He chuckled. “From the moment we met, you’ve been curious. Even if it’s born from inexperience, it is there. I see it and I suspect Ethan and others see it, too. I don’t think you come with the position, nor would I even consider that an option. Upon his defeat, you will mourn him and your grief is expected. Eventually you’ll see your relationship with Ethan as the dalliance that it is. It’s trivial, maybe not to you, but to Ethan. I think what you feel for Ethan is real, but you have to question his intentions with you. It’s hard to accept it, but if I see it, so does everyone else. You’re his little trophy. The odd werewolf with the unique magical abilities that people find simultaneously disturbing and intriguing.” His gaze drifted from mine to the window behind me in consideration. I wondered if it was a dubious attempt to get me to contemplate his words.
I knew he was planting the seed of doubt for his purposes, and I just wanted to rebuff him and tell him to go to hell, but most of the things he said were in my head. The seed had been planted long before Cole. He had just come along to water, cultivate, and nurture it to growth. And he was getting to me.
When his attention returned to me, I held his gaze. Kind, soft silver eyes reflected back at me, and I refused the solace they attempted to offer. I refused to be ushered into acceptance of this, coaxed into complacency. Or to be easily seduced by his spurious kindness and concern.
“I’m not as naïve as you would like to believe. You sat here and told me all the things that are wrong with me and Ethan, but obviously you see something in it, because you wouldn’t be working so hard to plant the seed of doubt otherwise. Yes, if anything happens to him, I would undoubtedly mourn, and probably not just for a few days. Ethan’s an ass, I knew it the first time I met him, but it didn’t stop me from falling for him. Most of the pack pretty much feel the same way, but they trust him with their lives. They know in his hands, they’re safe. If you think that because you win a fight you will gain their loyalty, you have deluded yourself.”
The easy smile fell from his lips, his eyes narrowed, and the mask dropped as it always did, giving me a peek at the predator behind the placid, innocuous smile, gentle, breezy demeanor, and concerned visage.
“This meeting is over,” I said as I stood. He got up to walk me out, but I stopped him. “Enjoy your dinner.”
“Skylar.” He called my name before I could make it to the door. Moving lissomely, he walked toward me, the wine still in his hand; surprisingly he hadn’t spilled any from a glass that had been overfilled. The closer he got, the more aware I was of his presence and the confidence that I wished he lacked. Confidence wins fights and emboldens people to do the unachievable. There wasn’t concern or fear about this challenge, nothing weighed on him, and I was envious. I wondered if Ethan, too, had the same feelings and Josh and I were the only ones carrying the burden of his impending death.
When Cole finally spoke after several moments of silence, he had a gentle, even tone. “I don’t think you despise me as much as you want me to believe.” He leaned in. “I’d never pursue an involved woman.”
“But you are. That’s exactly what you are doing.”
He stepped closer, his voice a low whisper. “I guarantee, I’m not.”
Then he turned and took a few steps. He stopped midstep and looked over his shoulder. “By your own admission, you didn’t like Ethan very much in the beginning, either, right? Right now you don’t like me. I think eventually that, too, will change.”
I didn’t bother answering. I spun around and headed out the door.
Ethan was waiting in my living room by the time I got home. The drive from Cole’s hotel hadn’t improved my mood at all. I was divided over what irritated me the most: Cole, Cole’s words, the fact that I was letting them bother me, or that maybe there was some truth to what he said, which was why twenty minutes later, I was still thinking about them.
“How did you get in here?” Weary from the many emotions I’d dealt with on the drive home, I sounded tired.
He stood and walked over to me, keys dangling from his fingers. “They’re Steven’s. It’s really not appropriate for him to have a set.”
“More rules to make you feel comfortable. It’s funny how that works.” Damn. I tried to shrug off everything that Cole had said, but it was hard.
He placed the keys on the counter. “If you want him to have it, so be it.” He leaned in and inhaled. “You smell like Cole.”
