irishen was sleeping too, but after a long silence, the male spoke quietly, careful not to disturb Wave.
“She’s been suppressing her power for so long… What the fuck will it look like when she lets it loose? I still can’t figure out how she’s functioning like that. Containing it at all times.”
Hesitantly, Jarred replied, “Her siren… she’s never let it out. I… we… When she told me, it was the first time she let the siren surface during an orgasm. The control to hold back. She didn’t slip even when we burned through her power buildup.”
“Power buildup?”
“When Elena attacked her at the Winnies’ party,” Jarred explained, then inhaled. “Her shielding is focused on containing everything in. That’s why she sucks at blocking attacks with anything but external shields.”
“You lost me, jaguar.”
“Marc—”
“Yeah, his shielding is next level. No use explaining it to me.” Irishen chuckled.
“But if she could build shields like that… Fuck, she’s maintaining hers by pure power and conditioning, from what I gather. Marc’s don’t require much from him once he has them up. If she could…” Jarred was lost in thought.
Irishen hummed. “Where do those two stand, anyway? Are we cockblocking the idiots or taking the high road?”
Jarred wanted to snarl but bit it back. “I want to say cock block, but…”
“But she needs them. With the amount of power she’s holding, she—”
“No,” Wave mumbled in her sleep, her forehead wrinkling. She turned and buried her face in Irishen’s chest as her breathing calmed again.
“Let’s just see how it goes,” Jarred whispered.
He moved to cuddle her back and accidentally bumped his head against Irishen’s arm.
The male moved it under his head and allowed Jarred closer.
The soft chill emanating from him was soothing, and Jarred’s eyes turned heavy.
His Claimed might have a point about ice.
He wasn’t sure, but the last words he heard before drifting off were precious pet.
In the morning, Jarred waited until everyone had eaten before bringing up the attack again. He knew his Claimed well enough that she was as bad tempered as he was when she was hungry.
“So, what should we do about Elena and Kelsey?”
“I don’t think there’s much we can do,” Wave grumbled and rubbed her stomach.
“And you’re not… worried?”
She gnawed at her lower lip and looked from Irishen to him and back. “Well, yeah… but…”
“But what, mate?”
“I don’t want to leave.”
Jarred braced for her to rip his head off. “I was thinking more along the lines of moving you to Powerhouse mansion. We should let the rest of them know what’s going on.”
“No!” Wave’s denial was quick and fierce.
Jarred held up his hand. “Not about your siren, but about their abduction plans. Someone is targeting you, love. I’d feel much better if everyone was keeping an eye on you.”
“He’s right, mate.” Irishen’s quiet voice surprised Jarred. For some reason, he had fully expected him to protest too.
“I’m not—”
“You staying with Ginny, Diana, and Chrissy might endanger them.” Jarred was playing dirty, he knew that, but it was also the truth.
“Low blow,” Irishen muttered but didn’t argue. He reached out and took Wave’s shaking hands in his. “Look, mate. I would love nothing more than to have you here at all times, but this apartment, while warded, is not as secure as the Powerhouse mansion.”
“Ginny—”
“Is excellent in warding against simple things. She’s not a battle mage, though,” Irishen said. “Your dorm is vulnerable on so many fronts.”
“I’m not going to move,” Wave huffed.
“Just think about it,” Jarred said. He knew the seed was there and his Claimed cared a lot about her friends. “Talk to them.” Then he sighed. “And if you decide to stay, I’ll get Sim, Ilijas, Yash, and Marc to ward the place the best we can.” He just didn’t have it in him to force the issue more.
Wave blinked and took a moment before she spoke. “You would do that?”
“Yeah,” Jarred replied.
“And I’m not saying you are not welcome here, mate. Only that I’d sleep better knowing that the place is more protected. Something to think about. Now we need to get moving or you’ll be late for class. Who do you have first?”
“Dr. Johanson.” Wave smiled. “I really like her class.”
“And I need to gather my research papers from Professor Kilkenny,” Jarred said and then fell silent. “Oh shit.”
“What?” Wave asked.
“My research,” Jarred replied. “It’s about moon tides and their magical effects. You are a half-siren half-stormbringer. Your whole magical existence revolves around moon cycles, doesn’t it, Claimed?”
She chuckled. “Yes. And I remember somebody saying the topic was pretty boring.”
“Mmh. They were clearly an idiot.” Jarred laughed. “Would you care to join me in my research, my lovely Claimed?”
“Of course!”
“Great. My mate is a nerd.” Irishen sighed dramatically. “And her pet is an even bigger nerd.”
“Says the prince who spends inordinate amounts of time in a library,” Wave shot back. Irishen grinned.
“Well, that just means you have an educated and well-read mate, morsel. Nothing nerdy about that.”
“Well-read, my ass. You couldn’t even read the library rules about ID cards.”
“Don’t tempt me to read your ass, mate.”
“She has class, Your Highness. Save that for later.” Jarred decided to step in before things got out of hand.
“Spoil-sport,” Wave muttered but turned to the bedroom to get dressed. Chuckling, he followed. There was one last thing he needed to give his Claimed.
When she was dressed and ready, he stepped in and held out his hand. “You left this behind.”
The jaguar bracelet he had been carrying in his pocket ever since she took it off gleamed in the morning light.
“Oh!” The small gasp filled the space between them. Slowly, Wave lifted her eyes to meet his. “I’m so, so sorry I told you to let me go.”
“It’s all right now, Claimed,” he promised. “You’re mine. I won’t let you go, ever again.”
She hesitantly reached for it and held out her hand. “Put it on me?”
“Gladly, love.” Carefully, he fastened the bracelet in place. As soon as he was done, she jumped him and kissed him hard.
“I think I might love you, pet,” she murmured against his lips, so quietly that he barely heard her. Maybe she didn’t mean him to hear it. Not yet.
Jarred kissed her deeply, feeling the bond between them grow. He could wait until his Claimed was ready to say those words without hesitation. He meant what he’d said. He wasn’t letting her go. Ever again.