He smiles, worry shining in his gaze. “How are you feeling?”
I must have expended a lot of magic and passed out after healing Liam. But did it work?
Sitting up, the covers pool at my waist and cool air brushes my bare shoulders. I’m in a tank top and sleep shorts that were back at my dorm room. How did they get here? I’ll ask him later, after I find out if I was able to heal him.
“Did it work?” I toss the covers off and stand. My legs give out and I fall back onto the bed.
His arms scoop me up and pull me close to his chest. His lips place a kiss in my hair. “Slow down, love. You’ve depleted all of your energy.”
I roll my eyes. “Did I heal your father?” My stomach quivers with nerves.
He sits on the bed with me in his lap, silent.
It must not have worked. I guess what Grams always says is true. Maybe my skills aren’t good enough.
I lift my gaze to his, expecting to see disappointment, but instead joy radiates from him and there’s a tear in the corner of one eye.
“I don’t know how you did it, but you saved him. We’ve had several healers try and none succeeded. Until you.” Warm lips press into mine, his tongue demanding entrance and I give it to him.
Heady from the kiss, I separate us. “I can’t believe I healed him myself. How long have I been asleep?”
He grins, not letting me go when I wiggle in his lap. “Most of today. It’s around nine o’clock. When you’re ready, we can go down and join the festivities the pack is having to celebrate.”
My eyebrows furrow and my lips pull down at the corners. “Why aren’t you there with them? Your father is alive. You should be celebrating, too.”
He leans forward, nuzzling in the bend of my neck. “It didn’t feel right to be there without you.”
My heart flutters and I wrap my arms around his neck. “That’s sweet. Let me get changed and we can join them. I’d love to properly meet your dad.” I stand from his lap and walk around the bed before I remember that I have no other clothes here. Except for the clothes I had on when I wrecked, the spare set in the car and now these sleep clothes.
He stands, following me around the room. “Are you sure you want to go? We can stay here and have our own celebration.”
I raise an eyebrow and put my hands on my hips. “I want to go. But we can celebrate later, if you’re good.” I wink at him before heading into the bathroom to wash up.
Poking my head back out of the door, I find him in the same spot. “Um… I don’t have any clothes to change into.”
His gaze becomes heated. “I think you look great without any clothes on.”
Taking a few steps into the room, I stop in front of him with only a bra and panties on. “So, you think everyone wouldn’t mind if I showed up like this?”
He growls and his eyes glow. “They wouldn’t mind but I would.”
I hold a finger up to my mouth. “Funny. I thought shifters were comfortable with their nudity.”
Strong arms grab me around the waist. “They are. I’m not comfortable with you around them in the nude. Nobody sees what’s mine.” His teeth latch onto my neck, biting down enough for it to sting a little.
A hiss leaves my lips.
He releases my skin, feathering kisses along the bite mark.
I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access. He’s distracting me. “Do you know where my outfit from earlier is?” My hand covers the tender spot on my neck, feeling teeth marks and a raised area.
He straightens, his gaze darting to my neck and looking pleased. “It’s in the dirty clothes. I had one of the pack members got to your dorm and pack up your things.”
My back stiffens. He did what? So, someone I don’t know dug through all of my belongings, packing up my intimate items. Heat rushes to my face.
What was he thinking?
Confusion flashes in his eyes and his eyebrows furrow. “You seem upset? What’s wrong?”
I sputter. “What’s wrong? You sent someone I don’t know to pack up my things without discussing it with me.”
He throws his hands up. “I don’t see what the problem is. I thought you’d like to have your clothes here with you. And you weren’t exactly in a position to ask.”
My anger fades and I step closer to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, my head coming to the perfect place in the middle of his chest. “You’re right. Thank you for thinking about it.”
His arms embrace me, and he squeezes. “You’re welcome. Your clothes are hanging up on your side of the closet.”
I walk into the closet beside the bathroom door.
Holy shit. It’s the size of my dorm room. I spin in a circle, finding my few clothes on the right side. Grabbing a pair of jeans, I balance on one leg to put them on.
“When you’re ready, we’ll head down.” He leans against the door frame, watching my every move.
I startle, almost falling over, but catch myself with a hand on the shoe shelves. “I’ll be ready in just a few minutes.”
He hums in the back of his throat and crosses his arms.
I glare at him. “What does that mean?”
He shrugs. “Nothing. Just I’ve heard that before.”
The air charges with my power. “I’m sure you have from the many women you’ve slept with.”
Taking a step back out of the closet, I follow him.
He holds his hands in front of him. “They were all before you, love.”
“Sure. Like the blonde you left class with that first day of class.” I pull the green shirt over my head and walk toward the door. I’m spun around and pressed into the door. I avoid his gaze until he gives me no other option.
His gaze is pleading. “There has been no one since I met you. I promise. She tried but I turned her down.”
How can I hold the women before he knew me against him?
I release a deep breath and nod. “I believe you.”
“Good.” He exhales and lets me go. “Let’s go down.” Opening the door, he motions for me to leave first.
I step out into the hallway and follow the sounds of loud voices.
