Chapter 27 #2
“You wanted her to become alpha, even when you knew many among your breed would not approve.” A bold move, one that I had not seen coming, and one that gained this wolf some modicum of my respect. I had not expected a male wolf to desire such change in the power dynamic of his breed.
“Well, she didn’t approve. She doesn’t want to be an alpha.
I think what she wants…” He looked around the clearing, slowly taking it all in, his gaze settling last on the castle behind me before it lowered to me.
“I think what will make her happy is here. It’s not back in Canada, with the pack. That life was never for her.”
I stared at him, schooling my features to conceal my shock or how deeply his words shook me to my core, rousing something warm and fragile within me, something that felt as if it could be shattered with a word or a look, and would break all of me with it.
Saphira wanted to stay in the Shadow Court.
When all was said and done, she would not leave with her pack and return to her world. She would stay.
And by the Great Mother, I wanted that.
“What are you talking about with such grim looks on your faces?” Saphira appeared next to me, her gaze expectant as it shifted between all of us.
“I discovered something truly shocking.” I leaned towards her, a wicked smile curving my lips as I settled my gaze on Morden and whispered, “Your cousin does not share your intellect and believes Morden to be a good candidate for his beta. Perhaps your sharp and shrewd mind came from your mother’s side. ”
She scowled at me and nudged my arm, and my grin only widened as Morden bared his fangs at me. I flashed jagged fangs right back at him and while he was distracted, my shadows snaked around his left leg and tugged, pulling him off balance.
But not toppling him.
The male was coming to know me too well. He planted his other foot behind him and managed to remain upright, a growl pealing from his lips as he turned on me.
“Stop antagonising him. I swear…” She pushed me again, but this time her hand lingered on my arm and all amusement slowly died in her eyes as she looked up at me.
“Chase thinks Lucas might have documents at his house. We want to go there as soon as possible to take a look. If he bought a mansion, he might have left deeds to it or something about it in his hurry to escape. We could use them to find him, and Everlee and Danica.”
Those nerves in her eyes made sense as she spoke of them going together.
She feared I would refuse to let her go now I knew fae were looking for her.
I was tempted, that possessive beast she had awoken within me snarling that I had to keep her here, surrounded by men at all times, soldiers capable of protecting her whenever I could not be by her side.
Instead of listening to it, I nodded and said, “A sound plan. We shall make arrangements to head there together tomorrow morning.”
Her gaze remained cold and too distant for my liking, and she casually rubbed her left arm with her right hand, as if subconsciously trying to ward off the chill of her thoughts.
“What is it, my little wolf?” I canted my head, concern growing in my heart as she struggled to meet my gaze.
“Did you learn anything new?” She managed to lift her eyes to mine, and hers were bleak.
“I was not seeking further knowledge.” I wanted to shield her from the worst of what I was doing, but I would not let her think I was simply questioning Braxton’s soul.
I wanted her to know he was suffering for what he had done to her, and that I was keeping my promise to her.
“I seek his pain, and his suffering, and I carve each scream from his soul with the precision of a master surgeon, taking pride in my work. I vowed all involved in what had happened to you would pay for their crimes, and he will.”
She opened her mouth and snapped it shut, a war brewing in her eyes as her brows furrowed and then knitted.
I shook my head as I came to face her, stepping up to her, making her tilt her head back as I bent mine forwards to keep our gazes locked.
“What I do in that tower has nothing to do with you, my little wolf. What I do there is my work, and my responsibility. You are not to feel a jot of guilt over it.”
A small smile danced on her lips. “You ripped up our contract, remember? You can’t order me around anymore.”
A wistful and dramatic sigh escaped me. “A reckless move and one I now regret. I did so enjoy ordering you to do things.”
I had regretted my actions the moment I had carried them out, but not because I enjoyed ordering her around—which I did—but because she had left me as planned. She had walked out of my kingdom, vowing to return and make me pay for what I had done.
“You promised me retribution.” I reminded her, forgetting the existence of the two males close to us as the world narrowed down to her and I waited to hear her response, craving it.
That smile grew. “And it’s coming. In numerous ways.
First off, I’m buying every dress from the seamstress and I have an appointment for several more.
The tailor is making me a whole new wardrobe of training gear, and Fierel has promised to make me some throwing knives to go with a leather holster Malachi is going to make for me. I’m charging it all to your accounts.”
