Chapter 12 – Hex
Chapter Twelve
Hex
I ’ve had the nearly uncontrollable urge to spank my wife’s ass for the last twenty-three fucking years. Yes, I’m bitter.
That orc and I are going to have it out before this is over.
I can fucking feel it. His half-giant heritage makes him a formidable opponent, but my kraken hasn’t been fully released since Ali ran from us.
I’ve dealt with turmoil and pain for so many years that it fundamentally twisted who I am.
“I believe we all hold responsibility for what happened in Faere.” Silence sighs heavily. “That doesn’t change the fact that you promised us an opportunity to prove that’s not who we truly are. The past is one thing, but we’re here now to solidify our future .”
The orc grunts.
I glare at him.
He’s entirely too smug. Not to mention how comfortable he is with my wife pressed against his frame.
I don’t care if she doesn’t view our marriage as binding.
I don’t give a fuck that it was never consummated.
That’s my wife.
I’ve waited a goddamn eternity to sink inside a partner, and she ran from us for things we didn’t even do.
My kraken is itching to make a scene. He’s been in love with Ali since the very first time we caught sight of her. When we scented her, it was game-fucking-over.
She’s going to love us.
I’m going to make sure of it.
Three months feels like no time at all to ensure she wants to keep us around, but I’m not going to fuck this up again.
“I have to get to The Den,” she says. “There’s no way the owners are there after everything that happened last night with Emerson.”
“Do you think it’s safe for you to be around if the paranormal council is still investigating?” I ask as a jolt of terror goes down my spine.
“This is a sanctuary city,” the orc says, as if I’m not aware of that fact.
Unfortunately, Aryndia has changed much over the years. It wouldn’t be beneath her to send spies specifically to kidnap Ali and yank her into Faere before any of us could stop it. Yes, she ran to the human realm, but she and her mates returned to Faere not long after Ali left.
“You’ll have the three of us at the ready to protect you, no matter what,” Silence says, perfectly stating my thoughts.
Ali scoffs, but she’ll see soon enough.
My beast would think nothing of rampaging his way through the entire fae court to protect our mate.
I’m done waiting.
I’m going to make that woman mine. Right after I spank her ass red for not trusting me in the first place.
“What are we meant to do?” I ask Atlas as soon as Ali disappears into her office at the establishment she works at.
“The three of us are going to have a conversation,” the orc says. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.” He spins, heading off to talk to someone I don’t recognize.
The man is obviously a friend or person he trusts, because they both glance in our direction before tipping their heads together, talking in hushed tones.
I have excellent senses of smell and eyesight, but my hearing is nowhere close to the level of a shifter.
“We knew it was likely that she blamed us or suspected us to be involved in the attack,” Silence mutters. He begins pacing the hall, shaking his head and grumbling under his breath. He freezes mid step, and his eyes meet mine. “It’s difficult to fathom that she still hasn’t healed.”
“She should heal faster with us around.”
“That’s a very cocky outlook,” Atlas says from behind me.
“We’re her true mates,” I deadpan. He might not like it, but it doesn’t make it any less true. The same goes for Ali. “She might hate us, but it doesn’t change the fact that all creatures heal more quickly when they’re in close proximity to their soulmate.”
“Completing our bond with mating bites would likely speed up the process even further.” Silence rolls his lips together like he just realized how that sounds.
Atlas growls, sounding dangerous and slightly unhinged.
“You think you deserve to bite my flame?” he snarls, grabbing both of us by the front of our shirts. He yanks us out the back door until we’re in the same alleyway we appeared in last night. I spin around, clenching my fists to keep from decking him, but Silence speaks.
“Why is the fucker who broke my nose joining us for this conversation?” He petulantly slaps away the orc’s hand.
“Dread,” the hellhound replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “I own The Den. I’m Aline’s oldest friend in the human realm. I scraped her off the pavement when she was bleeding to death in a torn-to-hell dress on the side of the interstate. And I’ve looked after her ever since.”
Atlas snarls, finally releasing me, he spins in a circle. His boots crunch against the gravel as his muscles bulge.
Now would be a terrible time for him to go into a battle rage.
Ali will never forgive us if we’re forced to injure the orc to defend ourselves.