We should be preparing for the arrival of Xavier, but I guess it won’t hurt to celebrate the previous alpha’s health returning.
Ezra laces his fingers with mine as we descend the stairs.
The front door opens and in walks the blonde man from the meeting this morning. The man’s dark eyes lock on us, hatred shining bright from their depths as his jaw clenches and he steps into the house.
8
“Glad you could join us, Mark.” Ezra’s tone is cold. “I’m sure you heard the good news. Sage healed my father.”
Mark nods. “So I heard. Congratulations are in order for Liam as well as your mate. I’ll show myself to the party.” He continues to the back of the house and outside into the back yard where the majority of the pack is congregated.
Meeting Ezra’s gaze, the corners of my lips draw down. “Is it just me or did he seem more perturbed than this morning.”
“He does. This should be an interesting night. But let’s try to enjoy it before trouble comes knocking on our doorstep.” He touches the small of my back and we walk through the living room.
A booming voice reverberates through the room. “There she is. My savior and my son’s mate.”
A smile replaces the frown on my face as an older version of Ezra approaches us. Mark slinks off into the crowd and I lose sight of him.
There’s not much time to think about it as I’m swept up away from Ezra into a strong hug.
“Umph.” My arms are pinned at my sides by Liam’s hold.
“All right, Dad. Put her down. She can’t breathe.” Ezra takes my hand as Liam sets me down, pulling me back to his side.
Liam laughs. “I’m sorry. I forget my strength and that you’re not a shifter.”
Just another reminder that this won’t work. My smile feels forced and Liam’s face drops.
Ezra steps up to the ot
her man. “Dad.” His tone is scolding.
“What? I’m thrilled she’s your mate. But there’s probably something I should have told you sooner. Maybe we should step into your office.” Liam pats Ezra on the back and grins at me, a similar look I see on his son’s face quite a bit.
Damn. I don’t want to be in a room full of shifters that would rather me not be here. The bedroom is looking like a great place to be right now.
I place a hand on Ezra’s arm and he leans his ear down to my mouth. “I’ll let you two have a few minutes. Come find me when you’re finished.”
Ezra shakes his head. “Nonsense. Whatever he has to say pertains to both of us.”
How could he know that? I don’t protest because I’d rather be with him than out here by myself.
Our trek through the pack inside the house is like a complete one-eighty from before. Pack members smile and wave as I pass by. Did we step into different dimension?
Ezra opens the door to his study.
My gaze wanders around the masculine room. The walls are a dark gray with white trim. A black desk sits on one side of the room with floor to ceiling bookshelves. A dark brown leather couch is placed on the opposite with two gray armchairs facing it and a small black table in the center.
Liam walks in, taking in the room as well. “Like what you’ve done with the office.” He stops at a hutch up against the wall, picking up a tumbler and pouring two fingers of an amber liquid into it. He carries the glass with his to one of the armchairs.
Nerves flutter in my stomach. What could he want to talk to both of us about?
Ezra takes a seat on the couch and I sit down beside him. His hand rests on my thigh and our bodies are close enough that we’re touching from shoulder to knee.
The smile hasn’t left Liam’s face. I can’t blame him. If I was brought back from the brink of death, I’m sure I’d be pretty happy, too.
He downs the content of his glass before setting it on the table between us.
Will he just get on with it?
He glances at Ezra. “There’s something I haven’t told you about one of our ancestors.”
Ezra’s eyebrows furrow. “What?”
“One of them was also mated to a powerful witch. It was a couple of centuries ago and it’s not discussed much. There hasn’t been a need to, especially with the divide between all of the supernatural races. It’s not right. We all used to intermingle together.” He stands and walks over to the hutch, pouring another drink.
Ezra and I sit in shock at the revelation. I knew that a priestess had mated a shifter centuries ago but for it to be Ezra’s lineage is crazy.
He takes his seat again. “I’m thrilled that you have found each other, and thanks to you, I get to be a part of it.”
A lightness fills my body and a tear gathers in the corner of my eye. “It was my pleasure.”
Liam finishes his drink and stands. “I’ll give you two a minute.” He leaves, closing the door behind him.
Ezra sits in silence. Did his dad break him?
I snap my fingers in front of his face and he blinks.
“Well, that was a bombshell.” He stares at the wall.
I nod. “It was but we can think about it later. We should go mingle with the pack. I’m not sure how long it will take Xavier to find us.”
He grabs my face and kisses me.
I melt into his hold. “What was that for?”
Grinning, he rubs his nose with mine. “You said ‘us’.”
That I did.
* * *
When we join the pack members outside, a few stop and talk to Ezra about mundane things.
Dread curls in my gut. Something’s not right. Every time someone approaches us, I stiffen against him.
He turns to me when we’re alone. “What’s wrong with you?”
Maybe I can play it off. “Nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His jaw clenches. “Don’t lie to me, Sage. You stiffen whenever someone talks to us. Don’t deny it. I feel every movement of your body.”
Letting out a sigh, I make sure we’re alone. “Something doesn’t feel right. I don’t know what.”
It becomes quiet around us. We both turn toward the house, seeking out the threat.
Pack members part and Mark heads toward us, determination and anger etched on his face.