“Hardly a punishment.” I smiled right back at her. “Although I plan to make you show me every dress and I refuse to leave the room while you are changing.”
Chase might have retched a little. I paid him no heed, too enraptured with Saphira to care about his reaction.
“Second, I’m going to have Mal teach me how to throw knives, and you have to stand there and watch and say nothing.”
“So you desire me to kill my spymaster. Noted.” I only grinned wider when her eyes widened and her lips parted, and then flattened into a mulish line.
She slapped my arm for my insolence and I raised my hands at my sides in an act of surrender.
“Very well. I shall watch without interference, but I should probably tell you that I taught Mal how to throw knives with such deadly precision, so perhaps it is best you learn from me?”
I inched closer, savouring her scent as she pouted at me and her lips wriggled, that look in her eyes telling me that she was debating my offer.
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “But only because I like Malachi and I don’t want you killing him.”
“Thirdly,” I said, enjoying myself and this moment that felt normal to me too.
“I will be stepping up your training. You shall study in the library each morning, learning more about the fae, especially those of the Summer Court. In the afternoon, you will train with either myself or Jenavyr with swords, or with Chase as a wolf. All forms of combat shall be covered, and you will study them with every ounce of your focus. Do you understand?”
“I know I should have told you about the fae. I’m sorry I didn’t.
” She lightly squeezed my right bicep, her soft gaze imploring me not to be angry with her for the fact she had kept something so important from me.
She sighed and lightly stroked her fingers down my arm, her gaze drifting to them as she maddened me with that touch, making my anger crumble and fall apart as the tension bled from my shoulders.
She slightly shook her head and met my gaze.
“I’ll train all you want. How you want. Knowledge.
Weapons. Wolf. Whatever it takes to be ready if I need to fight a fae or if they ta—”
“No one is taking you from me,” I snarled as my hands shot to her face, gripping her cheeks to keep her surprised blue eyes on mine. “No one. I will not allow it.”
She placed her hands over mine, her look softening again. “Understood.”
Her fingers brushed over the backs of my hands, that bewitching touch soothing me, as if she was the one who bore magic in her veins.
I forced myself to loosen my hold on her, tamping down that part of me that growled to keep hold of her, to hold her tighter. Closer. No matter how much I hurt her.
I would not hurt her.
I lowered my hands to her shoulders. “Fourth, I shall be granting all your wolves the same spell I bestowed upon you, so they may roam freely without fear of not being able to understand those who live here.”
“Damn you!” she muttered. “That was my fourth request.”
I arched a brow at her, counting the requests she had made and finding one missing. “And what would have been your third?”
She sidled closer. “I was going to demand you order the cooks to make enough for two and that you’ll be dining with me tonight.”
My eyebrows pitched low as I angled my head, studying her. “You do not dine with your pack?”
“Not tonight. I want them to settle in and I’m not sure that will happen with me here.”
“Saphi,” Chase whispered.
She shook her head, silencing him. “It’s fine. I just need a little time myself.”
She needed normal.
“Besides, the dining room isn’t far from my room so when I get tired, I can just ditch this guy and pass out on my bed without having to walk far.” She jerked her thumb at me, a smile in her eyes that would have bewitched me if her words had not already done that.
“You are not staying here with the others?” I did a poor job of concealing my surprise judging by the look she gave me, one that was warm and teasing, and something else too. Something I feared naming.
“And give up a perfectly good room with a huge bed that’s just for me, and room service, and a killer view and all my clothes plus hot running water? I think not. I’m not that crazy.” Her smile hit me hard in the chest as her eyes twinkled. “A girl could get used to luxury castle living.”
I wanted her to get used to it.
I wanted her to get so used to it that she could not imagine living anywhere else.
That she did not wish to be anywhere else.
That hit me almost as hard as her smile.
“Very well then.” I bowed my head. “I shall have the cook notified immediately so they can source more meat, enough to feed an insatiable wolf.”
“And what shall I do?” She canted her head as I took hold of her hand, gently lifting it towards my lips.
“You shall be ready within the hour and will come to the dining room on time, where I shall be waiting…”
I pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand as I summoned the teleport.
And finished with a wicked smile.
“… for you to sit on my lap and feed me sweet buns.”
Her throaty laugh as I disappeared was music to my ears.