23. Chapter Twenty-Three

The snow had stopped, and the stars were out. The wind still blew, howling a sad siren’s song that called me toward my grief. The weight of the Geminis’ plight felt heavier when my mind had the freedom to roam.

Ewan spent most of the walk texting with Charlie and Birch. I tried to read as he typed, but his thumbs moved too fast.

“Is there a problem?” I asked when I finally got annoyed with all the buzzing.

“Um, no. I don’t think so. Not a problem. Well, maybe. I can’t decide.”

“Are you being intentionally vague?” I asked.

“No. Not intentionally.”

I threw up my hands. “Oh, for the love of Gaia just say it.”

He slid the phone into his pants pocket. “Wolves started showing up at our borders earlier.”

“Like strays?”

“At first. About two hours ago, while we were at the lodge, a Virgo wolf arrived. Now, six of their pack are here, along with over a dozen Aquarius. They all want sanctuary and to pledge their loyalty. Defect and join our pack.”

“Why? I mean, we’re awesome. But, like, what reason did they give?”

“For the Aquarius, there’s some prophecy about a white wolf with red eyes who defeats an alpha beneath a water moon.”

I frowned. “That’s awfully specific for a prophecy. Where are the flowery words? The metaphors? And it happened during the day.”

We reached our front door. Ewan turned the knob and pushed open the door, waving me through first. “Now who’s being too literal? I think the water moon thing has something to do with lunar cycles.”

I went straight for the fridge and grabbed a bottle of blood. Finally, I thought, the thirst peaking with blood so close. Then, I remembered, sort of, what happened the last time I drank from one of the bottles.

“It’s okay. Birch went through them all and threw out the contaminated ones.” Ewan grabbed his own bottle of blood and leaned against the counter as he cracked it open.

“Did you know that you can order feeders on the internet?” Why I chose to ask that question at that moment, I would never understand.

“I’m not sure I should answer that.” He grinned and drank from the blood bottle like it was a beer bottle.

“Have you ever done it?” I asked and was relieved when he laughed.

“No need. Walter seems to have an endless supply of fresh, clean blood.”

“Of course he does,” I grumbled. “Do you think he takes it from people who double-cross him? Oh, or people who owe him money? He takes payment in blood instead.”

Ewan downed the rest of his dinner and grabbed an actual beer from the fridge. “Your mind works in mysterious ways. I think Walter is really more of a businessman these days.”

“A shady businessman.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Most of his enterprise is just this side of legal from what I understand.”

“Which is the definition of shady. And, what, did you have a background check done on him? Also, you’re wrong about the water moon thing in your oddly specific prophecy. What kind of wolf doesn’t know about lunar cycles?”

He remained calm in the face of my rising irritation, sipping his beer like he couldn’t feel it through the bond. That annoyed me even more.

“Is this where we fight so you can be mad?”

I shook my head. “No, this is me picking at you so it will lead up to a fight. I want to get incensed, infuriated, on the verge of breaking stuff. So, start talking about something that will get me there.”

The amusement that flooded the bond nearly did it. “I feel like this can’t end well for me. And if you are this self-aware, why don’t you temper yourself?”

I shrugged. “Because I don’t want to.”

“You lack discipline, you mean,” he said, taking a few steps toward me.

“No.” I made a face. “That sounds so… like something my mother would say. She used to tell me all the time that alpha’s mates were disciplined and obedient.”

He towered over me. “Not my mate. I like you the way you are.”

I set the mostly empty bottle of blood on the counter behind me and crossed my arms. “What way am I, Ewan?” I cocked my head to the side. “Bratty, right?”

“You’re being a brat right now. And don’t pick this hill to die. Pick something interesting for us to fight about.”

He drained his beer and set the bottle down hard on the counter. He placed one hand on either side of my hips, caging me in his arms. “Or we can skip the fight and go right for the makeup sex.”

“I want to be mad. Make me mad, Ewan.”

“Fine. I’ve had a threesome.”

I rolled my eyes. “Boring. And I already knew that. You drank when you, me, and Winter played Never-Have-I-Ever. Doesn’t count.”

“It was with a girl and Charlie.”

“You’re supposed to making me mad, not turned on. Something else,” I demanded.

“I’ve considered cutting up all your clothes and giving you only Arcane University to sweats to wear so that no one else can look at you.” Liquid gold lit up his irises as he pressed his hips into mine.

“No. That gets me all hot and bothered, too,” I scoffed.

He leaned in so his lips were inches from mine. “Generic mayo tastes the same as name brand.”

