Chapter 20 – Aline #2
“Yeah, you can,” I agree, spinning the clasp of the necklace to my throat so he can remove it. “It was acquired here in the human realm.”
“And it doesn’t drain my power,” he says, studying it. “It acts as a true relic should, only holding what’s provided. Did you ask for the witch to spell the bracelet to consistently draw your magic?”
“No,” I whisper.
“It needs to be contained,” Silence murmurs, tossing them both aside. They land on the carpeting next to the mattress inside the nest wall, and I grimace. If one bead could provide enough magic to help bring Emerson back from death, then I can only imagine what the entire bracelet could do.
“Did my parents really choose to return to Faere?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I think I just need to hear it from someone I trust. My stomach flip-flops wildly as the thought crosses my mind, but it’s true.
I’m growing to trust Silence and Hex.
“They did.” Silence grimaces, caressing my cheek. “I believe they didn’t want to be forced to testify against you in front of the council.”
I nod, my jaw sliding from side to side.
I’d heard rumors over the years, so it doesn’t come as a complete shock, but I’m relieved to know they were allowed to replenish Mother Nature.
Our kind is essentially immortal, but the mind does still age.
In the event a fae grows tired, they’re brought to the tree of souls. If they’re deemed worthy, the base of the tree will open and allow entry. It’s an honor to be accepted. It’s a much more peaceful way to expire than at the hands of a reaper.
My phone rings, shocking me out of my thoughts.
“Mrs. Segar,” Silence says, frowning at the device. “It’s nearly four in the morning.”
“Oh shit,” I hiss, yanking the phone from his grip and answering without a second thought.
Silence’s hand is heavy on my hip. He keeps me pulled in close to his side as we approach my home. “You’re sure Charity didn’t...” He shrugs. “I don’t know. Meet someone for an after-work drink or?—”
“No, if she was going to drink, she’d have stayed at Venom and hung out with our coworkers. She’s reliable as hell. Normally, Bane walks her home. I don’t know what could have happened.”
We make it down the sidewalk separating my house and Mrs. Segar’s. I’m especially concerned because, as everyone has pointed out, monsters go missing in Haven.
My hands shake.
Atlas didn’t reply to my text, but Saber said he’d find the guys and let them know to meet us at my house. I move to shove my phone in my pocket so that I don’t drop it.
Mrs. Segar meets us at the door. The old wolf shifter is probably close to five or six hundred, but she looks like she’s in her late fifties or early sixties.
She goes on to repeat what she said on the phone.
Charity hasn’t answered any of her calls or texts—mine either, which is very unlike her.
She always calls Mrs. Segar if she’ll be later than two or two-thirty, and by three-thirty, Mrs. Segar grew concerned.
She called, and the bartender at Venom informed her Charity left a little before two.
All of which I confirmed with Saber.
I take the spare key to Charity’s house from Mrs. Segar, but that’s not where I’m headed.
I stomp down the sidewalk toward Bane’s house. I’ve never been inside. Hell, I’ve never wanted to. He has consistently walked her home for weeks. Maybe longer than that. He’s going to need to answer some questions, or he might just meet my magic firsthand.
“I believe we’re headed to the wrong house,” Silence says, skipping along at my side.
“I need you to use your magic.” I nod to the door. “If you wouldn’t mind?”
“Anything you need, love,” he says earnestly.
I give him an appreciative smile. “Bane is a shifter, but I don’t know what kind.”
With that, I turn and bang on the asshole’s back door. I don’t think it’s the front of his house, since the houses are all built with the backside facing the courtyard.
“So, why are we pounding on the door of an unfamiliar and unknown shifter in the early morning hours?” Silence asks, sounding truly perplexed. “Do we think he has information we need?”
I really like the sound of the word we . It makes it feel like we’re the team I’ve yearned to be.
Bane opens the door, ruining the moment. It’s impossible to miss the glare he shoots my way, even though he only cracks it several inches.
“What?” he growls in his low, gravelly tone.
My palm slams against the door, but it doesn’t budge. “Where is she?”
“Who?”
“Charity.” I jab a finger at him. “Don’t play stupid with me. I know you’re infatuated with her.”
The door swings open and Bane stomps outside.
