Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
KADEN
Tightening the drawstrings of my linen pants, I walk out into the sitting room, my body sore and bruised. It’s only been hours since we’ve returned from our night in the Crow’s Feet Forest, and my body is taking its time to heal.
This could all be related to the soul-bond. I knew there would be side effects to the bond, but even I didn’t know what. It’s possible our joining led to a merging of abilities.
refuse to tell my mate, otherwise she might get it in her head to injure me to escape again. Or do something that would test her healing.
Max left her marks on me, my neck still red from her dagger. The vixen knew what she was doing holding an iron blade to my throat.
Regardless, I’d do it again, find her, chase her, bring her back. I finally have a small piece of her and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.
It’s not stable, this relationship, this bond. But she gave herself to me, allowed me behind her walls. That betrayal, that mistrust, had fled during our chase and all that l was left with was the devotion, the rightness between us.
I’ll gladly take more hits, more cuts, if it gives me my mate back. It’s like the air has been returned to my lungs. I feel buoyant, alive, after so much uncontrollable rage.
I didn’t lie when I told Max she controlled me. With her, I’m settled, the beast’s quiet. She is my keeper and I’m not ashamed of it.
Fee gazes at the various bookcases I’ve stocked around my chambers, brows furrowed. I’ve always been an avid reader, but these books were the ones I collected from our mother’s rooms before our father burnt her things.
This has always been a safe, common place for her to retreat to; a safety she can’t find elsewhere. But now that Max is finally allowing this partnership to bloom, this bond to solidify, I can’t have my sister barging in whenever she pleases.
“Fee.”
She glances back at me, a dagger on one hip, a long sword on the other.
She’s in her casual attire, similar to what she wore in the Eternal Night Forest; black leather pants and vest, arms bare so as not to get tangled.
Her hair, the same as our mother’s, is pulled into a knot on her head and she has the balls to glare at me. In my own bedroom.
“What?” She raises a delicate brow.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Don’t give me that tone,” she snaps, flicking her fingers. “You wanted me to train her. How was I to know you two made up? Last time I checked, she was plotting your death.”
“You’ll be happy to know she tried to slice my throat last night.” My fingers trace my throat.
My sister’s lips twitch. Of course, she’s amused. She’s taken to Max better than anyone else, better than Sose. She likes knowing my mate is not a wilting flower and is not afraid to pull a dagger on me.
“And what was that, exactly?” Her eyebrow raises, glancing to my marks. My chest is covered in scratches and bites from our tussle. “Foreplay?”
“You really want this conversation?”
She wrinkles her nose as if smelling something disgusting. “No, you already smell like her.”
Grabbing a shirt from the couch, I level a hard look on her. “You’re going to train her with a sword?”
She rolls her eyes, shifting her weight. “You wanted me to help her survive. She needs to learn how to use a sword. She can’t be expected to only twirl daggers all day.”
“Fee—”
“She’s going to be the future queen,” she hisses, stepping close. “These are traits she’ll need to learn. Especially in war.”
I curse under my breath. I hate how right she is. The Dark Queen’s role is more than just court politics. She’ll be expected to fight with the king on the front lines. With Griffin barricading and preparing for an attack, Max will be wanted at the front sooner rather than later.
And with how quickly her magic drains her, learning a weapon would be beneficial.
“No maiming,” I insist, holding up one finger. “If I see any blood, you’ll deal with me.”
She sighs, cocking her hip. “Cuts happen in training, Kaden.”
“Fee—"
“Do you know that she’s fast?” she asks, changing the subject. “Quicker than a Witch should be.”
Max moves around in the next room, and it takes me a minute to follow Fee’s thoughts. It’s almost domestic hearing her scuttle around. “You don’t think she’s a Witch.”
“Not entirely.” She glances over my shoulder, gauging her time to explain. “You’ve tasted her blood. Does she taste like a Witch? A Human?”
