Why am I not appalled at the thought of belonging to him? It should bother me, but it doesn’t. It feels right.
There’s no way that will work. Shifters and witches don’t intermingle, much less fight together. “They would never agree to something like that. You know that.”
The smile that graces his face sends a different kind of warmth through my body. Now I know why he is such a ladies’ man. He leans against the counter, crossing his legs over one another in a sexy pose. “They will. Because I will tell them to.”
I take a few steps closer to him. “And they’ll just listen to you?” My gaze devours him with lustful eyes.
A low groan escapes him. “We don’t have time for that, love. Of course, they will obey their alpha.”
Whoa. The alpha?
That does make sense now.
My hips sway as I step into his personal space.
The smile drops from his lips as his gaze darts to my mouth.
My tongue peeks out, wetting my lips, need coursing through my core. “There should always be time for this.” Our lips meet in a soft kiss that turns heated.
Arms wrap around my waist before he pulls away a little. “We can leave after. My mate has needs to be taken care of.”
I giggle and then moan as firm lips press into mine again.
He lifts me from the ground, setting me up on the counter. “I’ll never get enough of you, love.”
My breathing quickens and my heart pounds in my chest before he makes me forget anything but us.
* * *
After we fix our clothes, Ezra picks up his phone and makes a call, stepping into another room off the main hallway.
I head into the kitchen, get a glass out of the cupboard, and fill it with water. My body is satiated, but maybe we should have focused on Xavier instead of allowing extra time for that. He is on his way to find me and all. I stand at the sink and look out the window right above it.
Right out the back of his house is all woods, similar to the covens’. I smile. Maybe we aren’t all that different after all. We both surround ourselves with nature. Well… at least, most of us do.
“Now that is something I could get used to seeing every time I walk into our kitchen.” Erza’s tone is full of adoration.
“Ha.” I wink at him. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
He walks over and takes the cup from my hand and drains the rest of the water.
What the hell? My mouth drops open and I smack him on the arm. “Get your own drink.”
A deep laugh fills the room. He licks his lips and puts the cup down on the table. “Then it wouldn’t taste as good.”
When he smiles that way, he takes my breath away. I can’t imagine my life without him at this point.
He takes my hand and pulls me toward the door. “Come on. The pack is gathered in the meeting room of the pack building. They are waiting on us.”
My legs seem to feel as if they weigh an extra two hundred pounds. I don’t want to go talk to his pack, because I don’t see how this can end well.
All too soon, we are out the door in the sunlight. It’s a gorgeous day with the sun high in the sky. There isn’t a cloud in sight and the temperature, for once, is comfortable.
The houses are several hundred feet away but close enough, just like I would expect a pack to live. They are made of stone and sturdy.
There is a small group of young boys standing outside one of the houses, and as soon as I walk past, the one closest to me sniffs the air. “What is a witch doing here?”
Ezra’s body stiffens, and he hovers over the boy. “This woman is my mate. Show her respect.”
The boy cowers and lifts his hands up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Shit, I don’t want to cause a scene. This isn’t what we’re here for. “Hey, it’s okay. Let’s get going.”
He doesn’t move, still cowering over the boy.
I grab his arm and tug him back in the direction we were moving. “Come on. We have to get ready. I have a feeling it won’t take him long to find me.”
We begin moving in the direction as before and Ezra wraps an arm around me, almost as if he thinks that will protect me.
After we pass a few more houses, a bigger house in the middle comes into view. It’s made of the same stone, but it’s larger and more people seem to be coming and going.
I’m not surprised when we walk over to it. “So, this is it.”
He squeezes my hand. “We were made for each other. This is destined to work out.”
Wow, he has a lot of faith. “Or we’re destined to fail.”
Not even responding to me, he opens the door and nudges me inside. The inside has brown walls that match the dirt and wood floors. We walk inside and through the wide open room where there are at least twenty people hanging out. Five of them are working out with free weights in a corner, ten or so seem to be playing some kind of card game, and the last five are close to us just talking.
The five of them stop talking and stare at me, eyes glowing a little, their wolves coming to the surface.
I meet their hardened gazes with one of my own.
Shit. You’re not supposed to do that with wolves, right?
But do I break eye contact first? I don’t want to appear weak.
Before I make a decision, Ezra intervenes.
His voice is thick with his wolf. “Thank you all for coming. If you’ll take your seats, I’ll make this quick.”
He walks us over to a rectangular table, pulling the chair to the right of the head of the table out.
I take my seat, hostility stifling the air around me. Sweat beads on my brow and I itch to reach up and wipe it away but keep my hands on my lap.
Ezra sits in his chair, making eye contact with each person joining us around the table. “As you now know, I’ve taken a mate.”
Loud voices of protest come from each pack member at the same time. The sounds blending together create a deafening sound of chaos.
I knew this wouldn’t go well. Why didn’t he listen to me?
That’s just like a man, or so I’ve heard. Now, I get to experience it first-hand.
