by R. E. Butler
Chapter Twelve
After one of the best night’s sleep of his life, Savage woke to a still-sleeping Thea. He didn’t move for a long time, just held her close. He could have spent all day like that, digging their time alone. Outside the bedroom, reality was waiting. They had things to discuss and choices to make. Of course, nothing was very pressing at the moment, but he needed to know for sure that Angmar had been dethroned and Sybil had been dealt with. He was fairly certain Beatrice was the new queen. If Angmar had retained her crown, for sure Sybil would have come to make trouble for him and Thea by now.
After a few minutes had passed, Thea woke and grumbled about how bright it was in the room. She snuggled into him, rolling away from the window.
He kissed her shoulder, inhaling the sweet scent of her skin. “How about breakfast? Or lunch maybe. I have no idea what time it is.”
“I could eat.”
After they’d cleaned up and dressed, he checked Cannon’s room down the hall and discovered it was empty. As he led Thea to the kitchen, he said, “I guess he didn’t stay here last night.”
“Maybe he’s with my sister.”
“Do you think something happened between them, like really happened?”
He pulled out a chair for her so she could relax while he cooked, then gathered the few things he kept stocked in the fridge for breakfast – eggs, sausage links, and his mother’s homemade blackberry jam.
“Maybe,” she said. “I guess we’ll find out when we go to my parents’ for dinner tonight, assuming they know what’s going on with those two. It could’ve just been a one-nighter.”
He set a mug of coffee in front of her, along with the box of creamer from the fridge and a bag of sugar. Glancing at her, he said, “You don’t believe that, though.”
“Not really. She’s not the one-night type.”
He stirred the eggs and kept an eye on the sausages.
“Cannon isn’t either. But we can deal with them later. For now, we need to figure out who’s sitting on the prowl throne and what that means for us.”
While they ate breakfast, she praised his cooking skills, and his cat was so tickled she liked his simple offering that he was prancing in his mind like a show pony. Once their meal was finished and the dishes were dealt with, he followed her into the shower, intending to only wash her back for her, but his fingers had a mind of their own and they spent more time playing than getting clean.
Once they were showered and dressed, they walked to his parents’ home to get the dirt on what had happened while he’d been sexing up his mate.
The news was what he’d hoped for – Beatrice was the winner. Angmar had died in the battle, refusing to concede even though she was in danger of losing her life.
“Sybil was escorted out of the prowl, I assume?” Savage asked.
“She would have been if she hadn’t attacked Beatrice and nearly taken her eye out with her claw,” Millie said. She shook her head. “Sybil was dead before she hit the ground.”
Savage let out a relieved breath. When he envisioned the fight between Angmar and Beatrice, he’d wondered what would happen to Sybil if she was exiled from the prowl. Assuming her mother had made it out of the battle alive, he’d expected the two to slink off into the woods and never look back. But of course, in the back of his mind, he’d wondered if Sybil would make a play to harm Thea, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever have been able to relax knowing that someone with a grudge against his beloved mate was still out there somewhere.
“I don’t like that either of them lost their lives because I don’t enjoy seeing that happen to anyone, even evil people,” Thea said, “but I’m also glad we’re not going to be looking over our shoulders forever, wondering if they’d retaliate.”
Savage kissed her temple. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Beatrice wants to see you two,” Brom said. “Have you had a chance to make plans?”
Savage nodded. He and Thea had talked about their future as they’d made love throughout the night, stopping between rounds to cuddle and kiss and plan the next chapter of their lives. Among other things, he’d learned his beauty wanted to get married and had always pictured a winter wedding. He’d made plans to ask her to marry him soon so they could make that happen. She also loved being part of the coven, and while she would live with him anywhere, he could tell it was important to her to be with her people.
He loved his family and prowl, too. But she was his home now, and the center of his world. He wanted her happiness above all else, and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make that happen.
“I’m going to move in with her,” Savage said. “We’ll come here so I can hunt with the prowl and spend time with you guys, but I’ll be joining the coven as a non-magical member.”
Thea nudged him with her elbow and smiled. “I think you’re pretty magical.”
He snorted. “Not as much as you.”
“We like to have lunch on Sunday afternoons,” Millie reminded him.
“That’s perfectly fine,” Thea said. “I heard you make amazing chicken and dumplings.”
Millie’s cheeks pinked. “I’ll be happy to teach you.”
“I’d love that.”
“Do you think that Beatrice will allow Thea to join the prowl if we’re not living here full time?”
Brom hummed. “You’re not giving up your membership, and she’d be an honorary member because of your mating, so I don’t see why not. But you’d need Beatrice’s blessing and for her to acknowledge your mating in front of the prowl.”
“Good point. I guess we can ask her when we see her,” Savage said.
Once his parents were ready, their small group headed to see Beatrice, who had taken up residence in Angmar’s home.
“I guess she didn’t still have a place of her own here?” Thea asked.
“The queen has always lived in this house,” Brom said. “Even if she still had her home from before she was beaten for the title, she would have taken this place as her residence now.”
