Evans, Gabrielle - Reckoning [Fatefully Yours 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) Read Online Free PDF Page A

knees beside Hex.
    “Hey, big guy.” His heart kicked painfully against his ribs when Hex didn’t move. “Hex?” Still, he received no reply. His mate looked pale and way too still. Was he even breathing? Fear choked him, cut off his air supply, and made his stomach churn violently. With trembling hands, Echo pressed two fingers against the side of Hex’s throat and almost passed out in relief when he felt the slow but steady thump of his mate’s heart. “Please,” he whimpered. “Wake up, Hex.”
    As though he’d spoken some magic incantation, Hex groaned and his eyelashes began to flutter against his cheeks. Echo stroked and petted him, pushing the tangled hair away from his lover’s face and kissing his temple. “I love you,” he whispered over and over.
    “Shh, baby.” Hex’s eyelids finally opened. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Not going to leave you, remember?”
    Echo sniffled and tried to smile. “I remember.”
    “I haven’t broken a promise yet, have I?”
    “No.” Maybe he just had a really weak stomach, because Echo felt like he was going to throw up again. This time it was just the sheer relief that made his stomach flop over, though.
    “Well, I’m not going to start now.”
    Echo kissed his alpha once more before moving around the group and lavishing affection on each of his injured men. They looked weary, drained, and slightly gruesome with the blood on their faces, but they were alive, and Echo thought they were beautiful.
    Once he’d assured himself his mates were okay, he moved over to Craze and crouched down beside the man. “How are you?”
    Craze hung his head and looked away. “I’m sorry, Echo.”
    “What?”
    “I’m sorry that I couldn’t help them. I’m sorry that I let you down.”
    Echo slapped the man’s shoulder. “Shut up. You didn’t let anyone down. Thank you for coming when we needed you.” Then he wrapped his arms around Craze’s neck and gave him a tight squeeze. “I love you like a brother. You’ve proven your place in this family.”
    Hesitantly, Craze’s arms circled Echo’s back, and he hugged him briefly before quiet snarls had them breaking apart. Echo rolled his eyes and chuckled. “If you’re feeling well enough to be jealous, then you’re up to getting off the ground and going home.”
    The demons gave him sheepish grins and laboriously climbed to their feet. When Syx opened his mouth, Echo held up a hand to forestall him. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and hopefully a few theories. Right now I just want to get you all home and into bed. The heavy stuff can wait for later.”
    Syx eyed him for a minute before nodding. “Thank you, sweetheart. You saved our asses.”
    Echo swallowed around the lump in his throat but shrugged casually. “You’ve saved mine enough times. I figure it was time to return the favor.” Seeing their exhaustion, Echo bit his lip and debated the wisdom of the four-hour drive back to Montana. “Maybe we should stay another night here.”
    “No,” Hex said immediately.
    “I can drive one vehicle,” Gage announced.
    “I’m mostly healed,” Craze added. “I can drive the other. We’ll get you guys home.”
    Letting out the breath he’d been holding, Echo nodded his appreciation. “Let’s go.”
    “He saves our lives, and now he thinks he owns us,” Myst mumbled under his breath, but the corners of his lips twitched.
    Echo sauntered over and gripped a handful of Myst’s firm ass. “I do own you.” He gave the muscled globe a good squeeze. “Your ass is mine, babe. Don’t forget it.”
    “Yes, sir,” Myst purred.
    “Oh, now I know you’re feeling better.” He pushed up on his toes and kissed the underside of Myst’s jaw. “Take me home.”

Chapter Four

    The ride home was uneventful considering that they’d nearly lost their lives. Syx had so many ideas running through his brain, he wasn’t sure how he’d hold them all in until Echo felt ready to discuss what had happened. He