CHAPTER 27
Rue
As we’re walking back to the SUV, the delicious scent of a café wafts toward me and I stop in my tracks. My stomach grumbles as I scan the row of buildings searching for the source.
Eventually, my gaze lands on one with a few tables out front. Bingo.
Rhys notices me staring longingly at the restaurant. “Are you hungry, vixen?” I nod, and he chuckles. “I love that you have the appetite of a shifter. Would you like to check it out?”
“I absolutely would. It smells phenomenal,” I respond.
His nostrils flare as he takes in the scent. “Seems like Rita made French onion soup today.”
“Oh, first name basis with the owner, huh?”
“We’re on a first name basis with most of the shop owners here. As the alphas of the pack, we like to stop in occasionally—make sure there’s no trouble and the businesses are still running well.” He places his hand on the small of my back and guides me toward the café.
“Snag a table for us. I’ll go put Rue’s supplies in the SUV,” Kathan says and continues in the direction we were heading.
Caylix opens the door for us, and we slip inside the tiny place. It’s adorable. The brick walls are covered in picture frames posed in a way that visually draws your eye all the way to the back wall. Directly in front of us are pastry cases filled to the brim with croissants, eclairs, macarons, and so many other things I’ve never seen before. They look divine.
“Welcome in,” the friendly waitress says, eyeing me curiously. Not in a devious sort of way, more of a friendly but guarded way. So far none of the shifters I’ve met have been anything but nice and cordial. “Sit wherever you’d like.” She tells us before continuing to the next table, dutifully refilling another patron’s coffee mug.
Rhys’ hand is still firmly planted on my back in a display of affection. I love how touchy-feely they are. One of them always has their hand on me somewhere and I enjoy it immensely.
Caylix leads us over to a well-worn booth and holds his hands out for me to scoot in first then proceeds to sit next to me while Rhys plops down on the other side. The waitress drops off a menu for me to look at—which I appreciate—but it’s hard for me to focus on it with Caylix’s warmth seeping into me. His leg is barely touching mine and occasionally our arms brush against one another. It’s enough to light my body on freaking fire.
Caylix’s fingers find my thigh and he draws small circles on the sensitive skin. “See anything you’d like?” Caylix asks, studying me while I study the menu. His eyes are dancing with mirth like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. Hex, he can probably smell the evidence of my arousal.
“Truthfully, everything sounds good, but I think I’m going for the crêpes.” I manage to keep my voice even instead of breathy.
“Good choice.” He still hasn’t looked at the menu.
His touch inches a little higher and my breath hitches, but I’m saved from answering when Kathan returns. Somehow, he folds his large form into the small booth. It’s honestly kind of comical and I try my hardest not to laugh. He picks up on it anyway and grunts. “You know what they say about men who can’t fit into tiny booths?”
“They have big cocks?” I blurt and slap a hand over my mouth. The lady in the booth in front of us whips her head up to stare at me. Moonbeams, I’ve got to stop opening my big mouth in public.
His eyes heat. “Exactly.”
Rhys snorts. “No one says that.”
“They’d be right if they did,” I choke, my cheeks flaming.
Kathan the big grump, I swear, preens a little. It’s hard for me to match this image of him to the one in my head of him with his frowns and growls. He still has some groveling to do before I let him in fully.
The waitress drops by to take our order. “Are we ready?” she asks. We give her our order as she jots down everything in a small notepad. When she’s finished, she sashays away to grab our drinks and turn our order in.
A few minutes later she returns, a tray in hand with all our drinks perfectly balanced on it. She sits mine down first. “Here you go, darlin’. We don’t sell a whole lotta tea, so I hope you like it.”
“Thank you,” I respond and pick up the plain white cup, completely bare of any design. It makes me miss the quirky ones Caylix got me. I blow on it a few times before taking a tentative sip, all the while everyone’s staring at me. “It’s perfect. The fruity notes are delicious.”