I couldn’t smell anything other than my deodorant and shampoo. He stood back, arms crossed, and waited for me to speak, but I had nothing to say. The truth was probably just as bad as me blankly staring at him, but the latter probably would incite an argument. “Fine. Why do you smell like Cole?”
“Because I met with him earlier.”
“About what?” Ethan and Sebastian didn’t just want to call you out, they seemed to need an admittance of your transgression and for you to feel the guilt. Sadly, I didn’t feel guilt or remorse.
His cool eyes stayed on me and commanded a response: the truth. When I didn’t answer he asked the question again.
The longer he watched me with his cool ire, the more irritated I became. I wasn’t wrong, and I refused to be made out to be that way. “Of the two of you, I thought he was the more reasonable.”
He let the silence continue until it became uncomfortable for me to bear, and I focused on other things around the room. Eventually I lifted my eyes to his.
“Continue,” he said in a tepid voice.
“And he’s just as confident and callous about his life.” I pushed past him and took a seat on the sofa, shoving the ottoman in front of it out of the way. I moved it with such force it crashed into the wall behind. It surprised me, but not Ethan, cool and impassive. It took everything in me to control my emotions and not overreact. The prevailing uncomfortable silence was too much. “It’s not just you anymore,” I snapped.
He nodded slowly, taking in my words. “Were you unaware of my position in this pack? Did you think that I wouldn’t ever get challenged?”
I could feel tears of anger brimming at the edges of my eyes and I blinked them back. I refused to give him that, no matter how much relief it would have given me. “I thought you would consider others. Me. You’re not alone. The decisions you make affect other people, too.”
“Sky.” He sighed my name in exasperation. He paused, and when he continued, his tone was soft and somber. “No matter how much I want to, I can’t prevent you from being affected by pack rules—”
“But it’s not pack rules. There aren’t any rules that say that a challenge is to death. That’s some arbitrary BS that you and Sebastian hold to just to up the ante to decrease the number of challenges.” I referred to what he’d told me the first time we’d met. He’d said that if he didn’t make it known that his challenges were to the death, every were-animal trying to make a name for himself would challenge him. But this wasn’t some twerp trying to assert his dominance. This was an Alpha of another pack.
“Ethan, it’s not the same.”
“I do wish I could make this better for you, Sky.”
“You condescending prick.”
“Sky. Desculpa por te ter magoado.” I’m sorry you are hurt.
“Tu tens o poder de o mudar.” You have the power to change it.
He stared at me with a blank expression. He might have had the power to do so, but he wasn’t interested in exerting it. The more time that passed, the more I knew that Ethan was unwilling to change the rules no matter how barbaric or cruel they appeared to be. He believed the rules were the foundation of a strong pack. It was a blind loyalty and acceptance that I just didn’t have. I realized that this was Ethan. He hadn’t changed from the first time I’d met him and probably wouldn’t. It hurt.
“I don’t understand you, Ethan. First you tell me you love me, but not enough to do this for me.” Dammit, I’m spouting the same thing Cole said. It felt like a betrayal using his words against Ethan, but unfortunately it was how I felt.
&
nbsp; “Já terminaste?” Are you finished?
I nodded.
Ethan remained quiet for an unusually long time. I wasn’t sure if he was actually considering it or attempting to placate me and give me the impression that he was. He moved closer to me until he was within reach. His fingers brushed languidly along the curves of my jaw, to my chin, and then lightly swept over my lips. Then he kissed me gently. “I do love you. If you doubt it, please don’t. My stance on the challenge has nothing to do with my feelings for you. I’m sorry you feel that it does. I don’t respond to emotional blackmail. It is a tactic I discourage you from using again.” He looked away from me. “Do you want me to leave?”
My answer didn’t come immediately as I tried to process it all. I was feeling too many things, and sorting them out became so difficult that I just wanted silence, a break from it all, including Ethan.
I nodded.
