Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

RYDER

M organ stilled and stared blankly at the wall as she processed the information. She didn't move, didn't talk, her body strung tight as she struggled to keep her rage in check. Ryder inhaled deeply as her magic thickened the air, and he wrapped his arms around her, hoping that his beast could soothe her agitation.

The last thing they needed was for her to go off half-cocked and get herself killed.

He shuddered at the thought, tightening his hold and wrapping himself around her tighter. Magic from the void rose from her skin, brushing over him like he'd been ducked under the pounding spray of an icy waterfall.

It only lasted a second before it recognized him, the touch turning into a caress that made his cock harden and a growl rumble in his chest. Morgan relaxed at the sound, leaning into him, and he buried his face into the curve of her neck to resist the impulse to lay claim to her all over again.

Something about seeing her dressed up in the colorful outfit made his protective instincts kick into overdrive. He knew she could fucking kick his ass without breaking a sweat, could command his wolf to sit and beg .

Seeing her walking down the steps, covered in the pretty wrapping, made his breath catch. He wanted to strip her out of the gown and stake his ownership of her by rubbing his scent over every inch of her body.

The other guys weren't in much better condition, prowling around her, touching her every chance they got like possessive assholes.

Morgan stirred in his arms, and he tightened his hold. He inhaled her calming pack scent, trailing his hands over the curve of her hips, before reluctantly releasing her. He turned her gently, lifting her chin until she gazed up at him with tortured, violet eyes, and he swallowed hard.

"You have every right to be furious at us for keeping things from you." A cute furrow appeared between her brows at the reminder. "You have the right to be pissed that the fae are trying to kill you for just being born." He knew he was getting to her when her shoulders slumped, and he edged closer until her lush curves rested against him. "You are in control. You get to decide who will be your mates. You can choose to fight, and we will follow you. Or you can trust fate. They sent us to you because you needed us—and we needed you just as much."

She squirmed against him, and he sucked in a harsh breath when his cock throbbed. He gritted his teeth against the temptation, her wiggling due more to being uncomfortable than any lust. As if understanding his dilemma, Draven crowded around her back, wrapping his arms around her to distract her.

It didn't work.

Morgan tucked her face against Ryder's chest, hiding from all of them, and Ryder glared at Draven for making things worse.

Draven smirked, then kissed the back of her neck. "Just think of this like your birthday and Christmas all wrapped up into one. We're gifts sent to you from the gods. You've unwrapped and enjoyed us, so you can't return us. You have one gift left. They wouldn't send you another mate unless they thought you deserved it…or that you both needed each other."

Ryder heaved an exasperated sigh, lifting his hand to deck the stupid asshole, then froze when Morgan gave a snort of laughter.

Draven raised an eyebrow and shot him a cocky smirk.

Ryder leaned back, and Morgan lifted her head, her bruised eyes locking on him once more. "You weren't ready to admit it, but you knew the instant you were marked that he was your mate. He gave you time to get used to him. He's made a place for himself within the pack and your life. You need him just as much as he needs you."

As much as it felt like he was pulling off his own skin, he stepped away from the girl who owned his whole heart. Draven slid his hands down her sides and over her hips, before he, too, retreated.

Morgan reached out and grabbed the front belt of his uniform, holding him in place. "You…you're not…" he sputtered, then tried again. "He's a wolf and…"

She gave a frustrated growl, her nose crinkling adorably, and Ryder took pity on her. He pressed his hand over hers until her palm settled over his heart. "Caedmon is an honorable man. He's saved your life more than once. He's been trying to give you time to develop feelings for him instead of forcing you to mate. It's the only reason why the rest of the guys and I didn't kill him and dispose of his body on the first night."

He bent and pressed his cheek against the side of her face, marking her with his scent, his wolf practically purring when the two smells combined.

Mate.