Ezra pushes me behind him and squares his shoulders. “You seem to have something you’d like to say, Mark.”
My magic comes to life at the threat to my mate.
“I do. You’re not fit to rule this pack, especially since you mated that bitch of a witch that thinks she’s better than all of us.” Hatred coats his voice.
Ezra’s body vibrates with tension, his hands clenching at his sides. “You go too far. Apologize now, issue a claim, or back down.”
A claim?
Mark snarls, eyes glowing. “I issue a challenge for the position of alpha for the Sewanee Pack.”
Ezra nods. “Challenge accepted.” He turns to me and removes his shirt but leaves his pants on.
What the hell is going on? I meet his gaze with pleading eyes. “What’s going on?”
His gaze softens. “Mark wants to be alpha. The only way to do that is to challenge the current alpha in a fight to the death. Be strong, love. No matter what happens, you cannot intervene. If you start to, Dad will take you inside until it’s over.”
I gasp. Of all the idiotic, preposterous practices I’ve ever heard of, this one is mind boggling.
“This is ridiculous.”
“It’s our politics. Remember, no intervening.” He leans forward, pressing a kiss to my lips, and I draw it out. He pulls away and looks over my shoulder. “Watch her.”
Liam wraps and arm around my shoulders. Our gazes meet, worry lining his forehead.
“He’s going to win, right?” I whisper.
His grip tightens. “He will, because he has more to fight for than Mark does. But Ezra is right. You cannot intervene. To do so would destroy him and how the pack sees him.”
My gut clenches. What if he needs me? I cannot watch him die.
He lowers his voice. “He will be fine.”
The pack forms a loose circle out in the yard around them.
The two shifters circle one another, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
I watch front and center with bated breath.
Mark launches at Ezra, swiping at his face with wolf claws extended from his hand, and brings his other hand around in a jab. Ezra ducks both, landing a blow to Mark’s jaw. He counters with a gut punch.
The crowd roars as I wince.
Ezra shakes it off, circling again, looking for a weakness. He attacks, going for the neck with teeth bared. As he wraps his arms around Mark’s neck, he spins to his back, putting him in a choke hold.
Mark jerks his body forward, slinging Ezra over the top of him and onto his back.
The breath swooshes out of him, and Mark lands on top of him, pinning him to the ground. His claws aim for the neck of my mate to rip his throat out.
Ezra gets enough space to buck him off, but not before claws meet flesh and a copper, metallic smell fills the air.
Yips and howls sound around the two men.
He jumps up to a crouched position, waiting for Mark’s next move. Instead of attacking, power charges the air and Mark’s body begins to contort, bones cracking as he transforms into a large, tawny wolf.
Ezra’s power flows around the area, more powerful than Mark’s was. My gaze is glued to my mate as his bones crack and his shift takes over. A huge black wolf stands in his place, baring sharp white teeth at the threat. His paws sidestep so he’s standing in front of me.
The tawny wolf leaps forward, jaws open wide, saliva dripping from his canines, as he aims for the throat.
Ezra turns his body away from Mark’s mouth, and it closes on his backside, tearing away a chunk of fur, skin, and blood.
The magic swirls to life within
and an energy ball forms in my hand. The need to obliterate any threat to him strong.
A hand grabs my wrist that I wasn’t even aware I was lifting and lowers in it down.
Liam’s glowing eyes greet me, sympathy shining in their depths. “You must let him win on his own.”
The black wolf becomes a blur, twisting around and latching onto the other wolf’s neck, taking him down to the ground on his back.
He howls out, fighting to break the hold. Mark’s wolf kicks and twists, trying to get away. His back paws scrape at the sensitive underside of Ezra’s belly.
It becomes too much, and he has to let go. Blood drips from his incisors when he bares his teeth. He lunges for the tawny wolf again, but Mark maneuvers out of reach at the last second.
Ezra bites down on air, his growl raising the hair on my body.
My gaze is glued on my mate, but movement from my left draws my attention.
Mark’s wolf lunges through the air, going for his opponent’s biggest weakness. Me.
Can I use my magic now? What if I do and they consider it intervening? I hate not knowing about their rules, because I don’t want to become a doggy snack for this asshole.
Claws rake across my face and pain blossoms down the left side. My arm is jerked backwards before I realize what has even happened.
Concern flashes in Liam’s gaze as a loud howl echoes around the clearing.
He stalks toward me, hoping to finish the job, until a blur of black rams the tawny wolf in the side, knocking him ten feet in the opposite direction.
Ezra’s blazing blue eyes lock with mine before moving up to his dad’s. There must be some sort of silent communication between them.
Liam steps in front of me, trying to block my view. But I have to watch.
The tawny wolf lies on the ground, not able to move without whimpering.
The black wolf strikes, biting down on the underside of his neck until there is a loud crunch from bones breaking.
My stomach revolts at the scene of death, but my heart also clenches in my chest. Happiness and disgust are warring inside of me. I think I might lose my dinner.
Liam and the other pack members hoot and howl for the victory.
Power surrounds Ezra as he transforms back into his human form. A dark-haired shifter walks up, holding out a pair of jeans.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 199
