Chapter 25
Iinhaled harshly. I should’ve discussed this with Raffe first, but if this person hung up, I doubted she would answer her phone if we tried calling her back once Sedona was up. She’d think we were trying to manipulate her since we couldn’t get Sedona on the phone now.
Keith, please wake her up while I delay this woman for as long as possible. I rubbed my temple, trying to hold off a cough. Dirt still clung to the back of my throat, courtesy of Sedona. I hadn’t known her for twelve hours, and she was already the biggest pain in my ass. That sure seemed fitting, with her being Keith’s fated mate.
“You expect me to believe that the abomination fated to the king’s son would help the East?” Her voice was laced with suspicion. “You weren’t offering to help last night when you blew up one of my coven member’s hands.”
“Did you really expect us to help you when you attacked us unprovoked after your daughter buried me alive and one of your coven members tried to set my mate on fire?” I hoped this was a test because, if it wasn’t, this priestess felt entitled to a level I would never understand. “Let’s make sure last night’s incidents remain clear. We were sleeping, bothering no one, when you tried to sneak up on us and attack.”
Babe, I’m not sure that helping them get their freedom is the right move. Raffe nudged my leg. I mean, Dad—
Won’t be happy with us? I arched a brow. We started a new pack because he didn’t want us to be together. This would at least get the East to stop attacking us and prevent them from aligning with the Veiled Circle. I get that you don’t want to hurt your dad, but we are in an awful situation, and the Eastern supernaturals, or even Olwyn, could attack us again soon. I’m not sure we’d survive another battle with our small numbers despite Priestess Caroline’s coven aligning with us.
He huffed. You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it like that.
Keith sat on the edge of the couch, and his hand shook as he slowly reached for Sedona and cupped her cheek. His brown irises glowed as soon as their skin touched, his wolf surging forward, likely because of the bond that wanted to be forged between them.
“We were told you were volatile and untrained,” the priestess replied, parroting the same thing Sedona had said the night before.
Some of the tension in my body released, allowing me to trust Sedona a smidgen more.
At Keith’s touch, Sedona’s eyes fluttered, and she moaned. It had to be from the buzz of their connection speaking to her soul.
“Supreme Priestess Olwyn has a way of twisting facts in her favor. The coven here helped me understand my power and how it works.” I didn’t want to tell her that my fated-mate bond with Raffe helped me handle my power better or that I hadn’t been a shifter until the past couple of weeks. She didn’t get to know everything, just the bare minimum. “I understand she’s your leader, but she hasn’t done my fated mate or my pack any favors.”
“She may be my leader, but I feel the same about her as the wolf shifters do about King Jovian. Supreme Priestess Olwyn gave us her word that if we help defeat King Jovian, we will all be free. Besides, do you think I’m foolish enough to believe that the prince hasn’t informed his father of what happened? Prince Raffe would have informed him about what was going on as soon as you all figured it out. I’m insulted that you think I would be stupid enough to fall for any of this.”
Then why is she staying on the line? Not that I was complaining. I needed Keith to get Sedona up so she could speak to her mom and vouch for how we’d helped her.
She’s doing exactly what you are—trying to get information that can help them against us. Raffe hung his head and went to the bedroom where we’d slept, shutting the door behind him. I may be healed enough to shift back into human form, and that way, if she wants to speak to me, I can talk to her.
My gut screamed that if Raffe got on the line, this conversation would be over. Her staying on the phone with me surprised me, but he’d grown up preparing to be the next king and expected to handle situations like these.
But sometimes, women didn’t want to deal with men in power, and King Jovian had proven he wasn’t willing to listen to them, especially not to a woman.
“Keith?” Sedona’s eyes cracked open, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“Yeah, hey.” He took her uninjured hand and smiled sweetly, no traces of the sarcastic, mouthy man to be found. “I’ve been worried about you all night. You were passed out when we got back here.”
“Your silence speaks volumes, my dear,” the older woman continued, and I realized I hadn’t responded. “That’s all I have to say—”
“Sedona is waking, and it distracted me.” I rushed the words, making sure she heard them.
