by L. P. Dover
I nod. “I am, but I don’t think he’ll believe me if I tell him you have honorable intentions about letting me go.”
His smile fades. “That’s a shame. I’d hate for you to lose a friend.”
A few minutes later, Tate, Micah, and Colin appear from the back and walk toward us. Micah smiles at me, and I already know it’s really Tate. I open my arms for Tate, and Micah hugs me. “You owe me big time for this.”
“I know,” I whisper. I stand back and plaster on a smile. “You fought well.”
Killian comes over and pats him on the back. “Good job, Grayson. I’m impressed.”
It’s interesting seeing Micah as Tate. “Thanks,” he says, his voice sounding bored.
Killian points over at me. “Faith has something she’d like to talk to you about. I’ll give you some time alone.”
Once he’s gone, Micah stares at me through Tate’s eyes and pretends to be curious. Both he and Tate already know what Killian wants. He wants Tate to go home. With Killian close by, I know he can hear us. I go through the spiel, and the outcome is exactly as I thought it would be. Tate’s going to stay.
I glance back at Killian and shake my head. Killian comes over and shakes who he thinks is Tate’s hand. “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Micah smirks. “Yes, you will.”
Killian snaps a finger, and Roman comes over with Barrett. “My men will take you back now.”
Micah turns to me, and I hug him again. “I’ll see you soon.” He is right. I’m going to owe him big time after all of this is over. The problem is that nothing can measure up to everything he’s done for me. We watch him leave with Roman and Barrett, and it makes me nervous to see him go. I have this fear that I’ll never see him again.
“You will,” Tate says. He stands close to me, and everyone assumes he’s Micah as we walk out. “This will all be over tomorrow.”
It all seems like the perfect plan. We’ll complete the bond at sunset, and he’ll defeat Killian because the link to Tia will break. Unfortunately, there’s a dreadful feeling in my gut that says it won’t be so easy.
Chapter 36
Faith
The night came and went, and I wasn’t able to sleep a wink. That feeling in my gut grows stronger by the minute. While Tate worked out with Colin to get ready for the fight, I walked around the gardens for hours, hoping nature would help me. Sunset will arrive within the hour, and Killian’s house is crawling with wolves. If we can’t complete our bond during the full moon magic, then we’ll lose.
“I’m surprised there aren’t wear marks on the pavers from where you’ve walked on them all day,” Tia calls out.
Forcing a smile, I glance back at her. “Walking helps me think.”
Tia’s flowing navy blue dress blows in the wind, giving her an ethereal look. It’s not only mine and Tate’s lives in the balance, but hers as well. She takes in a deep breath and peers out at the mountains in the distance. “Yeah, it does help. The earth is a power source for me.”
“You’ve never mentioned much about your family. Where are your parents?” I ask.
She nods toward the path, and we walk. I can feel her sadness. “I don’t know. After they had me, I got to stay with them for eight years before Killian’s family came. We lived in Quebec.”
Her lips tremble, and I take her hand. “I’m sorry, Tia. You must really miss them.”
“I do. They had no choice but to give me up. I can still hear my mother’s screams when they took me away.”
“Do you know if they’re still alive?”
A sad smile spreads across her face. “I hope so. If our plan works and I’m set free, I want to find them.”
I squeeze her hand. “You’ll find them.”
She looks up at the sky and grins. “Can you feel the moon?”
Its magic grows stronger by the minute. “I do.”
“Let’s go inside. The second the opportunity arises, I need for you and Tate to do your thing.”
“So romantic,” I laugh even though there’s no humor to it.
Tia cups her other hand over mine. “There will be plenty of time for that.”
“I hope so.”
We walk into the house, and we both freeze when I hear Tate’s name. Tia pulls me closer to the dining room where Orin and Killian are talking. “I have us shielded,” she whispers so low I can barely hear her.
“Why do you look like that, Orin?” Killian huffs.
Orin sighs. “There’s no reason to do this. You have Tia’s magic.”