My lips pinch together, and I call my magic to the surface. Being this close with nature and having my feet in the ground instead of some floor strengthens me. The two men closest to me dart their gazes to me, their shifter powers circling around them.
They must have sensed me collecting magic and feel threatened.
Ezra stands, and his alpha power encompasses the room. The men lower their heads and submit to him.
“This is not up for discussion. The bond has already been completed. She is my mate and you will respect her or pay the consequences.” He releases some of his hold on them and they sit upright.
A shorter, blonde haired guy is the first to speak. “But she’s a fucking witch.”
It’s a struggle to keep my face neutral and not react.
Ezra’s jaw clenches and his fist pounds the table. “Apologize now.”
Blondie glares at me with disdain and his lip curls up in a snarl. “I apologize for cursing you.”
Even though he’s not, I nod. There’s no need for me to make the situation worse than it already is.
He turns back to the alpha. “Our kinds don’t mate or intermingle. I know the pack has been pushing for you to find a mate, but why her?”
Ezra sits back down. “I didn’t choose her. Destiny decided this. She is my true mate, and she’s in trouble. Her coven needs our help against a sorcerer who’s after what’s mine. I can’t allow that.”
The guy to his left growls. “Why should we help? It’s not our job to protect her witchy family. Don’t they have magic to defend themselves?”
I open my mouth to protect my coven against his slander.
Ezra cuts me off with a swipe of his hand through the air. “Because she’s my mate, which makes her a part of this pack. We protect our own.”
Silence reigns over the room. No one makes a comment
on his demand.
I don’t want them to resent me more than they already do. This was a bad idea. I turn to Ezra.
His glare meets each of his pack members, none of them agreeing or disagreeing with his proclamation.
Before I can voice my opinion, the door opens and a striking redhead rushes into the room.
Her eyes lock on mine, disgust evident in the upturn of her mouth. Then her gaze swings to Ezra’s, her hands rubbing together as if she’s nervous. “It’s your father. He’s fading fast. You need to come now.”
Ezra’s chair scoots back as he stands, and his voice is firm. “We will continue this conversation shortly. Time is of the essence, and this sorcerer is already on his way to us. You best get prepared. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” His clammy hand grasps mine, pulling me out of the seat and toward the door.
He’s never mentioned his dad. What’s wrong with him?
I want to ask but now is not the time for such a personal question.
7
My hand is shaking, and I realize that it’s him, not me. I squeeze his hand, trying to offer him some comfort for a situation I don’t know anything about.
We follow the redhead back through the village and into Ezra’s home.
Once we’re in the foyer, I try to let his hand go, but he tightens his grip and pulls me with him up the stairs and further down the hallway than I have wandered.
She stops outside of one of the doors, turning to us. “You’re taking her in there? He doesn’t look like himself.”
Ezra’s jaw clenches as he glares at her. “She is my mate and should meet my father before he’s gone. He would want to meet her. You may go.”
Her back stiffens, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead on the spot. She turns and leaves us outside of his father’s room.
My stomach begins to churn. I’m going to meet his dad on his deathbed. This should go well.
Is his mom going to be in there as well? What if I say the wrong thing?
I can’t imagine what this must be like for Ezra. I’ve never met my father, and I didn’t have to endure the pain of losing my mother since I was a baby.
He takes a few deep breaths before he looks at me. “You ready?”
I nod, trying to swallow around the lump in my throat. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
He grabs the door knob, twists it open, and steps into the room first, walking over to a frail looking man lying on a bed.
My hand is freed as Ezra lets go to grab one of his father’s.
I stand behind him, not sure what to do, and clasp my fingers together in front of me.
Ezra sits on the edge of the bed. “Dad, I’d like you to meet someone.”
There’s no reply, but I step up beside him. My eyes widen when the same striking blue eyes that I stared into just moments ago fill with tears in an aged face.
“Dad, this is Sage. My mate. I’ve found her.” Ezra’s voice chokes a little at the end. “Sage, this is my father, Liam.”
Liam’s fingers wiggle, lifting off the bed a little.
I step closer and wrap my hand around his frail hand. Tears prick my eyes, taking in the father of the man I’m falling in love with.
He had to have been a strong, intimidating man before he became sick.
What would take a shifter down like this? Doesn’t their race live long lives?
Ezra moves away from the bed, his warmth staying at my back.
Liam’s dry, cracked lips move, and I lean down, turning my ear closer to his mouth. His hand applies a slight pressure to mine that’s still holding his. “Take care of him.” His body goes lax.
Oh, goddess. Is he dead?
Rising, I take in his prone form. My heart races.
The barest of movements grabs my attention; his chest rises a fraction before lowering.
Ezra places a hand on my lower back, whispering in my ear, “Thank you.”
All I can do is nod, silent tears stream down my cheeks. I wipe them before meeting Ezra’s pained expression. After letting Liam’s hand go, I pat the back of it as I stand and walk to the door.
