by Leia Stone
“You think it has something to do with me now?” I said, my nails digging into my palms. “That my people died because some of the fae are trying to get to me.” I forced myself to breathe a few deep breaths to calm myself.
The ercho, Finn reminded me. I let out a sigh. Dammit.
“Finn just reminded me that the ercho had been trying to drag me into the shiny water slick it came from. It was acting like it wanted me.” I was starting to believe that Kade might be right. I needed to get into the Otherworld right away. Who knew what they would do to Violet. I was desperately hoping that if it was me they were after, they’d keep her alive until I got there. Give me a chance to save her.
“I’ll never let them take you, Ari,” Kade said as he switched off the cart. Silence descended across the stretch of beach we were on. “You’re under my protection. Do you know what I do to anyone who touches those under my protection?”
The intensity and bristling anger he was exuding actually had the hairs on my body standing up. I didn’t fear much, but right now Kade was all kinds of scary. He was holding my gaze with ferocity.
“What do you do to them?” I murmured, needing to know.
He leaned closer, his warmth and scent everywhere. “My bear takes them apart, piece by piece, and enjoys every second of it.”
The urge to jump him then and there slammed through my body; my lower half clenched in need. I wasn’t a shifter who had ever wanted to be protected by a man – I was expected to do the protecting, alphas and heirs were the strongest – but from Kade it didn’t seem to take from my power. It felt like it built me up. We were a team and it made us stronger.
Before I could open my mouth and let all the emotions leak out, I noticed a beautiful female walking toward us. She was in full battle gear, all black leather and chain mail and holding a sickle that looked like it still had dried fae blood on it. Her skin was the color of caramel and her natural dark curly hair whipped back and forth in the wind. She was stunning, moving with the speed and grace of a shifter. But not wolf.
Kade followed my gaze, and we both watched as the female’s long strides ate up the distance between her and our cart in moments. “My king?” she said, her brow creasing.
Kade exited the golf cart and approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder for a brief moment. “All is well, Trixie, but I need you to tell me the truth now.”
She swallowed hard as if she knew she was about to be in trouble. “Yes?”
Calista and I exited also, stopping near Kade. Finn stayed in the golf cart, staring at the ocean. My familiar loved the ocean more than I did; it was a commonality he shared with Violet.
Kade’s fierce expression darkened more, if that was even possible. “I know that some bears have been going to Manhattan to Baladar’s club nights. I know you’ve been at the club, and now I need to know where the vortex is. I will not punish you if you tell me where to find it.”
Her eyes widened and I could hear her heart hammering in her chest. It was clear that Kade knew she was the partying type and would have the answers he sought.
“Y-Your Highness,” she stuttered. “I’m so sorry for keeping it from you. We figured it was innocent and—”
“Trixie, I don’t care about what you’ve done. I have much bigger fae to fry. Just tell me where it is.”
She chewed her bottom lip. “On the corner of Tennyson and Nelson, under the green bench.”
Kade and I exchanged a single glance; he looked satisfied. Probably glad he didn’t have to break any bones to get that information.
“Thank you,” I said to Trixie, even though my wolf was growling inside, trying to force the change on me. She kinda wanted to rip this bear shifter’s head from her shoulders for keeping information of an illegal vortex from her king. I also knew my wolf would be jealous of any female, even Calista, until we were properly mated and she had staked her claim on him.
“Are you going to shut it down?” Trixie asked Kade, and I could see her guilt. She knew she’d sold out Baladar and her friends, but she’d had no choice. When your king asks you for something, you give it to him.
“I’m going to use it,” Kade said.
Trixie’s brows furrowed, and she moved even closer, which really annoyed my wolf. “The vortex? When?”
Kade gave her a look that said he didn’t like being questioned. She hurried on to explain: “I ask because the vortex only works on Wednesday nights after 9pm.”
