My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 225

Chapter 225

*I know. I’m fiot going to Tet Usal happen. I’m coming home

*Home. I like that you call it home

*It is home. Where you are is home.*

I could imagine her smiling at that. Could picture her in her studio, paint stained hands and that focused expression when she was creating something

The Preservation Front wanted to destroy that. Wanted Grace scared and small and hidden at Warted the integration ended and traditional separation restored.

They were going to fail.

Because Grace was stronger than they knew. Because her family was more detefiined than they expected. Became Lord Castellan was currently extracting information from Courtney with vampire efficiency.

And because I–Connor Reed, who’d spent nineteen hours being a coward before finally choosing my mate anyone hurt her.

Not Courtney. Not the Preservation Front. Not anyone.

Grace was mine. My mate. My responsibility. My future.

And I protected what was mine.

Always.

-wasn’t going to let

When I got back to the pack house, Grace was exactly where I’d pictured her–in the studio, covered in paint, working on the integration piece with fierce concentration.

She saw me and set down her brush immediately. “Connor–“/

I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. Held her tight. Breathed in her scent–paint and vanilla and something uniquely Grace.

“I’m okay,” I said. “Courtney tried to manipulate me. I didn’t let her. Lord Castellan is getting information about the Preservation Front. Your father has protection protocols in place. We’re–we’re handling this.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted against my chest.

“I know. Me too.” I kissed the top of her head. “But Grace, we’re not alone. We have your family, Uncle Cas. The whole integration coalition. The Preservation Front thinks they can intimidate us. They’re wrong.”

“One week. They gave us one week.”

“Then we have one week to find them first.” I pulled back to look at her face. Paint smudges on her cheek, determination in her eyes. “Grace, what are you painting?”

“Everything they hate.” She gestured at the canvas. “Vampires and wolves together. Uncle Cas and Daddy. Integration as beauty instead of abomination. I’m painting exactly what the Preservation Front wants to destroy.”

“That’s–that’s perfect.” I smiled despite everything. “Grace, that’s exactly right. Don’t hide. Don’t get small. Be exactly who you are and make them face what they’re actually trying to destroy.”

“That’s what Uncle Cas said.”

“Uncle Cas is a very smart eleven–hundred–year–old vampire.”

She laughed small but genuine. “Connor, what did Courtney say? Really?”

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“That she didn’t know the Preservation Front would hurt anyone. That they told her they wanted dialogue. That she was manipulated by her own grief into making terrible choices.” I paused. “I think she’s lying to herself. I think she knew they weren’t planning pleasant conversation and she chose not to think about it.”

“Because thinking about it would mean admitting she helped terrorists.”

“Exactly.” I touched her paint–smudged cheek gently. “Grace, I’m sorry. For everything Courtney did. For dating her in the first place. For making you wait nineteen hours while I figured out what should have been obvious

背景

“Stop apologizing for things that are over.” She kissed me softly. “Connor, you’re here now. Choosing me now. Standing with me against extremists who want me dead. That’s–that’s what matters.”

“I’m going to keep choosing you. Every day. Against Courtney, against the Preservation Front, against anyone who thinks we’re wrong.”

“We’re not wrong.”

“No. We’re absolutely not wrong.” I held her close. “Grace, we’re going to survive this. Together. And then we’re going to build something beautiful. Prove the Preservation Front wrong about everything.”

“Together,” she agreed. “Always together.”

Outside, Lord Castellan was extracting information from Courtney. The Preservation Front was planning their next move. One

week until their deadline.

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