Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
Have you changed your mind?
The voice whispered through my mind, ancient and cunning.
I am not your retirement plan. Danu checked in every single time I communed with the land, to the point where I was thinking about stripping her access to Keep land. Going that far was an escalation I'd rather not deal with, but she wrecked my conversation every time she popped in.
You could be as powerful as you desired, she said, her words a sinuous hiss in my mind.
I can do that already. Once Dad removed the lock on my power, I could sense how far I could go.
The answer frightened me. I didn't need Danu to take the earth if I wanted the world for my own. But that was the difference between us. Danu was of the old pantheon, and I was of none. I continued living life on my terms and wouldn't allow someone like her to sway me.
Danu needed me. I did not need her.
You have my answer. I've been polite to you, but the answer will always be no. If you continue to pop in when I'm refreshing my power, I'll have no choice but to ban you from this property.
Rage brushed over me, Danu's emotions electric sparks against my mind. You dare?
I do.
Soil bucked and groaned around me, Danu's temper in physical form.
I stopped the tantrum with a wave of my hand. Last warning, I said mildly.
You tempt powers you cannot imagine.
I waited a beat. And you think you do not?
A pause, one of surprise, then a derisive snort. Someone's ego has grown since last we spoke.
No need for ego. I know what I can do. Leave, Danu. Before I make you.
Her presence slipped from my mind a moment later. I sent tendrils of seeking power to see if Danu hid somewhere close, but there was no trace of her. Maybe I'd given the old bat something to ponder while she slept in her dark hold.
A nudge at my elbow made me smile. Eyes still closed, I lifted my hand and felt the soft slide of fur under my fingers. Rowan settled his enormous head by my thigh and huffed as he adjusted to the most comfortable position.
I pushed his favorite flowers, freesia, up through the ground, encouraging them to open and surround Rowan with their strawberry-like scent. His head moved as he snuffled the flowers. A satisfied bear grunt rumbled from his throat, making me smile.
I sat there for hours, siphoning my power and feeding my Lord's lands—our lands now.
I'd never get used to the feeling of being a part of such an amazing stretch of land.
I'd claimed Donovan's old lands months ago and was planning to gift them to Rowan before everything happened.
With our marriage, Rowan became the most powerful Lord land wise, but he'd also secured the fae crown.
Let's just say we weren't all that popular in the Lord circle at this time. They were staying out of the Caelan issue, but that interpersonal drama had endeared me to them even less.
Not that any of us had ever been friends, Rowan being the only exception.
Ethan didn't seem all that bothered by Rowan's new status or what I'd done to Caelan, which puzzled me. His lack of interest was in direct opposition to how often he had put his nose into our business before. Before Moira, if I had to guess.
Ever since he and Moira became entangled, Ethan's behavior struck me as odd.
The Lord had a strong and possibly skewed sense of morality.
When he and Rowan found us at the bar, he'd scooped Moira up like she weighed nothing and given her a hard smack on the ass when she'd protested, like he didn't give a shit she was a vampire and could destroy him if she tried hard enough.
The Ethan I knew would not have ever made a scene like he did that night.
Didn't hurt that he was a handsome bastard, either. Moira could do worse.
Rowan nudged me with his furry head, almost like he knew what I was thinking about and didn't care for the path my thoughts were on.
Our bond was a strange thing, melded with shifter and fae magic, and responsive to our moods and physical emotions.
We'd know if the other was hurt or in danger, and we knew when the other was feeling a little randy.
I was neither, but apparently even thinking someone else might be handsome was enough to make Rowan twitchy.
My power trickled to a slow drip, content and lazy. I opened my eyes and ruffled Rowan's fur. “Jealous I might fancy another?”
To that, Rowan shifted in a flash and hauled me underneath him in a swift, graceful move.
He gently bit my collarbone. “Do you?”
I tilted my neck to give him more access. “Never. I merely pondered for a moment how handsome Ethan is.”
Rowan stilled for a moment before huffing against my neck. “Oh?” He kissed his way up the column of my throat, the evidence of his desire heavy against my thigh.
“Mmm. He's got this whole mysterious bad boy thing going on.”
I felt him grin against my throat. “You like the bad boys?”
I snorted and hauled him up to kiss him. “Nope. Just you.”
“Good answer.” His clever fingers slid underneath my shirt and unfastened my jeans.
A few seconds later, there were no more words to be said.
We heard him before we saw him. I conjured up a bunch of flowers and vines to cover us seconds before Declan walked into the clearing.
He saw us and rolled his eyes. “Is there ever a time when you two aren't going at it like bunnies?”
Rowan's satisfied grin made me blush. “Remember this conversation when you find your own mate.”
Declan scoffed. “Too many choices out there for me to go hunting for one of those.”
“I wasn't hunting either,” Rowan said mildly.
“Still. Now look at you. Lying in a field of flowers like a regular fairytale princess.”
I sent a vine from the ground to smack him on the back of the head. Declan laughed and winked at me.
“Why are you here bothering us?” Rowan asked.
Declan was right. We did look like we'd woken up in the middle of a fantastical tale. Flowers in a riot of colors dotted the landscape in a circle several feet wide. Rowan even had them growing in his hair. I tried brushing them away, but they stubbornly clung to his dark locks.
