Chapter 8 Anaya
ANAYA
My phone buzzes before dawn.
Just one vibration, the kind a seer uses when she doesn’t want my mate to know she’s contacting me. Isabella made me promise her tone stays silent with the single buzz as her marker. She’s a sneaky one. To me, at least.
While everyone thinks of her as the responsible one—the glue in the family—I see her true form. My sister-in-law is a spirited witch with a halo of gold and streaks of chaos. She does things her way. Unapologetically her.
Turning my head toward Leo’s pillow, I find it empty just as the shower starts in the bathroom.
He’s up earlier than normal, heading toward the training fields today to run drills with his general.
That leaves me with just a few hours to get everything for tonight set in motion, which means if Isabella is texting this early, she saw something.
As I finish that thought, I receive another short buzz.
Tonight is All Hallows’ Eve ~ Isa
The night when mates remember the hunger that bound them. ~Isa
I smile into my pillow. Of course, she knows I wasn’t planning anything innocent.
Is this a warning to abort all plans or…? Anaya
Three dots appear as I hear my mate hum an old tune, singing a line or two here and there.
Take the obsidian rune. Let him feel the absence and burn for you. ~Isa
A pleasant shiver rolls down my spine then. Part mischief, part anticipation—he’s going to be furious in the most delicious way. Maybe I’ll earn myself a spanking…
Oh, and hide his favorite shirt. That one is a personal favor. ~Isa
Giggles slip from me, and I have to bite the pillow to smother them. She always did know how to light a fuse and walk away. Leonardo loves that old, threadbare thing with your brain on drugs and frying an egg motif. It’s vintage, according to him, but to everyone else, that thing is hideous.
I just haven’t had the heart to tell him so.
Done. But you’re encouraging bad behavior, Mrs. Evergreen. ~Anaya
Her response comes in quickly and in short text form. Three of them.
I’m encouraging devotion. ~Isa
And honoring new blood. ~Isa
Beneath the next full moon, let him hunt you. ~Isa
New blood? Hunt me?
The latter promises something wickedly fun, while the mention of new blood brings a flutter of butterflies to my stomach. I touch the area and find myself smiling. Could she mean…?
Oh, and wear a short, lavender dress. Something he can tear off when he forgets he’s a king... ~Isa
My earlier thoughts are pushed back as the flutter turns into heat.
Slow and unfurling, my thighs squeeze tight when I hear the water turn off and the sink start.
I can hear him passing the electric razor over his jaw, trimming his low, copper beard.
He’s gotten even sexier over the last few years, and the facial hair makes me want to bite him.
All the time. Everywhere.
What exactly do you see? ~Anaya
Because if I’m going to pull this off so I can ride my warlock, I want her blessing. Both his sisters are amazing—have welcomed me with open arms since day one—and I know they’d never leave me out to dry with an angry Wiccan king to deal with.
If anything, they protect me.
Won’t deny that getting into trouble with him is pleasurable.
Again, three dots appear. Longer pause this time, but then…
Stalking. Punishment. Praise. ~Isa
I will not look deeper; just know you are safe to proceed. ~Isa
Something I would never ask for, but this is her nudging for a little chaos. Blessing our night.
But just to be sure…I triple-check.
You’re really telling me to steal from your brother? ~Anaya
That’s called borrowing, then inviting him to reclaim. ~Isa
Seconds after, another buzz comes in.
Run because it thrills you. Because you crave his wrath as much as his worship. ~Isa
The faucet shuts off, and his footsteps shuffle closer; I swiftly put the phone down before snuggling deeper under the covers. I’m excited. My core clenches and wings want to unfurl—stretch, before taking flight, so I can burn off some of this nervous energy—but I slow down my breathing instead.
If Leo realizes I’m awake, he doesn’t call me out on it.
Maybe because he thinks I’m trying to fall back to sleep.
Instead, he walks over to the bed, leans down, presses a kiss to my forehead, and pats my ass twice.
My mate heads to the door, sweat towel in his hand, and pauses in the threshold—voice warm and warning.
“Behave, precious one.”
The door shuts, and my lips curl into a little smirk.
My king is in for a very big surprise.