CHAPTER 20
Rue
A few nights later, I wake in a cold sweat, my heart racing as I sit up and gulp for air. As moonlight filters in through the windows, an anxious sort of buzz dances across my skin. I brush my damp hair out of my face and let out a sigh.
Tea. I need tea.
I carefully extract myself from under the pile of limbs surrounding me, and slide out of bed, hoping not to wake the others. I know they haven’t been sleeping well the past few nights because I haven’t been sleeping well.
The saying “what’s mine is yours and yours is mine” has a whole new level of meaning when you share a mental connection with other people.
My… restlessness has been rubbing off on my mates, more than I’d like. But they’ve been helping me and dealing with it in stride. Not to mention keeping me thoroughly distracted. The thought of their distraction techniques brings a smile to my face as I slip on a pair of knee-high socks and toss on Kathan’s discarded black tee from earlier.
Naked has sort of become my new normal, despite the wolves having brought half of my wardrobe over to Slade’s. Why put on something when it ends up on the floor or shredded half the time? The wolves love ripping things off me. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t turn me on too. While my new mates are loaded, and could easily buy me more clothes with the snap of a finger, it’s an extra obstacle and slightly wasteful.
A cold chill slithers through my body as I pad down the steps and enter the kitchen even though it’s warm in Slade’s mansion. I rub my hands over my arms, hoping to ward it off, but it persists. If I can get to my tea, maybe my leaves will reveal what’s plaguing me.
Well, other than the nightmares.
The past few days, I’ve had the same one every night. In it, I find myself standing on the edge of a dark abyss; the void stretching before me. The air is so thick, sometimes I swear I wake up tasting copper. It’s usually eerily silent, broken only by the faint whisper of “beacon” being carried on the wind. It echoes through my bones, sending shivers down my spine.
As I take a step forward, seemingly compelled by an unseen force, the ground beneath me trembles, and I stumble, tumbling over myself as I fall into the darkness. Panic surges within me as hundreds of glowing red eyes appear beneath me.
Thankfully, that’s usually where I wake up. I’ve never made it to the bottom to find out what horrors are lying in wait for me, though I can guess. Ferals.
With a shudder, I shake off the lingering effects as I flick on the kitchen lights, illuminating the spacious room with its gleaming marble countertops and stainless steel appliances.
My hands tremble ever so slightly as I reach for the container of loose-leaf tea in the cabinet. It’s as if an unseen force is tugging at my very core, urging me on.
Turning the faucet on, I fill up the kettle and place it on the burner. While I wait, I pull my newest teacup off the rack. This cup is different from the ones Caylix got me, though I love those just as much. Rhys thought it would be hilarious to get me one that says “Fang Banger” with a set of vampire fangs. I can’t say it didn’t make me laugh because it totally did. It even made Slade chuckle, too.
I measure out the perfect amount of tea with a delicate spoon Slade gifted me, the earthy aroma filling the air. As the kettle starts to whistle, I pour the steaming liquid into the cup. The familiar scent of brewing tea envelopes me, offering a sense of comfort amidst the unsettling unease that has taken hold of me.
Deciding it’s a good idea to top off my protection spells, I rummage around in Slade’s spice drawer for the ingredients I need as I mindlessly sip on my tea. The fact his pantry is so well stocked amazes me as much as it makes me happy.
Once I have everything gathered, I find the nearest candelabra in the hallway and yoink one of the candles before returning to my herbs to cleanse them. Satisfied they’re sufficiently purified of negative energy, I dump them into my bag, already feeling somewhat lighter.
Taking another sip of tea, I let the flavors dance on my tongue, grounding me in the present moment. The combination of nettle, mint, and chamomile comfort me, their robust essence intertwining with the warmth of the liquid.
“Rue?” Kathan mumbles, his voice gravelly from sleep.
His sudden presence startles me and I almost spill my tea, catching it like a ninja at the last second. “Hex, Kathan! You scared the spells out of me.” Carefully, I set the cup on the counter to avoid any more close calls. I’d be devastated to lose my tea or break the delicate porcelain.
