Chapter 7 Zane
Zane
My witch looked so small lying curled up on the bear’s ratty couch. Like a dainty doll with her streaky hair feathered over the pillow. If not for the tether in my chest, I’d have wondered if perhaps she had already crossed the veil.
I focused on the tether that linked us. My soul to hers. She was the sunshine brightening the shadows. The meadow filled with pretty flowers to my cracked concrete wasteland of broken glass and weeds.
She didn’t stir when I reached out and stroked her hair. Not a murmur.
“Don’t be a creep,” the bear grumbled as he stomped out of the small living room. “She doesn’t need you fondling her while she’s unconscious.” He straightened the blanket covering her legs before slanting a look at the door.
I briefly considered disemboweling him for suggesting I had less-than-honorable intentions toward my mate before deciding she would be unhappy to wake up from her coma to find one of her mates dead.
The mage didn’t count. If he died, I doubt she’d miss him.
The kitsune lifted his head from his spot by the fire and gave me a toothy grin.
“He’s on my kill list,” I told the creature. He chuffed and then closed his eyes.
I didn’t speak kitsune, but he and I had an understanding. We often crossed paths in places where the mages hung out. He kept my secrets, and I kept his.
“Kill list?” The bear quirked an eyebrow.
“I have a list,” I told him. “The mage is on it.”
The bear cocked his head to one side, listening. “Raven’s guardian is approaching. You better stay out of the way for now,” he said to the vamp. I watched as the bloodsucker disappeared upstairs.
It was creepy the way he moved without making a sound. No wonder the mages hated the vampires. Not only could they compel other magicals to do their bidding, but they were also the ultimate predator. Top of the food chain.
Unfortunately, their need for a blood source was their downfall. One the mages exploited.
At least that’s what I suspected had happened.
A sharp rap on the door echoed through the cabin. When it opened, my pet’s mage guardian stood there waiting. This time, he came alone.
“Where is she? You promised to keep her safe!”
“Can we trust you?” Despite knowing the mage could attack, the bear refused to step aside.
“Of course! Now let me in so I can see Raven.” The bear eyeballed the mage for several long seconds before letting him enter. We both knew the mage was our best hope of fixing whatever was wrong with our mate.
I twirled the blade I’d summoned before using it to whittle a piece of wood I’d pulled from the log basket. The bear was too busy watching the mage to notice as I brushed splinters onto the floor.
I was watching him too, but I needed to keep my hands busy. Idle hands made for the devil’s work, as my dear granny liked to say. Usually before she beat the crap out of me.
“How long has she been unconscious?” The bear opened his mouth to reply but a loud hammering on the door distracted him. He cocked his head to one side and grimaced.
“Alaric’s here. Let him in, Zane.”
I huffed crossly. “Really? Can’t we leave him out there?” The bear’s glare suggested not, so I jumped up and hustled to the door.
“Whatever you’re selling, I’m not buying.”
Small fry looked at me like I was insane. Maybe I was. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“It’s a polite way of saying fuck off, you’re not wanted here.” I went to slam the door in his face, but he wedged his foot in the gap.
“Get out of my fucking way, Zane. I am not in the mood for your bullshit.” I smirked and opened the door wide enough to let him pass. A small spark of electricity zinged my hand, but instead of yelping at the stinging pain, I groaned dramatically.
“Damn, baby boy. If you need some attention, just say the word.”
He spun around and raised his fist to cast an attack spell, but before he could spout any pointless threats against my person, I pressed my blade to his throat.
“I’m not joking, small fry. If you want me to tear your ass apart with my huge dick, I’m game. Just so long as you bring your sparky shit to the show. I love a little pain with my pleasure, baby boy.”
“Do not call me baby boy, you asshole.” I sucked in his rage with a contented sigh. Alaric’s rage tasted like the finest cognac: smooth with a healthy kick.
“Okay, baby boy.”
“Zane!” The bear’s growl distracted me from my delicious fantasy where I topped the mage while he ate out my witch. I had a feeling she’d enjoy that. My pet was all about hate sex. And she fucking hated the mage.
Alaric shoved past me and stomped into the living room. “Have you figured out how to heal her?” I stilled, anxious about the older mage’s reply.
Adam nodded. “This is the sea witch’s doing. Her spell is attacking the bond between her and the merman.”
“You think the mer queen has paid the sea witch to sever her son’s bond with Raven?”
I had no clue who this bitch of a witch was, but if I met her, she was a fucking dead witch. Then I paused and considered the rest of his question. If fish boy’s mommy had put my pet’s life at risk, she, too, was on my hit list.
Sure, I didn’t have gills, but I’d find a way to kill the cunt.