She beams at me before taking off to help other patrons. Our food comes shortly thereafter, and the crêpes are everything I could’ve imagined and more. If it’s possible to orgasm from food, then I totally had a foodgasm from the very first bite. The savory taste of the spinach, ricotta, and bacon exploded on my tongue like a symphony of flavor, and I devoured the entire thing.
“So, what are we doing after this?” I ask, trying to get my mind off things. “Going back to the cabin?” My anxiety rises a smidge at the thought of being cooped up again. The fresh air has been nice, but I know I need to go back eventually. For my safety if nothing else.
Caylix’s mood instantly becomes somber. “Actually, we need to make one more stop while we’re in town. The father of the two shifters who were killed the other night owns the hardware store and we need to express our grief and condolences.”
A spike of pain shoots through my chest. “Okay,” I respond.
I take the last sip of my tea and my focus shifts to the pattern of my leaves. Confusion makes my nose wrinkle. Are they positioned in the shape of music notes? What on earth could that mean? There’s also a slight yellow hue, which could be from it being a fruity tea, but even though reading leaves is up for interpretation, I don’t think the color is there by chance. Technically, it could signify joy or happiness, but it’s also the color of deceit and betrayal.
Turning the cup to get a better view of the other side, I gasp. After the music notes, right on the handle, the pattern stops entirely. It makes me even more uneasy with the possible ominous meaning of the colored hue it has. I’ve never seen anything like it before and it makes my stomach twist with anxiety.
“What’s wrong, sunshine?” Kathan asks, having picked up on the shift in my mood.
“It’s my tea leaves.”
I hand him the mug so he can inspect it and he shrugs. “Maybe one of us is going to sing you a tune later.”
“It’s not that. It’s the void right here by the handle.”
He frowns. “I don’t know anything about reading tea leaves, but I’m sure it’s nothing. We won’t leave your side, sunshine. Don’t worry.”
I’m not completely convinced, but I shove it away anyway.
The waitress drops off the check and we head to the counter where Rhys proceeds to order a ton of the delicious desserts from the display case, including my favorite—Crème Br?lée to cheer me up. Rita, the owner, happily packs everything into a cute little lavender box. Once everything is settled, Caylix leads me outside, and I zone out while they navigate us to the hardware store.
I freeze outside the door and a frown pulls at my lips. Caylix notices. “If you want to wait out here, it’s okay, little witch. We’ll only be a moment.” Considering those deaths feel like partly my fault, yeah, I think I’ll wait this one out. Not to mention I’m not good with condolences at all. I mean, what do you say to someone who just lost everything to make it better? Nothing. There’s not a thing you can say to take away the soul crushing ache of losing someone. And the thought of even trying makes me feel terrible. He reads my answer without me even having to say anything and nods his head toward the vampire tailing us, silently commanding him to watch over me. “We’ll be right inside if anything happens.”
“I’ll wait here,” I respond, sitting on the bench next to the hardware store.
No sooner do they get inside when a group of shifter pups barrel down the sidewalk in front of me, basically tripping over one another in their haste to run as a woman chases after them, letting more curses fly from her lips than I’ve ever heard in one sentence. It’s honestly adorable.
Other than that, the town is rather quiet. It’s only a little after midday. Everyone is likely still working. Which is a tragedy because it’s such a lovely day. The humidity isn’t overwhelming for once.
Out of nowhere the hair on the back of my neck stands on end and I sit straight up, scanning my surroundings for whatever is causing this feeling. A flash of a familiar face catches my attention, and my heart rate accelerates as I leap to my feet, pulling the collar of my shirt up to cover the silver scars on my neck. Sure enough, he turns, and I get a glimpse of his blond hair, not a single lock out of place. His clothes are designer and way fancier than what everyone wears here. He sticks out like a sore thumb.
His dark brown eyes land on me and he smirks. “Lance?” I question, meeting him halfway. “What are you doing here?”
