CHAPTER 14
Rudgar
I waited in the living room, being eyed by the females that were left behind while my mate and Tabitha, the older female with the long white braid, had gone into one of the bedrooms. It had been everything I could do to not follow her, but I knew that she needed to show that she was in charge.
She was taking over the coven, and I couldn’t get in her way. I didn’t understand the dynamics here, but I knew that I didn’t want to push her while she was going through a transition. I eyed the females, and they stood in a little group, watching me with suspicion.
From their muttered conversations, I now knew their names. I already knew Tasia from when she’d messed with Rok—and I intended to keep the grudge that I held. Gabbi was her daughter—the one who’d attacked my leg for existing. Hanna was nibbling on her lower lip—the quietest of the group—and she kept clenching her still-glowing fists. She was running her fingers through her short, wavy hair and I wondered if she was going to burn it with her magick if she kept doing it.
Floria was the most suspicious of me, with a sneer playing on her lips and her curly hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Every once in a while, she’d point at me with a glare. I tried to look as unthreatening as I could but I was easily two times their size, so the task was impossible.
Relief filled me as my mate’s scent became stronger and I knew she was coming back toward us. She appeared in the hallway, carrying a case, with Tabitha behind her. I straightened, ready to move toward her to take it from her hands, but Floria leveled a finger at my chest as if to say Stay right there.
I did as I was told, going back to lounging against the wall. My female came toward me, holding up the case for me to see.
“This has all my mom’s things,” she told me, and I could see the sadness in her. I reached for it, taking her into my arms without question, and pressed a kiss to her hair.
“I have you, Gul-ar,” I murmured, nuzzling her. She squeezed me, letting me know that she appreciated it, but then she pulled away from me.
I kept the case, cradling it against my chest as she turned to face the room.
“I’m coming back for you,” she told them, her voice firm and strong. “As soon as I find a place I can protect.”
Eyeing them, I sighed, leaning forward to whisper to my mate. “I might have a place.”
She spun, her eyes wide, staring up at me like I was the greatest hero of all of orc-kind.
I can get used to that look.
“You do?” she gasped, reaching out to grip my shirt in her hands.
I nodded, looking up at the females behind her who were still suspicious of me.
Not that I can blame them. If they’re running, their caution kept them alive.
“My brother and I have apartments available in the building we own,” I told them, watching them closely. “You’d be welcome there.”
Zara gasped, tugging at my shirt to get my attention. I looked down at her beautiful face, her smile enchanting me. “Really?” she asked, searching my face. “With us?”
She looked so hopeful, even if I hadn’t made the decision, this would have sealed it. I nodded, stroking my thumb over her full lower lip.
“Yes,” I told her before frowning. “Well, not with us . They’ll have different—”
“But we have spare bedrooms, right?” she asked, tilting her head with sweet curiosity.
“Well—” I started, and Tabitha piped in right away,
“Perfect! We’ll make do with the spare bedrooms!”
My lips parted and closed, and I shook my head with vehemence. “No, of course not. I couldn’t ask you to do that. There’s so much more room in the other apartments. And—”
“We don’t want to be a bother,” Tabitha scoffed, waving her hand while Floria quirked a suspicious eyebrow my way. “And we want to stay close to our High Priestess, after all.”
I felt my female stiffen in my arms and realized that the term had probably only ever been used for her mother before. The mantle was being passed and while she might have accepted it, it was going to be a lot to take on.
Swallowing hard, realization dawned that it might be best for her to be surrounded with these females for now. With a sigh, I said the words I already knew I was going to regret.
“Fine, let’s get you all packed.”
I’m surrounded by mad witches and there’s no escape.
I heaved another box of crystals into the back of the SUV while the little hellion Gabbi clung to my leg, giggling as I toted her with me while her mother fluttered behind her, worried. My mate had laughed it off, telling her that Gabbi was fine.
But am I fine? No one cares to ask.
I glared down at the little monster as she bit into my thigh for what felt like the tenth time and I wondered if these little witches carried any diseases.
“Sweetheart, please ,” Tasia cried. “No biting!”
“Yes biting,” Gabbi called and I rolled my eyes, dropping the box of crystals next to the two suitcases that had been put into the back. I expected at least two more suitcases, and I was taking all the luggage since their cars were tiny. They seemed to be only taking necessities to get them through a few weeks.
