CHAPTER 19
RueSitting crisscross on the floor of Kathan’s bedroom in front of all my supplies, I light one of their candles and close my eyes, but no matter what I do, I can’t seem to focus. The words from the grocery store are playing over and over again like a broken record in my mind.
My heart wants to jump on the possibility of being their mate, but the logical side of me is a little more reserved. There are still so many unknowns. My blood being the major one.
They told me this morning they’re discreetly digging around, using every avenue they can to scrounge up information, but so far everything has left them empty handed. It’s not particularly reassuring, but there’s nothing I can do about any of it right now, so I shove all the thoughts away, and once again attempt to clear my mind.
Eventually, it settles enough for me to cast my protection spells properly. I ease into that blissful point and set my intention. Cleanse. Protect. Ward.
I open my eyes, pick up the candle in one hand, and some of the rosemary, salt, and juniper berries in the other. I swirl them through the smoke three times before putting the candle down once more. Spellcasting is basic level magic. Any witch or wizard can do it because it’s mostly manipulating herbs and tools with intention, imbuing a small amount of magic into them. It’s nothing like top tier magic such as projection, psychic abilities, or manifestation.
Looking inward, I stroke the small well of power inside my chest that’s been there since my magic unlocked at thirteen. It crackles and bubbles, parts of the silvery tendrils leaping toward my mental eye to greet me like an old friend. Now that my herbs are cleansed, I reach into my pocket dimension and grab my protection bag that wards off ill magical intent like hexes. Nothing major, but better to be safer than sorry when dealing with witches. It’s a small red velvet pouch that’s pretty much bottomless. Every time I feel uncertain or uneasy, I replenish the herbs in it.
Carefully, I tug open the drawstring and sprinkle them inside. The glint of the silvery wolf charm catches my eye and my heart flutters with the thought of the three wolf shifters. As reserved as I am, a large part of me hopes it’s true. The other has anxiety over the whole thing. Even if it’s not, they’re protecting me when they could’ve easily used me to solve their problems.
I set my intentions, urging the charm to help me keep them safe. Bringing my pouch to my lips, I seal it in with a kiss, before tucking it back where it belongs. Instantly, a smoggy green mist rises out of my chest, it fights like hell to snap back into me, but my protections are stronger, and it pops like a balloon, dissipating into the air. Shock tumbles through me as some of the pressure on my chest lightens. Someone cast a hex on me. Curses, who would do such a thing?
Those fall under manifestation, so it has to be someone semi powerful, but who?
I’m lost in thought when a voice startles me out of it. “Whatcha doin’?” Arya asks, making her way inside the room. She’s holding two steaming teacups, and they’re adorable. So adorable it makes my heart leap. I didn’t get to see the designs Caylix found at the store, but they’re perfect. One reads “Hot Stuff” with a picture of a tea bag and the other says “Cute-Tea.” I can’t wait to see what designs the others have on them, since he said he found a set of four.
“Fortifying my protection charms,” I respond, motioning for her to sit across from me. Her hazel eyes travel over everything spread around me, and she pushes a lock of her chestnut brown hair behind her ear. She extends the cup with “Hot Stuff” written on it for me to take, and the oolong leaves have already darkened the water slightly. “Thank you.” I bring the steaming liquid to my lips, take a sip, and let loose a long, relieved sigh. I’ve missed this. “It’s surprisingly delicious, for grocery store tea.”
She puts her own cup to her lips and instantly yanks it away, somehow managing not to spill any. Talk about great shifter reflexes. She cocks a dark eyebrow and it’s so like Caylix, it’s uncanny. “Girl, it’s blazing hot. How did you not burn your tongue?”
I shrug. “You get used to it.” And you really do. Especially when you drink tea as much as I do. “Where’d the guys run off to in such a hurry?” I ask, curiosity riding me hard. Kathan got a phone call right after we’d finished putting the groceries away and they rushed out the door the next second, shouting to keep me inside and protect me or else as they left me alone with Arya. They must trust her a lot. Somehow, I don’t feel uneasy either. She’s one of those people who instantly make you feel like you belong, like you have all along. I’m a fan of her no brewshit attitude.