“Blasphemy. You have the tastebuds of a heathen. I’m not willing to debate that.”

“You’re cute when you’re indignant.”

“Why won’t you let me be mad?”

He rolled his hips against me, letting me feel how much he was enjoying our back and forth. “You are free to be mad. You’re choosing to be difficult, and I don’t think you are mad anymore and that’s the issue.”

“Oh, sure, blame me for your inability to make me mad. Such like a man.”

“A man who loves you.” His mouth covered mine.

I refused to kiss him back on principle, and that principle was pettiness.

Ewan stepped back, gaze smoldering as he spun his finger in a circle, using his alpha voice when he said, “Take off your dress.”

His authority rippled through me. I could have said no, which was why I obeyed. Following his orders was my choice, and he knew that. I curled my arms behind my back and lowered the zipper. Ewan watched as I worked my shoulders out of the material and let it slide down my body to pool at my feet. His heated gaze licked my body from head to toe.

“Turn around and put your hands on the counter.”

My thighs trembled with anticipation as he stepped closer. He swept my hair over one shoulder, careful not to touch me. Ewan grabbed the counter, placing his hands on either side of mine. I tried to rub against him, needing to feel his comforting presence, but his arms were longer than mine and I couldn’t quite make contact. I whined and feigned annoyance, secretly enjoying whatever game he wanted to play.

His flannel-covered chest bumped against my back as he laughed. “You wanted to be mad. Frustrated is close, right?” He dragged his fangs across my shoulder, just hard enough to draw two thin lines of blood, which he licked off my skin.

I shuddered and gritted my teeth, my own fangs piercing my lip.

“I love the way you taste,” he murmured against skin and then stepped back and pulled off his shirt. He ran his knuckled down the column of my spine.

I arched my back and rolled my shoulder, moaning as he worked out the knots in my muscles. Ewan fingered the silk bow on my panties.

Fuck, I want to bend her over and take her right now.

My grip tightened on the marble countertop, the skin over my knuckles stretched. He palmed my ass cheek and squeezed before sliding his hand between my legs. I ached all over, my breasts feeling full and ready to spill over the cups of my bra. He stroked me over my panties. I chased the movements with my hips, desperately craving his skin on mine.

“I love how wet you get for me.” He pressed a kiss to the side of my neck and slid both palms up my ribcage. “I love everything about you.”

I rolled my hips against him, liking the way his rough jeans felt on the backs of my thighs. He cupped my breasts. My nipples strained against silky fabric, begging to be let free. He snapped the clasp with his teeth and nudged the straps from my shoulders so they would slide down my arms.

He gripped my hips to hold them still. I leaned my head against his chest and whimpered his name. Pure sin shown in his blown pupils. My lips parted as he slid his hand down the front of my panties.

His eyes held mine captive as he parted my folds, nostrils flaring as he inhaled my arousal. “My needy little Luna.”

I was his needy little Luna, and he was making me needier by the second. He circled my clit, purposely avoiding the money spot. I tried to move, but he had me pinned between him and the counter. Finally, he sank one finger inside of me, and I moaned with relief.

My panties were soaked, and he’d reduced me to a squirming, whining pile of vampire, and my entire being centered on his touch.

She feels so good. She’ll feel so much better around my cock.

He deftly undid the button on his jeans and then I heard the zipper lower, that simple sound adding to the anticipation. I clenched around his fingers. Ewan buried his face in my hair and moaned my name. He yanked my panties around my thighs and guided himself inside of me.

“Is that what you needed?” He tapped my clit with the tip of his finger.

I nodded and slammed my hips back. “Yes.”

His other hand splayed across my stomach as he trailed biting kisses down my throat. “How do you want it?”

“Hard.” A flush crept up my neck. “Please.”

This time, when he kissed me, I kissed him back. I slid my tongue into his mouth as he rubbed my clit, pushing me closer to the edge. Love and desire pulsed through the bond. I was so close, my orgasm within reach.

“Come for me first.”

I shattered on command, which nearly undid Ewan and made me come harder. He stroked me through it but kept his hips still. When I sagged against him, he kissed my neck and gently pressed between my shoulder blades, guiding me forward. I pillowed my arms on the countertop.

He snapped his hips, pulling out almost completely before filling me to the hilt. “Yeah?” He arched an eyebrow in question.

I nodded jerkily. Ewan pounded into me over and over again, doing that tapping this on my clit so I came again. All I thought about was how full I felt, how loved I felt. Sex with Ewan wasn’t like sex with other men. Not only was he extremely attentive, every touch was electric and full of his love for me. He was more than my mate. Ewan was my everything.