She swallowed audibly. “If you’re messing with me—”
“I’m not.” I cleared my throat to get Sedona’s and Keith’s attention, barging into their conversation and ruining their moment. “She’s waking up. She lost a lot of blood last night from her injury.”
Sedona turned her head toward me and lifted her brows when she noted I was on her phone. She tried to sit up but moved only an inch before she groaned and lay flat.
Keith leaned over her. “Don’t get up. You need to rest.”
“Who is it?” Sedona nodded at him before glancing back at me.
“Your mother.” I bit my bottom lip, unsure of what to do. I wanted to hand her the phone, but if she wasn’t fully awake, the results could be disastrous, like her mom thinking we were tormenting her. “She called you, and I answered.”
The older woman gasped. “If she’s awake, give her the phone.”
“Do you feel like talking to her?” I lowered the phone a little from my ear and covered the mic. “It’d be great if you could.”
She nodded and released Keith so she could take the phone with her uninjured hand.
I handed it to her, unsure if this was the right decision, but not giving her the phone would only anger the East further and make them think we’d done something horrible to her. I had to trust that she and Keith were fated mates and the tug of their bond would compel her to protect him.
Keith’s foot bounced against the floor, hinting at his worry.
Raffe strutted from the bedroom door, rejoining us as Sedona placed the phone to her ear and said, “Mom?”
I couldn’t help but take in the jeans that were one size too small, clinging to every curve of his muscles and his tight ass, and the shirt was even tighter. The area between my thighs heated, and I shook my head to focus back on the threat instead of how badly I wanted to jump my mate. Now that we were in the same form, the tug to reconnect with him had my head all over the place.
His eyes glowed and met mine, and I felt his need for me mix with mine through our bond.
“Is it really you?” Sedona’s mom asked with a sob. “Please let it be. We can still feel your magic as part of us, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Why the hell did you turn back around last night?”
Raffe walked over to me and embraced me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist gently. I felt a twinge of discomfort, but nothing like when people had touched me last night. Add in the buzz of our connection, and I didn’t want out of his arms for a while.
I laid my head on Raffe’s chest, and he tucked me under his chin, allowing me to sag against him more.
“Uh, well.” Sedona’s cheeks reddened, and she averted her attention from Keith’s face to the ceiling. “I couldn’t leave. Something kept tugging me back, and then a bobcat attacked me.”
She told the rest of the story about how we’d found her and helped her. The other end of the line grew quiet. When Sedona finished, silence hung heavy over the line and in the house.
Why isn’t she saying anything? I linked with Raffe. I’d hoped that her mom would be relieved and not want to risk making us mad and taking it out on her daughter.
Most likely because it honestly doesn’t make sense. Raffe kissed the top of my head. They attacked us, so the last thing they expected us to do was heal her and let her sleep on a couch.
Well, when I was taken, they fed me and kept me in a clean room. That was the only comparison I could make.
“Mom?” Sedona adjusted the phone against her head. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” She sighed. “Just processing it all. That’s a story I didn’t expect to hear.”
You can’t compare your kidnapping with what we did for her. That damn society wanted you to join their side and turn you against me. Raffe growled faintly, his chest rumbling against my back. They were isolating you and spending time trying to make you trust them … as if they were saving you from me.
I hung my head, remembering the pictures Glinda and Warin had shown me of Raffe leading the slaughter of vampires. They’d told me that the vampires hadn’t done anything wrong, and they’d seeded enough doubt for me to question Raffe after Slade had made me think we’d escaped my captors.
Hey, I’m not upset with you. I’m pissed that they did all that shit to you, and worse, I wasn’t understanding about your experience. He kissed the top of my head. Now I just have to figure out how to keep you out of harm’s way because I’m so damn tired of you coming close to dying.
Finally, Sedona’s mother blew out a breath. “Why should I believe a word you said? What have they been feeding you?”
My heart stopped. That was something my own mother had asked me from time to time when I was out and she thought something was wrong.