Ezra joins me with his eyebrows furrowed. “Are you leaving?”
Lowering my gaze, I interlink my fingers with his. “You should spend some time alone with him. I don’t want to interfere.”
A finger touches under my chin, lifting my head up. “You’ll never interfere. As a matter of fact, I know he’d want you here with him. After losing my mother, he wanted nothing more than for me to find the one person made for me.”
My breath hitches. What will he think of me if I break his son’s heart? What happened to his mother? Our world is cruel to take such a loving father from his son.
“What happened to him?” The words fall from my mouth without me thinking about it. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to tell me. I was just curious as to what would take a shifter down this way.” I shift my weight from foot to foot, each word said faster than the last.
He chuckles and places a finger over my lips, stopping the word vomit. “You can ask me anything that you want. Don’t be sorry. He broke his hip a month ago and kept getting infections from the break. His body hasn’t been strong enough to fight them off and heal.”
I turn my head toward the bed again. “But I thought shifters healed faster than normal humans.”
He puts his hands in his pockets, shifting most of his weight to one side. “We do until we reach the age of one hundred and twenty. Then our wolf’s powers begin to decline, and our healing slows.”
This information is not something he would share with anyone. Supes are very secretive about their flaws. Something like this could be a game changer if it fell into the wrong hands.
With a small smile, I raise up on my tiptoes and place a firm kiss on his lips. Warmth blossoms in my chest, and magic swirls through my body, seeking an outlet. I know what to do.
I lower myself down, Ezra’s mouth following mine as his hands cup the back of my head, pulling me back to him.
A plan formulates in my head. Will I be able to do something of this magnitude by myself? What if it doesn’t work? The doubts circulate. Grams’ voice telling me to try harder echoes in my head. I have to try.
Placing my hands on his chest, I push him away. “I’m going to try something.”
He tilts his head to the side and his eyebrows furrow. “What?”
I smile and walk over to the side of the bed. “Heal him. Can you hold my hand?”
His hand interlocks with mine and I touch Liam’s forehead. Closing my eyes, I connect with the magic within.
Bringing forth the white healing magic, I push it into his body, feeling the infection fight against the light of the magic. The infection has control of his body.
How has he held on this long?
With a strong push, I break through the barrier and flood as much white light through him as I can, breaking down each virus cell I encounter. Time has no meaning. I work through his body, killing as much as I can.
Sweat beads on my face, and every so, often a cool cloth brushes along my heated skin.
My power begins to weaken the longer I stay in this energy form. My legs tremble and my body begins to tilt.
Strong arms scoop me up. My hand falls away from Liam’s skin and my eyelids flutter open.
Ezra’s worried gaze darts over my face. “I think you need a break, love.”
I jerk in his arms. “I need to keep going. I’ll be good once I get some water.”
He sets me in a chair by the windows facing the woods. “You’re pale, weak, and trembling. You’re doing too much. We’ve had several healers here and none have succeeded. I can’t lose you trying to save my dad. I’ve made peace with it.”
I sit up straighter. “They were not me. I’ve got to keep trying. I’m making headway.” I point at Liam. “Look at him, Ezra. His coloring is better and his breathing is improving.”
He runs his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want you killing yourself. What if it doesn�
��t work? Don’t you understand? I can’t lose you, too.”
My heart pounds in my tight chest. I cup his cheeks. “Nothing is going to happen. You have to trust me.”
He lets out a deep sigh and nods.
Our lips meet in a tender kiss. “See? I feel better already.”
He barks out a laugh, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. “What am I going to do with you, woman?”
I shrug. “Love me,” I whisper.
Happiness shines from his gaze. “That I am. I’ll be right back with that water.”
Tightness constricts my chest. Happiness and doubt flood through me. What if we don’t defeat Xavier?
Standing, my knees wobble a little before I walk over to Liam. It’s a good thing Ezra isn’t in here; otherwise, he’d be making me sit back down.
Liam’s features are filling back in and his skin has some normal color to it. But he’s not in the clear yet.
This time, I sit on the bed beside him, which should help conserve some of my energy from standing. After a deep breath, I focus my energy on him and push the healing light inside.
Damn. The infection has spread more since I stopped. This doesn’t react like any normal virus I’ve seen attack the body.
Starting from his head, I work my way back through his body. At times, I feel pressure on my physical body but push it away.
As I destroy the last bit of infection, I repair the still broken hip bone. I did it. Liam should pull through now, but I feel so heavy and tired.
“Sage.” Ezra’s whisper tickles my ear.
My eyelids flutter open a little. “So tired. Did it work?” My words are breathy and stilted. I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I catch pieces of what he says.
“Think… so. Sleep, love.”
* * *
A door opens, waking me. I stretch my arms over my head, and my mouth opens in a yawn. I’m in the same room I woke up in last time. It has to be Ezra’s bedroom.
Footsteps tread to the side of the bed and Ezra’s glowing eyes stare down at me.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 198