Chapter 12 #3
She didn’t have a shifter’s senses, but she didn’t need them to feel the crackle of danger and destiny in the air.
The airport around her faded, the cold and the wind and the echo of her friends’ footsteps all receding until there was only this: the man with eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
Not just in the predatory, assessing way she expected—but with a glimmer of something else.
Something that looked a lot like relief.
Or gratitude. He was tall—of course he was tall—and broad-shouldered, dressed in black that managed to look both intimidating and annoyingly effortless.
His hair was a shade too dark to be called brown, his eyes sharp and unreadable, and his mouth curled in a half-smirk that said he found all of this vastly entertaining.
Morgan’s first thought was: Oh, Verion’s description didn’t do him justice. Her second was: Well, at least I won’t be bored. Because who could be bored with a man who looked like that?
Her pulse quickened. She wondered if he could hear it, if it sounded as loud to his shifter ears as it did to her.
Verion had described Sebastian as “the kind of male who’d walk through fire and never flinch, but might stumble over a kind word.
” Now, seeing him in the flesh—tension in every line of his body, jaw set with the effort of holding himself back—she understood exactly what that meant.
The mate pull was there, a subtle thrum in her bones. Not overwhelming, just undeniable—a magnetic thread tugging her toward him. She was grateful for the steadiness of it. There was enough chaos inside her already.
He moved with the kind of predatory grace that sent a ripple through every primal part of Morgan’s soul. He didn’t hurry. He didn’t need to. The world bent around him, and she imagined every eye—human and shifter alike—would slide away rather than meet his gaze.
He stopped a few feet in front of her, eyes scanning briefly over Nico and the others before landing on Morgan.
She felt the weight of that look—cool, assessing, and then, unexpectedly, warm.
There was a flicker of something like relief in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth softened just enough to be dangerous.
He’d stopped a few feet away, and the shaman group fell back, giving them space. Morgan drew a slow breath, letting the cold steady her, remembering what Verion had told her: “Damarian males are attracted to strength and confidence. Remember, this union between you two is no accident.”
She lifted her chin, meeting Sebastian’s gaze. “Home,” she said, voice calm, “isn’t a place. Although, you’re big enough to have your own zip code.” There was a cough of laughter but she ignored it, her attention too caught up by the massive man before her.
He huffed a soft laugh—surprised, maybe, or just relieved to have something to anchor himself to. “I can agree with you on both counts. I’ve lived in my house for a very long time, but it has never felt like home. Not yet.”
Her breath caught at his words and the soft tone in which he spoke, something she had a feeling he didn’t use often.
“Maybe we can change that.” Holy crap, who am I?
Morgan silently asked herself. She’d always been pretty bold and outspoken, but she’d just met this man, a supernatural man, and she’d just insinuated that she’d help him make his house a home because they were mates.
Mates, she whispered into her mind. Not boyfriend and girlfriend, not husband and wife; mates.
His mouth twitched—half smile, half warning. “I’ll take you up on that, and hold you to it.”
She shrugged, some of her nerves easing with the familiar back-and-forth banter she was good at. “It’s a good thing I’m a woman of my word.”
Morgan heard Nico clear his throat. “Sebastian, as agreed, Morgan is here by shaman law. She’s in your care now. I trust you’ll—”
Sebastian held up a hand, never taking his eyes off Morgan. “I know the law, Nico. I also know how to keep what’s mine safe.”
Something in the possessive tone made Morgan’s cheeks heat, but she held her ground. “I can handle myself, you know.”
Sebastian’s smile was pure challenge. “I’m counting on it.” He glanced to where Nico and the others still hovered, protective and reluctant to leave. “They care about you.”
She followed his gaze. “We’ve been through some things. Trials tend to bond people.”
“True,” he agreed.
The airport lights flickered as Morgan and her friends said their goodbyes—Akira fierce, Miryam teary, Raphael pretending to be indifferent, and Nico offering her a last, measured look full of his usual mischief and maybe a little concern.
Morgan squeezed Akira’s hand and hugged Miryam tight, forcing a smile. “I’ll text. I promise.” She nodded at Raphael. “Be good to her. If you’re not, I know a good hitman.”
Raphael bowed his head to her in an old world gentleman way as he said, “Noted.”
Finally, Nico stepped forward, his voice low. “I am sorry that this was the way you were introduced to our race. But, I am glad that you were willing to stay. Whatever happens, you’re not alone anymore. Remember that.”
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. For a crazy dude, he was oddly endearing. The group turned and headed back towards the plane, Miryam and Akira both turning a couple of times to look back at her.
And then it was just her and Sebastian. She drew herself up, not out of bravado but because she owed it to herself. She wasn’t a shifter, at least not yet, but she was his equal—her soul said so, even if her body was all human fragility.
He offered his hand, palm up. Not a demand—an invitation.
She hesitated, then placed her hand in his. Heat leapt up her arm, and she knew it was the mate bond sparking to life, steady and strong. What else could it be? She felt like she’d been holding her breath for years, and now—finally—she could exhale.
He squeezed her hand, gentle but sure. “Ready?”
She nodded, letting a small, genuine smile slip through. “As I’ll ever be.”
And together, they left the empty tarmac behind—two souls, one fate, stepping into the unknown.
Was she scared? Absolutely. But did she feel like she was making a mistake?
Morgan could honestly say from the deepest part of her gut that for the first time in her life, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Nico slumped into his seat on the plane, the hum of the engines a pale backdrop to the static in his mind.
Raphael had already buckled in. His posture was stiff and his eyes kept cutting to Miryam, only to then quickly look away.