We’d figure out what was happening after that, but for now, I agreed with my mate. They needed protection, and she would only be able to do that in our building. There was no way I was letting her stay anywhere else. While I didn’t trust this coven after their shenanigans with Rok, I couldn’t stand by and watch my mate’s family get hurt.
I sighed, narrowing my eyes at the tiny female who still had her teeth buried in the material of my pants. It didn’t hurt, but she was like a small, feral kitten.
“Can you sit in the car?” I asked her, and she shook her head, refusing to release me, her arms and legs wrapped so tight around me I wondered if she could let me go.
“I’m sorry about her,” Tasia said, hurrying over to grab her daughter. Gabbi held on for dear life, but her mother was able to get her off by tickling her sides. I sent Tasia a grateful nod, but when I turned to look at my mate, she had her hands tucked under her chin, her eyes gleaming up at me as she gave me a pleased smile.
“What’s that look for?” I purred, my body coming to life under her gaze.
“Do you like children?” she asked, her eyes twinkling and the scent of her arousal washing over me. Every drop of blood made its way to my cock.
“I do,” I purred, stepping closer to her, licking my lips. “And I hope we can have dozens.”
“Dozens seems like a lot,” she laughed, running her hands over my chest. “But two sounds like a solid goal.”
I shrugged, gripping her around her waist and tugging her closer to me. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me.”
A seductive smile curved her lips and I was waiting with bated breath as they parted when someone slapped a small bag into my chest. I was forced to release Zara to stop it from falling and I turned to glare at Tabitha who was glaring right back.
“Right in the middle of the street like a pair of wild wolves,” she huffed, waving me away. “Go now. Show some decency.”
I watched as Zara looked chastened, but barely , smothering a laugh, and I bowed my own head, moving toward the trunk, stuffing the additional bag into the already overflowing collection.
“How many more bags are there?” I asked Tabitha, wondering if I should call Dristan for help, but she shook her head.
“None. We’re all set,” she said with a nod toward the trunk. “That’s everything.”
“Everything for now. We can come back for everything else—”
“No,” she shook her head, frowning. “That’s everything .”
My eyebrows swept up and I looked from the paltry number of bags to the females that were standing nearby. “ Everything ?” I asked, just to confirm.
“We don’t need furniture or anything, do we?” Tasia asked, looking from me to Zara.
“No, of course not. But this isn’t very much,” I said in a slow voice, trying to understand what was happening. The wash of embarrassment over their faces and the way the females avoided my eyes told me I’d put my big foot into my mouth.
“But that’s fine,” I tried to fix it by saying. “We can always get more stuff when we get home.”
I closed the trunk and opened the door for my mate.
“Tabitha doesn’t have a car, so she’ll come with us,” she told me, and I nodded, opening the back door for the female.
She smiled at me, patting my chest as she took her seat. I settled my mate into her seat next, buckling her in and ensuring that she was safe before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. When I tried to pull away, she didn’t let me, and I stayed, absorbing the feel of her soft mouth moving against mine.
“Thank you for this,” she whispered, and I nodded, tucking her curls behind her ear before closing her door and looking at the others.
Tasia was struggling to get Gabbi buckled into her car seat, but the girl was too busy trying to escape, her gaze locked on me. “Mama, no . I want to ride with him .”
“Gabbi, I swear to the Goddess Mother,” Tasia hissed, attempting to wrestle the little girl into submission. “If you don’t stay still .”
I made my way over toward her and Gabbi’s eyes widened with glee. She held her hands out toward me as if I was there to save her and my heart melted for the tiny female.
“You’re going to protect us,” Gabbi announced with a firm nod, but Tasia was able to get the belt buckled when she went still.
“I will,” I told her, crouching next to her. “And you have to promise to stay safe until then. That means staying in your car seat. Alright?”
She looked up at me, nodding with a seriousness that told me she was listening to every word. “Alright,” she repeated, holding both thumbs up to me.
I looked over at Tasia who heaved out a sigh, swiping the back of her palm over her forehead. I was beginning to realize why the female had taken on the job of hunting Rok. She didn’t seem vindictive.
It was looking more and more like she’d done it to take care of this little one. I couldn’t fault her for that. Still, I wasn’t willing to give out my full trust until I knew more.
“You can follow me if you’d like, or you can put the address in the GPS. It’ll take you to the building and there’s underground parking,” I explained, making sure that the others could hear me.
“Thank you,” Tasia breathed, not looking at me. “For doing this for us. After… everything.”
I gave a small grunt, letting her know that all was not forgiven, and I turned to head back to the SUV.