Without saying another word, he left.
CHAPTER 20
The next day, at Ariel’s request, Samuel, Ethan, Josh, Sebastian, and I were the only people in attendance at a meeting. The constant skeptic Samuel didn’t have the Clostra with him when he met us at the witches’ headquarters and made it very clear that he had no intention of relinquishing it until he had confirmation that Sebastian had brokered the deal. I didn’t blame him—I was as doubtful as he was.
We walked into the witches’ headquarters, and it looked like the new order had taken over and settled into their roles. No longer were there mirrors on the back wall; instead there was vellum paper with a pledge in Latin to honor their magic and do whatever necessary to protect those in their care. They’d kept the runes on the wall. The table was longer but simple, and to the side were other smaller tables. On the opposite side of the room were shelves filled with books. In another corner was a curio with a lock and sigils running down its dark wood.
As soon as we walked in, Ariel rose from the long table where she was sitting and approached us with the same confidence and ease that she’d had when I’d seen her at the hotel. When she greeted Sebastian with a warm smile, he returned it.
Ariel’s genteel smile remained as she greeted Samuel. “I’ve heard wonderful things about you.”
“Then you’ve been hanging around with liars.”
Her light, melodious laughter filled the large room, ebullient enough to even coax a smile out of Samuel. “Well, Marcia hated you, so that means you can’t be that bad.”
He didn’t respond; instead his suspicious gaze narrowed on her.
She continued. “Sebastian informed me of your wishes, and I understand that what happened to you was horrible. You are right, this position is rightfully yours. Unfortunately, you must understand that your reputation will not allow that to happen. The witches had been fractured for some time under Marcia’s rule, and there needs to be a show of goodwill and faith. Putting you in any position of power will not do that.”
“That was the agreement!” Samuel turned his ire on Sebastian. “You promised.”
“I did no such thing. I said bring the book.”
Ariel called his name in a soft, soothing timbre one might use when dealing with a fanatic on the edge, and Samuel was there. His unruly ochre hair was longer now and seemed at odds with his intense, sharp cognac-colored eyes. For a person who had magic in his quiver as a means to protect him, his slim build was noticeably lean and fit. Behind the scruffy beard was a faintly handsome man whose appearance was overshadowed by his crazy.
“I understand that was an agreement you feel he made with you; unfortunately, it is something that can’t be done at the time. But your goal was to have access to the Aufero to return the magic to those it was taken from. That is something we will help you with. It will be a benevolent act that will improve your standing with others.”
“That was something I was going to do anyway.”
“Yes, months ago. I suspect that offer from Sebastian is no longer available. Voided by your inactivity. Not his fault but yours.”
Samuel’s eyes were fiery, his face flushed with anger—intense accusatory glances of betrayal were shot in Sebastian’s direction. “This meeting is over.” He started to leave.
Ariel held up her hand to stop him. “That is my first offer to you. My second one is”—she waved her hand toward a corner, and a man came over: dark hair, simple rounded features, and penetrating dark brown eyes—“Eric.” Samuel’s face blanched, but I had no idea who Eric was.
Ariel paused, assessing the changes in Samuel’s expression, which switched from anger to shock and then settled in the uncomfortable place of fear. “I thought you might know him. He rarely needs an introduction as one of the strongest faes on this side of the country. I think we know three or four stronger.” Then she made a signal and the witches closed in. “There are eight of us and a fae who can make you tell us anything we want. I don’t want to do that. It’s distasteful to treat someone that way.” She leaned in. “Let’s be clear, I find it distasteful but not reprehensible. I will do it. Will my fae friend have to work his magic and make you give us the truth and reveal the whereabouts of the Clostra, or will you do it willingly?”
Samuel looked around the room, evaluating the situation, and for a few moments he thought before revealing the location.