Crap! It was Saturday. I couldn’t sit on my butt for four days while Violet endured gods-knew-what in the fae lands at the hands of our enemy.
Kade reached out and ran a gentle hand from the base of my spine up to the nape of my neck, his touch both soothing and frustrating. Growls were actually rumbling my chest now. I was losing the battle with keeping my wolf contained.
“Thank you,” he said to Trixie. She bowed deeply and walked back to her station. I caught a few curious glances over her shoulder at me, but for the most part she remained professional.
“We’ll find another way,” Kade said as he turned to me.
I knew there was no other way without causing a war. I had played mecca chess enough to know that Selene would see any act of entering Manhattan as an assassination attempt. I was banned, and in her eyes Kade was the enemy.
It was a heavy silence as we walked back to the golf cart and I sank into my seat. “Four days. Violet could be anywhere by then.”
Calista spoke up suddenly: “Didn’t you tell me that time worked differently over there?”
I perked up. “Yes!” I turned to face her with a little hope in my heart. The Summer Court prince had told me he could buy me a few weeks in his time, which was a few seasons here. So four days here was probably only a day over there.
“Okay, Wednesday we get Violet back,” I said.
Hang on, Vi. I’m coming for you.
Later that night I found myself at the grand dining table with Kade. We were back on Staten Island, and it was a relief to feel the mecca around me again. The council definitely had not separated me from it, although the dulling of the connection was there. I wasn’t sure they could ever fully separate me from it now; it felt like it was permanently part of me. Like Calista said, until death.
Since this was the bear’s territory, I wasn’t breaking any rules, but I knew word would spread to Selene – we had spies everywhere – that I was back in the boroughs, and she would retaliate. I really didn’t care though. I was surrounded by all the shifters I loved in the world: Calista, Finn, Winnie, and my four remaining dominants, Blaine, Monica, Jen, and Victor. They’d refused to go into service for Selene, and were now exiled with me. All of us mourned Ben, all of us angry we could not send him off in true warrior fashion as we had for Derek. But we were having our own private ceremony soon.
Victor in particular was stony-faced, darkness washing away his normally jovial expression. He’d lost two of his brothers now – not brothers in blood, but by a bond far greater: love. He had briefly spoken to me when we arrived here; his need for revenge was strong. I had to make sure he didn’t go after the fae himself and die in the process. Anger and vengeance were terrible fuels for shifters; it made us hard and bitter. Changed who we were. Let the beast control us.
Victor’s eyes flashed to me and I could see the wolf there. I’m not sure I’d ever get my friend back; in so many ways I’d lost all three of them now. Blaine was at his side, tense, not eating much, but he still looked like my beautiful friend, just with sadder eyes and a heavier heart. He was the only one keeping Victor together. Jen and Monica were doing what they could, but each of us were mourning and had very little comfort to offer anybody.
I wanted to kill the fae all over again. And make it more painful this time.
Kade reached across then and ran his hand up my thigh, comforting and hot, sending tingles of mecca through my body. I pushed down my sorrow as hard as I could, utilizing all my skills. As queen, my compartmentalizing was second to none. I focused on what was per
fect right now. Kade.
Being with him like this had my heart overfull. There was so much pressure and emotion in my chest that it was hard to contain. Even though I hadn’t said the words, I loved him more than any other in my world, and that was why I wasn’t completely falling apart over the loss of my crown, the loss of Violet, and the death of my people. Kade was holding me together. It was as if his love was a balm, a glue. With him at my side I knew I could keep myself together long enough to save my best friend and deal with the fae. After that I’d fall apart – pull out these emotions and let them consume me. Until then I had to stay strong.
I loved the bear king. Holy crap.
It wasn’t one little thing which I could pinpoint to tell me why, or how this had happened. There were a million of them – the way my wolf howled for his bear; the way his kiss stole my breath and had my heart beating fast; how kind he was, his protective instincts so different to wolf males. He was more dominant than me, and I was somehow okay with that. Most of the time.