What’s wrong? Raffe’s arm tightened.
It’s a test to see if she needs immediate help. Mom knew I got bullied, and if I needed her help, I would tell her I’d either eaten or wanted to eat a baloney sandwich.Because, ew, who would ever want to eat that? I shivered at the thought.
“They haven’t fed me anything.” Sedona closed her eyes and winced. “I passed out from blood loss and just woke up. There hasn’t been an opportunity to eat.”
Are you sure? Raffe held his breath.
Yes. I had no clue what their code was, but this would pretty much confirm whether her mom gathered more people to attack or didn’t feel pressured.
“You should eat peanut butter,” her mom said seriously. “It has healthy fats, and they should have plenty.”
“Mom, I’m serious. They helped me. You know I’m allergic to peanut butter.”
Well, damn. Raffe shook his head. You were right.
“Sedona.” Her mom’s voice became louder. “You’re acting like you aren’t in the least bit of danger. You almost killed Prince Raffe’s mate. He won’t let you go unpunished. You saw what the arcane-born did to Jeff.”
“One of the wolf shifters is my fated mate.” Sedona closed her eyes like she was bracing for a storm. “And you know that’s something I wouldn’t lie about. He’s the reason they didn’t hurt me, and everything Supreme Priestess Olwyn told us isn’t true.”
“What are you saying?” the older woman asked with much more hesitation.
Sedona told her everything she’d learned last night about how we weren’t part of King Jovian’s pack anymore and how the animals obeyed my commands. As she neared the end of the story, her voice began to slur again.
She needs to eat something before she passes out. I moved to get out of Raffe’s arms, but Keith leaped up and ran past the half wall that separated the kitchen from us. Cabinets opened and closed as he searched for something for her to eat.
A minute later, he rushed back with crackers, cheese, and lemonade. As he sat down, Sedona slurred, “Mom, Keith brought me something to eat. I need to go.”
“Let me talk to Raffe, then, and yes, eat.”
My chest tightened from Raffe’s surprise and determination to do what needed to be done.
Keith took the phone from Sedona and handed it to Raffe, then sat back down and held the lemonade to her mouth. He whispered, “The sugar should help you.”
She didn’t even hesitate, trusting him, and took a huge gulp.
Raffe settled back into place behind me and said, “This is Raffe, and who is this?”
“I’m Ednah, the priestess over the Atlanta area coven. Is it true you left King Jovian’s pack? Because I feel like that’s something Aldric would have told Keagan.”
“Because Aldric is so trustworthy, betraying his alpha and king the way he is.” Raffe’s hot anger swirled through our bond. “Yes, I left King Jovian’s pack. He didn’t support me being with my fated mate, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”
“Neither Aldric nor Olwyn told us that the arcane-born had become a shifter, and I do believe King Jovian would have a hard time accepting that. Dear goddess, I’m struggling to accept what my own daughter just told me. A witch and a wolf shifter? That’s unheard of.”
“We have a lot of strange pairings happening all around us, so we all understand.”
“I will give Sedona credit—she learned a lot during her time with you.” Ednah clicked her tongue. “Is what your mate offered true? Can you help us split from King Jovian?”
I regretted offering that now because I hadn’t considered the odd spot it would put Raffe in. I turned around, placing my hands on his chest.
“Yes, we will, as long as you and Keagan agree not to attack us. Olwyn is a threat to my mate, and believe me when I say she has no plans for any of you to be truly free.” Raffe glanced at me, arching a brow, and gave me a tight smile. You’re right. It’s better to make an alliance with them instead of having a whole other group wanting us dead. His warmth floated into me, easing my worry about him being mad at me.
“Are you proposing the Eastern supernaturals submit to you in order to free us from the current king?”
The walls closed in on me. I hadn’t considered how we’d free them, and I hadn’t considered the Eastern wolves submitting to Raffe as a valid option.
Jaw set, Raffe straightened. “No. I’d help Keagan get things settled, and the Eastern supernaturals could form whatever leadership they want as long as they promise to let my small pack live among you all unharmed.”