“Sorry, sunshine. Didn’t mean to surprise you.” The lumbering giant crosses the distance between us, folding me into his arms. He places a kiss against the top of my head and I melt into his embrace. The tension in my body gradually eases as I inhale his fresh pine scent. “Couldn’t sleep?” he murmurs, his deep voice vibrating into me.
I let out a long sigh. “No. It’s the nightmare again.” Kathan’s grip tightens around me, offering me a sense of security amidst the darkness that haunts me when I think about that dream. “What about you?”
He hesitates for a second. I tilt my head up to meet his gaze, searching his green eyes for what’s troubling him. “Talking about my sister and Lance always revives those feelings of helplessness I had back then. Dreaming of her usually brings on an anxiety attack and when I woke up, you weren’t there, which added to the spiral.”
My heart aches for him. I’ve never been a vengeful person, but learning Kathan and Kallie’s story makes me want to seek justice for them. Lance doesn’t deserve the position he’s been afforded in society, and neither does his mother. I want to knock them down a peg or two, but I don’t know how.
One thing I do know for damn sure is I’ll figure out a way some day, somehow.
“I’m sorry I got up without saying anything,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest, and inhaling his pine scent mixed with the lingering aroma of tea.
Kathan strokes a hand through my hair. “You don’t need to apologize, sunshine. I understand you needing some space,” he reassures me, his touch gentle. “We all have our demons to face, and sometimes it seems easier to do it alone. But know that you’re not. I’ll gladly shoulder your burdens any time, for any reason.”
I pull back slightly, my gaze meeting his once more. Tears pool in my eyes, threatening to spill over at the adoration I find. “Living in the shadows of the witching world and at arms length in Tessa and Darcy’s friendship, I’ve felt lonely more times than I’d like to remember. But I’m not anymore. None of us are. We’re in this together.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips as his hands come up to cup the back of my head, pulling me in for a languid kiss. All too soon, he’s pulling away, chuckling when I chase him. “Your tea’s getting cold, sunshine.”
Ah, hex. I whirl around and pick up my brew, taking another blessed sip. “Want some?” I ask when I find him eyeing me.
He shakes his head. “But thank you.”
“Suit yourself,” I say with a playful smile before finishing it off.
Taking a deep breath, I steady my nerves for the reading, clearing my mind of everything. As I turn it toward me, the first thing I notice is what appears to be claw-like marks. A spike of unease hits me square in the gut, especially as close as it is to the handle. I need to be careful.
“What do you see?” Kathan asks, likely sensing my spike of anxiety through the bond.
“Claw marks, I think,” I reply, showing it to him for a second opinion.
We share a grim look as he nods in agreement. “What about that?”
I squint at the shape he’s pointing at, twisting the cup to get a better look. “Hmm. Seems like two hands clasped together?” I answer, but it comes out as more of a question.
He seems to consider it for a second. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“Both of them are close together and next to the handle, meaning it’ll likely happen soon, and probably at the same time. But what do they mean?”
“A new ally, perhaps? Maybe a shifter or something? It could explain the claw mark.”
“Huh, that’d be nice.” The rest of the leaves are completely jumbled, not affording me any more insight, which is slightly frustrating. I’m going crazy waiting for whatever bad thing will happen next. Because it will. There’s always evil lurking, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
A yawn escapes me as I rinse the tea cup out in the sink. Kathan places his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s get you back to bed, sunshine.”
I nod, leaning into his touch as he guides me toward the bedroom. “Yeah, I could definitely use some more sleep. Maybe if we hold each other close, we can even keep the nightmares at bay.”
We both know better, but it’s a nice thought.
Kathan smiles over at me, his eyes filled with warmth and love as we climb into bed, wrapping ourselves in the comfort of each other’s arms. I lay my head against his chest, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat ease the tension in my body like a soothing lullaby. Rhys rolls over in his sleep and puts a hand on me like he can’t help himself.
In the darkness of our room, surrounded by soft snores, I can’t help but think about the future and what lies ahead for us. The handshake in the tea leaves has sparked a newfound hope within me. A new ally could be exactly what we need to get the answers we seek.