Kade’s copper eyes sparkled as that sexy grin lifted his chin. Dimples flashed at me through the scruff on his face, and I forced myself not to lean over and nuzzle into him. Gerald interrupted us by crossing to his king and whispering into his ear. I could have listened in, but I would not betray Kade’s privacy like that. If he wanted me to know, he’d tell me.
His expression grew grim, the smile fading away, taking my favorite dimple with it.
“Everything okay?” I said as Gerald took his seat at the table. Yeah, so much for privacy. I wanted to know.
The hand on my thigh flexed slightly, before it relaxed and started running in slow circles over my leg. “Gerald just escorted most of my council from Staten Island. They’re exiled out of the boroughs for now until I can decide what to do with them.”
Despite the fact the bears were grateful to me for saving them, apparently learning I was no longer queen, and that I’d be shacking up with their king, had sent some of his council over the edge. As soon as we had arrived, Kade had made a public declaration of support and love for me. The council threw a fit, but I hadn’t heard the outcome. Now I knew. He leaned over to Gerald.
“Spread the word. Those who are not okay with Arianna and I being together are welcome to leave New York City.”
My jaw went slack. It was one of the hottest, craziest, most perfect things he’d ever done. I still couldn’t believe after all we had been though, I was sitting next to him, his hand on my thigh, eating dinner with our friends and advisors, like it was no big deal.
I’d been content as queen, and the piece of me connected to my people would always ache at the loss, but if Calista asked me about my happiness right now, I would have no hesitation in answering.
My little sister twisted in her seat beside me and I glanced to her plate. She had completely devoured the BBQ chicken but hadn’t touched her broccoli.
“Winnie, eat your vegetables,” I said, grateful to have this moment to mother her again.
She looked at my plate, where I had the same pile of mini green trees. “You eat yours,” she replied, with all the cheekiness of a five year old. I couldn’t help but smile. Could I blame her? Unless Broccoli was covered in jalapeno cheese sauce, I wasn’t touching it.
Kade watched our banter with a crooked smile. “How does everyone at this table feel about chocolate?”
There were a few chuckles. Come on, who didn’t have the upmost love and respect for chocolate.
“I’m in a pretty serious relationship with chocolate,” Monica said, and we all chuckled.
She had been a mixture of tense and somber for the entire meal – mourning Ben, worried for Victor, and, well, being in bear territory was an extremely unusual situation – so when she answered Kade with her normal sarcastic quip, I was happy. Then the double doors that led into the kitchen opened and two attendants rolled out a huge three-tiered melted chocolate fountain. All around the fountain were skewers with chunks of fruit and bread. Oh my God, was that pretzel bread?
“We do a chocolate fondue night here about once a week,” Kade said, grinning at my sudden bright smile. Well, damn, I was starting to think Kade knew how to rule much better than the wolves did. We never had fondue night.
The next twenty minutes had talking at a minimum. We were all too busy devouring the warm melted gift from the gods. My favorite was the pineapple with chocolate. To die for. Chocolate was a great icebreaker too, slowly but surely my dominants began to warm up to the bears, conversing with Gerald and Kade. Maybe this was possible, a life where we all shared the same territory. It wouldn’t happen overnight, but a change had started here, at this table.
By 9 P.M Winnie was slumping forward in her chair, her little face smeared with chocolate as she tried to lick the last tendrils from her fingers. “Winnie, come on, baby, let’s get you to bed.”
I stood and she hit me with a frown, her words slurred but defiant.
“I’m NOT tired.”
With a shake of my head, I kissed her on the cheek. “Come on, little wolf, I’ll carry you up.”
I leaned down and scooped her out of her chair. She protested briefly, before she snuggled her head onto my shoulder.
Kade stood as well. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”
I followed him out of the dining room and into the expansive foyer. He led me up the staircase, and by the time we reached the next level I could feel Winnie’s rhythmic breathing on my neck. She was already out. Kids. Why did they make it their life mission to fight sleep?