“I’m ready for it to be over now,” Killian growls. “I’m going to tell Faith that Grayson decided to go home. We’ll go in, kill him, and be done with it. That way, everything can go as planned tonight when I mate with Faith.”
My body boils with anger, but Tia clenches my hand tight. I’m not going to do anything stupid.
“I thought you were going to let Faith go? What happened to that?”
Killian chuckles. “Oh, Orin, you’re so honorable. You know I was never going to agree to that. She’s mine and always will be. When we’re mated, I’ll be one of the strongest shifters in the world; a royal.”
“Faith will hate you for this.” I would do more than hate him. I’d kill him the first chance I got.
Killian scoffs. “She’ll learn to love me. I’m sure Tia has some kind of spell to help that along.”
Bile rises up the back of my throat, burning like fire. Tia backs away from the door and pulls me up the stairs to my room. As soon as we get into my room, I concentrate on Tate. “I need you and Colin, now.”
“On our way. I listened in.”
A few seconds pass, and he comes storming in looking like Micah with Colin behind him. “We need to call Micah.”
Footsteps pound on the stairs, and I know it’s Killian by the raw power exuding from him. He knocks on the door and opens it, smiling when he sees everyone with me. “Ah, you’re all here. There’s food in the dining room.”
Tia fluffs my hair. “I was just about to help Faith get ready for the big night. We’ll be down in a minute.”
Killian shakes his head. “No rush. I have to run into town for a little while. We have a little bit of time before the fight.”
Tia’s brows furrow. “Why do you have to go into town?”
His sly grin makes me sick to my stomach. “I just need to visit with someone. I won’t be gone too long.” He turns to me and rakes his gaze over my body. “You look lovely today, Faith.”
“Thanks,” I reply, trying my best to smile. He shuts the door, and I clutch my stomach. Until he’s out of range of hearing us, we can’t call Micah. I rush to the window and watch him leave with three of his other wolves. Orin stands there in the driveway until the gate closes, and then he heads back inside.
“Orin’s still downstairs,” I hiss. “He’ll hear us.” And just like that, his footsteps pound up the stairs, and he bangs on my door.
“Faith, we need to talk.”
Tia opens the door, and he rushes in, glancing at everyone quickly. “There isn’t much time. Call Grayson and tell him he’s in danger. He needs to get out and fast.”
Colin already has his phone out. I can hear Micah on the other end, but his voice sounds like Tate’s. “They coming to pick me up already?”
“No,” Colin snaps. “You have to get out of there. They’re coming to kill you.”
“What? What the hell happened? Do they want Tate or me?” Orin’s eyes widen in confusion, and he looks at me, but I turn away. I don’t know if we can trust him, but it seems like we might not have a choice.
Colin huffs. “No time to explain. Just get out.”
“Fuck,” Micah growls. “They’re here. I’m going out the window.”
“Where will you go?” Colin asks.
“To Faith. I’m her protector. I don’t know how I’ll get through the gate, but I’ll find a way.” The phone disconnects, and the room falls silent.
Orin clears his throat and stands in front of Tate,
who looks like Micah. “If you are Micah, Faith’s protector, who was that on the phone? It sounded like Grayson, but he didn’t talk like him.”
I step between them. “First off, why did you come here to warn us?”
Orin’s eyes are full of regret. “You told me that if I start doing the right things, I’ll find my redemption. I’m ready for it now. I disagree with Killian and what he’s doing; it’s wrong. Tate doesn’t deserve to die like this. If he wants to fight for you, that’s his choice. He should at least be able to make the decision for himself.”
Colin steps up behind him. “If you so much as think about betraying us, I’ll snap your neck without hesitation.”
Orin’s gaze doesn’t leave mine. “You can trust me, Faith. I’m not only doing this for you, but for Tia as well.”
Tia flings her arms around his neck. “You always were my favorite.”
A genuine smile spreads across his face as he hugs her. “Tell me how to set you free, and I’ll do it.”
She lets him go. “Only Faith and Tate can do that.” She holds out her hand to Tate. “Let me have the stone.”