Lance Lacroix. The prodigal son of the most influential Witches Council member—Stephanie Lacroix. He’s destined to take over her role when she passes and has been groomed for the seat his entire life. They’re the picture-perfect family, always poised and polished, but something tells me behind closed doors… it all falls apart. It always does.
“Hello, Rue. Lovely to see you.” His tone slithers over me and gooseflesh rises on my arms. Something isn’t right…
And then it hits me. Is this why Darcy was checking my location?
Anger ignites in my stomach. She sent the hexin’ council after me. I almost let out a growl that would rival my mates but rein it in at the last second. Anything threatening would not go over well with Lance. “What are you doing all the way out here?”
He pulls at his collar like he’s uncomfortable. “Yes, all the way out here indeed,” he spits. “I’ve come to issue you a summons. There has been a rumor you’ve taken a shifter mate, which as you know, all fated pairs must appear before the council.”
Oh, hex. With everything that’s happened, it never even crossed my mind. They probably would’ve never known if I hadn’t blabbed to Darcy. Bad decision, Rue.
“Ah, right. I apologize. As you can imagine it’s been a whirlwind of a week.”
“Hmph.” Lance looks down his nose at me, a twitch of haughty superiority leaking through. His attention shifts behind me, and at first, he seems shocked. But he quickly morphs his expression into a devious grin. He leans in, eyes flashing with something I can’t quite read. “Someone with your level of magic shouldn’t be testing the rules, Rue. You’ll do well to remember your place in society.”
A chill races down my spine. The shifters have never made me feel anything other than wanted. They haven’t made me feel less than or downtrodden about my lack of magical prowess so I’d almost forgotten the sting. It sobers me up and I nod, blinking back a round of tears. “Got it. I’ll be there.”
He sighs and shoves a piece of paper into my hands with the official Witches Council seal on it. “This has all the information you need. Don’t let us down again.” His statement confuses me. What the hell does that mean? When did I let anyone down?
Once again, his focus shifts behind me and his lips quirk into a smarmy grin. I want to wipe it off his smug hexin’ face, but I’m more concerned with what he keeps staring at. I don’t get a chance to find out because his warmth heats my front as he leans in, his lips dangerously close to brushing against my ear. A shudder runs up my spine, and I’m not sure if it’s in disgust or something else entirely. “Glad to see Kathan has someone I trust watching over him.” The words are coated in a sizzle of his powerful magic, and I’m not sure why, but it dances around my ear before whisking off on the wind. He runs his hand down my arm before giving me a wink and turning on his heel, stalking away at a brisk pace.
My skin burns where he touched me, and my breathing becomes more erratic without his focus on me. I close my eyes, trying to regulate it. It’s insane how much he unnerves me. I don’t miss the games and the deviance the witch and wizarding society brings. I’m not a pawn they can move around on a chessboard. And I certainly don’t know Lance enough to be someone he trusts.
Why do mates have to appear before the council anyway? It’s none of their business. But it’s tradition. Bunch of archaic brewshit if you ask me.
My chest feels tighter than usual as I turn around to walk back to the hardware store. There’s a wave of anger underneath my skin that’s not quite my own.
That’s when I glance up to find a very familiar pair of striking green eyes staring at me. And they’re narrowed to slits.
I suck in a gasp as the echo of rage intensifies. Other emotions like disappointment, sadness, and betrayal work their way up my chest, clawing at my throat trying to escape. The anguish is almost enough to bring me to my knees. “Kathan?” I manage to choke out.
The connection between us bends and I do my best to latch on and send comfort down the bond, but he’s not having any of it. It brutally snaps in half before he turns, stalking off in the opposite direction without a backward glance. I sway on my feet, feeling the loss so greatly, it steals my breath. I’m disoriented, but I put one foot in front of the other and take off after him, desperately needing to explain what he saw.
I know what it looks like. The second they leave me alone he finds me talking to someone heavily involved with the Witches Council.
I just have to get to him before it’s too late.
