10. FIVE

FIVE

Wren

Rhettinchedcloser,and his cherry scent wafted over me in a seductive manner. “It feels liberating,” he murmured, his violet gaze locked on my lips.

I shifted on the edge of his desk as he stood between my legs. “You deserve to feel liberated after everything they put you through.”

Rhett hadn’t had much time to process the abrupt end to the stalkers with everything that had been going on. We’d talked briefly about it, and I knew he needed to face them head on the way he did. I felt the relief flood our bond when he killed the succubi.

But those two were only a reminder to him of what he faced in the Demon Capital. I hated how he was treated as an object there, and I was so happy he was finally able to put it behind him and move on.

“It really is all thanks to you. I didn’t really like anyone due to my upbringing, but especially women. I didn’t trust them. I had only been hurt by them, and I need you to know that you are what changed that for me.”

“I’m glad you opened yourself up and let me love you.” I smiled, running my hands through his hair. My pheromones leaked and mixed with his as our magic wound around us like static electricity. “I’m proud of you. You’ve overcome so much,” I told him, leaning closer and brushing my lips against his.

“And I’m proud of you, baby. I love the bond with you. I hated leaving your side before it was completed. I constantly wondered if you were okay. Now, I can feel that you’re okay, and Fates. It feels so fucking good to know you’re safe.”

“I had no doubts our bond would form.” I stroked my thumb over his cheek and stared into those violet eyes that I loved so dearly.

“How are you feeling about your father?” he asked, tearing his gaze from my lips and stepping back.

Coldness seeped into me. Immediately missing his warmth, I pouted as I snapped my legs closed and crossed my arms. “I’m hopeful that we’ll find him. Knowing he’s alive is a relief, but knowing that he could be suffering… it hurts. Rhett, he has to be alive.” My voice cracked.

“We will find him, Wren. Damien has been searching non-stop, and both Rowan and Alister have been reaching out to their contacts in different territories and telling them to keep an eye out.”

“I wonder if that woman who told us where he was lied about it… If the facility she mentioned is even where they’re keeping him.” I slid off his desk and stepped into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist and taking comfort in the way his arms wound back around me.

“Can you hold on to hope for me? Whether the woman lied or not, we are going to find him for you.”

I let out a shaky breath and nodded. “I know.”

Of course, I knew. My mates were capable of anything they put their minds to. It would take time, though, time I didn’t know if we had. But the more I thought about it, the more anxious I got. Everything happening in Kalista these days made me anxious.

“Did Rowan tell you about the dragons being in possession of a dragon’s mate? She’s a siren…”

“Yes, he did.” His muscles tensed as he rubbed a hand gently down my spine.

“It’s horrific to think that the dragons in Blezen are really that vile, but Rowan did get in contact with the dragon who found his mate.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah… apparently, he’s being forced to go along with it for now.” Dread coiled in my gut.

“But he told Rowan that he’s the only one who has mated her so far, right?”

I nodded, swallowing the bile that tried to lurch up. “For her first ovulation cycle, so they have a bit of time.”

“The fact that Roak even has the power to do something like this, and that the other dragons would go along with it makes me furious,” Rhett finished.

“Furious and disgusted,” I added with a growl rumbling in my chest. “We have such evil in Kalista. I don’t understand how one can be so uncaring and cruel about the feelings of others. It’s not a hard concept to understand.”

“No, baby. It’s not. Our biggest opposing force just happens to be evil.” He scooped me up and sat back in his chair with me curled up in his lap.

I laid my head on his shoulder and sighed. “I still can’t believe Mirella was killed the way she was…”

“I honestly don’t know how she ended up with Grayson again. When she came to me, she seemed disgusted by him. And afraid.”

“I don’t know, but she looked defeated when he injected her with the dragon DNA.” I shivered. Her death was needless, and while she wasn’t a nice shifter, she was still a life that didn’t need to be snuffed out.

“Grayson is being eaten alive by dark magic, and dark magic will do what it wants,” he told me, hugging me tighter against his chest. “It wants to cause havoc, destruction, chaos, and pain. That’s what dark magic is. It’s why we aren’t supposed to mess with that stuff.”

Guilt stabbed at me, and I flinched.

He dropped a kiss to my head as regret flashed through our bond from his words. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean you and Trixie using dark magic. I just mean in general.”

“But if we hadn’t, Grayson would have never been turned into whatever he is now.”

I hated that I let my unwillingness to deal with the rejected bond lead me to letting my best friend help me perform a dark magic ritual.

I was desperate and naïve, and I was still hesitant on reversing the bond. It would kill Grayson and solve some of our problems, but some of my mates were still strongly against the idea. Plus, I didn’t want that bond to snap back in place—I was afraid he wouldn’t die, and I’d be stuck bonded to him.

“The rejected bond caused you so much pain, Wren. None of us blame you for doing it.” He inhaled my scent as he buried his face in my hair.

“I would have dealt with the pain if I had known it would cause this,” I muttered bitterly, sniffling.

“Wren…”

I nuzzled into his chest. “I think this is our first session where we only talked this term.”

He huffed a chuckle. “You’ve needed less coping lately. Another reason I’m proud of how much stronger you’ve become.”

Emotion thickened my throat as I swallowed. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you. I’m stronger because of you, too. And please stop thinking about the what-ifs. You can’t change the past. The only thing you can do is move forward and correct the wrongs. We’re all by your side to help you.”

And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.