by Emma Dean
But she planned to do everything in her power to keep that trust.
“I still have your present,” Lucien murmured, reaching out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “Would you like it now?”
She nodded, losing herself in those golden eyes just like the last time she was here in this house. “Where is it?”
“Up in my room.”
Mika smiled. “Clever way to get me there.”
He chuckled and shrugged one shoulder, inching a bit closer. “I thought so too, but you also know I can be a gentleman.”
And she did. The last time she’d been in his room he’d done everything he could to keep her alive, and then he had let her sleep with him in the same bed – no expectations, just comfort. Mika would never forget that night.
“Yeah, you are. So what did you get me?”
Lucien sat up and started gathering the food. “Let me put this away and then I’ll show you.”
Mika started helping him, gathering what she could and separating the garbage. She couldn’t help stealing glances at Lucien while they worked. He had always been one of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen.
His golden skin and dark shaggy hair never ceased to make her knees weak. And that irritating swagger that made her want to smack him was also somehow endearing. He simply wouldn’t be Lucien without it.
Without a word they cleaned up and put everything away, Lucien marking the boxes of food with his name before putting it in the refrigerator. After weeks of going to the temple together and finding the killer, it was second nature for them to work as a team. She knew his strengths and weaknesses better than she knew her own.
Then he took her hand and led her back through the common room where Mika snagged her boots. For some reason her heart was racing and her palms were sweaty. Looking up at the stairs she remembered the way he’d kissed her that night at the welcome back party, and Mika licked her lips.
They hadn’t really kissed like that since.
She wasn’t sure why, but it also wasn’t like there was time to mess around with a killer on the loose and Lucien the only one able to really see what they were doing with his fox abilities.
Each step up echoed through the quiet house. Mika didn’t ask where everyone was, and she didn’t bother trying to make small talk. This was a shift in their relationship, one way or another. And for the first time since everything started, Mika felt like she was ready for the change.
Lucien had been by her side since the very beginning in his own way. He’d protected her at the temple, and in the forest. Whether he’d meant to or not, Lucien had been dedicated to her – never once afraid of her or her magic.
Just like Ethan.
And now the two were getting along? It felt like the time was right to take the next step.
Settled with her decision, Mika no longer felt nervous when Lucien paused in front of his door. “Are you sure?” he asked, searching her face with narrowed eyes. “We could always do this another time.”
Mika squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. “No, I’m sure.”
24
Lucien’s room was just as she remembered it and Mika wondered again why he didn’t have a dorm mate. Did all hunters have their own rooms?
She stood awkwardly in the center of the sparse room while Lucien rummaged through his closet. “The only reason I went back home for spring break was so I could get this,” Lucien told her, voice muffled.
Then he turned around with a package in his hands, all wrapped up with a pretty bow.
“You know it’s not my birthday for a few more weeks, right?” Mika asked, eyeing the package.
When he’d said he had a present she had thought he was just messing around like always.
“It doesn’t matter.” Lucien shoved the package at her. “Just open it.”
He hovered and it was kind of cute so Mika took the box and sat on the edge of his bed to open it. The ribbon fell off easily enough as she pulled at it, and then the paper. When it was all in a pile next to her she opened the box carefully, wondering what could possibly make Lucien so nervous he was fidgeting.
The top of the box fell to the floor when she saw what it was. A book, but not just any book – it was a blood magic book that looked older than anything she’d ever seen before. It even had the Morrigan’s symbol stamped into the leather.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for it, tracing the now familiar symbol. “Where did you get this?”
“Do you like it?” Lucien asked, sitting next to her, close enough their shoulders touched.
Mika lifted the heavy thing out of the box and set it on her lap, enjoying the weight and feel of it. It had that slightly vanilla scent to it that all the old books had. “You didn’t steal it did you?”
The last thing she wanted was Lucien being hunted by his own pack like Hunter had been.
“No, I told the librarian about you—well as much as I could,” Lucien admitted. “I told him about the temple, and…everything. Are you angry?”
“And he gave you this?” Mika didn’t know how to feel, or what to think. She was still so overwhelmed.
“Yeah, he said our tradition of serving morrigans with knowledge wouldn’t end with him. So he gave me this for you, and look.” Lucien reached over her and opened the book. Inside was a small slip of paper with a note on it. “This is like a library card. You can visit my library whenever you like if you bring this.”
Mika almost dropped the book she was so overwhelmed. When she took the slip of paper and read the permission of her presence given by the librarian of Lucien’s pack…tears spilled down her cheeks and she handed Lucien the book, afraid to damage it.
“You did all this for me?” she asked with a shaky breath.
Lucien held the book carefully, watching her closely. “Of course. I want to be your fox, Mika.”
She buried her face in her hands and pressed on her eyes to try and keep the tears in. How could he have known that’s what he wanted weeks ago? How could Lucien be so sure about something this serious?
The whole thing was ridiculous. She wasn’t some all-powerful morrigan looking to claim her birthright and rule the witches. All she wanted to do was get through university, and find her place in the world, whether that was as a hunter, or in her family’s greenhouse…she didn’t know for sure yet.