"You're worried that my wolf will be jealous or the other guys will be pissed." It was hard not to turn and glare at Kincade for her insecurity, since the asshat had blown a nut when he discovered that she had more than one mate when they'd first met.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing you can do that would make us regret a second of the time we spent with you." Ryder slipped his hand to the back of her neck, his fingers threading in her hair so she couldn't look away. "We don't get a vote on who you accept as a mate, but if you're asking my opinion—do it. You attract trouble like a magnet. It takes all of us to keep you safe. I worry that soon, we won't be enough. Caedmon could be the answer."

He lifted his head and brushed his lips over her forehead. "You've been subconsciously avoiding the issue. I'm sorry that we can't give you more time. You either need to claim him as your mate, or you're going to have to let him go."

W ell, fuck.

Morgan's gut clenched at the idea of Caedmon being forced home to become nothing more than a slave. He'd spent most of his life at the mercy of someone else's whim. She couldn't send him back knowing that they would destroy a part of his soul until he was only a shadow of himself.

He'd barely been able to pull himself back from the abyss last time. She still saw the shadows lurking in his eyes when he thought no one was looking.

She feared he wouldn't be able to survive that happening again.

She turned her back on the room, absently rubbing the moon on her arm, trying to differentiate between whatever sympathies she felt for him and her true feelings.

It was impossible.

The two were so wrapped up in each other, she couldn't tell them apart. Maybe it was foolish to even try. No one just caught feelings. Their relationship was complicated, built through hardship and trial by fire. It had forged a bond that took most people years to develop.

Taking that away would be a disservice.

With carnivorous fairies flying around in her stomach, she slowly turned toward Caedmon, ignoring everyone else in the room. Her heart cracked against her ribs at seeing him down on one knee before her, his head bowed, a sword pointed at the ground, like a knight of old presenting himself to their queen.

"You have every right to be angry. I have no excuse…except to say that after centuries of searching, after having long since given up hope, I finally found peace and it was all because of you. You are my home. You calm the chaos in my soul." He lifted his head, his yellow eyes piercing as he gazed up at her, his heart bared for her to see and judge if he was worthy.

"You give with your whole heart and fight for people that have no one, just because it's the right thing to do. You have no idea how rare that is. You terrify me. Your courage. Your bravery. The thought of me not being here to protect you and keep you safe keeps me up at night." He swallowed hard, and he took a shuddering breath. "I know you don't love me like your other mates, but I hope with time, you'll come to care for me, because the thought of going on with my life without you in it is unthinkable."

Morgan blinked furiously, the back of her eyes burning at his confession. How the hell could she not have noticed how he felt? Everything he did was for her comfort. He kept the wolves settled, kept the house running smoothly. He was up before her and went to bed after. He hovered in the shadows, never drawing attention to himself, as if he'd been afraid that if she noticed him, she would kick him out.

It was only then that she realized everything he did wasn't for the coven.

He did it for her.

To make her life easier.

Without her noticing, he'd woven his way into her life. The thought of him no longer being there felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest with a pitchfork. She strode forward, coming to a stop before him.

As she gazed down at him, she tried to imagine her life without him in it—and failed.

It was impossible .

Her throat tightened at the thought of him leaving, and the answer immediately came to mind.

Empty.

Like the lights had gone out.

She glanced at her mates, her equilibrium still off-kilter, cringing as she imagined their reactions. They all stood in a row, so fucking handsome that her breath caught. She waited for their condemnation, waited for their censure. The last thing she expected to find was understanding. One by one, they nodded, Draven even going so far as to give her a wink and an encouraging smile.

With each approval, her magic gave a giddy swirl, pushing under her skin like a puppy that was trying to get her to do what it wanted.

And it wanted Caedmon for their mate, recognizing him on an elemental level as someone they needed in their life.

MacGregor had been silent throughout the whole meeting, observing everything with inquisitive eyes. He gave her a crooked grin and slipped his arm around Mistress McKay. "Don't do what I did—don't give your life to the coven to the exclusion of all else. You deserve more. Don't wait. You might not be lucky enough to get a second chance." He kissed McKay on the temple, and she leaned into him, a smile of pure love on her face as she patted his chest.

Feeling like she was trapped in some sort of bizarre dream, Morgan glared down at the man who had so completely blindsided her. She felt raw and edgy and uncomfortable under her own skin. She wanted to accuse him of tricking her, but she couldn't blame him for the way he went about it.

