Chapter 33
Chapter
Thirty-Three
ZANDER
“Which part?” I asked, taking a seat.
Dad considered that for a moment. “Why is he so determined to get to Reid?”
I inhaled slowly and deeply to calm my riled bear. Even the thought of our vulnerable mate in that man’s possession made me want to carve his innards out. “My guess is that it’s because his coven used to use Reid as a magical battery.”
Dad’s breath hitched. “Excuse me?”
I nodded grimly. “He has a lot of magic. Nathaniel told me as much. Apparently, when he was born, Hephaestes was threatened by him so he allowed the coven members to drain his magic as they pleased—provided none of them took more than him, of course.”
Dad’s thick fingers drummed on the desk and his claws curled from the ends. As if sensing his mood, Momma walked in and went straight over to him. She sat on his lap and he wrapped his arms around her. As usual, her presence steadied him.
My heart ached. I wanted to have a relationship like theirs so much. Hopefully, one day, Reid would be ready for that. The baby steps we were taking gave me hope.
“His parents didn’t stop this mistreatment?” Dad growled.
“No,” I confirmed. “They’re both loyal to the High Priest and put his orders above Reid’s well-being. According to Reid, he paid them off as well.”
“That isn’t right,” Momma said, shaking her head. “The poor boy. No wonder he’s as he is. Even before he was kidnapped, no one took proper care of him.”
Her steely tone told me that she was determined to rectify the situation and be the kind of mother Reid had never had. I wished her luck. Perhaps, being an omega and a woman, she’d be able to get through to him more easily than I could.
My phone vibrated and I checked it. “Nathaniel says he’s out of town.”
We all relaxed a little. I doubted we’d seen the end of him, but at least for now, Reid was secure.
“Get back to your mate,” Momma urged. “He’ll need you.”
I dipped my head in acknowledgement and took my leave. The drive to the bakery seemed to take forever because I was so eager to lay eyes on Reid again. I trusted my brothers to watch over him, but I wouldn’t rest easy until I saw him myself.
The front of the bakery was as busy as usual. I nodded to Skye, who was behind the counter, and pointed to the door through to the kitchen. She sent me a thumbs-up while taking an order and I let myself through. Everett stood just inside and he moved to let me pass.
As soon as I saw Reid, my stomach plummeted. He was pressed into the corner of the room, his knees drawn up to his chest, his chin resting on them. Danny hovered over him, fidgeting and obviously unsure what to do. Knox was guarding the outer door and looked just as lost as Danny.
Reid was breathing in a strange, slow rhythm and staring blankly into space.
He was shivering even though the ovens kept the kitchen warm, and he was twisting something around and around with one of his hands.
When I dropped to my knees in front of him, I could just make out the shape of the black necklace I’d given him.
“No one will make you go back,” Danny murmured, awkwardly rubbing Reid’s back. He met my gaze and relief flooded his eyes. “Not you or your baby. I promise. Thank Gods you’re here. He’s been like this since just after he arrived. He said he felt the High Priest’s magic touch him or something.”
My chest tightened. “He’s not in Grizzly Ridge anymore.” When Reid didn’t respond, I debated whether to touch him but I didn’t want to frighten him more. “Reid?”
He just kept breathing.
I closed my eyes and focused on the invisible tether between us. Even though we hadn’t bonded, the connection was still there and I plucked on it like a guitar string. His eyes lifted to mine immediately.
“What if he wants both of us?” he asked, his eyes wide and despairing. “I can’t let anyone use my baby the same way they did to me. I can’t.”
“We won’t,” I promised, my chest aching. “Hephaestes is gone. One of my deputies followed him out of town and Nathaniel confirmed it. He isn’t here anymore.”
Reid unwound and threw himself at me. I caught him, my knees protesting as my weight rocked backward onto them. His arms circled around my neck and he clung to me, plastered to my body, shaking from head to toe.
“Shh.” I buried my face in the side of his neck and inhaled his scent. “Shh, sweetheart. I’ve got you—both of you. It’s all okay.”
I met Knox’s eyes and he, Danny, and Everett slipped out of the kitchen, leaving us alone. Carefully, I shifted position until I was sitting on the floor and Reid was cuddled on my lap. I kissed the top of his head and murmured sweet words, encouraging him to relax.
His tremors eased gradually, and when they finally stopped altogether, he let me go and rested his cheek on my chest, drawing comfort from me without clinging so urgently.
Progress.
When he’d calmed more fully, Everett escorted us back to the Omega House. Nathaniel had already been by and added to the wards. Apparently, he’d warded the Children’s Home too.
I waited outside with Danny while Hamish gathered the omegas in the living room and Everett checked through the rest of the house to make sure there were no signs of trouble.
He confirmed that the place was clear and I walked Reid to the door.
Hamish met us and wrapped a protective arm around Reid’s shoulder.
My mate still wasn’t his usual self and I was tempted to ask him to get back in the car and come home with me, but he’d chosen to live here and I had to respect his wishes.
“Call if you need me,” I told him.
As I started to walk away, he reached for me, grasping my shirt. He tugged me closer and I went willingly, dipping my head as he stretched onto his toes and—as my heart slammed against my ribs—brushed the softest of kisses over my lips.
“Thank you,” he said. “Be careful, okay? Hephaestes is dangerous.”
“I will.” I cupped his face and kissed his nose. “And I mean it. Call for anything, okay?”
He nodded. With difficulty, I left him and got back into the car.
Everett and I returned to the police station but later that evening, I found myself parked outside the Omega House once again, all senses on alert in order to protect my mate.