Giving him a smile of appreciation, she directed him to the table, where she’d been seated. Her demeanor was ever so soft, and she wielded her power with a gentleness I had seen only from Claudia. “Please join us while Sebastian retrieves the book. We have things to discuss. I look forward to us working together.” Her approach was definitely different than Marcia’s, but would it be beneficial? Her invitation was nothing more than giving Sebastian an opportunity to confirm that the location was correct.
When Ariel called Sebastian before he could get out the door, her voice was still cloying, as was her smile. “When you have all three, and you’ve used them for what you need, I do expect to have two of them given to the witches.” Then she shot a look in Josh’s direction. “And copies of any translations you may have.”
Sebastian stopped. His smile faltered for just a moment, but it quickly reasserted itself, along with the charm that was very often hard to ignore. The cunning dance of the predator that he’d perfected and used often. “That wasn’t discussed last night.”
When she closed the distance between them, this no longer seemed like a business meeting at all. Now I felt like a voyeur watching two people getting ready to have pillow talk.
“Yes, dinner was nice, and you are ever the charmer. You have a mirror, I don’t have to elaborate.” She laughed. “I’m sure getting women to swoon over you is a tactic that probably has served you well in the past. I’m not one of them. It was quite an exercise in restraint for me to decline dessert.” She stepped back and winked. “I’m not comfortable with you all having them. We split the difference in our favor. We’re all friends here. If you need the third at some point, something can always be negotiated, but the Midwest Pack having access to the books and someone who can read and use the spells isn’t something I’m comfortable with.”
Sebastian’s confident grin remained as he took a step closer. He looked her over, giving her a quick assessment before he spoke. “Ariel”—he made her name into a gentle melody—“you know we can be trusted. I can be trusted. These will remain with us.”
The curve in her lips didn’t shift completely into a smile; it showed more of a subtle challenge than amusement. “Of course, Sebastian, I do believe you can be trusted; however, I guarantee that you will do whatever is necessary to protect your pack. A quality I find admirable,” she said as she played with magic, curling it around the tips of her fingers. Her magic could not only be felt, but seen, a smoky-colored ring spreading from her like wings, strong, dangerous magic that was prepared to do damage. Her face was still gentle, the tone of her voice soft, and her demeanor relaxed, which only confirmed why Marcia had wanted her dead. Her magic made Josh’s seem like a minor-league performance th
at should be on a cruise ship. “It’s not a matter of trust, but checks and balances. We all need them, which is why I increased the number of people on the Creed. I’m not above requiring checks and balances, either. Tre’ases are unrestricted; vampires are immune to daylight as well as holy water. I understand”—her gaze slipped in my direction and quickly returned to Sebastian—“it is your pack’s doing. It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion. I think you can agree with it enough to know there doesn’t need to be any more discussion about it.”
She smiled and turned her back to him, then tossed a look over her shoulder. “Full disclosure, I was approached by a man who calls himself X this morning. For some reason he is seeking an alliance against your pack. His offer was tempting. If the books aren’t returned to us, I don’t think it will be a bad idea for me to meet with him again.” She gave us a sweeping look. “I’m sure you all can see yourselves out.” She spun on her heel and returned to her seat.
Sebastian’s gaze, eyes narrowed, lingered on her, and his lips wavered between a smile and a smirk. An implicit appreciation of the tactics of a masterful and skilled opponent. While many people might have balked at the challenge, Sebastian openly welcomed it. She was a worthy opponent, a way to hone his skills.
Dexter was making an effort to form an alliance to seek revenge against the pack, Cole and Ethan were going to have a death match, we sort of had a tenebrous alliance with the witches who would have part of the Clostra, Ariel was decidedly stronger than Josh, and the vampires had been in hiding since they’d attacked me. As we walked deeper into the retreat’s woodlands, these thoughts were pushed aside because I was trying to listen to concerned and emphatic brothers: the witch and the werewolf as they went off on the same topic again. And again. It was my fourth time hearing it.
Moon Cursed (Sky Brooks Series Book 5) Page 27