Tate looks down at me, and I nod. He hands Tia the stone, and his true form is revealed. Orin shakes his head and laughs. “I should’ve known Tia had a part in this.”
I reach for Tate’s hand and look over at Orin. “He’s my mate, Orin. That’s why we left for Florida. I knew he’d be a target until we could complete the bond.”
Orin snorts. “Yeah, he would be dead in Florida right now if Vilkas knew.”
Tia rushes over to the window, and I know it’s only minutes before sunset. “It’s almost time.”
“Time for what?” Orin asks.
Tia pushes him toward the door. “If Tate’s going to defeat Killian, they have to complete the bond. Guess it’s a good thing he decided to leave the house.”
They all stop at the door, and Orin focuses on Tate. “After you do this, what are we going to do?”
Tate stares down at me and then back to him. “I’m going to fight. I have to finish this once and for all.”
Orin nods, and then his phone rings. He holds it up to show us it’s Killian. “Yeah,” he answers, putting it on speakerphone.
“The bastard escaped. Stay at the house in case he comes there. Either way, he’s dead.”
Orin sighs. “Will do. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get to Faith.” He hangs up and slides the phone into his pocket. “Do what you got to do. I don’t know how much time you have.”
He walks out with Colin, and Tia grabs the door handle. “See you soon.”
The door closes, and I look up at Tate. “When we’re free of this place, I want to spend an entire day making love, okay?”
Tate smirks and cups the back of my neck. “I’m up for that.” The full moon has a way of heightening everything. Scents are stronger, food tastes better, and when someone touches you, it feels incredible.
Placing my hands on his face, I kiss him hard, moaning in his mouth as he grips me tight. “I love you, Tate.”
Growling low, he lifts me in his arms, never once taking his lips from mine. “I love you too.” He tosses me onto the bed and covers me with his body. I love the feel of his weight pressing me into the bed. All I can smell is him all around me. I don’t want the night to end, but we don’t have time.
Tate sucks my bottom lip between his teeth and tugs on my shirt. “Let’s get this off of you. I know we don’t have long.” He lifts my shirt and bra over my head, and I unbutton my jeans so he can slide them down my legs. My entire body aches for him. I watch him as he takes off his clothes and everything inside of me tightens.
He crawls up my body, and I nip his neck, rolling my hips beneath him, earning another deep growl to escape his lips. His fingers trace over my nipples, and my whole body throbs in anticipation. “I can feel the magic of the moon, pulling us closer together.”
I look into his glowing blue eyes that darken with need. “I can too,” I say, trembling with desire.
My need hits him hard, and it spurs him on. All I can hear is my erratic breathing and the sound of his breaths as he touches me. It feels like his hands are all over my body, exploring me. It feels so good, I want to scream.
Bending down, he flicks a nipple with his tongue before closing his lips around it, sucking it greedily. Desire shoots through my veins, the heat of it coursing through my body. Tate rubs the tip of his cock between my legs, smiling when he feels how wet I am.
“How bad do you want me inside of you?” he asks, still licking my taut nipples.
“Probably just as bad as you want to be inside of me,” I counter teasingly.
His lips pull back in a smile. “You have no fucking idea.” He pushes the tip in just a bit, only enough to drive me wild. “I promise to make this last longer the next time.”
Moaning, I lift my head and arch my back. “I don’t care. Just make love to me.”
Tate’s deep-throated chuckle echoes throughout the room at the same moment he pins me to the bed with his weight. Grasping my face in his hands, he leans down and bites my bottom lip. “Happy to.”
Plunging deep and hard, Tate moves his hips against mine, grunting with the sheer force of his thrusts. I counter his movements, rocking my hips just as hard. His arms cage me into his body, and he towers over me like I’m nothing but a small animal. I want more; I had to have more.
Wrapping my legs around his waist, I tilt my hips higher so I can get more of him in me.
“Harder, Tate,” I cry.
