Chapter 18
Big Mistake
“ H as Bradan mentioned when he’ll bring you by the pack?” Tala asks.
“No, not really. He’s been busy and I have this exam to cram for,” I reply.
“Oh, right. Sorry. I’ll leave you alone so you can focus.”
She stands and goes to sit at the table where Nika and Sienna are sitting. I note that Dom is here today. He’s the Full Moon pack alpha, I think.
I know Ace is the oldest, but I believe Dom falls in the middle. He catches me looking at him and gives a curt nod. I smile and drop my gaze back to my textbook.
A week has gone by since I’ve been with Bradan while living in the clubhouse. Life has been busy and lively around here. I’ve met so many different types of supers and they’ve all welcomed me in, but I still hide behind Bradan most of the time because that’s where I’m most comfortable.
However, I find outside of him I’m most relaxed around the wolves. There’s just something that feels like we have a connection when I’m around them. Since Billy works and Ray naps a lot, I spend a lot of time with the she-wolves. Especially Tala, Sienna, and Nika.
I’ve met a few others who have been kind, but the girls are starting to feel like friends. Which is why I’m hiding out over here. Bradan mentioned something about them becoming my court.
That went over my head. I’m still learning my role here as Bradan’s mate … old lady … girlfriend … queen, whatever I am. Most days, Bradan has to take care of club business when he’s not babysitting me at school.
That’s when I end up here, hiding in the corner of the werewolf section with my laptop and books. I believe the wolves have gotten used to having me here. Some are even protective of me when they notice my presence.
Like now, one of the fire fairies has been glaring at me. I know he’s a fire fairy from the tattoo-like fire vines wrapping around his arms. A few of the wolves have started to snarl and surround me defensively. I sit up straighter and close my book to set it aside.
Something within me begins to pulse. I stand and begin to glare back. Dom moves to stand before shielding me with his body.
“Stay behind me, Taylor. Bradan is on his way,” he says.
“You called for him?”
“I did, My Queen. I noticed the energy coming off that one a while ago. We can smell his hatred and anger.”
Suddenly, Bradan appears and grabs the fairy by his throat. My mouth falls open in awe. It’s as if embers of fire are floating away from Bradan, and his hair is floating in the air, looking more like flames than strands of hair.
Fear fills the fairy’s eyes as he looks back at Bradan and trembles. He says something in reply to whatever Bradan hissed at him. The response only causes Bradan to rumble with a loud, fierce growl.
I’m not able to hear the words of their conversation. I’m barely able to see with Dom’s huge frame blocking my view. Before Bradan can crush the fairy’s windpipe, Dagger appears and takes the fairy in his hold before they both disappear into thin air.
Bradan turns, his gaze searching wildly. The wolves begin to settle and quiet down. Dom steps aside so I come into view.
Wordlessly, Bradan holds his hand out to me. I move to him quickly. When I reach him, he pulls me into his arms and holds me close. Kissing the top of my head, he squeezes tighter.
“Are you done with your studies? Want to get out of here?”
“I can take a break. What was that about?”
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“Just let me get my book and notes,” I say and go to turn.
He grabs my wrist before I can take a step away. I look back at him and he already has my things in his hand. I laugh at myself.
“Oh, right,” I breathe.
Some of the anger clears from his face and he gives a quick laugh. He looks over my head and gives a nod. I look back and find Dom surrounded by Tala, Sienna, and Nika. Dom stands with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes glazed over.
I’ve learned that look is one some get when they’re mind-linking. Bradan places his hand on my back and turns me so we can leave. That pulsing feeling has gone away, but there’s a warm feeling in my belly.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I want to show you something. I’m going to take you somewhere for some fun and give you a little lesson while we’re at it. I think it’s time.”
“Oh, you mean more training?”
I don’t know why I’m so disappointed. I thought he wanted to take me on a date. I should have known a biker like him wouldn’t want to go on some date with me.
Not the kind of romantic, mushy stuff I’ve been dreaming of. Some fairy tales are just that, fairy tales. I can’t fault Bradan for my overactive imagination and unrealistic hopes.
“What makes you think I can’t give you romance, my little mate?”
I look up at him with my mouth open. Sometimes, I forget he can listen to my thoughts. He gives me a wink and palms my ass as we make our way down to the garage.
“Training isn’t exactly romantic.”
“You’ve never trained with me. I will give you romance and more, baby girl.”
“I have to see this.”
He gives my butt a squeeze. “Are you challenging me?”
“Never, My King.”
“Not challenging, but definitely mocking. You’re playing with fire, Taylor. You feel me?”