Thea hummed. “That’s pretty neat, actually. Like a parsonage for a preacher.”
Savage nodded. They reached the two-story home just as the front doors swung wide. Beatrice smiled at them, sporting a still-healing wound to one eye and several scars on her arms. “I was wondering when I’d see you two. Come on in, we have much to discuss.”
The new queen led the way into the spacious living room, which doubled as an audience room for the prowl. She sat on one of the couches and gestured to a young male who was standing by the doorway. “Bring us some tea, Marcus. And those biscuits I like.”
He nodded and hurried away, and Beatrice smiled. “I take it you’ve heard from your parents about the goings-on from last night?”
“Yes,” Savage said. “Thea and I wanted to thank you for intervening.”
“It was my pleasure. I knew that Angmar would go too far someday and I’d have a way back in.”
“How did you know what was going on?” Thea asked.
Marcus returned with a tray and served tea to everyone. Beatrice took a sip of tea and said, “I had a few spies. Everyone was kept to strict secrecy. The spies didn’t even know about each other. It was the only way I could be sure that she wouldn’t know I was alive and that I wouldn’t be double-crossed. I considered coming back a few years ago to challenge her, but no one in the prowl wanted a revolt. It was only after last year’s Hunt, when my spies told me that half of the females didn’t even want to participate in the first place, that I knew the time was ripe. The plan was to arrive before this Hunt started, but we were delayed by a storm and I couldn’t get here in time.”
“We’re glad you showed up when you did,” Savage said.
Beatrice nodded. “Angmar and Sybil had actually removed the page in the laws that didn’t specify who could participate in the Hunt, and they replaced it with a new page.”
“How did they think they’d get away with that?” Millie asked.
She pic
ked up the law book from the coffee table and opened it, turning it around to face them. It looked just like the other pages, right down to the yellowed paper as if it were old, and the old-fashioned script in faded black ink.
“Wow, they put a lot of effort into it,” Thea said. She touched the center and ran her finger down the page. “You can barely see where they glued the new page in. I have a question though.”
“Of course,” Beatrice said.
“Would it really have fooled anyone? I mean, Millie and Brom knew the laws so there was obviously more than one copy of the books around, and I’m sure that they weren’t the only ones who looked that information up at some point.”
Thea sat back and Savage put his arm around her. Beatrice closed the book and looked thoughtful. “That’s true. But the queen’s official copy is the only one that matters. And the queen’s word is law – that’s one of our laws, too. Yes, it was wildly unfair that she went to such lengths to attempt to change the law in order to invalidate your mating, but our own laws have given our ruler that right. As humans like to say, ‘Only the weather can be fair’.”
“Does that mean you’re going to do away with the Mate Hunt?” Thea asked.
“Not exactly,” Beatrice said. “But we are going to change the rules. I’m also going to set up a council of elders to address the prowl laws. It’s high time that our people stopped being led by such archaic rules.” She looked at Brom and Millie. “I’d like to ask you both to be part of the council, if you’d be willing.”
“We’d be honored,” Brom said, and Millie nodded.
“So that brings us to you two, and the reason I wanted to see you today,” Beatrice said, looking at Savage and Thea.
Thea’s hand, which had been resting on Savage’s thigh, flexed slightly, her fingertips digging into his flesh. He could scent her nervousness, and he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and drew her a little closer.
“First, I want to congratulate you on your mating. Our custom is to welcome the mate into the prowl – if she isn’t part of our group – on the next day at sunset. We weren’t able to do that, of course, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re mated. I’d like to handle things at sunset. I’ll convene the prowl, disclose the changes that are coming in the future, and announce your mating. I’m certain the prowl would like to celebrate your mating, and if you don’t have plans, we could have a dinner.”
Savage opened his mouth to say that they had plans to go to the coven for dinner, but Thea spoke first. “Thank you so much, we’d love to do that.”
Beatrice smiled. “Are you planning to live here?”
Savage shook his head. “Our intention is to live with the coven full time and stay here for ceremonies, hunts, and family get-togethers.”
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Savage felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he stood and shook the queen’s hand. “Thank you for being so gracious.”
She clasped his hand with both of hers and smiled at him and then Thea. “What happened between you two is what our people should have wanted all along. The idea of the Mate Hunt isn’t all bad, but it certainly got out of hand. I’m so glad you found each other, and I’m very thankful you’ll still be part of the prowl.”
He and Thea said goodbye to the queen and his parents, who were staying to discuss the elder council and the dinner that evening. “Are you sure your parents won’t mind us missing dinner with them tonight?” he asked as they walked toward the home he shared with Cannon.
“I’m sure they’ll understand. We can stay here tonight and go to the coven tomorrow.”
“I’d like to start packing up, too.”
She hummed. “I really need to talk to Anne.”
“I need to talk to Cannon, too.”
They reached the front door and he opened it for her, ushering her inside. He lifted his cell from his pocket, but she took it from him and tossed it to the couch. “You can call him later.”