He pulls back, concern mixed with raw passion in those glowing blue eyes of his. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”
I bite my lip and nod. “I need to feel all of you.” Lifting my knees, he tilts my hips up and pushes himself inside of me until we’re fully connected. I can feel him stretching me, the magic engulfing us. “Is this what you wanted?” he growls low.
“Yes,” I moan.
Faster and faster, he pounds into me, the orgasm building in between my legs. Raking my nails down his back, I hold back my scream as the final burst of pleasure spreads throughout my body. Tate pumps a couple more times, and I can feel him shudder and release his warmth deep inside, filling me up.
Breathing hard, he collapses on top of me and kisses me tenderly on the lips. I smile up at him, loving the fact that he’s still hard between my legs. He reaches for my hands, and that’s when I see the magical threads binding us together. It’s like strands of glitter wrapping all around our bodies. Our souls connect as one. I thought I was strong before, but with his strength added to mine, I feel invincible.
“How do you feel?” I murmur.
He smiles down at me. “Like I can do anything.”
Time is of the essence, and I know we have to be ready. “Let’s finish this so we can go home. I’m ready to start living our lives together.”
His hand brushes down my cheek. “I do too. You’re my mate, and no one’s going to take you away from me.”
I shake my head. “Never.”
We dressed quickly, and I could feel Colin and Orin downstairs. There are other wolves around the house, walking the perimeter. I’m pretty sure they know about Tate’s supposed disappearance. Tate grabs his blue stone off the dresser, and he turns into Micah. He looks at himself in the mirror.
“I thought Tia’s magic wouldn’t work on us once we bonded,” he says.
I shrug. “This magic helps us. You’re choosing to use it. I think it’s only with spells that are meant to harm that don’t work.”
“How shocked do you think Vilkas will be when I drop the stone?”
I snort. “Probably pretty damn surprised.”
When we get downstairs, Orin and Tia stare at us curiously. “You look the same,” Tia says to me, but then she smiles. “But you definitely aren’t. I just tried to put you to sleep, and it didn’t work.”
She hugs me tight, and I smile. “We’re ready.”
Orin’s phone rings, and he answers. “Did yo
u find him?”
I can hear Killian on the other end. “Fuck, no. We’re almost back at the house. Have Tia get Faith ready in the bedroom.”
Tate tenses beside me, and I take his hand. Orin hangs up and sighs. “Well, you heard it.”
Tate looks down at me. “Let’s end this.”
All of us walk outside. Tate stands next to me, still appearing as Micah. Orin and Tia flank us to the left and Colin to our right. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I say, looking over at Orin.
He nods. “You’ll need backup. We all need to be prepared to fight. I don’t know what the others will do when they see what’s really going on.”
Two cars approach the gate, and it opens. “What the hell’s going on? Why are you all out here?” one of Killian’s wolves says as he comes around the side of the house. I’ve never spoken to him, but his name is Brit.
Another wolf joins him, and Orin stands between them and us. “Stand down, boys. Not unless you want your balls shoved down your throats.”
Brit’s mouth gapes, and he stands back, clearly confused. The cars move closer, and I can feel Killian’s angered energy vibrating from the vehicle. Tia’s heart races, and I look over at her. “It’ll be okay.”
She blows out a shaky breath. “I’m not free yet. He can still command me.”
The door opens and he storms out, eyes blazing as he glares at Tia. Roman and Barrett stand behind him, both on edge. I have a feeling it’s not going to be just Killian and Tate battling it out. My wolf is desperate to break free.
“It seems like we have a miscommunication here,” he announces.
I shake my head. “Not exactly. I didn’t feel like waiting for you in your bedroom.”
He turns his sneer to Orin. “Traitor.”
Orin stands his ground. “You lost your way, friend. You can make it right by letting her go.”
Killian rips off his shirt, his face contorting in outright rage. “She’s mine. No one and nothing’s going to stop that from happening.”
Tate holds up the blue stone, drawing Killian’s attention. He tosses it to the ground, and everyone’s eyes widen when they see who he really is. “I’m going to stop you. You’re not the only one who can use magic.”
