My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 253

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Chapter 253

That vampire wasir’t going to die hunting Marcus Dane and Elena Frost.

He was going to come home. Eventually. When the hunt was done.

I just had to trust that. Had to believe it despite seven days of silence.

Had to-

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, sunlight was streaming through the studio windows and Connor was gently shaking me awake.

“Grace. Grace, wake up. Victoria’s here.”

I sat up fast, heart pounding. “Victoria? Is it Uncle Cas? Is he

“He’s alive.” Victoria stood in the doorway, looking tired but relieved. “Grace, Lord Castellan made contact two hours ago. He’s alive. He’s found Marcus Dane and Elena Frost. And he needs-he needs backup.”

Relief and new fear hit simultaneously. “He’s okay? He’s really okay?”

“He’s injured. Silver wounds. But alive and functional.” Victoria moved into the room. “Grace, he’s been tracking Marcus and Elena for seven days. Finally cornered them in an abandoned facility outside Chicago. They-they were waiting for him. Set a trap. He survived it but he’s injured and outnumbered and asking for reinforcement.”

“We need to go—”

“Your father is already coordinating. Gathering pack warriors and vampire reinforcements.” Victoria looked at me seriously.” Grace, Lord Castellan specifically said to keep you here. Said he’s not doing this hunt to bring you into danger. You stay protected while we extract him and eliminate the remaining Preservation Front leadership.”

“But he’s hurt-”

“And he’ll be more hurt if he’s worrying about your safety while fighting extremists.” Victoria’s voice was gentle but firm. ” Grace, the best thing you can do for Lord Castellan right now is stay safe. Let him focus on Marcus and Elena without worrying about you.”

She was right. I knew she was right. But every instinct was screaming to go anyway, to help, to make sure Uncle Cas was okay.

“When will you know more?” I asked.

“Soon. Alpha Jeremy’s team is moving out within the hour. Chicago is six hours by car, three by helicopter. We’ll have Lord Castellan extracted and the Preservation Front ended by tonight.” She paused. “Grace, he’s going to be okay. Your uncle is too

stubborn to die fighting extremists.”

“That’s what Connor said.”

“Connor’s smart.” Victoria smiled slightly. “Grace, get some real food. Actual sleep. Take care of yourself while we take care of

this. Lord Castellan will be home soon.”

After she left, I collapsed against Connor. “He’s alive. He’s hurt but alive.”

“I told you. Eleven hundred years old and too stubborn to die.” Connor held me tight. “Grace, he’s going to be okay. They’re going to get him out, eliminate Marcus and Elena, and he’ll come home complaining about silver wounds and demanding you show him your latest painting.”

“Yeah.” I could breathe again. Could think past the panic that had consumed me for seven days. “Connor, I need-I need to paint something. For when he gets back. Something that shows–”

“Shows what?”

Chapter 35

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“Shows that family is worth coming home to. That fifteen years of being Uncle Cas matters. That “I stopped. “That he’s not alone. Even when frunting extremists in Chicago. He’s not alone because we’re here waiting for him.”

“That’s perfect.” Connor kissed my forehead. “Paint that. I’i! get you food and coffee and whatever else you need. And Grace- He pulled back to look at me. “He’s going to be okay. Uncle Cas is going to come home.

“Promise?”

“I promise. And when has your mate ever lied to you?”

Never. Connor had never lied to me. Even when truth was hard or uncomfortable or scary.

So I chose to believe him. Chose to trust that Uncle Cas was too stubborn and too loved to die hunting extremists.

Chose to paint instead of spiraling. To create instead of catastrophizing. To wait instead of falling apart.

Uncle Cas was coming home.

Eventually. When Marcus and Elena were eliminated and the Preservation Front was truly ended.

He was coming home.

I had to believe that.

Had to.

Chapter 4

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Chapter 254

My Cheating Mate

Connor pov

Grace had finally fallen asleep.