“Kathan, wait!” I call out, urging my legs to go faster, but his long strides are no match for mine and I lose sight of him. I put my hands on my knees, the knife in my heart twisting the further the distance between us spreads. Tears are flowing freely down my cheeks, spilling onto the concrete sidewalk. “Let me explain!”
I never should have talked to Lance. I should have stayed on the park bench. I should have—
“Miss, are you all right?” I lift my head and lock tear-filled eyes with a vaguely familiar vampire. I shake my head because I can’t form the words. “I watched you run off and came to help. Did Kathan go after a threat?”
At the mention of his name a fresh wave of emptiness rolls over me. Another round of sobs wrack through me. The vampire’s face twists with a twinge of disgust. “Come on. I’ll, uh, get you back to Caylix and Rhys. Kathan can handle himself.” He motions for me to cross the distance to him, but I pause.
What if he can’t? What if something happens and it’s all my fault for allowing Lance to set me up? A dark voice in the back of my mind whispers, Kathan doesn’t want anything to do with you anymore. He thinks you’re a spy. He’s going to convince the others too. You’ll lose everything.
And the lonely, hexed up part of myself agrees with that statement. If I could only explain…
With a deep, shuddering breath I push aside my grief long enough to scan my surroundings. Chasing Kathan landed me in a part of the town I haven’t been to before. It’s deserted, not a single other soul to be found and the hardware store is nowhere in sight. Which is great because I’m awful with directions, and I have no idea how to get back. It’s either go with this vampire or try to find my way alone. I guess I like the odds of safety in numbers.
Despite the feeling in my gut, I whisper, “Okay.”
There’s a wicked gleam in the vampire’s eyes that sets me on edge. He nods and turns, walking in the direction I came from, whistling a happy little tune under his breath. I freeze, the image of the music notes in my tea leaves at the forefront of my thoughts. I spin on my heel and sprint in the opposite direction.
He sighs. “Of course, you’d make this hard.”
I don’t make it three more steps before a solid band of steel wraps around my middle. “Let go of me, you hex hole!” The vampire slams a hand over my mouth, and I bite down as hard as I can, the coppery tang of blood exploding in my mouth. It’s exactly what I expected Slade’s to taste like, disgusting... but his wasn’t like this at all. It’s a completely different sensation and my stomach threatens to riot.
My bite does nothing to deter the vampire. Instead, he plugs my nostrils closed, vibrating with anger. Panic and the need to breathe claw at me until I’m raw from the inside out. Slade’s ice blue eyes flash through my mind for a single second, like my subconscious is reaching out to his. I scream for him mentally, but the connection dissipates, leaving a crater in my chest.
My assailant’s hot breath fans my ear, making me recoil in disgust. He shakes me a little to get me to stop thrashing. “Listen here, witch. I’m under strict orders not to kill you, but if I let go and you scream, I will end you. Got it?”
I nod the best I can in my position, lungs burning for air. He removes his hand and I suck in a breath, coughing as I simultaneously spit out his blood that’s like acid on my tongue. My spittle lands on the vampire. “Fucking disgusting,” he growls. “Whatever, you won’t be my problem for long.”
I don’t get a chance to ask what the hex that means because the entire world sways around me, a blur of color as he phases me away from Kathan, away from the hardware store where Rhys and Caylix are. The vampire comes to a screeching halt and through my spinning vision, I catch sight of a white van. “No,” I protest weakly. “Where are you taking me?”
He doesn’t respond, yanking the sliding door open on his total pedo van. If he gets me in there… he could take me anywhere—do anything with me. I can’t let that happen. “HEL—”My plea catches in my throat as the vampire plants a boot firmly in my middle, kicking me inside the back of his van before forcing the door shut with a loud bang. My head slams against the door on the other side and I’m knocked out cold—my last thought being of my mates and how they’ll have no idea who’s taken me.
Burning Chance, I’m so screwed.
The End...
For NowTurn the page to continue Rue’s story in Scorching Bite