“What the hell do you mean?” he growls, clutching at his chest. It’s covered in a huge bandage that goes from his left shoulder down to his right hip. Blood soaks through in several areas. He was either stabbed, or those are claw marks. “Aline, fucking answer me!”
“You’re going to want to never speak to my wife like that again,” Silence interjects, stepping between us. “Tell me, mate. What happened there?” He nods to Bane’s injury, infusing his words with his magic.
“Fuck you. What the hell is wrong with Charity?” Bane snarls, his eyes glowing yellowy-green.
I gasp, taking a step back. His pupils are reptilian. Dragons, wyvern, and basilisks are the only shifters I know with eyes like that.
“How were you injured?” Silence repeats, lining his question even more fully with his power.
“Tell your wife to ask her demon, the one pretending to be Kash.” Bane’s facial features start to morph. His nose elongates as do his teeth.
Holy fuck, he’s a dragon.
My jaw falls open. He shakes his head, willing away the change, but his hands transition into claws and then back to human fingers.
I take a step back, because fully transformed dragons are huge.
“Clarify,” Silence demands.
“That wyvern...I don’t know who the fuck he is or where he came from.
He was stalking the demon. I think he was after Kash, but once he spotted Charity, that asshole wouldn’t stop following her around.
As you can see, we had a conversation about it late last night after I dropped Charity off at home.
I wasn’t in a position to shift, since it’s the middle of fucking Haven.
I’ve been healing all day.” He exhales heavily. “I fell asleep. Motherfucker!”
Silence turns to me. “He’s telling the truth, at least what he believes it to be.”
“If that’s the same wyvern that attacked Kash, then...” I frown, shaking my head. “Do you think he snatched up Charity?”
“What the fuck do you mean?” Bane snarls, smoke puffing from his nose and mouth.
Silence squares his shoulders. “Calm down. Nothing good will come from panicking.” I’ve seen him soothe Hex using a similar tone. I begin to wonder if his gifts are more extensive than I know.
“If it was your mate missing, could you do the same?” Bane swipes a clawed hand over his face.
“Oh,” I whisper, suddenly looking at the situation in an entirely new light.
“It would appear this night isn’t yet over,” Malice says from behind me. “Sorry I’m late, kitten.” His shadows encircle my middle, and I’m pulled back into his chest.
“You’re a fucking nightmare?” Bane growls.
“Indeed. Remember that next time you talk to my future wife.” Malice chuckles darkly. “Otherwise, who knows what type of mental prison I might be tempted to create.”
“Hey, asshole.” Silence spins around, jabbing a tattooed finger at Malice. “That’s not a done deal. She’s already married.”
I laugh, stretching out a hand and intertwining my fingers with Silence’s. “We have more important things to focus on.”
Malice pulls my hair to the side before kissing my neck tenderly. “I’ll do some reconnaissance.”
“I’m coming,” Bane says, moving to follow.
“You’re not in any shape to try,” Silence says.
Malice gives me a peck on the cheek and promptly disappears.
“Fuck!” Bane snarls.
“Ali might be able to help you heal your injuries. How about inviting us inside?” Silence suggests.
My eyes widen.
I take a step back, yanking my hand away from his.
I’m considering fleeing, but Silence wraps his hand around my wrist. It’s strange to feel his skin against mine where my bracelet always rests. I never stopped to put it back on before we left.
My chest heaves.
“I believe, if you focus your intent, you’ll be able to heal his injuries.” Silence palms the back of my head, pulling me close, but he looks at Bane. “Head inside and remove your bandages. If nothing else, I’ll change them out for you.”
Bane grunts, swiping a hand through the air before disappearing inside.
“I’m not Atlas or Hex; I’m not going to coddle you and try to protect you from yourself.
Not anymore.” He brushes his lips over mine.
“I haven’t much fondness for my family these days, but there are a few things my fathers taught me that I should have taken to heart sooner.
I’ll do you a great disservice standing in your path while trying to protect you.
I’ve already made that mistake once. From here on out, I’ll walk at your side, fighting beside you, because I have faith that, together, we can tackle anything. ”
That’s more than I could have dreamed of.
My chest rises and falls rapidly, but Silence settles me with a kiss.
He’s an excellent kisser. An unexpected pang of jealousy hits me square in the chest. It’s ridiculous.