Really asleep this time-not the fitful, anxious half-sleep she’d been managing for the past week. Actual deep sleep where her breathing evened out and her face relaxed and some of the terrible tension left her body.

I sat beside her on the studio couch, watching. Making sure she stayed asleep. Making sure nothing disturbed the first real rest she’d gotten since Lord Castellan left.

My phone dinged quietly. I grabbed it fast, silencing it before the sound could wake Grace.

Text from my mother: *How’s Grace doing? Your father said Lord Castellan was found injured. Does she need anything?*

I typed back one-handed, careful not to disturb Grace who’d shifted closer in her sleep: *She’s finally sleeping. First real sleep in days. Lord Castellan is injured but alive. Backup team left three hours ago to extract him and eliminate Marcus/Elena.*

Mom’s response came immediately: *Poor girl. She must be terrified. Connor, does she need company? I can come over. Bring food. Whatever helps.*

*She needs Lord Castellan to come home safely. Everything else is just distraction.*

*I know. But sometimes distraction helps when you’re waiting for impossible things.*

Mom was right. She usually was about emotional support stuff. But Grace wasn’t-Grace wasn’t in a place where distraction would help. She’d tried painting, tried eating, tried sleeping. Nothing worked because the only thing she actually needed was

Uncle Cas home and safe.

*I’ll let you know if that changes. Right now she just needs to sleep and not think about Chicago for a few hours.*

*Okay sweetie. Call if you need anything. Your father and I are here.*

I set the phone down, looking at Grace again. She’d curled into my side in her sleep, seeking comfort even unconscious. Her hand was fisted in my shirt like she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go.

Seven days.

Seven days of watching my mate slowly fall apart from worry. Seven days of her not eating right, not sleeping right, not being herself because Uncle Cas-Lord Castellan-was hunting extremists and not checking in.

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I’d tried to help. Had said all the right things about him being eleven hundred years old and experienced and too stubborn to die. Had held her when she spiraled. Had stayed beside her through sleepless nights and anxiety attacks.

But I couldn’t give her what she actually needed. Couldn’t make Lord Castellan safe. Couldn’t end the Preservation Front. Couldn’t do anything except be present while she suffered.

It was frustrating. Being a mate meant protecting. Providing. Taking care of needs. But Grace’s need was beyond what I could give her.

She needed her uncle. The vampire who’d been part of her life since birth. Who’d taught her about art and history and sat on living room floors during family dinners. Who’d fought terrorists and Council members and anyone who threatened the family he’d chosen.

That vampire was currently injured and trapped in Chicago fighting the last of the Preservation Front leadership. And there was absolutely nothing I could do about it except sit here and watch Grace sleep and hope the backup team got there in time.

My phone buzzed again. Different number this time. Alpha Jeremy.

Chapter 254

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*Connor, status update. We’re in Chicago. Located Lord Castellan’s position. He’s alive, injured with silver wounds but functional. Currently pinned down by Marcus Dane and Elena Frost in abandoned warehouse. We’re moving in now.*

My heart rate spiked. *TS tre okay? How bad are the injuries?*

*Bad enough. Multiple silver wounds. But Cas is still fighting so not critical. Connor, this is going to be over soon. One way or another. Tell Grace-tell her I’m bringing him home.

‘She’s asleep. Finally. First real sleep in days.*

*Good. Let her sleep. She doesn’t need to process this in real-time. When she wakes up, it’ll either be over or

He didn’t finish. Didn’t need to. Either they’d extract Lord Castellan and eliminate Marcus and Elena, or something would go

terribly wrong.

*Alpha Jeremy, please. Please bring him back. She needs him.*

*I know. We all do. Castellan isn’t just Grace’s uncle. He’s-he’s family. For all of us. We’re not losing him to extremists. Not after everything.*

The connection cut. Alpha Jeremy going into combat mode, no time for texts.

I set the phone down carefully. Looked at Grace sleeping peacefully, unaware that right now-this exact moment-her uncle was fighting for his life in Chicago while backup tried to reach him.

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