“How is that going to work with your father owning the real estate properties he’s holding over us?” She arched a brow.
“Dad owns forty-nine percent of the company shares. My grandfather left me a trust, and when I turn twenty-three—in a month—I will receive forty-nine percent of the company as well, with the remaining one percent being owned by newer startups that will want to align with me, the future of the company. So we’ll have equal stakes, with Aldric having one percent ownership on the Veiled Circle side. We can make it a stalemate, and I can offer to give Aldric control if he agrees to sell the properties in the East to Keagan. But only if you promise that my pack and my fated mate will be safe.”
My head spun. Wait. You can’t do that.
If it means you’re safe and we end the Veiled Circle and can decide our own lives, I’m all fucking for it. Raffe’s eyes glowed.
But you’ll be poor, and—
Babe, we’ll both have amazing degrees. I’m not worried about money. As long as we’re together and free, it’ll all be damn worth it. You can be a vet, and I can … well, I can do any damn thing I want, like build motorcycles and own a garage. Yeah, maybe it won’t be the future I expected, but it’ll be better because you’ll be by my side.
“I can’t make the decision on my own.” Ednah swallowed. “I need to make some phone calls. I’ll get in touch when I have something to tell you.”
“Sounds good.” Raffe nodded.
“But Raffe,” Ednah spoke loudly. “If any harm comes to my daughter, everything is off the table.”
Raffe smirked. “And if anything happens to us, the same thing goes for you and your daughter’s health. She may be fated to one of my shifters, but if you threaten us again, it won’t go unpunished. Talk soon.” He then hung up the phone.
“What the hell?” Keith stood, holding a half-empty glass and cheese. “You can’t—”
“I don’t plan on it, but man, they can’t know they have us by the balls.” Raffe pointed at Sedona and growled, “But if you try hurting my mate again, I don’t—”
She lifted her uninjured hand. “I won’t. I swear. I didn’t know all of this. None of us did. We aren’t bad people. We just want our freedom, and they didn’t paint you in the best light.” She glanced at me. “I’m sorry for almost killing you.” She winced.
Raffe’s ire increased, and my mouth went dry, making the dirt crustier to deal with. I coughed. “I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
I do, he replied to me, his arms shaking.
“Where is everyone?” In all the commotion, I realized no one had come out to join us. I sniffed the air, noticing that the only strong smells belonged to the four of us.
Keith sat back on the couch, giving the cup and cheese back to Sedona, and answered, “Caroline never came here, and Dru left a couple hours ago to find Octavia and Fane once he knew Sedona wasn’t in danger anymore. Octavia, Fane, and Lucy stayed in the house next door so they wouldn’t disturb those here who were worse off.”
My body sagged harder. I never realized that Caroline had never come home. That was how out of it I’d been.
I needed a shower and to get out of these clothes before I did anything else. “I’m going to clean up and see if there’s anything I can do to help them.”
“There’s a bathroom attached to the room we’re in. I’ll go with you to make sure you don’t fall.” Raffe took my hand and led me to the bedroom.
“Yeah, that’s what you’re going to do.” Keith snorted. “We’ll just be right here.”
“I’m okay with that,” Sedona sighed.
Raffe and I hurried to the bedroom before we all got uncomfortable.
He was right, though—Raffe and I couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
I breezed through the bedroom, noting that someone had put a pair of jeans and a lilac shirt on the bed’s light-green comforter, along with my underwear. Octavia must have grabbed some of our things while getting supplies. I arched a brow. “How did you get clothes that were too small? Not that I’m complaining.”
“She grabbed some of Fane’s by accident.” Raffe frowned and shut the door.
Some of the heat I felt for him ebbed and I froze. “You’re wearing my brother’s underwear?”
“Fuck no.” He shook his head and unfastened the jeans, dropping them down. He sprang free and hard with no barrier in between.
My breath caught, and I wanted to go to him, to kiss every inch of him and touch him all over, but I felt gross. “I need to get clean.”
He nodded. “I can take care of that.”