Declan's expression sobered. “Caelan is asking for an audience.”
Rowan sighed. “Tell him I'll call him later.”
When Declan didn't nod or walk away, Rowan's eyes narrowed. “He's not on the phone, is he?”
“He sent a representative. As we all know, Caelan cannot leave his lands.”
I interrupted. “Who's the rep?”
In a way, I had laid a curse on Caelan's land and his people. Caelan was confined to his lands and would die if he tried to leave. His people were free to come and go, but if any of them tried to further Caelan's agenda or planned to bring harm to anyone, they would die.
The arrogant Lord had sent three people to certain death before he'd given up and believed I was serious about what I'd done.
“A young male shifter, nervous. He said his name was Jensen.”
I glanced over at Rowan, who shook his head.
“I don't know him either.” I wrapped a blanket of flowers around me and stood.
Declan's brows lifted before he chuckled. “I'll never get used to seeing you do things like that.”
“Look away from my wife,” Rowan growled.
“Or that,” Declan said with a deep laugh. “Your possessiveness has become legendary around town, my friend.”
“It's fine,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I'm technically dressed.” And a lot less concerned about nudity these days after living on Keep land for several months. Rowan was completely unbothered until we mated, and now he got growly whenever someone saw me in the slightest state of undress.
“It is not fine,” Rowan rumbled. He wasn't looking at me. A warm gold and silvery pink color outlined his irises. Our bond went tight and warm, rage blooming through the link.
Declan's expression went wary. He held out his hands and took a step back. “Whoa. I'm only here to deliver a message. I'll step out and wait until you are both…decent.”
The Second did not turn around and leave his back exposed to Rowan. He carefully walked backward until Rowan finally looked away.
I went to my knees beside him and took his face in my hands. “Rowan.” I pressed a kiss to the edge of his lips. “You have to get that under control.”
He gripped me by the hips, not quite painful, more possessive than anything. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. “I'm trying,” he rumbled. “Normally, those strong emotions fade within a couple of months, but our bond has proven different.”
A wry twist to his lips before a short laugh rang out. “Everything about this has proven unique.”
“You aren't alone here,” I said quietly. The only females I could tolerate looking at Rowan were Moira, Tess, and Hope. Anyone else made me twitchy. Mine wasn't as bad as Rowan, but I had to resist the urge to wrap myself around him like a clingy octopus whenever other women were around.
Embarrassing.
He lifted those beautiful hazel eyes, a leftover shimmer of violence glazing their depths. “You haven't threatened to rip anyone to pieces yet.”
I grunted. “Doesn't mean I don't want to.” My fingers slid through his silky hair, and I wondered again how I'd gotten so lucky. I never wanted to stop touching him, stop lying with him in fields of fragrant flowers, and letting him worship me.
Rowan smiled and touched his chest. “I feel you right here and know when you're thinking goofy thoughts.”
I laughed and shoved his shoulder. “And I feel when you're about to slice someone in two.”
His eyes turned serious. “We can send him away. If you want.”
I sighed and touched my forehead to his. “He'll send another one. And if we ignore him, another one will come soon after.”
Rowan closed his eyes. “I'm not ready for this to be over.”
I curled into his lap and lay my head against his chest. His arms wrapped tight around me. “We'll have it again. Consider this a temporary blip.”
“Every time he comes back into our lives, he hurts you.”
“Arguably, I hurt him worse this time.”
Rowan's chest rumbled with a laugh. “Agreed. If we had a bard, he'd sing about your exploits in the pub.”
I snickered. “Are you ready to go meet this kid?”
“How do you know he's a child?”
I sighed and slid out of Rowan's arms. “Because Caelan knows my weaknesses. He'll send someone vulnerable.”
“Fucking asshole,” he snarled.
I bent to gather my clothes. “Agreed. We knew this wouldn't last forever, but it doesn't mean we won't have it again.”
I watched Rowan rise, his powerful limbs sleek and graceful as he moved. My mouth went dry as he stalked toward me.
A slow smile curved his lips when he saw where my eyes were. “Maybe we could delay a little while longer.”
I laughed and hurriedly dressed. “No, you insatiable beast. Let's get this over with. Then we'll talk about it.”
His eyes took on that strange new glow, silver mixed with gold and a touch of watermelon tourmaline—the color of my magic. “Are you sure?”
I took a step back. “Rowan. We can't.”
“Says who? We're grown-ups.”
I let out an exasperated laugh. “We just did!”
“And?”
I sighed and waited for him to reach me before lifting my fingers and tracing them over his jaw. “We have the rest of our lives. Caelan is a problem, and he's sent that problem to our doorstep. Let's deal with this, and then you can chase me around.”
His eyes took on an even deeper glow. “Chasing? We haven't done that yet.”
“You're awfully big,” I whispered. “Bet you can't catch me.”
Rowan's answering grin sent a thrill down my spine. “You forget, little Chimera, I am not just a bear.”
“Hmm. I guess we'll find out soon.”
Rowan growled and reached for me but missed when I danced out of his arms. “Come on. Let's see what this kid wants.”
His sigh was put upon, but he followed me toward the area of the main Keep. We didn't speak as we walked, both of us knowing our days of leisurely peace were over.
At least for a little while.