He had to be joking. “Nope. No way. I’ve had enough. I’m not getting up.”

“After what Cosette said, I’d rather you be overprepared than not. Up with you.” He slid out from under me and ripped the covers away.

I narrowed my gaze at him. “I take it back. Your presents suck.”

His grin didn’t dim at all. “Enough with the whining. Let’s go show your brothers what we’ve been doing the past while.”

I gave him a long look. “Honestly, Donovan. I don’t think they want to see that.”

He leaned back as he laughed. “Not that, woman. Mind out of the gutter. Christ Jesus.” He shook his head at me. “I’m trying to be respectful in your father’s house before we’re fully mated, but you’re making it hard.”

“Am I? Making it hard?” He, on the other hand, was making it too easy.

“Shite!” He turned to the door.

“Running from your mate already?” I teased.

“As if that were a thing.” He crossed his arms. The movement did amazing things to his arms. I almost laughed at myself. I was losing my mind, totally full-on obsessed with the guy. And who the hell would’ve guessed I was so into arms? It wasn’t like every other Were in the history of Weres wasn’t built. But something about Donovan got to me.

“I’m off to gather your brothers. I’ll meet you in your sparring room.”

All the sexy thoughts went right down the toilet. “I thought this place was big and you didn’t know where anything was.”

“That was before this morning. I’ve had plenty of time to explore.”

Plenty of time? “When did you wake up?”

“A while ago.”

That was vague. “Did you get any sleep?”

“Aye. Some.”

I slid off the bed and took a step toward him as I really looked at him.

His color was a tad pale, which wasn’t normal. Especially for an Alpha. Weres healed quickly, which meant practically no aging and next to no wear and tear. It was the biggest benefit to being a Were. That and the strength. And the whole running as a wolf thing.

Honestly, there were a lot of benefits to being a Were.

But if Donovan was looking even a little tired, then he must be exhausted. So, why wasn’t he sleeping?

“Some” wasn’t flying with me. “How much sleep did you get exactly?”

He closed the distance between us, cupping my face in his hand. “Don’t worry, my love. I’m fine.”

Fine. That was the kiss of death. And he hadn’t answered my question. “Donovan…” He sighed, and all his good-natured humor drained out of him. “Are you having nightmares again?”

“No. It’s not that.” He paused. “Or not just that.”

After the demon battle in the chapel, he’d had a few nightmares. During the fight, one of the demons had gotten hold of me and was dragging me to the pit of hell. I’d seen down into the abyss, and I knew exactly what my fate would’ve been if Donovan hadn’t gotten there in time. The problem was that when he killed the demon, it let go of me, and I’d almost ended up falling down the pit anyway. He’d caught my leg just in time, but it was close. Too close. And Donovan had some residual guilt because of it. He shouldn’t have any. He saved me. But he felt like he’d fumbled and nearly lost me.