Chapter 48 Katarina
It was nice to pretend that the world wasn’t crumbling around us.
We’d spent one more day on the island completing our homework from Cormac—practice controlling our magical bond so that we could use it as a weapon.
Oh, and also try not to have our practice sessions end in sex.
That had been a bit harder, and I blamed my succubus grandmother’s genes for that one.
Every time I took power from the men, even if was to channel it back out through all of us, electric tendrils shot through my libido and turned me into a sex fiend.
Not that the men minded, and they were always willing to satiate my cravings.
But we couldn’t break out into an orgy in the middle of battling the Crescent Coven… if it was really going to come to that.
This morning, before the boat arrived to bring us home, I’d been on the beach working with Aiden.
He’d dragged me out of bed before the sun came up, telling me that he could help me channel that power into something other than sex.
It didn’t work at first, and we’d made love as the sun rose.
Aiden knew exactly how to please a woman, and I’d realized how much I missed spending time with just him.
But during our session together, I’d also realized he was holding something back from me.
When I pried, he’d distracted me with kisses or a wisp of his power or a change of subject.
After failing several times to get an answer out of him, I chose to focus my energy on practicing my ability to take and control his fiery magic and vowed to find out what was wrong some other way.
But when we got back to the abbey, Roman immediately pulled Aiden into the offices downstairs and didn’t say a word to the rest of us.
When Blaise suggested we do some research, most likely at Roman’s behest, Dorian and I followed him into the library.
Three hours had passed by this point, and I was getting antsy.
I slammed my book shut and let out a deep, exaggerated breath.
Dorian rubbed my legs that were sprawled out across his chest. We shared the couch, our heads on opposite ends and our limbs intertwined.
My wolf was looking through a book about Celtic folklore, mumbling something about wanting to learn more about Cormac’s ancestry.
Dorian sat at the oversized mahogany desk behind several piles of ancient tomes I’d pulled down from the shelves next to the ceiling.
Me. I’d done that with my newfound control over Blaise’s air magic.
I still almost tackled Blaise to the ground and humped him raw, but he had more self-control and simply devoured me in a very long and very erotic kiss to help satisfy the urges. Then he shoved a book into my hands.
“I know where babies come from,” I grumbled again as Dorian chuckled and rubbed my legs with soothing motions.
“That’s not what that book is about,” Blaise muttered from the desk, like an irritated teacher.
I opened the book again to a random page. “That’s basically what it’s saying. Like here,” I pointed at the text even though he couldn’t see me doing it. “It says hybrids are usually sterile. And I’m a hybrid just like you.”
Dorian made a noise. “What book is that?”
Lifting it up so he could see the cover, I said, “Sex and Supernaturals: A Collection of Tales from Near and Far.”
Rolling his head back to see Blaise, he asked, “Where in the hell did you get a book like that?”
“I don’t remember, but I suggest you read it too. We wouldn’t want any… accidents to happen.”
Dorian snapped a worried scowl back to me, and I shook my head. “He’s obsessing over babies. I told him that I was taking birth control. Had been long before I met you all.”
“But you weren’t having sex then,” Dorian reminded me, confusion dancing across his wrinkled brows. He’d taken his hair down, and I just loved the way it flowed in waves across his neck and shoulders.
Even though he was great to look at, I rolled my eyes and flipped him off. “Women take birth control for other reasons too—”
“It’s not foolproof,” Blaise muttered, and I sighed again.
“Fine, no more sex until you all get snipped.”
“What?” Dorian shouted, genuinely concerned.
“If Blaise is so worried about me getting pregnant, then we should all be more careful.”
Blaise groaned as he stood, walking over to me and holding out a hand.
I let him pull me off the couch and wrap his enormous arms around me.
Burying my head against his chest, I sighed into the heat radiating off him.
“It’s not the pregnancy part I’m worried about.
I mean, yeah, I guess it’s a bit concerning. But—”
“You’re worried that my human body wouldn’t be able to handle it?” I cut him off, remembering some of the not-so-nice tales in the book.
He shuddered beneath me. “Yeah.”
“What the fuck, Blaise?” Dorian jumped to his feet, his book falling to the floor with a thump. “What brought this on?”
