CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Saylor
“A sex club?” I repeat, my hands on my hips.
I wanted to be his little whore tonight, but it looks like he’s going to be mine.
He’s more qualified.
Or how about tonight, I mix things up and be his murderer?
“It was before you, Sunshine,” Bane assures me, running his hands down my back in smooth, comforting strokes. “That’s where I met Nova and a few other females who would feed me.”
“And fuck you.”
“Yes,” he replies, his tone sounding amused and apologetic. “It was all before you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever made love to. Before you, it was just fucking.”
I think back to last night when he slowly made love to me, kissing me all over—it was so fucking sweet. I know I’m being a hypocrite because I have slept with others, but I don’t know—hearing about this has just pissed me off.
Bane takes me in like he’s searching for something. “I love you.” His fingers entwine with mine, and he lifts me so I’m sitting on his lap. Spreading his fingers over my stomach, he kisses the side of my neck. “You are my everything, and you’ve given me everything. I don’t even remember half the females I’ve been with, little wolf. You’re all I see.”
He has to see Rave and know that I slept with him, and he’s not even throwing it in my face right now.
“I think the baby is making me a tad irrational,” I surmise, and Bane surprises me by throwing his head back and laughing. I’m going to milk being pregnant and blame the baby for everything.
“What’s so funny? I don’t like the idea of you being with anyone else. And a sex club? Oh, fates, the anger is coming back again.”
“Let me distract you then,” he says with a wide grin, lying me back on the bed and kneeling in front of me.
He looks so fucking sexy on his knees—a king bowing to his queen.
And then he worships me with his mouth and then his cock.
And I forget why I was so angry in the first place.
***
We all stand out in front of Peach’s Bakery opening, and I want to try something to see what is apparently better than my baking. But when I see the massive line of people waiting to try her treats, I feel like even I might be out of my element.
“Okay, maybe she is good,” I mutter, and Bane smirks, his dark eyes dancing with amusement.
“Yours is definitely better, Sunshine.”
“You haven’t even tried hers.”
“I don’t need to,” he replies, pulling me behind him as a group of shifters stroll past.
To make it seem less conspicuous, we decided to keep everyone hidden aside from my brothers, minus Shadow and Bane, who, as my mate, has an excuse to be here. The plan is that I’m going to create an illusion, and Salem will grab Bax and take him back to The Circle, where Shadow will be waiting.
“Are you ready?” Bane asks, looking over at Salem, Silver, and Sage waiting in line like the rest of the entire village, it seems.
“Yes.”
Sliding off my black gloves, I close my eyes while Bane shields me and I create the illusion. This is going to be one of the hardest ones I’ve ever attempted because the whole village needs to see the illusion, not just one person. I’ll be using all my magic to make it seem like Bax and Salem are present when, in reality, they won’t be.
“He’s coming,” Bane warns me.
Picturing exactly what I want the illusion to look like, I place my palms together and lock it in place.
“Now,” I tell Bane, and he gives Salem the signal.
“Three, two, one,” Bane counts down, and on the one, I let my palms go.
When I look up at the bakery, I see Salem step inside with King Bax, Silver, and Sage.
But really, Bax and Salem are gone.
“Fuck, you are so talented,” Bane murmurs, watching it all play out. I leave the fake Salem and Bax in there with Silver and Sage, letting them all taste some of the sweet treats before they exit, with the whole village watching on.
And then I get them to walk away, down the street and back to the castle gates with me following behind them, controlling the illusion.
Only when he gets past the guards and into the castle doors do I drop it.
Silver and Sage zip out of there.
Once I have dropped the illusion, Bane quickly hands me my gloves, but something goes wrong.
The magic pulls me in, trapping me inside the illusion. Panic fills me because this hasn’t happened before. I hear Bane calling my name as I try to bang on the invisible walls.
Looking down at my palms, I see that the lock is open, which means the illusion isn’t in place.
I’ve messed something up along the way, and I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get out of it.
Think, Saylor. Think.
Placing my palms together, I twist them the other way, counterclockwise, trying to unlock the illusion.
“Saylor!” I hear Bane calling me, so I follow his voice. The magic overwhelms me, my skin on fire as it tries to take over me.
“Saylor!”
The illusion unlocks, and I quickly slide my gloves on while I’m thrown back into reality.
Bane picks me up off the floor and lifts me into his arms. “Fucking hell, you scared the shit out of me. Please be okay,” his voice is a choked, almost silent plea. “Come on, let’s get you to Astrid.”
He zips me because I don’t have the strength, and I’m placed in our bed while he goes to find the healer.
Placing my hands on my stomach, I know that I’m fine, as is the baby. I’m just drained and tired.
The illusion didn’t lock properly, and I’m never going to make that mistake again.