Chapter 13
Freya
When I woke up, I was surrounded by Misha in every sense of the word. My muscles ached, and I was sore in places I didn’t know existed. My neck was throbbing where he had marked me, and a matching ache was developing between my legs.
Misha was curled around me with an arm under my head and another around my waist, anchoring me to him. As I marveled at all of the new feelings, the throb in my neck morphed into something…more.
I felt Mikhail’s breathing change, and knew he was awake. He nuzzled my neck, but I was too focused on everything else I was feeling. It was as if a piece of Misha was now inside of me, a window into his emotions.
I was overwhelmed by the power and strength within him, but the connection went deeper. I could sense his bear, satisfied that he had finally claimed me. Is this what it means to be a fated mate? If I feel him this way, what is he feeling from me?
“Talk to me, Little Storm. We are connected now. I can feel your anxiety and the powers you’ve been hiding. I vow that no matter what you tell me, I will always have your back and will do whatever it takes to protect our future together.”
I could feel the sincerity through our connection, but more than that, his devotion and love.
Turning in his arms so we were face-to-face, I spent a minute just taking him in, all that power and beauty.
And he was mine. Running my fingers over the scar that ran over the side of his face, my breath caught as he grabbed my hand and placed a gentle kiss on my palm. His stare was patient and unwavering.
“Have you ever heard of an Element?” I whispered, my voice shaky at first.
“I’ve heard stories, but I’ve never met one, and to my knowledge, our clan hasn’t had any interaction with them. Is that what you are? You can control the wind?” he asked.
“Yes and no.” I sighed, looking away.
“Elements are rare, and most of us are in hiding. Both my parents were Elements, and when they had me, it soon became clear that instead of taking after one or the other, I took after both…and then some.”
“I feel the powers inside of you, the pull from all of the elements. There is pain and fear. Tell me who hurt you, my love.”
“Vampires treat Elements like a delicacy—the older they are, the harder they track us. Drinking from an Element grants one their powers and earthly connections. They think they’re getting high off of it, when in reality, it allows vampires to feel human, tethered to the earth and all the living things we can connect with.
We moved around often, but a specific group of vampires had discovered the three of us, and tracked us around the world.
“Last year, they caught up to us. My father died so my mother and I could escape. Mother sent me here, and went into hiding to try to throw them off our tracks.” I hadn’t realized tears were running down my face until Misha’s giant hands swiped the moisture away.
“What did Bianca say to you at the party? Why did you run?” I paled at the reminder, panic running through me at the memory. Misha clutched me to him, rubbing a hand down my back.
“She won’t touch you. Tell me what she said, and I’ll take care of her. I need to know what we’re facing so I can protect you.” The strength in his voice, the vehemence behind his statement, had me calming down, and I finally opened up.
“She asked me when I had spoken to my mother last, that she knew what we were. The threat was clear.” Misha’s face hardened, and his eyes grew dark.
“We will find your mother and provide her protection with the clan. Bianca will get what she deserves.” His long arm reached over me to grab his cell phone from the night stand.
He sat upright, leaning his back against the headboard and maneuvering my body so I was resting against his chest. Satisfied I was close enough, he dialed a number on his phone. A deep male voice answered, and I was close enough to hear both sides of the conversation.
“Son. Are you okay? How is your mate?” his father asked, causing my heart to clench. He told his parents about me?
“She is with me. She is okay, no thanks to Bianca. I’m going to need your help with a few things.”
“Of course! Whatever we can do. Tell us what’s going on. William approached us. He is willing to cut ties with Bianca in exchange for returning to business with us.”
“She needs more than disowning. She threatened not just my mate, but her mother. I need you to promise that once we find my mother-in-law, you will provide asylum and protection for her and any other of my mates’ people.”
“What do you mean, her people? I thought you said she was human?” a woman’s voice rang out. I assumed it was his mother.
“My mate is an Element, as is her mother.” There was a gasp before Misha’s father got back on the line.
“That’s magnificent. I’ve heard of them but never met one. They are rare, hunted. Our lands provide sufficient shelter for Elements. They will remain protected, surrounded by the clan, but free to experience the wilds of our region’s nature.”
“Give me the phone,” Mikhail’s mother demanded, and her voice came through the line loud and clear.
“Mikhail, you need to take care of Bianca right away. There’s a girl at the university. Annette Del le Fleur. Do you know her?” Misha looked at me, and I frowned before sitting up.
“You mean Nettie?!” I asked excitedly. Annette Del le Fleur and I had met shortly after I started there.
She was a serious but friendly girl. I instantly liked her.
We often shared a table in the back of the library where we quietly worked or read.
She was one of the few people I genuinely enjoyed speaking to at that school.
“Yes! Tell her what happened. You can trust her. Request a meeting with her father to deal with Bianca.”
“Thanks, Mom, Dad. I’ll let you know when we hear from them.”
“Make sure to bring that girl home soon so we can meet her! Call us if you need anything. And make sure you let us know you’re okay!“ Misha smiled indulgently and repeated goodbyes before hanging up and tossing his phone to the side.
“It’s still early. Let me take care of my mate before we prepare to face our foes.” A wicked grin lit his face as he crawled down my body.
An hour later, my body felt like jello. We shared a quick shower, then got ready for the day. It was time to face Bianca one last time.