Kade took a left down a long hallway and then opened one of the bedroom doors. Stepping inside, I was surprised to see a child’s room. A bunk bed rested against the wall to the left, and the other walls were painted with beautiful murals of the forest and animals. There was a reading nook filled with children’s books and a bunch of toys.
I must have looked completely shocked because Kade laughed. “My cousin, Thane, has two children, and they often come visit us and stay here. He lives outside of the mecca in Connecticut.”
Oh. For a second I thought he was going to tell me he had a kid or something crazy. There was so much we still didn’t know about each other. Which didn’t bother me. We had forever to learn, but if he had a child he hadn’t told me about, well, that’d be an issue for sure. Not because I couldn’t love Kade’s child, but because he would have hidden something that huge from me.
I lay Winnie down and tucked her into the bottom bunk, placing another kiss on her chocolate cheek. She really needed a bath, but if I knew anything about children, it was that you never woke a sleeping one. Following Kade out of the room, I was surprised to see Calista waiting for me.
“May I speak with you both privately?” she asked, her hands clutched in front of her, awkward without her beloved tablet. We’d have to get her a replacement. Right now though I had no idea if my private bank accounts were frozen, or what Selene was up to. All things to find out tomorrow.
“Of course.” Kade led us into a study just down the hall from Winnie’s room. Once we were all seated, my advisor turned to us, her movements a little agitated.
“It’s my duty to protect the queen’s reputation … her public image … and although Arianna might have been dethroned, she’s the true queen. I intend to reverse her dethroning as soon as we get Violet back.”
I was glad we were on the same page with that.
“There’s a formal process to a royal taking a mate, and despite the wolf-bear thing, it should be no different between you two.”
Ahh, that’s what she was getting at. Kade nodded, no surprise across his face. “I’m not familiar with the wolf mating process,” he said, “but I will adhere to whatever rules you see fit to protect the queen’s image.”
Calista smiled, relaxing a little. “Thank you. I think at this time courting is appropriate but no huge public displays of affection. It will take people some time to get used to this idea of a bear king and a wolf queen. Let them hear about it but not yet see it. Nothing
indecent.”
I gave a snort of laughter. “Jesus, Cal, what do you think of me? You think I’m going to grind on him on a public park bench?”
Calista simply glared at me. Okay, so yes, that’s exactly what she thought I was capable of.
My cheeks turned red. Kade looked to be biting his lip to keep from laughing.
Calista stood. “Thank you for hearing my concerns.” She bowed lightly as Kade and I stood.
As she reached the door, she turned back. “One final thing…”
“Anything,” Kade said, and I was touched he was trying to please my dear advisor.
“Separate bedrooms until the mating ceremony,” she said, and with that she closed the door and totally put a wet blanket over my plans to seduce Kade every night for the rest of my life.
I barked out a nervous laugh. “Wow. Yeah. I’m sorry about that. She’s like my second mother, and … I mean, you and I haven’t even talked about mating or any of that, so this is just her being—”
Kade halted my explanation with a kiss, warm and passionate, and had the tension in my belly kicking into overdrive. When he pulled back, he met my eyes. “Don’t worry about it, Arianna. I’ve been waiting for you for five years. Ever since that kiss you’ve dominated my thoughts. My world. My bear was determined to find you. Your fire, loyalty, and passion called to us both. Your wolf has always been a den mate to my bear.” He caressed my face with his hand. “We will be mated.”
And just like that Kade had declared his intentions. No hesitation. No worry for protocol. A man who knew what he wanted and would stop at nothing to make it happen
“What would have happened if I went through with my plans to take a wolf mate?” I asked, lifting my head up to see him better. “To mate for the good of my people.”
Shadows washed over his features, darkening them further, and I found myself waiting with an unhealthy level of anticipation for his answer.