Chapter 36
Death Wish
“ I t isn’t possible for her to keep eluding me. How is this happening? This shit is starting to piss me off,” I snarl as Taylor and I return to the clubhouse.
Every time we get a lead or locate Seraphina, she’s been one step ahead of us. How? I have no fucking clue, but it’s grating on my nerves.
It’s been two weeks and it’s like this bitch is taunting me. I don’t know what’s grinding my nerves more. Not being able to sift out my source stone or finding Seraphina repeatedly, only for her to elude me at every turn.
It shouldn’t be this hard to track down a single little fairy. When I get my hands on her, I’m going to wring her neck for all the trouble she’s caused.
“There’s no fucking way she’s doing this on her own,” I continue to seethe.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think the gods were helping her. However, when we do get to the locations she’s been, there are traces of magic. Powerful, yes, but not as strong as one of the gods.
Although, I have detected something unusual about it. I feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions with no real solutions to anything that I need to resolve. This is challenging for me as the VP. I’m used to getting shit done.
Kendrick relies on me to handle shit swiftly and quickly. I’m not going to turn into an incompetent pussy now that I have a mate. All this bullshit needs to be resolved before I lose my shit and set everything on fire.
“Maybe it’s time to regroup. We’ve been chasing her. Why not sit back and allow her to come to us? Let’s focus our attention on your stone. Make it look like we’re not as focused on her.
“They say the best way to piss someone off is to ignore them. If she thinks we don’t care, she’ll get bold and come to us. Besides, I have a ton to do to get ready for my graduation,” Taylor says.
That’s not a bad idea. Thinking that I’ve brushed her off or don’t care to find her will infuriate Seraphina. That’s sure to drive her to come out of hiding. Hopefully she will bring her help with her.
I want to know who has the audacity to aid her in all of this. I know it’s not Cole, although he escaped with her. His life force has been nonexistent for weeks.
Since he was a fairy, we’ll never have confirmation of a body, but he’s gone. That much I know for sure. Seraphina probably sacrificed him for her freedom. I wouldn’t put it past the bitch.
“Hey, brother, I was hoping I could talk to you,” Raja says as he appears before me in a puff of smoke.
I sigh. I’m not in the mood for this right now, but I can’t neglect my duties as VP. The djinns are still having issues from what I know.
“I’ll be upstairs making some calls and taking care of graduation stuff,” Taylor says from beside me.
“Forgive me. I am Raja, captain of the djinns. It is an honor to finally be in your presence, My Queen. If you ever need anything, your wish is our command. We will grant you anything you desire.
“As Bradan’s mate, you have no limit to your requests. Three doesn’t apply to you.”
“Oh, thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Raja. Djinn, you’re a genie, right?”
“Yes, we are known as djinn, jinn or the infamous genies.”
“That’s so awesome. I can’t wait to get to know more about you. I will keep your words in mind,” Taylor says.
My heart swells with pride as I notice she’s not hiding behind me and she’s not shying away from Raja. My mate has been coming out of her shell and comfort zone more and more lately. She’s glowing with confidence.
Raja bows with his fist over his heart. Ignoring him, I tug Taylor into me by the back of her neck and kiss her passionately. When I release her, she stands looking up at me, dazed and breathless.
“I will see you when I’m done. Tala and Sienna are waiting outside our room for you,” I say.
“I can’t wait until I can speak to everyone for myself,” she breathes and rolls her eyes.
I squeeze her ass and give it a little pat. I will be more comfortable once the sisters are brought into the community link as well. It hasn’t happened yet because of all the craziness going on. Ardan is in Japan with Billy and this place is on lockdown—not the greatest time for a ceremony.
“I can take you to them first.”
“No, I’m fine. See you in a bit,” she says.
I grin to myself as I watch her flash away. She’s not a skilled teleporter yet, but it will come. That requires a lot of energy and focus.
“She is lovely. Such a kind spirit to be of fire folk,” Raja says.