I mentally calculate how many days we would lose to healing if we allowed him to beat us practically to death. My hopes of my dear wife nursing me back to health are slim to none.
“Gods,” Silence mutters, drawing me out of my thoughts.
“Convince me not to kill you,” Dread says in an even tone, like he’s speaking about the weather. “I’m rather inclined to do it without giving you the chance, but since you’re fated, that means Aline would suffer. If you’re a threat to her?—”
“He’s not the one you should be truly concerned about,” the vampire from last night says, appearing next to Silence.
“Yes, he’s deadly, but I don’t have a soul.
I’ll bury this knife in both your backs and not lose a wink of sleep.
Not just because I technically don’t need to, but solely due to the fact, I just don’t give a fuck.
You threatened my beloved and our unborn child. ”
“Fuck,” I groan as his eyes turn milky white. “We have no problem with you. All we want is an opportunity to claim our mate.”
“We searched for her for decades,” Silence says indignantly. “Tensions were high last night. The last thing we want is Ali drawing more attention to herself or her gift.”
“We’ve already given our word that we’ll protect your mate and the pup,” I say, staring unblinking at the hellhound.
Dread is the alpha of their pack. The vampire might be the most ruthless member, but he’ll defer to the hellhound. I’m sure of it.
“Why did she run from you?” Dread asks.
“Faere is a treacherous place. Alinelle’s sister, Aryndia, was attacked on the day of our wedding. The Seelie Court was aware of rumors that one of the heirs would be targeted?—”
Silence cuts me off, saying, “Ali assumed we were displeased with the union because her mother and sister kept the information from her. We were trying to keep our mate alive and safe .”
“And yet, you condemned her magic. I believe you called my beloved an abomination ,” the vampire hisses.
His fangs glint in the light as he studies the blade I’m sure is made of Iron Ice.
It’s incredibly toxic to a fae’s system.
There’s no way Silence would survive an attack from that weapon, and my chances are only slightly better, due to my beast. “I see no point in keeping you alive. You’ve become a risk, and after last night, I’d prefer to preemptively eliminate all threats. ”
“Laithe,” Dread snarls, raising a hand in the vampire’s direction. “Allow them to continue.”
“The court considers her magic an abomination. Although they aren’t so horrified by her gifts that they would miss an opportunity to use her to their advantage,” Silence says, his disgust evident. “We have no stake in that game. Our only goal is to finally claim our mate and begin our lives.”
“Which we would have done all those years ago if she had just trusted us.” My kraken bristles under my skin. Suction cups begin to appear down my arms as my tentacles stretch from my flesh, trying to grow.
“Now isn’t the time,” Silence says soothingly.
“There’s never a good time,” I growl. “She abandoned us when all we were trying to do was keep her alive!”
“I know you hurt, but Ali is finally within reach. Rampaging your way through our new home will do nothing to endear us to her,” Silence says, coming closer.
The vampire takes a step back as Atlas and Dread watch with wide eyes.
Silence approaches and extends a hand, squeezing my shoulder. “We’re here now, and she promised us three months to prove our case.”
“I won’t let her run from us again,” my beast hisses. “I won’t survive it.”
“Nor will I,” Silence says calmly.
The hellhound tilts his head, watching us carefully. The vampire simply takes another step back.
“If you betray us, or hurt Aline in any way, I will ensure you suffer before I end you,” Dread says, rolling his shoulders back.
“You won’t have to,” Atlas says, and it sounds like a solemn vow. “What do the two of you intend to do to pass your time while Ali is working?”
“They won’t just loiter around. Give them jobs,” the vampire says, chuckling. “We need some time to settle into our bond with our sweet mate. Make yourselves useful. It’ll only help your case with Aline.”
“Fine,” I growl, willing my kraken to concede control. “I’d like a job where I can punch people in the face.”
“I’d like something where I can subtly keep an ear to the ground for information on Faere,” Silence says, finally releasing me.
The vampire appraises us as I study him in return. I’d really like to remove that Iron Ice blade from his possession, but he stowed it away when I wasn’t looking.
Dread simply stares, assessing us with red eyes.
“I have the perfect jobs for both of you.” Atlas smiles, showing off his tusks.
The sight is foreboding as fuck, but I nod. I’ll take whatever hell he wants to toss at me, as long as I stay close enough to win my mate.