Akira and Miryam sat together, heads bent in whispered conversation, each glance back toward the jetway no doubt asking silent questions—would they ever see Morgan again?
What did the future hold for either of them?
Nico’s chest tightened. He’d done his duty.
Morgan was with her mate, by shaman law.
He’d delivered her safely, even if “safe” was a relative term where Sebastian was concerned.
He should have felt relief. Instead, he felt the weight of a dozen choices pressing down on his shoulders, heavy as stone.
He needed to talk to Akira. There was so much to say.
He didn’t even really know how she felt about him, the tattoo and bond between them.
Hell, he didn’t even know how he felt. Everything was happening so fast. But as much as he wanted to talk to her, he had other things to deal with.
As far as he knew, for the moment, Akira wasn’t going anywhere.
And if she decided she wanted to, he’d just kidnap her.
See, one problem solved. Now, onto the next.
Finally, with Morgan no longer his immediate responsibility, and his decision about Akira made, he let himself look at the unread messages—texts, voicemails, missed calls from Lyric.
It was time to find out what information she had, and how it would affect the information he and Raphael had gathered.
He put in his earbuds, pressed play, and listened as Lyric’s voice spilled into his ears—tight with urgency, threaded through with fear.
He clicked on her text messages and read through each one, but it was the last one that held his attention: Change of plans.
Can’t make it to the airport. Too risky.
I am shocked, but the evidence speaks for itself.
The king and queen of KOS cannot be permitted to stay in power. I’ll be in touch.
Nico’s jaw clenched. Athena and Aurelius? What had the royal pair done? Did it have anything to do with Azure and the animus? Did she know where Roan and Maddie were? He didn’t have a clue what he should do. Lyric said she’d be in touch, but he hadn’t gotten any more texts from her.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw movement.
Akira sat in the empty seat beside him. “You look worried,” she said, her voice soft. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
His stomach tightened as he looked over at her. The worry in her beautiful eyes nearly brought him to his knees. How long had it been since someone had been concerned for him? How long since someone had offered to help him because of that worry?
Nico fought the urge to touch her. The mate bond that was growing stronger compelled him to wrap her up and protect her. Was this what the Damarian males felt? If it was, damn, how did they get anything done?
“Nico?”
Her voice drew him from his inner thoughts and he focused on her.
“I’ve gotten some texts from the shaman from the Kingdom of Silk, and they’re concerning,” he admitted.
“She said she’d be in touch, but I haven’t heard back since her last text and that was hours ago.
She might have info on Roan and Maddie. But, I also have the evidence on Kingdom of Chaos that I need to get to the other shamans.
And Callon, Lola, Gage, Katy, and that whole crew are waiting on news.
Those girls won’t wait much longer before they take matters into their own hands. ”
Akira listened intently, her eyes never leaving his face.
Then, she took a deep breath and seemed to take her time processing the information.
“Why don’t you contact Callon and that group first?
Just tell him what you’ve told me. Let them decide for themselves what to do about Roan and Maddie.
Maybe they’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone in regards to Lyric.
Then, contact whoever you need to about the information you and Raphael gathered.
” She said it so simply, as if the path had been clear the whole time.
“You’re the calm to my chaos,” he said without thinking. The words just poured out of him. “I know we haven’t addressed the elephant in the room, not because I haven’t wanted to. I’ve left you hanging, and I apologize. It’s just, I never expected you.”
Akira’s lips turned up, a gentle smile gracing her lovely face.
“Well, that goes both ways. I certainly never expected to be, um, well, mated to a supernatural being. And you’re right, we have a lot to talk about.
But now isn’t the time. There are people depending on you.
I’m not going anywhere.” She placed her hand on his arm, her skin was soft as silk.
Nico chuckled. “It’s a good thing. I kind of decided I would kidnap you if you tried to leave.”
“Crazy bastard,” Raphael muttered from where he sat.
Akira’s eyes widened, but then she smirked. Nico didn’t know what she saw, but apparently she didn’t think he was crazy. “There’s no need for such drastic measures. Make your phone calls. I’m going to try and get some sleep. When I wake up, I expect you to feed me and Miryam, and have a plan.”
“Bossy.” Nico ran a finger down her jawline. “I like it.”
She didn’t roll her eyes, or act bashful. She simply stood, pointed to his phone, “Make the calls.” And then went back to the seat beside Miryam.
Nico was still grinning when his phone indicated he’d gotten another text.
Lyric: Here’s the evidence. They have Roan and Maddie. Take this information to the council. Athena knows I know, so I’ve got to make myself scarce. I’ll be radio silent for a while. Do what needs to be done, Nico. They must be stopped.
Nico flipped through the images she’d sent, pictures of a ledger that had similar information to what he’d found in Wolfgang's office. Lyric was right. This would sink Athena and Aurelius. Their reign, just like Wolfgang’s and Tallula’s, had come to an end.
But, if they were anything like the Kingdom of Chaos royals, they wouldn’t go quietly.
Not only had they been working with Azure, but they’d captured a shaman and a human female.
The prime of Kingdom of Claws would not let the offense go unpunished.
This wouldn’t just be a war, this would be a bloodbath.
He pulled up Callon’s info and added Gage to the message, then fired off what he knew.
When it was sent, he set the phone down in his lap and let out a slow breath.
With two shamans missing, because who the hell knew where Lyric disappeared to, and two kingdoms corrupt, Nico didn’t know who to trust. He wasn’t about to talk to any other shaman until he’d spoken with Callon and Gage.
He called the pilot and let him know to head to the Kingdom of Fangs.
It was time to see the others face to face and make a plan.
There was nothing he could do now except sit in the airplane and think of the hell that was soon to break loose.