Having two alphas in the same territory would normally have been one too many, but Zach and Ewan didn’t clash the way most alphas did. There was no posturing or chest-puffing, which helped ease the tension when they called the packs together.

The Geminis stuck together, congregating to one side instead of mixing with the Taurus wolves. The packs exchanged uneasy glances, and there was a lot of whispering and snarling.

I stood at the front with Ewan, Zach, and Brooke. News of the Geminis living in the lodge had spread through the Taurus pack, so no one was surprised when Ewan explained the situation. He and Zach had a very formal exchange where they agreed to the terms of our new alliance and signed the accords in front of everyone.

“Our pack is strong, but we still need allies in this war,” Ewan said once the ink had dried. “Zara and I ask that you welcome Zach and Brooke and the Geminis, and we ask for you all to do the same.” He backed his polite words with his alpha will, letting the Taurus wolves know that being nice to the Geminis wasn’t optional.

After the meeting broke up, I did as my mother asked and visited the injured Gemini wolves. Most had already healed, thanks to shifter genes and fae potions, so I didn’t have to contend with open wounds and fresh blood. The hardest part was the stench of death in the air.

One of the elders, a man named Louis, had sustained grievous injuries, including broken bones that refused to heal. But there was something else wrong with him, something internal. I might have said a total of five words to him in my entire life, yet his face lit up when I knelt beside his bed.

“It’s true,” he wheezed as he gripped my hand. “I lived to see the prophecy come true. They said it would be the boy, but I always knew it would be you.”

“You mean, the prophecy of the eternals?” I asked, curious since my father had so staunchly denied our existence.

“The Gemini part, yes. Under four blood moons, the True Alpha and Luna will return.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. “Forgive an old man his manners. I would get on my knees if I could.”

My chest filled with pride, and I patted his knuckles. “You should rest, Louis.”

His eyelids had grown heavy, and I could practically feel him fighting to stay awake.

“Will you come back?” he asked.

“Of course.”

His grip went slack, and I extracted my fingers. Ewan drifted over, sensing I was off after my encounter with the older wolf. We didn’t get a chance to talk about what Louis had told me because we had a jammed pack schedule of guests to meet, starting with Essie.

“Being your mate comes with a lot of responsibility,” I grumbled as the three of us trekked across the canyon to the Sable family’s temporary residence.

“Did you think it would be all sex and snuggling?”

I shrugged. “I mean, I hoped our life would be all sex and snuggling.”

“Well, we do have a lot of sex, and I always cuddle afterwards.”

“Do you two wait to have these conversations until I’m around?” Birch asked.

Neither Ewan nor I answered him, though we exchanged a knowing smile. Secretly, I thought Birch enjoyed listening to our banter. Not because he cared one way or another about our sex life. It was more that I thought he liked the ease and familiarity. That made two of us. I still wasn’t comfortable around most of the Taurus pack, and the feelings were definitely mutual, so it was nice to have Ewan’s closest friends on my side.

Eight fae were waiting for us in the living room when we arrived, and the mood was decidedly tense. In addition to Winter and her family, Essie had brought four Gemini elders, one of whom had the same green eyes and high cheekbones as the other three Sable women. Given her approximately age—somewhere between Essie and Collen—I assumed that she was Winter’s grandmother.

“How are you, dear?” Essie wrapped me in her thin arms, squeezing with surprising strength.

“Adjusting. Slowly,” I admitted.

She patted my back, and I sort of wanted to cry. When my family hadn’t been there for me, Essie had. She’d taken me in and protected me at great risk to herself and the Gemini fae. I would never forget her kindness and generosity.

“I am truly sorry about Merrick. He was a great man. Stubborn to fault.” She smiled sadly. “I hate that it took his death for the Gemini fae and the Gemini wolves to finally reunite. I spoke with your mother briefly. She’s a strong woman, Zara. You can learn a lot from her.” Essie squeezed my hands, and I returned the gesture.

She turned to Ewan and Birch and greeted each of them with a nod. “Please, sit. We have much to discuss. There are rumors that Mat has returned from the Cursed Realm.”

I sucked in a breath that I didn’t need. With the Zodiac Councils up our asses, I hadn’t given much thought to Mat in days, but the news of his return didn’t sit well with me.