Thinking about Max’s blood heats my body, my beast stirring as if searching for her.
It’s hard to forget how she tasted—the sweetness, the richness of her blood in my mouth.
The way she gave it, willingly, with trust. I have to white knuckle my control back, and inhale through my nose to dispel the memories.
And she wanted to give it to me last night. I couldn’t take it—not when my control was shattered, not when the emotions were too high. But Fiery Bel’s Balls, I want it, need it again.
“No, she didn’t taste like a Human.” No one could compare to her taste. No one. “But she didn’t taste like a Witch either.”
There are subtle differences. Dark Fae had a smokey flavor to their blood, Witches more grassy. Max tasted like summer and life, a brightness I never experienced elsewhere.
She raises a brow, waiting for me to focus back on her. “We need to know more about her.”
“And how would you like me to do that, Fee?” I braid my hair, letting it hang over my shoulder. “Her village is gone, her parents dead. The only person who knows anything about her is a king readying to attack.” A king that I need information on.
He will not get my mate. Not again.
We stare at each other, wordlessly fighting, and I sigh, pinching my the bridge of my nose. “You want me to see what Griffin knows about her.”
“He has notes, he must.” She looks over my shoulder again, lowering her tone. “Notes that could help us, help her.”
“We searched his castle and found very little.” Unfortunately, Griffin is smart.
“About a weapon. We didn’t look for journals or notes about the Blut Coven, about her.”
Gods, she’s right.
“Is training not going that well that you need more information?” She’s more persistent about helping Max than I would have thought.
“It’s fine,” she brushes off, shrugging. “But when those drugs wear off, her magic will return. And I don’t have to remind you how strong she is. How uncontrollable that magic is for her.”
I remember the headaches she got, the urge to take, the pounding of hearts in her ears. The way her magic seemed to have a mind of its own. She was at a disadvantage, never taught the control at an early age, only to fear her power. That was a disservice to her.
The drugs were as much a curse as a blessing. At least they gave her a reprieve.
“Witches and Fae do not control magic the same. We know this from the old scrolls in Uncle’s office.”
Centuries old scrolls that described the world having abundant magic with different races able to access it. Every species had a pull, a calling. It was thought to be a fabricated tale until I developed powers. Then Queen Aoife told me the stories of powerful Fae and the magic we once wielded.
“If we know what she is, we can train her to control her magic.” And not have to hide from it, ignore it. She could learn real control.
If I could help her, she would be magnificent.
“I’ll figure it out,” I promise. “In the meantime—”
“Don’t let her out of my sight,” she responds. “I know, big brother. Eventually, you’re going to have to let her into this, it’s the safest option.” I glare at her, quiet as she continues, “Eventually, you’ll need to let her decide her own fate.”
Smirking, I tilt my head. “Why would you think I would?” Max’s fate is my fate. I can’t have her deciding anything, if it means losing her.
Fee scoffs. “Because you’re a selfish asshole, but also a lovestruck fool for her, Kaden. Soon, you’ll realize it like the rest of us. You’ll want her to be herself, not someone you can control.”
“You think too highly of me,” is all I say, as I sense Max enter the room. Only Fee doesn’t know I don’t control Max, she controls me. I only keep information from her so as to limit the dangers to her person.
Scanning Max, I see her dagger, the training leathers and the clean face. No marks from our night in the forest shows, but I can smell it—me, on her.
She doesn’t act as if last night happened and I smirk because I know differently. Bruises hid under her leather pants, my claw mark are healing along her hips. My ownership covers her.
The beast purrs, pleased, sated.
Instead of acting on my emotions, I incline my head to her as she narrows her eyes. She doesn’t know what to do with this new dynamic nor what to do with me. She is right to be wary, but I know what my next steps are.
Fee might think I’m a fool for this woman, but I am selfish.
I will do everything I can to keep my mate if it’s the last thing I do.
Then? My kingdom.