“I know. Sort of hoping to get burned.”
He chuckles and shakes his head as we make it to his bike down in the garage. I give him a smile as he grabs the helmet to place on my head. I grab his wrist before he can place it on my head.
“Will you teach me how to ride one day?”
He gives a snort. “I thought I already did.”
“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“In that case. Yes, I will.”
He places my helmet on and climbs onto the bike. Holding out his hand, he helps me to climb on behind him. Once settled, I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight.
In no time, we’re racing out of the garage. However, we don’t surface on the street level. We remain underground. The walls around us seem to pulse with magic. The ground beneath us is extra smooth, allowing the bike to glide effortlessly.
I have so many questions. We’ve always ridden through the tunnel and come out on the street. Usually, Bradan rides through much faster than this.
“We are not going to the main street. When the humans started to build the sewer systems, we decided to build our tunnels about twenty feet below theirs.
“That way, they would never find them during their construction. We didn’t want them to disturb the magic we used to glamour our world or the protection barriers we set up to block out unwanted supers.”
“That makes sense,” I say back through our bond link.
“I’m taking you to my secret place. Sometimes, I need someplace to cool off. My brothers and I need to lock our power away so it doesn’t draw certain others to us.”
“How do you lock it away?”
“Have you ever wondered why I have so many piercings?”
“Well, to be honest, not really. I think they’re hot on you.”
He laughs in my head. “Well, they’re not just for decoration. The iron in the piercings locks our powers in. In my anger, it’s best if I release some steam. Kendrick has always been overly cautious.
“He would prefer I not release my powers and risk being discovered. My hot nature isn’t built for that. If I don’t release, then it causes a meltdown. So I built a place just for me. Someplace I can stretch to my full strength.”
“Bradan, are you telling me you’re more powerful than I’ve seen and felt?”
“A whole lot, baby. A whole fucking lot.”
Bradan
I have a smile on my face as I ride with Taylor on the back of my bike. I’m taking her someplace special. My little one thinks I can’t be romantic.
I’m going to prove to her she’s wrong. This will be a first date she will never forget. I’m more than capable of the romance I see she longs for.
I’ve just never had anyone I wanted to prove this fact to. At first, I had wanted to get away from the clubhouse before I started killing shit. Cole almost caused me to take his life.
He has always followed Seraphina around like a little puppy. I’ve known for quite some time that he’s in love with her. However, she would never entertain him because, like Dagger, Cole is a half-breed.
Just not a half-breed with as high a pedigree as Dagger. While Dagger is of noble blood, Cole’s parents are lower-level fairies—one of which is half-human. No one would dare challenge Dagger’s status in the fairy community, demon blood or not.
The fairy king put his foot down from his son’s birth. Though the fairy realm is broken up into fairy types and classes—each having its own king, all fairies bow to King Nigel, the fairy king of all kings.
We’ve known Nigel since the beginning of the fairy realm’s creation. It’s why Dagger is the fae captain. We don’t have to worry about the light fae, dark fae wars of old. Dagger has made sure to keep the peace—in the earth realm, at least.
They all know better than to bring that drama here. This is neutral ground. The politics of the fae stays within their realm.
This is the reason I didn’t spoil Cole’s blood. He didn’t attack my mate and I can’t prove that was his intention. Which is the only reason I allowed Dagger to take him away to deal with him.
“I apologize for this, brother. I have punished him, and he will remain in the dungeon for two months. Can we call this just?” Dagger says through our mind link.
“I want his patch. If I didn’t know he was a lovesick puppy, I would exile him.”
To take his patch means taking away his access. He won’t be able to roam freely around my mate. We will take his memory of the brotherhood and the club as well. To exile him would be him being banished back to the fairy realm, never to return as well as taking his memory.
“That’s fair, brother. It will be done.”
“One more thing.”
“Name it.”
“Bind his magic for a year. I don’t want him to be able to wipe his ass without using tissue and his hand like a human. You feel me?”
“I feel you.”
Having Taylor on the back of my bike, wrapped around me has given me time to calm down. If I would have stayed at the clubhouse, I wouldn’t have been able to restrain my anger. Seraphina earned her punishment. Cole is just a young idiot with a crush.
Let this be his lesson. When I exile Seraphina, he can go with her if he likes. I will handle Seraphina.
For now, I’ve been patient because my brother has had a lot on his plate. As long as Seraphina is rotting in a cell, I will reel it in. Once we get things under control and settle the supers then I’ll address that crazy bitch and her disrespect.