Blaise didn’t let go of me. “Most mothers bearing dragon hybrids don’t survive childbirth. I’ve been reading more about my kind and I—”
“Well, what if she has a wolf? How do you know she’d be pregnant with your kid and not mine?”
I almost laughed at the absurdity of this conversation, but Dorian’s handsome face was deadly serious.
“Dragon genetics are superior, so that would mean—”
Dorian interrupted one more time. “Do not even say it,” he warned.
Blaise chuckled beneath me as I pulled away slightly to position myself between them. “Can we not do this right now?” I asked. “Maybe we can explore the idea of superior sperm after we settle this thing with the coven?”
Dorian opened his mouth and closed it again several times. “Is that really a thing?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered at the same time Blaise said “Yes.”
But, before the conversation went down a rabbit hole of a testosterone-filled pissing match, the double doors to the library swung open, and Aiden and Roman drifted inside.
I smile at my fae, concerned when I didn’t get much of a response.
Roman barely made eye contact either, and my skin erupted in goosebumps at what might be coming next.
“What’s going on in here?” Roman asked, eyes dancing between Dorian and Blaise.
I pushed away from them and put myself in the middle of the room. “They’re talking about whose sperm is superior,” I said, crossing my arms and cocking my hip. “What’s going on with you two?” I may have had a little sass in my voice along with a hint of demand.
Aiden let a slight smile cross his lips, and Roman gaped in surprise. I guess he wasn’t used to having to answer to others. Well, too bad. Everyone in this room cared about him… about us… and we needed to be a united team.
Roman gestured to the couch and the chairs. “Everyone, please sit. We need to talk.
“This doesn’t sound good,” Dorian muttered as he plopped back down on the couch. He gestured for me to join him, so I did. Blaise sat in one of the leather wingback chairs and Aiden appeared on my other side. Swallowing a yelp, I gently punched him in the thigh for scaring me.
Roman looked at all of us and then leaned back so he was sitting on the very edge of the desk. “We need a plan,” he started. “The coven will not be persuaded to stand down this time.”
“This time?” I asked.
“Happens every decade or so,” Blaise answered, his eyes still fixed on Roman. “It’s because of us, right?”
Roman nodded and I looked around the room to each of the men. They all seemed to understand, and I felt like an idiot. “Anyone care to explain?” I snapped.
Aiden squeezed my right knee. “You and Blaise.”
When he didn’t elaborate, I started to get angry. “Me and Blaise, what?”
“The coven sent you to us as a test,” Roman answered part of my question.
“I thought they wanted you to kill me?”
“That would have been another option. But now that we’ve unlocked your power and Blaise has shifted—”
“They want us,” I finished, suddenly understanding. All those years I worked for the coven… I wondered if they suspected what I was. Knew what genetics made up my bloodline.
“The two of you would be the icing on the cake they need to take and control this city,” Roman explained. “Not only would they have beaten me, but they would use the two of you to make others bend to their will.”
“But I wouldn’t do that. And neither would Blaise.” Glancing over at the fierce glower on his face, I knew I was right.
“You would do what they asked under the right circumstances.”
The air in the room chilled, shadows dancing across the shelves despite the early evening hour. “No, I would never do that…” And then I understood. If the Crescent Coven captured one of these guys and used them to get to me… yes. I would do anything they wanted.
“What do we need to do?” Dorian asked when he noticed understanding settle into my bones.
“Aiden and I are meeting with Sorinah tonight,” Roman said calmly, his jaw clenched as he forced the words out.
“She’s still here?” Blaise snapped and then bowed his head slightly.
Roman didn’t seem to take offense. “She is. And I know her well enough to know she’s stayed for a reason. If she truly wanted the coven to prevail, we would have already seen her play her hand.”
“I’ll go with you and—”
Blaise stopped speaking when Roman held out his hand. “No, you can’t.” Looking to his left at the confused expression on his oldest friend’s face, he shook his head. “She can’t know. Not yet.”
Roman didn’t want his sire to know he had a dragon on his crew. Probably a very smart move.
“Aiden will be accompanying me, but I have a task for the rest of you,” Roman continued.
I felt Aiden stiffen beside me. He didn’t want to go with Roman and that terrified me. “Roman,” I asked meekly as I tore my gaze away from Aiden. “Is it safe? For just the two of you to meet with her?”
Roman paused and the pressure in the room weighed down on us. “Sorinah will listen to me. I just need to sweeten the pot a bit.”