But all this shit was heavy, and Mika didn’t know how to handle any of it.
“Hey, hey, are you okay?” Lucien asked, setting everything on his bed to wrap her up in his arms.
It only made Mika feel stupider, but she buried her face in his chest, wishing she could just be a normal girl. “It’s a lot,” she finally managed. The tears made her sound hoarse and ridiculous and Mika wrapped her arms around Lucien’s neck, wishing she could hide there forever.
The fox didn’t say a word, he just held her, stroking her hair while she cried until she could get a handle on the new influx of emotions.
Mika had been so careful over the last three years to keep everything and everyone as far away from her as possible. So having someone care about her like this, a shifter begging to let a witch into their secret library because he believed in her…because he wanted to be hers…
Mika took a deep breath, her entire body shuddering as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You don’t even know if I’m your mate, this is a terrible idea.”
Lucien shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have one. I was telling you the truth. Being the one you turn to…that’s what I want, even if I do have to share with a dumb storm witch.”
Mika laughed and it was ugly thanks to all the tears and snot. “Ethan’s not dumb.”
The fox smirked as he handed her tissues. “No, but it made you laugh. He gives me time to be with you without trying to horn in. I appreciate that.”
Finally she felt like she could talk without crying again.
Wiping her face, she looked up at Lucien and wondered how she could have gotten so lucky to not only have one amazing guy who u
nderstood her, but two. Lucien took care of her differently than Ethan did and she loved that about them.
She loved how wild and untamed Lucien was – how he was always by her side ready to protect her at a moment’s notice. She loved how Ethan was the rock she could lean on. He was the strong foundation she needed to figure things out and find her place in the world. While she did so he gave her a safe place to do what she needed to do.
There was nothing in the world quite like these two guys working together to take care of her, to make her happy. Mika wasn’t sure how long this truce between Ethan and Lucien would last, but she was grateful for it – for however long she could have it.
Mika brushed a strand of hair from Lucien’s face and smiled slightly. “Thank you, for everything.”
Lucien took her hand and kissed her knuckles before holding them to his chest. “It was my pleasure.”
All she wanted to do was touch him, but they were at a crossroads. One more step and things would start to become permanent. “Are you sure you’re fine sharing with Ethan?” Mika asked, needing to hear it again.
Lucien chuckled and placed the book on the ground. Then he gathered her up and pulled her onto his lap. “If it means I get to have you, then yes I’m willing to share.”
Mika couldn’t help her stupid grin. She had butterflies in her stomach and her hands were shaking. Despite getting closer over the last few months she was nervous. This was a whole new situation. Not only would she have Lucien, but she’d have to find a way to fit both Lucien and Ethan in her life.
“Then I want you to be my boyfriend.” Mika kissed the corner of his mouth. “If that’s something you want.” Then she kissed the other corner.
The sound of his blood pulsing through his veins picked up and she smiled. Mika loved that she could affect him like this.
“Your boyfriend?” he asked, clearing his throat slightly. “Like I get to tell everyone you’re mine?”
She nodded and kissed his throat. “Yours and Ethan’s.”
“Yeah whatever.” Lucien flipped her over onto her back and Mika gasped at the sudden movement.
She stared up into his golden-brown eyes, wishing she could read his mind.
“I told you, I will take you however I can get you.” Lucien bent down and kissed her throat in the same place she’d kissed him. “You’re mine, Mika.”
The feel of his sharp teeth scraping against her skin made her shiver in anticipation. Mika ripped off his shirt, running her hands over the muscles in his back and shoulders. There was nothing quite like a man’s muscles to get her going.
Lucien made her feel surrounded and safe and loved. The curtain of his hair tickled her face as she went to kiss him. She wanted to taste him, to feel his tongue in her mouth again, to have that wildfire take her over.
Mika ran her hands up and down his back, enjoying this moment with Lucien. It felt like a long time coming.
Months of sparring with each other – touching and fighting, building up that tension without even realizing it.
Lucien slowly lifted up the skirt of her dress and Mika’s grip on him tightened. She’d expected this, but it was still a shock that it was actually happening. Despite her time with Ethan, Mika was still pretty inexperienced. It felt more natural to let Lucien take the lead when she was still so unsure of herself.
Before she knew what was happening though, Lucien had slid down until his knees were on the floor and he was settled between her legs. Mika’s entire body tensed when he kissed her inner thigh.
“Is this okay?” he asked, cupping the backs of her knees.
It was all she could do to form words as his breath tickled her skin. “Yes,” she murmured, trying not to lift her hips to meet his mouth.
Lucien didn’t make her wait for long – he was very different from her first time with Ethan in that way. A growl was all the warning she had before she heard the rip of fabric. Then his mouth was on her and Mika nearly shrieked at the hot and cold sensation.
The way he licked and sucked had her eyes rolling into the back of her head and her hips rising to meet him. His growl of pleasure only sent more vibrations through her and Mika nearly lost all sense of control at that.