I have no right to be jealous, especially when it’s clear he hasn’t been intimate with anyone since we met.
Gods, that’s a lot of years of waiting.
He intertwines our fingers again, pulling me inside Bane’s house.
It’s eerily similar to the floor plan of my home.
The kitchen is on the right, along with a small dining room.
On the left is the living room and the stairs that I’d bet lead to the bedrooms. My house has one bedroom downstairs, but this place has a larger living room.
Bane lies across the couch in jeans, but no shirt. Four jagged lines of claw marks mar his chest. They’re still torn open.
My head tilts, studying the injury. I’m pretty sure his ribs are visible in a few places. If he were human, then he’d be dead right now.
“I’ll be by your side,” Silence murmurs softly. He kisses my neck just below my ear, and I’m hit with an unexpected pang of arousal. “Not the time, love. But it will be very soon.”
I nod and Silence releases me.
I sit on the coffee table and frown, taking in Bane’s extensive injury.
“Get on with it,” he snaps. His jaw is covered with more dark stubble than I’ve ever seen on him, and it’s tight with tension. “Please.”
“I’ve never done this,” I tell Silence, who comes to sit at my side.
“I’ve seen you heal much more severe injuries than this.” Silence’s pale eyes stare into mine with sincerity written all over his face. “I believe in you.”
“Jesus Christ, I just threw up in my fucking mouth.” Bane grunts, gesturing to his gaping wounds. “Either heal me, or I’ll patch myself back up. I need to get out there to look for Charity, and it’s already starting to bleed again.”
I grimace. He’s right about that.
Silence rests his hand on my thigh just above my knee and gives me a squeeze, like he’s saying he knows I can do it. It’s a surreal feeling.
“I don’t have my bracelet,” I say, shaking my hands out.
“You don’t need it,” Silence says, scooting closer to my side. “It likely would have hindered your gifts, anyway. Try focusing on the wound.”
I suck in a deep breath and lean forward. I know Bane has to be in an extreme amount of pain. My hands hover over his chest, but they’re shaking so hard it’s difficult to keep them still.
What if I mess this up?
What if I pull his life force instead of helping him heal? Does my magic even have this type of ability? What if I draw hunters to me by using too much at one time?
I’ve always been careful.
I don’t know my limits.
“You two tracked me here because I used my magic,” I say in a shaky tone.
“You won’t be using that much.” Silence runs his hand down my back. “Have faith in yourself.”
“I’m never going to understand how grown-ass men turn to mush over their mate,” Bane mutters.
“We’ll see how things go when we locate Charity,” Silence retorts.
My hands begin to glow.
I focus all my intent into sealing Bane’s wound, but I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. There’s no guarantee that I can heal anyone else’s injuries. Hell, I haven’t even managed to heal my own magical backlash, but I do know I can heal my own minor injuries that I’ve received outside of it.
My eyes fall closed as my magic pulses, telling me to start high and work my way down, much like unzipping a dress. Or, in this case, reverse zipping a wound. I have no idea, but when my hands heat, I know it’s working.
“Fuck, that’s not a great feeling,” Bane groans.
“Don’t be a giant set of balls,” Malice says from my right. I don’t know when he got back, but I don’t allow it to distract me.
“That is a surprisingly fitting comparison,” Silence says. He’s still running his hand down my back. I bite my lip. I’m really grateful that he’s not afraid of me and what I can do.
I blow out a breath and continue to work while Bane curses, Silence comforts me, and Malice continues to talk shit.
Once my hands stop feeling like I’ve dunked them in a warm bath, my eyes pop open to realize I’ve healed Bane’s wound all the way down to the opposite hip.
He studies the tattoos across his chest and stomach. “Wow, that’s impressive.”
They look perfect to me.
“All right, we’ve got a mom to save before her kid wakes up and realizes she’s missing,” Malice says in a strangely jovial tone.
“You know where my mate is?” Bane snarls, pushing himself up.
“Are you familiar with Dead Man’s Peak?” Malice laughs.
Wrapping an arm around my middle, he plucks me off the coffee table and yanks Silence by the shirt.
My Spring prince scrambles over the table to follow us into the darkened kitchen, while Bane roars.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t bring the house down around him. ”
Malice wraps his free arm around Silence and, in a blink, we’re spilling through the shadows.