I grunt. How could I forget he was here? Wanting to get back to my woman, I turn my attention to him to find out what’s going on.
“What do you need, brother?”
“I have it on good authority that some of my djinn brethren have been seen speaking with outsiders.”
“Why haven’t you dealt with it? Why are you bringing this to me?”
“Because I believe you should know who they’ve been seen with. Something isn’t right, brother. This is not our way. There is something bigger going on here. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that all the trouble started around the same time all your mates appeared. We are fire folk, so we report directly to you. However, your brother’s mate keeps coming to my attention,” he says.
“Who? Billy?”
“No, Reilly’s mate. Lee, is it?”
I snort. “Motherfuckers have a big death wish. Come, let’s go to my office. You can give me all the details once we’re there. I think it’s time I come to your territory for a tribunal. Seems I need to set an example.”
Taylor
I sit on the bed as Nika brushes my hair up into a ponytail. She and Arcadia were waiting with Sienna and Tala when I arrived upstairs. The other three have been in the bathroom doing something as we’ve been out here talking.
“You make a great queen. I can see your concern for Bradan,” Nika says.
“He’s my mate. I hate seeing him with so much on his shoulders. I wish there was more I could do,” I reply.
“I think he only wants to see you safe and happy. You shouldn’t worry so much about him. It will all work out. Bree has told me as much.”
“Right, your sister is the fortune-teller. Do you think she could help with finding Seraphina or … um, something else that might have been lost?”
I don’t want to mention the stone after all that Bradan told me. I wouldn’t want to call attention to the fact that it is real and currently missing. However, I do wish there were a way for me to ease Bradan’s worries.
If Bree could lead us to either the stone or Seraphina, that would be awesome. That would be one less burden he would have to deal with. I’m hopeful for the first time in weeks.
“I wish she could. She doesn’t do well with seeing through magic. This is all outside of her reach. Believe me, I’ve already asked.”
“Oh,” I say, feeling a little disappointed.
“Your bath is ready,” Arcadia says as she steps out of the bathroom.
I look up at her in confusion. I didn’t ask for them to run me a bath. Is that what they’ve been doing in there?
Seeming to read the confusion on my face, Arcadia smiles and moves closer to where we’re sitting. She perches on the edge of the bed. Sienna and Tala come out of the bathroom with smiles on their faces. The two are dressed in swimsuits, which I find odd.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Do you remember watching any movies with the VP recently?” Sienna asks.
I burst into laughter. “He did not ask you all to bathe me like Akeem from Coming to America .”
Arcadia produces a little sachet and begins to sprinkle rose petals onto the floor, proving my suspicions. I continue to laugh as I shake my head. We did watch the movie and I remember thinking that I would love to be pampered like that. I guess having a boyfriend who can hear and see your thoughts does have its benefits.
“Our king’s wish is our command. Come, he gave us specific instructions. You are to relax and allow us to pamper you.”
I turn to look at Nika. “Is this why you’ve been brushing my hair?”
“We were all given a task to do. You are loved, Taylor. Bradan only wants to prove that to you,” she replies.
Curious as to what they’ve been up to in the bathroom and what Bradan’s instructions were, I jump up off the bed. Arcadia and Sienna continue to drop rose petals on the floor as I follow them and pad to the bathroom.
My breath is taken away as I walk into the transformed bathroom. When I say transformed, I mean the place looks like it’s been demolished and remodeled into a dream bathroom, not the basic bachelor bathroom that was here since my first time here at the clubhouse.
“Wow,” I breathe as I look around at the space.
It’s gorgeous. From the sunken tub, the glass tiles on the walls and the new countertop with double sinks. It’s like Bradan pulled a page from a luxury magazine.
“How long has he been planning this? When was this all done?”
Nika snickers. “From the time you two walked back into the clubhouse today. He told us you were back, and we were to meet you here in the room. You are mated to a demigod. This was nothing for him to do.”
“I wish I had your luck,” Tala says.
“This is awesome, but you guys aren’t really going to get in there with me to bathe me, are you?” I say with a raised brow.