Essie introduced her small cohort of Gemini fae. Colleen visibly tenses and pursed her lips when her grandmother gestured to the woman who could only be her mother. Until that moment, I hadn’t wondered about the missing link in the Sable matriarchy. Between Colleen’s clear discomfort and Winter’s open curiosity, it seemed there was bad blood dating back decades.

“He was spotted in Traitor’s Hell,” Essie said, her gaze fixing on me.

I swallowed over the sudden lump in my throat. “He intends to free Demi.”

Honestly, I didn’t know why this scared me so much. I had very few memories of her. None that included her with fangs. And yet, for some reason, the prospect of Mat and Demi reuniting terrified me. Like somewhere in the depths of my mind, I knew that nothing good would come of it.

“Yes. I believe so.” Essie sighed warily. “The prison has a number of magical fortifications. It isn’t as easy as breaking into a cell. Still, it is concerning.” Her gaze shifted to Walter, and she gestured, as if giving him the floor.

He stood behind Collen’s chair, his hand resting on her shoulder. “Part of the Prophecy of Eternals mentions the four true soulmates. For centuries, Mat has operated under the impression that he and Demi were the second pair.” His dark eyes went to Winter.

Through our bond, I felt her discomfort but didn’t understand the source at first.

“Back when the fae still lived in the Valley of the Elements, they put a lot of stock in prophecies and omens. Astrological events held significant meaning. Matthieu was the Prince of the Valley, born in a year of four blood moons, which led the fae to believe he would be one half of a true pair.” His gaze flicked to a spot behind Winter, and I squinted like I might be able to see Archer standing there.

Can Walter see him? I wondered. Essie definitely could, since she shared Winter’s gift.

“Royal fae, especially back then, believed their bloodline was anointed by Gaia. That they were special. So, naturally, they though Matthieu was Gaia-marked.” Walter shrugged. “The king didn’t account for his illegitimate son, born the same year to a common fae from one of the villages. When it came time for Matthieu to take a wife, he toured the villages in search of his true soulmate and rightfully identified Nicasia as Gaia-marked.”

Judging by the lack of surprise I felt from Winter, she already knew this story. Then, she cleared her throat and confirmed my theory.

“I met Ambrose when the royal contingent came to my village. He was Mat’s bodyguard. I fell in love with him the first time we spoke. When Mat chose me as his bride, I told my parents no, but they didn’t care. It was an honor. I would be Queen of the Valley one day.” She let out a shaky breath. “The bonding ceremony failed. King Aeon was furious. The royal seer swore that I was Gaia-marked, and that my soulmate was of royal blood. It didn’t take long for them to realize my other half was Ambrose.”

I felt like I understood Mat a little better in that moment. Sure, the guy was an asshole, but he’d basically been left at the altar for his half-brother. That must have stung.

“True soulmates are rare, and the bond supposedly gives us great power. The humans had just discovered us and our magic. King Aeon followed the seer’s advice and legitimized Ambrose, naming him as his heir and setting Mat aside.” Red tinged Winter’s cheeks, and she kept looking over her shoulder at her ghostly mate.

My mouth dropped open and for the time ever, I actually felt bad for Mat. Not only had he lost his fiancé, but he’d also lost his crown. It was no wonder he’d declared himself the Eternal King.

“Because the prophecy speaks of four soulmates, two pairs, Mat got it in his head that he was Gaia-marked, I just wasn’t his mate.” Winter met my wide-eyed stare. “When he met Demi, he thought it was fate. She was the lone wolf, sort of like him. I don’t what she was like as a mortal, but once she became eternal, she was viscous and vengeful, and so was he. They were perfectly suited for one another, and the bonding ceremony did work. So, in Mat’s head, they were the other pair. He didn’t know about you and Stavros until he found your descendants.”

It was a lot to take in, and there was a lot I didn’t understand.

“How does Demi reincarnate?” I asked, confused since she and Mat could have children together.

Winter shook her head. “I don’t know. She must have had a child at some point. With whom, I couldn’t say. In my dreams, she’s never been pregnant.”

“She wasn’t a bonded wolf,” Walter said. “Unlike the rest of you, she wasn’t confined to having children with any single person. She could have found any willing fae or common pack wolf. Clearly, she gave birth to a daughter while still mortal. The kid’s father is irrelevant.”

“But Mat knows now that he and Demi aren’t the other pair,” Ewan said. “So, what’s his endgame?”

It was Essie who answered. “To expose the supernatural world and subjugate the humans. To take what he was denied so long ago. Except, instead of the Valley, he wants to be king of this realm. At least, that is what we believe.”