She waves her hand like it’s nothing, but I also don’t miss the glint of worry in her eye. “Something about another breach close to The Growl. The pack enforcers needed help.”
I take another sip of my tea, letting the flavors settle on my tongue while processing her information. No wonder they ran out of here so fast. Protecting the pack is important, although I wish they would’ve explained what was happening to me. “You know, I’m surprised Kathan agreed to leave me alone with you,” I respond, taking another sip of my tea. “He seems to think I’m the big bad wolf.”
Arya’s mouth twists into a broad grin. “Have you seen him? He is most definitely the ‘big bad wolf’ out of the two of you.”
She’s not wrong. I mean, the guy could easily hold me against the wall one handed. Which would probably result in a Rue sized hole in the wall. Not that I’d mind that one bit. “Do you think he’d blow my house down while he’s at it?”
She chokes on her tea. “You’re still covered in Rhys’ scent, you know.” I freeze, inhaling a whiff of air like I can actually smell Rhys on me. There’s the barest hint of his sugary syrup, which to a wolf is probably like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Obviously, their sense of smell far surpasses mine. “Wanna talk about them?”
My first reaction is to freeze. Tessa and Darcy are my only friends back at the coven and they never really asked about my life. Or if they did it was in passing before they moved on to their own things. The longer I’m away, the more I’m slowly realizing what I had with them wasn’t necessarily friendship. They’ve always made me feel like a third wheel, like there’s barely enough room for me to squeeze in between them, and it’s not a great feeling.
Arya’s expression is completely open and honest, with a hint of curiosity, as she waits for me to work through things. I find myself wanting to chat with her because she’s like a breath of fresh air, sweeping into the room like a cool breeze. Plus, it might do me some good to have a girlfriend to talk things over with, especially if she’s right about the mate thing. I bet she knows those three better than anyone.
“I’ll spare you the super intimate details, but wow, Rhys is something else. It’s as if he knew what I needed and gave me exactly that. All of them make me feel things I never have before. Even Kathan and his grumpiness…” I trail off.
Her head tilts back and a groan escapes her lips as if she’s remembering her own experiences. “Wait for it, girl. Now that you’ve had a taste of him… you’ll crave more and more until each of you give in and explore your desires.” Her wording reminds me of my craving for Slade, and I glance away from her. She mistakes it for nerves over her brothers and chuckles. If she only knew.
Not only do I want the shifters… there’s something inside me burning for the vampire as well.
I’m not used to the spotlight and I’m not a fan of having it all on me. “Enough about me though, what about you? Spill the tea,” I say, shifting the conversation off on her.
Her eyes light up and her demeanor instantly softens. “Actually, I recently found my mates. Ian, Mauve, and Calisto were here on business from another pack. Sometimes I help my brothers with their duties, and I was the one who met with them. They caught my eye the very second they walked in the door.”
My heart swells with happiness for her. “Congratulations, Arya! I know meeting your mates is a momentous occasion for shifters. You must be over the moon.”
She blows out a breath, a wistfulness coming across her face. “I am,” she responds, a dreamy gleam in her eye.
“How did you know—” I pause trying to think through what I want to ask.
Arya picks up on what I’m trying to put down. “Know they were the ones?”
“Yeah.” I blow out a breath, watching her take a tentative sip of her tea. It’s cooled down some and she tastes it on her tongue before nodding her head at me. “Was there an instant connection between you? An epic love story? Something totally written in the stars?”
She snorts. “Absolutely not. It didn’t start out as sunshine and rainbows. To be honest, commitment freaks me out, and I ran from them, which is why Caylix let me borrow the cabin a few weeks ago. But things are much better now after they talked some sense into me and got my brain to rationalize things. We’re planning on sealing the bond soon.”
Phew. Guess that means I’m not the only one with unconventional problems and hang ups.
I feel like there’s more behind why she ran and her commitment issues, but that’s not really the kind of topic you bring up with someone you’ve known for less than a day. Besides, she’s not the only one keeping things close to her heart.