She gripped his arm and yanked, pulling him up and knowing full well the only reason she could was because he let her. Mika reached for his belt, kissing him as she undid the clasp and the buttons on his pants.
After so many months of foreplay all she wanted was him inside her. Mika wanted to feel Lucien’s strength and affection the same way she had Ethan’s. She wanted to be as physically close to him as she could be.
His rumble of approval made her smile as he settled between her legs. Running her fingers through his shoulder length hair was as satisfying as she’d imagined it would be, but not nearly as satisfying as the feeling of his cock at her entrance, pressing inside slowly as her body surrendered to him.
When his hips finally met hers, the feeling of being stretched made Mika sigh with contentment. She didn’t think she would ever get used to this or how fucking amazing it felt. Her entire body was pulsing around him, desperate for more—for friction.
Mika never wanted it to stop.
His lips were soft as he kissed her, sliding out only to thrust back in hard and Mika moaned into his mouth. She’d wanted this for a long time if she was honest with herself, but with Lucien things had always been more complicated.
But for a little while she could enjoy him and his commitment to her instead of worrying whether she was his mate or not and what that meant in the grand scheme of things. Mika shoved those thoughts and questions back as far as she could until all she knew was this moment and this feeling.
Lucien was a shifter, but for right now, he was her shifter.
With him on top of her, holding himself up, she could look into his eyes and watch as he thrust, eyes glowing gold. Her nails on his back urged him on and she felt the wave of pleasure crest.
“Lucien,” she murmured, holding on tight as the sensation started slowly. “Come with me.”
His answering growl sent her right over the edge and Mika screamed, back arching into him as her entire body shuddered. Lucien’s claws ripped into the bed and his roar as he came sent another wave of ecstasy through her.
Slowly she came back to earth and her breathing started to calm. Mika stroked his back, enjoying the silky feel of his skin and the weight of him on top of her. She wished this moment would last forever, but that’s not how things worked.
“You’re mine,” Lucien growled into her ear, kissing her neck. “Don’t forget that.”
She smiled, secretly enjoying how possessive he was. “Mm, hard to forget with you to remind me.”
Lucien chuckled at that and rolled over, pulling her with him so she could lay on his chest. “That’s the plan, little witch.”
Mika closed her eyes and let herself drift off. Nothing was more perfect than these stolen moments of peace.
25
The trees were still whispering when Mika knelt in front of the one she liked the best. It wasn’t necessary, but the book did say it would make the spell easier if she felt an affinity for the tree. So Mika had spent about an hour walking through the forest closest to the Morrigan’s temple until she felt drawn to one.
It was giant for a blackthorn tree with white blossoms thanks to spring. Mika liked how dark the wood was. It was a tree whose berries and bark were used in many medicinal remedies and potions. But it was one of those…controversial things.
Blackthorn trees symbolized dark magic, or so the lore books said. Mika eyed the tree and opened the book Ethan had given her to the page on blackthorn trees. Checking her watch, she saw it was nearly midnight.
Lucien and Ethan should be by soon enough. Audrey would meet them after talking to Natalie. And Malachi…Mika wasn’t sure if Malachi would show up.
The last week had gone by faster than she’d anticipated. They’d won their last dodgeball game, and finals were next week so everyone c
ould get home for Beltane on May 1st. The spring semester was nearly over. It was strange to think about.
Mika had thought Corbin would be back by now, but he was still elsewhere…she tried not to think about it too much, tried not to worry about him. It was more difficult than she’d anticipated though, and with no way to contact him, she just had to wait and see.
Talking to the trees had been on her agenda since spring break, and now she’d finally cobbled the right spells together that she thought would allow her to tap into their enchantment. Mika needed to know if anyone on campus was a part of the Hellfire Society. She wanted their claws out of Malachi.
His father—well, she’d leave his father to him, but if her life would save his, she planned on doing whatever she could. Mika was not going to let them sacrifice Malachi, but she wouldn’t let them rope her into their bullshit either.
There – a whole page on the blackthorn, interesting. Mika skimmed over the page and then froze.
Where the blackthorn grows next to its sister the hawthorn, the power of the tree is amplified. The blackthorn has many themes in witchcraft over the centuries, but the most common and popular is its representation of the Crone aspect of the triple goddess.
But it is also known for dark magic, the waning and dark moons. Sometimes it is called the ‘keeper of dark secrets.’
The blackthorn is also linked with warfare and death – and as such, is associated with the Crone and the Morrigan.
Mika’s blood went cold as she looked up at the tree she’d chosen and wondered what the chances were that she’d picked this tree without knowing any of the history behind it? And what was this book that just casually mentioned the Morrigan like it was no big deal?
Picking up the text, Mika checked the spine and the foreword. It was old, very old. But it was from the library based on the spell marking the first page. The ink glittered with its spell in that deep navy-blue color that Mika associated with the ocean, the night sky, and the University of Morgana.
Did Ethan know about this, or did he even read this book? He didn’t enchant trees, just smaller plants like flowers and vines – said they were nosy already so it was easy to get them to spy for him.