Dorian groaned. “By letting her feed on Aiden? Really?”
“What the hell, Roman?” I shouted, but Aiden squeezed my thigh again.
“It’s all right, Kitty Cat.”
“You aren’t a whore,” I snapped back.
Aiden laughed. “I know that, luv. But I also know that I’d do anything to protect you. And Blaise.”
The dragon shifter bounced his heels against the floor. “What’s the other task?” he asked Roman. “What are we to do while you entertain your sire?”
I didn’t like the attitude in his voice. It told me that he knew more about what kind of sacrifice Aiden was making than I truly understood. Would Sorinah expect more than just blood? From both of them?
Roman looked pointedly at Dorian. “You’re going to meet with the Voodoo Pack.”
“Nope. No way,” Dorian said.
“What the hell is the Voodoo Pack?” I asked with a nervous giggle. “A pack of zombies?” I’d been joking, but everyone else in the room fell silent. “Okay, for real. I’ve never heard of the Voodoo Pack.”
“That’s because they don’t go by that name,” Dorian grumbled. “Only Roman calls them that.”
“Wait,” I turned to face Dorian, something clicking in the back of my brain. “Are you talking about Antoine?” I snapped my fingers, trying to remember his last name. “Broussard. Antione Broussard’s wolf pack?”
Dorian nodded. “He controls more than just wolves.”
“He’s got his claws dug in pretty deep in the politics of this city,” Blaise added, then looked at Roman. “Why?”
“I’d rather have him on our side.”
“There has to be another way,” Dorian argued.
“He controls what we and the coven do not. Would you rather he sides with the witches?”
“Maybe,” Dorian grumbled in defiance.
“You know that’s not true,” Roman said calmly like he was a patient parent. “Antoine is a—”
“Fucking asshat? A dickhead? A cocksucking arrogant bastard who will want a pound of flesh in return for his loyalty?” Dorian cut in.
I bit my lip to stop the giggle at the same time Aiden let out a snort. “He’s not that bad, Dorian.”
Dorian jumped to his feet and started pacing the room. “Roman, you know his kind. The minute he gets one look at Katarina and sees that she’s ours, he’ll try to take her.”
“That’s why Blaise is going with you.”
“And you don’t think he’d like to collect a dragon to add to his menagerie of voodoo priestesses and psychics and necromancers he keeps on staff? Jesus, Roman. Are you thinking straight at all?” Dorian’s cheeks flushed with anger, and he roughly pulled his hair back into a bun while he paced.
“We need him, and you are going to secure his support.” The finality of Roman’s tone told me that he didn’t like to pull rank, but he would when necessary.
A giant sigh left Dorian’s lips as he turned back toward his boss and slammed his hands on his hips like a petulant child. “It will take weeks before he’ll agree to meet with us and—”
“You are meeting with him in two hours at Makey’s Lounge on the edge of his territory.”
“Seriously?” Dorian whined.
“He’s expecting us?” I asked, trying to diffuse the situation a bit.
“He is,” Roman confirmed.
“Son of a bitch.” Dorian knocked a stack of books off the desk and Blaise growled at him.
“Hey, don’t take it out on the books, asshole.”
Roman pushed off the desk, stepped over the pile, and walked to me. Gently grabbing my face in his hands, he pressed a slow, wet kiss to my lips. “I need you to make sure these guys don’t cause any trouble.”
I laughed. “Sure, I can try to do that. And I need you to promise me that Aiden comes home in one piece.” I didn’t like the way Roman’s hands tensed at those words, but he did give me a slight nod.
“I won’t let Sorinah hurt him.”
Stepping back, I glanced around the room. “Okay then. We all have a job to do to ensure our future.” Jesus, that sounded so corny. Clapping my hands together, I said, “Let’s go.”
I was the first one to walk out of the library and head toward my room.
But just as I reached the grand ballroom that would eventually lead me to the stairway, I heard the others leave as well.
They were bickering quietly enough that I couldn’t hear their exact words.
But I knew they would all step up and do what needed to be done.
After all, they hadn’t been part of the House of Shadows just to roll over and not put up a fight. These men had a lot of love and respect for each other. It was admirable. And if I was lucky enough to experience that with them as well, then I would fight for us all down to my last breath.