Chapter 20 #2
I just had to accept being packless forever. If that was the route I was going to take, I’d rather do it with the Moroi.
“Sure.” I pushed off the table, putting a little more space between us. “If there is nothing else you want me to look at, I think I’ll go study the mirror some more and see if that jogs my memory at all.”
Cade reached out, his fingers brushing my forearm and making me stop after only one step. “You haven’t gone for a run since you’ve been back.” He studied me. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes,” I said tightly.
“I can tell Ryker to stay inside if that’s what’s keeping you from going out. I know how much you value your space, and I’m willing to work with you on that.”
“We both know you can’t control him forever.” I gave him a humorless smile. “I’ll figure it out.”
His gaze narrowed. “So Ryker is what’s bothering you.”
Not a question. Argh.
It would be great if the Alphas could be a little dumber. Being surrounded by pretty, dumb men sounded so nice right about now.
I took a step away, and his hand dropped from my arm. “It’s handled.”
“And is Bastian handled too?” he asked lightly. “Because he’s been acting odd since the three of you returned as well.”
“He’s a cat.” I shrugged. “They’re all weird assholes.”
Also, he watched Ryker drill me into a tree while I watched him get off to it. Just normal things.
Cade opened his mouth, no doubt to push me more on this, before he snapped it closed and looked to the doorway. I heard it a second later. Footsteps. Not Bastian or Ryker; those two moved silently most of the time, and even when they didn’t, I knew what they sounded like.
My fingers curled, getting ready to summon my axes if I needed to. Although, if someone was attacking us, surely they wouldn’t have made their presence this obvious? We weren’t expecting any visitors though, and Selene wouldn’t be arriving for another couple of days.
A broad back blocked my view as Cade moved to stand in front of me.
I rolled my eyes and stepped around him just as a stunning woman strode into the room and stopped, looking wide-eyed at both of us.
A dark blue cloak covered most of her, but the hood was down and golden-blonde curls fell past her shoulders, framing a pretty face and light violet eyes with the vertically slit pupils of an ailuran.
“Hello,” she said cautiously.
“Selene?” I guessed.
“Yes.” She nodded and took another step into the room before stopping again and wringing her hands in front of her. “You must be Rynn?” Her violet eyes flicked to Cade, and I saw a hint of wariness enter them. “And you’re Cade?”
“We weren’t expecting you for two days,” he said instead of confirming who he was. “Who brought you here?”
“What he means to say”—I shot Cade a warning look before taking a small step towards Selene—“is that we planned a much more formal greeting for your arrival later in the week.”
Which was partially true, in that everyone knew Selene was scheduled to come then and Cade and I had loosely talked about doing a dinner or something.
Normally, Bastian was the one who planned such things, but since he’d apparently decided to give everyone the silent treatment, Cade and I had done our best.
Ryker kept forgetting who Selene was and why he should care about her arrival.
“I know I’m early. Sorry about that.” Selene paused for a moment. “Things . . . changed.”
Fear immediately gripped my heart. Remy was supposed to escort her here along with some other scouts. This whole thing had been his idea, and my friend obviously cared about her. There was only one thing that could have changed Remy’s plans.
“Is Marie alright?” I asked immediately.
For the first time since arriving, Selene smiled, and moonsdamn it all, she was probably tied with Samara for the prettiest woman I’d ever seen.
“She’s fine,” Selene assured me. “They just think the baby is going to come early is all. But Marie is far enough along that it’ll be okay.
Remy is a nervous wreck though and doesn’t want to leave her side. ”
“Good.” Relief flowed through me. “I would’ve punched him in the face if the baby was born when he wasn’t there.”
And then Marie would have strangled him when he returned.
“That doesn’t explain why you came alone,” Cade said, still looking at Selene with a closed-off expression. Apparently, he wasn’t as distracted by her beauty as I was.
Selene raised her chin slightly. “Our scouts are stretched thin at the moment. Alexis volunteered to bring me here, but I thought his time could be spent better elsewhere.”
“Yeah, like in a howler den,” I muttered.
Her eyes sparked in amusement, but she kept the polite expression on her face. “Again, my apologies for not sending word that I was moving up my arrival date. Everything just happened so quickly that I didn’t have the opportunity.”
Silence stretched between the three of us. I kept hoping for Bastian to show up and smooth everything over, but as the seconds ticked by, it became apparent that was a lost cause.
“I don’t mean to impose . . . more than I already am,” Selene said carefully, “but is it possible someone could show me to a room I can rest in? It’s been a long journey.”
“Right,” I said quickly. “Of course. I’m sure you’re tired. We already have everything set up. I don’t know if Remy told you, but the Alphas don’t have any supporting packs around here, so they take care of everything themselves.”
Selene’s gaze flitted to Cade before looking at me again, and I realized I’d spoken as if I wasn’t part of the Alpha pack.
Cade didn’t correct me though. I’d need to figure out how to explain the situation to Selene, assuming Remy hadn’t already.
Because I wouldn’t let her fall into the same trap I had of thinking she was a legitimate part of this pack.
Much like me, she would forever be an outsider.