If she'd known he was her mate when she first received the mark, she very much feared she wouldn't have let him in her life, and the very thought made her heart feel like it was cracking.

"I'm pissed that you tried to keep this from me. I had every right to know." He flinched, the hope in his eyes fading, his shoulders bowing like under a heavy weight. Then Morgan relented and released a heavy sigh. "But I understand why you did it. I'm…not an easy woman to love. If you would've told me, there is a pretty good chance that I would've run."

She shot him a wry grin, then she dropped to her knees in front of him, the dress billowing around her. Caedmon didn't move, didn't blink. She didn't even think he was breathing.

Morgan didn't think it was possible, but he appeared even more nervous than she was herself.

She found it adorable.

He'd fought wars, faced down gods, and yet he was nervous being near her.

It gave her a boost of courage to take what she wanted.

The tightness in her chest settled, her anxieties melting away, and an instant of crystal clarity struck her. No matter what else happened in her life, she would never regret opening her heart to him.

"The connection between us is different from the others. You're mine in a way that I can't describe." Morgan felt self-conscious being near him, knowing that he was her mate. "You're strong and steady and unwavering. You're worried about pushing me, but the thought of not having you near, giving you up and not having you in my life, makes me feel hollow."

Morgan tentatively reached up and wrapped her hand over his, where he gripped the sword. Her skin tingled at the simple touch, a flush creeping up her neck. His fingers felt rough from centuries of wielding a sword, and she shivered at the idea of having those hands run over her body.

She shifted at the thought, her thighs rubbing together, a little unnerved at allowing her mind to entertain thoughts of him in such a way.

It felt slightly wrong.

Forbidden.

And she couldn't help but be more than a little curious about what his touch would feel like on her body. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, then blushed when she looked up and saw his hungry eyes locked on her. His nose flared, no doubt scenting her arousal, and her cheeks heated even more .

She squirmed but refused to duck away.

He'd never looked at her so boldly, not bothering to hide his emotions.

And she could no longer pretend that he didn't send her heart fluttering.

"I would be honored to be your mate." She blurted it all out before she lost her courage, her hand unconsciously tightening around his, and she took a shaky breath. "I need time to adjust to the revelations today, but the thought of you being hauled back to Faerie is repugnant."

Disgust twisted her features at the very thought, and she pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin, feeling the rightness of her words settle over her. "So what do we need to do to finish the mating ritual?"

Caedmon's eyes dilated nearly black, the yellow gleaming as his beast rose. She gulped at the intensity of his hunger, her skin feeling hot and achy. He reached out, his fingertips brushing against her cheeks, a slight tremor in his hand. "A simple bite will complete the bond."

A shaky breath whooshed out of her, and she froze in surprise when heat flooded her as she remembered the last bite…and all that it entailed. She dropped her gaze and cleared her throat awkwardly when Caedmon chuckled, as if charmed by her reaction.

"A bite only." He laid down his sword at her knees, giving her a hooded look as he peered up at her. "I've spent my whole life waiting for you. There is no way in hell that I'm giving up a chance to woo my mate."

Morgan wilted in relief…which did nothing to explain the pang of disappointment that quickly followed. She ignored it, chalking it up to stress, and shot him a grateful smile. "I would love to get to know you more."

Her breath caught as a brilliant smile spread across his face, transforming him from a fierce warrior to a stunningly handsome man. The tattoos on his face only made him even more striking, her fingers itching to trace the marks, and she curled her hands into fists to resist the impulse.

Her eyes dropped to his mouth, the small fangs looking sharper this close. She waited for a twinge of fear or a hint of unease, but her brain must have gotten its wires crossed. Instead of fear, lust heated her core, and she barely resisted the impulse to squirm with the need. She cleared her throat twice before she found her voice. "How do you?—"

"Not me." Caedmon dropped down on both knees, then rested back on his heels, placing both his palms flat on his thighs. "You are the alpha queen. You are the one who must lay claim."