She shoots me a conspiratorial look, breaking the silence. “I think I’ve had more sex than I’ve ever had in my entire adult life recently.”
I choke on my tea and a little dribble slides down my chin. “Okaaay,” I say, wiping the liquid off. “On another note, what do you know about Slade Dumont?” I ask because I can’t seem to help myself. He’s on my mind almost as much as the shifters lately, especially after our little rendezvous last night. Some part of me still feels like what happened was a dream, but the other remembers the way his touch ignites a fire in me. This is my chance to get more information about him from an outside source.
She starts to speak and then does a double take at me, almost spilling her tea again. “What do you want to know about Slade Dumont, and more importantly, why?” Then it dawns on her. “He’s involved in whatever is going on with you and my brothers?” Hexes, she’s sharp.
I nod. “He is. Your brothers and Slade are the only reasons I’m still sitting here.”
She eyes me. “You seem a little cagey about what’s going on, so I won’t push you for more answers.” Thank spices. “Yet.” Whoops, spoke too soon. “But you should know that Slade is…” she pauses like she’s searching for the right word. “Dangerous. He’s as unpredictable as he is beautiful and terrifying. He rules the vampires with an iron fist. You don’t want his attention on you.”
“Far too late for that,” I mutter under my breath, but she doesn’t miss it with her shifter hearing.
“Can I give you a word of caution?” She doesn’t wait for me to respond. “That man will chew you up and spit you out. Please, be careful.”
I rub at my temples, feeling a headache coming on. Even witches get headaches, which is a crying shame if you ask me. Our bodies are more advanced than humans and we can’t even escape a headache. “I will,” I assure her, because it’s true. Slade is a wildcard, and his reputation precedes him. “To tell you the truth, I don’t even know what’s happening, but I wish I did. It’d be a lot easier. Maybe then I could figure out a solution.”
Arya nods, not prodding any further. She puts her teacup to her lips, but frowns when she finds it empty. “Wow, that was surprisingly good. Didn’t you say something about reading the leaves?” There’s a gleam of excitement in her eyes as she thrusts her cup toward me.
I take it from her so I can examine it closer. “I can, but I’m not too sure how good I’ll be at reading them for other people. I’ve only ever done it for myself.” I study the cup for a second before giving her my answer. “Your leaves are closer to the handle which means the reading is more about your present than the past. See this little shape in the white of the cup? It looks like fire which could mean anything but judging from what you’ve told me I’m going to say it means passion. It’s a positive sign.”
Arya fans herself. “Well, we already know that’s true. What else?”
“Your leaves are strewn around the cup which shows me your reluctance and the whirlwind fashion of your romance. Seems like it’s not quite over yet either.” I point to a tiny spot where the leaves form a question mark.
“What does that mean?”
I shrug. “I’m not certain. Usually designs in the leaves mean a bad omen, but not always. These sorts of things are always up to interpretation, but I’d say something will leave you reeling soon. But that’s really all I can make out.”
“Shit, Rue! That sounds ominous.” I hand her the cup so she can see it better for herself.
“Sorry, Arya. I don’t make the rules, I only read the leaves. Like I said, everything is up to interpretation. It could be anything.”
“Hopefully something positive,” she mutters and motions toward my empty cup. “What’s happening with your leaves?”
Glancing down at my empty teacup for the first time, I realize the leaves are in an eerily similar pattern. One I’ve seen before. The day I almost died. Hexes. That day, I thought the design was a teardrop representing being upset over my powers, but now… I know it’s a drop of blood.
The closer to the handle the closer to the present the reading is and it’s so close it might as well be on it. Will I be attacked again? Here? Now?
There’s a loud bang outside and we both jolt, my heart rate skyrocketing.
The sheer panic on my face as I look up at her has her whipping her phone out of her pocket before I can even speak, her fingers flying across the keyboard, likely sending a message. I don’t trust him to see it in time. “Call him. Call your brother,” I say as a chill runs up my spine. “They need to get back here now.”