“That suits me just fine,” she replied smoothly. “I won’t be a bother. You’ll barely notice I’m here.”
“Doubtful.” I smiled at her. “Not a lot of pretty faces around here.”
Dear gods, was I flirting?
Cade looked at me, and I felt my cheeks flame up. This was Remy’s fault. He’d significantly underplayed just how gorgeous his friend was, and I’d always been so awkward around women I found attractive. It was something Samara and Cali had relentlessly teased me over.
“I’ll let Bastian and Ryker know we’re going to have dinner together tonight so they can meet you, Selene,” Cade finally said. “Warrick is elsewhere, but you’ll meet him eventually.”
Her polite mask didn’t even slightly crack at the mention of the most violent member of the Alpha pack. “Dinner would be lovely.”
I glanced at Cade to find him still watching me with amusement. I could practically hear the laughter in his voice over how easily I blushed yet again. “I’ll see what I can scrounge up for food while you’re showing Selene to her quarters.”
Since I’d returned, we hadn’t been doing dinners together and had instead been raiding the kitchen whenever we were hungry. I tried not to wince at the idea of Cade cooking, but clearly I failed because he rolled his eyes.
“I won’t set anything on fire.” He paused. “This time.”
“Come on.” I gave Selene a close-lipped smile as I grabbed my books from the table. “Your room is next to mine.”
We left Cade’s study and walked down the hallway side by side. Selene looked at the walls as we made our way. “No murals or artwork here?”
“No. Apparently, the Fae who built this place weren’t fans of art.
” Maybe if I ever met the Unseelie Princes in person, I could ask them about it.
“The Alphas have done a good job of tearing down walls throughout the place, so the views are pretty nice. Your room has a balcony. And an attached bathing chamber. But if you don’t like it, there is plenty of space and we can find you something else.
The third floor has the library but is otherwise mostly empty.
Warrick’s room is up there, but he’s rarely here .
. .” I trailed off when I realized I was rambling.
“I’m sure the room will be fine,” Selene assured me. “Really, I’m not fussy. Just looking forward to cleaning up and resting for a bit.”
“Of course—wait.” I stopped in my tracks, and Selene slid to a graceful stop. “We should go get your things so you have fresh clothes to change into. Did you leave them by the main entrance?”
“There’s no need. I was in my panther form most of the way here so I didn’t bring anything.” She plucked at the simple grey cloak draped over the plain brown dress she wore. “I borrowed these from an outpost a ways back, but I can clean them to wear later.”
“Oh.” I puzzled over what to say. Remy had made it clear Selene hadn’t been in a good spot, which was why he’d arranged for her to join the Alpha pack.
And she’d risked traveling here on her own rather than waiting for Alexis, which I didn’t really blame her for.
“The Alphas got a bunch of dresses for me to wear when I first arrived, but I don’t actually like wearing dresses, so I can give those to you. They should fit okay.”
Selene was a few inches shorter than me and quite a bit curvier, but the dresses had been big on me anyway and the fabric was stretchy so she’d probably look amazing in them. Not that I was at all looking forward to seeing her in them later.
Stop, I scolded myself. I would be leaving the Alpha pack, so I absolutely couldn’t start anything with Selene, assuming she would even be interested in me. I already had to deal with Ryker; I didn’t need to further complicate my life.
“Thank you,” Selene said.
I nodded briskly, and we started walking again.
Silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable so I didn’t try to fill it.
I’d promised Remy I would help Selene get settled here because she needed a safe place to land.
Until I figured out where to look for the crest, I wasn’t going anywhere, so I’d make sure she was comfortable here until then.
After that, it would be up to Selene to make her own way.
“Here we are,” I announced when we arrived at the door just before mine. “My room is there, and Ryker’s is across the hall.”
Selene glanced at both doors, her eyebrows raised slightly, but she didn’t question why three of us had rooms so close to each other when there was plenty of space in the castle. I opened the door and stepped back to allow her entry, when a familiar scent hit me.
“Shit,” I cursed and quickly followed her into the room, even though my intent had been to leave her to get settled.
“Everything alright?” Selene gave me a curious look as I clutched my books to my chest, leaning against the door like I was holding back a hoard.
“Everything is fine.” A tight smile flashed across my face before I pushed off against the door. “Is this room acceptable?”
“Yes,” she said slowly, her gaze jumping between me and the door.
“Great. Mind if I leave these here?” I held the books up, and when she nodded, I set them on the table next to the door. “I’m going to relax in my room a bit before dinner, but I’ll drop off those dresses before then. There are towels and a robe in the washroom.”
I quickly walked across the room and out onto the balcony that was identical to mine. Wordlessly, Selene followed me out and watched as I leapt up onto the railing and took a running start before clearing the fifteen-foot gap to mine and rolling as I landed.
Springing to my feet, I turned around and gave Selene a wave, which she returned with a wry grin. My smugness at avoiding Ryker a little while longer faded as another scent drifted to me.
Moons fucking damn it.
I stalked into my room and glared at the interloper on the bed.
“Time for you to hold up your end of the deal, Princess,” Bastian said lazily. “Or should I let the wolf in?”