50. Rhyson

50

Rhyson

The sounds of her pain ripped through me, and my wolf came charging out as I burst through the door. Magic surrounded her and the witches, and she was on her back, arching upward, screaming like they were torturing her. Without a second thought, I slammed through the magic, and the whole coven rattled.

"Fuck. Duke!" Janelle screamed, and Maya's screams stopped. That didn't stop me from breaking through the witches and hunching over her body, growling.

"Rhyson, she knew there might be pain," Irene said in a calm voice. "We are trying to help her."

Her voice barely penetrated, and I realized in that split second that my wolf was in control.

Fucking hell, my wolf never took full control. I yanked hard on my bond with him, and he snarled.

At me.

"Rhyson?" Maya asked in a weak voice, and I felt her hands on the belly of my wolf. "Rhyson, I'm okay."

Duke stepped into the room. He took one look at me, and his eyes widened. "Walk very slowly to the door. Do not turn your back on him," he said in an even voice. "Maya, are you awake?"

The witches slowly started to back up, and Maya's touch increased as she sat up and stroked my flank. "Rhyson, are you in there? I'm all right. You need to gain control. I'm not in danger. I was never in any danger."

My wolf rumbled at Duke.

"Hey, look at me. You can do it."

Reluctantly, my wolf turned his head to the sound of her voice, and she gave him a shaky smile. "I'm sorry that I scared you. I should have told you that there might be some pain, but I wanted to do this. Thank you for caring for me." She kissed the tip of my nose. "Can you let Rhyson back out?"

He rumbled and slowly receded inside of me. I shook off the stress, and Maya scooted out from under me. Duke frowned. "What the fuck is going on? Rhyson doesn't lose control like that."

"It's my fault. I didn't tell him what was happening. They were trying a new spell to heal my bonds, and they said it might be painful. I should have told Rhyson. He must have been concerned about the babe."

"The babe," Duke echoed and visibly relaxed. "Right. Did the spell work?"

Rhyson stared at me questioningly through his wolf's eyes, and I gave him a tight smile. "No, and it wasn't because you interrupted. I don't think anything is going to work, but I really appreciate everyone trying to help me."

Duke blew out his breath. "Shit, I'm sorry Maya. That sucks."

"It's all right. If you don't mind, I'm going to go to my room and rest. I think I just need to be alone for a little while."

I saw the pain in her eyes as she gave me a brave smile and left the room. Not physical pain, but emotional. I started to shift, cursing myself for pushing her to go through with it. She'd clearly need a break, and I just wanted her to be whole again.

When I was human again, Duke scowled at me. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Never in my life have I seen you lose control of your wolf. And to fucking do it here of all places?"

I growled. Who was he to talk to me like that? I was his king.

And yet, he wasn't wrong.

"My wolf sensed danger."

"Really? Strange how he'd react now considering we've been in danger this whole fucking time." Duke stared at the door. "Maya is your fucking mate, and the sooner you come to terms with that, the better off we'll all be."

"She can't have a mate. Her father took that choice away from her."

"She doesn't have the bond. That doesn't mean she doesn't have a fated mate or that her fated mate won't feel it. Fuck it, Rhyson, our wolves are still just wolves. They don't care about magic. They don't care if the bond is there or not. They feel what they feel. I know you want the bond. Your brother did too, but it wasn't his destiny, and it might not be yours either. If you don't accept it, and you lose control of your wolf at the wrong time, it could kill us all. Keep that in mind."

Catching the look on my face, he frowned deeply. "You've considered this already, haven't you?"

How could I not, with the way I felt about her? But I'd fucked it up so badly with her that I had this deep unsettled feeling that I would never be able to repair it. She deserved better than me. She deserved a mate who would cherish her from the very beginning.

If Duke was right, then there was no saving us. My wolf would keep pulling away, desperate to fix a bond that had been amputated at the source, in more ways than one. Her father might have ripped it out, but I'd done my fair share of damage.

My wolf would deteriorate, even go insane. I would not be king for much longer. "I need to apologize to the witches, and then I need to see about the details for leaving for the Snake River Pack."

The sooner we got off this mountain, the better.

It was several hours before I went in search of Maya. I found her back in our room, staring out the window. She was in the same clothes she'd been wearing during the ritual. Guilt overwhelmed me. I'd left her alone too long. Had she been sitting here the whole time?

"I have apologized to the witches," I told her in a low voice. "I'd like to apologize to you, for interrupting your progress."

"Nothing to apologize for," she said tonelessly. "It wasn't working."

"I'm sorry, baby. I pushed you even though you were done. I shouldn't have done that." Unable to keep myself from touching her, I walked over and pulled her into my arms. I half expected that she'd pull away, and I didn't know if I'd be able to handle it. She didn't pull away. Instead, she practically poured into my arms. Carrying her to the bed, I cradled her in my arms as I sat and let her lean against my chest.

"I wanted to try one last thing," she whispered. "It wasn't your fault. Janelle was just so sure. I think I may have broken her. I think I break everything that I touch."

"That is not true," I growled.

"You lost control of your wolf, Rhyson. I made that happen. You swore to protect me, and I keep making that job harder and harder for you. I'm starting to think this future you see of us is a little too idyllic."

Beneath her, I stiffened. "What are you saying?"

After a beat, she sighed. "Nothing. I'm just wallowing and feeling sorry for myself. I don't mean to drag you down with me."

"I want you to talk to me, Maya." Feeling my wolf's anxiety, I rested my chin on the top of her head. She was mine. Here and now, she was mine, and I would do whatever it took to keep her.

She was my mate.

"When are we leaving?"

Damn it. Well, if she didn't want to talk, I couldn't force her. I wouldn't force her. She had to come to terms with what was happening to her on her own time. All I could do was support her and make sure she was safe.

"Tomorrow."

"Anna can't go. She was going to be our bridge. What if we're walking into a trap?"

"You should stay here, Maya. London is supposed to be impartial, but I don't know him, and I have no idea what Elonso is planning."

"I'm not leaving," she said softly. "And if you try to leave me behind, I'll just follow you. You might as well bring me along. I won't do anything to put the baby in danger. I swear."

"Even if I'm in danger."

Finally looking at me, she gave me a cheeky smile, and for a moment, I felt like everything would be all right. "Don't do anything that would put yourself in danger, and I think we'll be all right."

"I can't make any promises."

In an instant, the smile was gone. "I know," she said quietly. "Believe me, I know."