“Oh?” he asked with a chuckle as she took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
“Absolutely. We just got great news, and we should celebrate.”
“You have the best ideas.”
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, Thea and Savage headed to the coven with his car filled to the brim with his belongings. The one thing they hadn’t done yet was talk to Cannon or Anne since they’d texted their families to say they were safe but not coming home for a while as they sorted things out. She and Savage weren’t sure what that meant exactly, but she was hopeful that – if nothing else – the two were enjoying each other’s company and having a good time.
She wished that Cannon and Anne had been able to be at their official mating ceremony the night before, presided over by the new queen. It had been hastily put together by the prowl, but many had pitched in and everyone was happy for them. It seemed, particularly, because their mating had set off the chain of events that led to a new leader and an overhaul of their laws. After the ceremony, when she’d been welcomed into the prowl as a beloved mate, they’d dined on the best food she’d ever had, from succulent steaks to a strawberry pie that rivaled anything she’d ever tasted. When it had become known that she was a witch and had a talent with healing plants, she had a lot of people asking her for help. Fortunately, the coven wasn’t far from the prowl and most of them could make the drive to meet with her at her parents’ store. Savage had promised to bring her back the following weekend to see those who couldn’t travel. She felt like a country doctor in some ways and was entirely charmed by the way the prowl accepted her.
When they reached her home – their home – she got out and smiled at Savage over the roof of the car. “I wish Anne were here so I could talk to her about living arrangements.”
“Do you think she’ll mind that we want to live here alone?” he asked, looking at the house with an arched brow.
“It’s technically my house. I designed and paid for it, and it was always the plan for her to make a place of her own.”
“Maybe she’ll move in with Cannon.”
She hummed and then smiled. “That would be neat. Then she could have a room in our house for the nights she stays for the coven, and we can keep your room at the other house for nights with the prowl.”
“That would be cool.” He met her at the back of the vehicle and hefted a plastic tub of clothes and shoes out. She picked up a duffel bag and put it over her shoulder. “I’m just glad that you and I found each other. I want the two of them to find happiness, whether it’s with each other or someone else. The good news is that Cannon won’t be forced to go through the Hunt next year, if there even is one.”
“Do you think they’ll do away with it altogether?” She picked up a second bag and followed him up to the front door, ducking ahead of him to open it.
“Maybe. It depends on what the council decides. My parents would most likely say no to it, at least for a while.”
They unloaded the vehicle, then unpacked and organized until it was time to head to her parents for dinner. She’d texted Anne earlier, but hadn’t heard back from her, which made her wonder if her parents knew anything more than she did.
Her father waved at them from behind the large grill. He wore a “kiss the cook” apron and had a pair of tongs in one hand. “Hey, how’s unpacking going?”
“Good,” she said, kissing his cheek.
He shook Savage’s hand. The back door opened and her mother stepped out, greeting them with tall glasses of iced tea.
“Did you hear from Anne?” Thea asked, taking a drink.
“I’m right here.” Anne followed their mom out onto the patio.
“Hey!” Thea hugged her tightly. “Where have you been? Is Cannon your mate?”
“What?” she asked, and then laughed. “Oh, no, he’s not. But the craziest thing happened. After we stood with you, I had the oddest feeling that there was a connection between me and Cannon. At first, I thought it was that he and I were meant to be together,
but even though he’s a good-looking guy, he’s not the one for me.”
“He’s not?” Thea asked. She looked at Savage curiously as he joined her to hear the rest of Anne’s tale.
“Nope. But we were meant to meet, we’re tied together through fate.”
“I’m lost,” Thea said. “You’re talking in riddles.”
“Let me just show you.” Anne looked over her shoulder toward the open door and said, “You can come out now.”
A man wearing a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing numerous tattoos, strode from the house, followed by Cannon and a woman who looked very similar to the man.
The man took Anne’s hand and brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. Anne giggled, which was a sound Thea hadn’t ever heard her sister make. Then the man extended his hand to Thea.
“I’m Drew, second-in-command of the Ingot’s Mill wolf pack. Anne is my mate.”
Thea shook his hand, her mouth hanging open. She couldn’t even think of anything to say because she was so surprised.
Savage shook his hand. “We’ve met, I’m Savage Bayle.”
“Of course,” Drew said. “At the resort two years ago.”
“What resort?” Thea asked.
“It’s a beach resort down south where shifters of any sort are welcome to come and spend time with unmated males and females in the hopes of finding their mates,” Savage said. “I went one year with a few males from the prowl. I met Drew when he was with a group of wolves there for the same reason.”
“Now we know why neither of us found our mates,” Drew said, smiling at Anne. “To think she was on the other side of town and we never met.”
“How is that even possible?” Thea asked. “I thought you guys all had like a sixth sense when it came to mates?”
Drew shrugged. “We do and we don’t. I’ve been traveling a ton the last few years for my father, the alpha, so I’ve hardly been around. I was feeling a stirring to find my mate, but I kept pushing it away and focusing on the pack and work.”