We entered the bathroom, where I almost cried tears of relief when I noticed a shower. I didn’t know what I’d expected. Maybe a tub? And I didn’t want to soak in my own filth. I turned on the water, and Raffe dug around in the closet to the right and removed two large towels.
I stripped off the dress and hurried into the shower, not bothering to wait for it to get warm. I allowed the cold water to drip all over me and opened my lips, taking big mouthfuls and spitting it out into the porcelain tub.
Slowly, the water warmed, and soon, I was taking gulps of water. My throat had been parched.
The pale-yellow shower curtain shifted as Raffe climbed in behind me. His eyes scanned me, and my breath caught.
Need bloomed within me as I ogled him from head to toe, every inch of him chiseled and huge—pure perfection.
He was sexy, kind, and all mine.
He murmured, “I thought I lost you last night.”
Turning toward him, I let the water run through my hair and down my body. “You didn’t, so let’s not dwell on that.” I noted some tea tree oil shampoo and reached for it when he gently grabbed my arm.
He shook his head. “Let me do it. I need to take care of you.” He paused. “Please. Sometimes, I need you to need me.”
My stomach fluttered. “Of course I need you.” I turned around, making it clear that I wanted him to clean me.
His strong fingers tangled in my hair, caressing my scalp and giving me a massage. I moaned, the sensation feeling so good and more sensual than I’d ever known. When I turned to rinse the shampoo from my head, he squirted the conditioner in one hand and took a bar of soap in the other. Turning around, he worked the conditioner into the ends of my hair while his other hand rubbed the bar of soap over my body.
After a minute, he used both hands to clean my body and placed the soap back on its shelf. I turned to rinse off, but he shook his head and connected, I’m not done yet.
His left hand cupped my breast, rubbing soap along my nipples, while the other one slipped between my legs. A knot of desperate need clenched inside me, and I leaned against the back wall of the shower, allowing the water to wash over my body. He locked eyes with mine as his thumb caressed my nipples and his fingers slid within my folds. Friction built deep within me, and I gasped as ecstasy slammed through me.
You are so fucking sexy, he linked, watching every expression on my face as he destroyed me.
After my body stopped quivering, I smiled wickedly and grabbed his dick. “My turn.”
He grinned. “Not complaining.”
I moved him around, switched spots, let him go, and grabbed the bottle of shampoo.
“Hey!” He reached to grab my wrist. “That’s not what you hinted at.”
I smacked his hand away. “I’m clean, so now you gotta be too.”
He pretended to pout but squatted so that I could reach the top of his head. Just like he’d taken care of me, I washed his hair.
When he spun around to rinse the shampoo, he linked, No conditioner. I just need my body washed. He winked, making me laugh.
I didn’t complain since this was the part I’d been looking forward to most—cleaning his body. I followed every curve of muscle and slid my hand downward to find him hard.
He shuddered as I stroked him, trying to make him feel like he’d made me feel. His hips swiveled, increasing the rhythm, and he leaned toward me, kissing me.
These were the moments that made me feel sane. With us together like this, the rest of the world melted away. Our connection needed this.
He kissed down my neck, and I moaned, wanting to keep going, but he lifted me, placing my back against the wall as he slid inside me. We were already panting, our souls reaching for each other.
I wanted to tease you longer, I linked, my body tensing, needing that release.
He nipped at my throat and quickened the tempo. I need to be deep inside you.
His words had my wolf howling, and I dug my fingers into his back, needing to mark him the way he was marking me. He groaned as his fingers dug deeper into my skin.
Our bond opened and reached out to connect our souls, and he released his hold, taking my hands and pinning them against the wall as he kissed me again.
We orgasmed at the same time, our pleasure blending. Our tongues worked in sync as the strongest euphoria we’d ever experienced exploded between us. I wasn’t sure how long the high lasted, but when we came down, the water was lukewarm.
Guiding me back under the stream, he rinsed us off.
We’d climbed out of the shower and were getting dressed when Keith linked, We need you out here and fast. Keagan’s on the line.