“That’s the plan,” Sienna says, placing her hands on her hips. “You’re not about to get me in trouble with my alpha or your mate.”
I laugh. “I promise not to get you in trouble, but you guys really don’t have to get in there with me.”
“It is an honor to be chosen to serve you. Please don’t take that from us. We’ve been given a task. Allow us to honor our packs and be able to tell our pups of the time when we got to serve the queen of the might King Bradan.”
“When you put it that way, how can I refuse,” I say with a small laugh.
They help me to get out of my sweats and then help me to step down into the bath. The water temperature is perfect. Not too warm, not too cool.
I sink down into the water and sigh. Tension I hadn’t even noticed I was holding floats from my body. The ladies begin to wash my legs and arms with warm, fluffy sponges as I sit on the little bench seat beneath the water.
In this moment I feel like a true queen. I can’t help but wonder what makes the packs so loyal to Bradan. Fighting for someone is one thing. Being willing to bathe their mate is another.
“What makes the packs so fiercely loyal to Bradan? I mean, you guys see him like family. I can’t help but get the feeling that you all see him in as high regard as you do your alphas,” I say after a long stretch of silence.
“We do. If not higher,” Sienna says. “I have known him since I was a pup and he’s been a fixture in the pack for as long as I’ve been alive.”
“Longer than that,” Arcadia says. “According to the myths and stories of our people. We wolves were supposed to be fire folk, but something went wrong during the ceremony as some ancient war between the gods broke out.”
Nika then begins to speak. “The stories say the moon goddess was the equivalent of what humans would call a godmother to Bradan. Our people were her gift to him. They were meant to be his companions and friends. We were never given the full gift of fire, although we run hot. Something happened that kept the moon goddess from completing her gift and making us whole.”
“Instead, a fire wolf comes along every thousand years to walk the earth in search of Bradan and to bless the pack the moon goddess finds favor with,” Tala adds.
“My grandmother says only once has a fire wolf found him and walked by his side, but we as a pack have had the honor to know him, serve him, and befriend him,” Arcadia says.
“Yup, as loyal as dogs,” Nika teases.
“I get the feeling the sentiment is mutual,” I say with a smile.
“That is our cue. We hope you were able to relax,” Nika says.
“Huh?”
Without another word, they all begin to file out of the bathroom. I’m left sitting in the cooling water, looking around, confused. It is when the water begins to turn warm once again that I understand their departure.
Suddenly, Bradan rises from the water. His big body comes into view as water cascades down his huge frame. I lick my lips as I watch him push his wet hair from his face as he grins back at me.
A huge smile comes to my lips as I watch him move through the water, heading straight for me. I don’t think I will ever not be in awe of this being. He moves with so much fluidity and power.
When he stops before me, I move to place my hands on his waist and look up at him. He places his palm on my cheek and looks back at me lovingly. I can’t help but turn my face and kiss his palm.
“I’ve missed you. I didn’t think you would be here so soon. Is everything all right?” I ask.
“Everything is calm for the night. It has all been handled. For now, there is nothing that can’t wait until after I’ve spent the night worshiping my mate.”
I keep my eyes on his as I run my palms up his chest. He leans into me and dips his head until we’re face to face. I can feel his warmth surrounding me.
“This was so sweet of you,” I purr against his lips before he crushes mine with his.
He lifts me onto his waist as he deepens the kiss. I moan into his mouth as he thrusts into me. Throwing my head back, I savor the feel of him inside me.
We call each other’s names in unison as we continue to give and take. The passion that oozes from him makes my toes curl beneath the water as he claws his fingers down my back. I cup his face as I suck on his lower lip and bounce on him hard as I use my legs and hips to take over.
“Yes, baby girl. Fuck me just like that,” he rumbles into my ear. “I love you, Taylor.”
“God, yes, I love you too, Bradan. You feel so fucking amazing.”
I didn’t know our lovemaking could get any more intense. However, this has me seeing stars and I haven’t reached the height of my orgasm yet.