3

ADRIAN

MATE.

The single word swam through my mind on a loop, over and over again as I paced the length of my room. My window, which overlooked the forest, misted with fog and rain, distorting the view and my reflection as I passed it.

Mate. It still echoed in my head, even after hours. Since I woke up and felt Ivy beside me; since the moment I stepped out of that SUV, and I knew everything was different.

I shook my head to clear the word from my mind. It wasn’t entirely impossible. But if I said it aloud and let it take root in my mind, I was afraid it would slip away.

That it was one last pleading wish to the Goddess.

I stopped when the door to my room opened; everyone had their own space, though Ivy and Thea had chosen to share a room while the children were being kept in an adjoining room to their still unconscious mother. The healer, a witch loyal only to my mother, remained with them at all times. To monitor Kerry mostly, for Ivy’s sake, and keep an eye on the girls.

But when I looked up, I found Ro slipping into the room, his brows drawn in worry. He hadn’t spoken to me once during the car ride here. I’d been in and out of consciousness for most of the trip anyway.

From what I could remember of the drive, Maeve speculated that Ivy had been able to heal me because of the mate bond. However, until we’re able to reach my mother, I couldn’t be sure if that was true.

But the team knew Ivy and I were mates. They knew. Barely conscious ramblings and the refusal to be apart made it apparent to them.

Maeve was the only one prepared to broach the topic with me, but even that had been brief. She’d promised to investigate it further once we were at the safe house.

Now, with Rowan standing before me, I wanted to lay everything down in front of him. I wanted him to tell me what to do, how to handle it.

But I couldn’t forget how I’d told him he and Ivy could be mates.

Did he resent the fact that she’d claimed me? That she knew?

I swallowed hard as he sighed and ran a hand through his tousled red hair. Rowan cracked a half smile that made me breathe out sharply. “So, you’re the new queen’s mate. Wonder how your mother will take that.”

By the Goddess. I couldn’t imagine how I’d tell her. My mother had never formed a mate bond with any of the princes from the queen before her. And from what I vaguely knew, neither had my mother’s former mentor.

“I don’t think I want to tell her over a video chat,” I replied, shaking my head. “Your mother is probably having a field day.”

Rowan snorted and strode over to the bed before dropping onto the dark grey blanket. “You’re right. My mother is probably high fiving herself as we speak.”

Something about those words tickled a sense of disbelief within me, like there was truth to that statement. As ridiculous as it was, maybe Seer Sable was more aware of what was going on than we ever realised.

I sat down beside him and rested my head in my hands. “I don’t know what to do. What if we aren’t actually mates? What if it was just the ramblings of a half-dead mage wishing for more?”

“Trust me,” Rowan said, voice tense, “we saw it. There was something…different—powerful—about how Ivy saved you. Something as strong as a mate bond.”

I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

Rowan looked up at me with surprise. “What?”

I forced myself to look over at my best friend. He raised a brow, and although confusion swirled in his hazel eyes, there was also uncertainty and disbelief.

“I know I said…” I stopped myself as a twinge of doubt shot through me. Sucking in a breath, I sat up. “I know I said you and Ivy might be mates, and I’m sorry if all of this blindsided you. Although I wanted it to happen to me, I didn’t think it would come at your expense.”

Rowan’s lips dipped into a frown; he was silent for a moment before barking a strangled laugh. “Shit, man, I’m not mad you’re her mate.” He ran a hand through his hair again as he sat up. “Am I a little jealous you were claimed first? Sure. But I sure as hell am not envious of the situation in which you found out.”

I grimaced and rubbed the spot on my abdomen where I’d been stabbed. “Not my finest moment.”

My friend snorted again. “Look, neither of you could have helped it. The bond made itself known because you were in danger, and I can’t fault either of you for that. I’m glad it came out because otherwise, you’d be dead.”

I nodded silently while he continued, “I still have my own shit to deal with before I can really give myself over to Ivy. I want to be her mate so bad, and it hurts knowing that when we return to Avalon, I might be pulled back because of her training, but fuck I’m glad you’re both okay.”

“I don’t want you to resent me, Ro,” I replied. “I know how much you care about her, and I don’t want you to think—”

“Think what? That you stole my girl?” Rowan shook his head and got to his feet. “No offence, princeling, but you’d have to try harder than that. She’s not going to know what hit her when our bond snaps into place, and the passion drives us to complete the mating.”

It was my turn to snort, though my stomach turned as his words replayed in my mind.

Complete the mating. My magic simmered in my blood at the thought, and a tug at my chest forced me to sit back. The need to find her, to take her and complete the bond rose within me so fast I hadn’t anticipated it.

Rowan must have read it on my face because he laughed. “Remember when Burrows found his mate back at the academy, and she refused to acknowledge him for a whole month during exams? He followed her around like a lost puppy wanting to complete the bond, while she was too focused on not failing out of Oberon.”

I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face. “I can’t pine over her for a month. The bonds between us are stronger than normal because she’s the daughter of Nyx. Griffon used to tell me how quickly Mom mated Magnus and my dad because of how strong the bonds were.”

Griffon, my oldest brother, was around the same age as Maeve and had two mates of his own. He oversaw some political crap somewhere in the Fae realm for our mother, but he’d been around when my father had first found out he was our mother’s mate. Sir Theon, my father, had been a scholarly mage sent to Oberon Academy, and during a tour of the palace—the library, specifically—his mate bond appeared.

Finding out he was Queen Greer’s mate shocked everyone and changed his entire life. A couple years later, Sir Magnus appeared and joined Mother’s mate circle.

Both times, Griffon had been forced to witness the quick developments of their relationships. Both times, my brother hadn’t expected anyone else to join our mother’s circle.

“You also need to complete the bond for her magic,” Rowan added, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Not the most romantic reason, I will admit.”

No, certainly not. If I could have the luxury of holding back, I’d be working on proving to her that I’m worthy to be at her side. Grovel, especially, for my lies and betrayals. Beg for her forgiveness and be the mate she deserved before tying our lives together.

The way I’d hurt her…I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to forgive myself. The last thing I ever wanted was for her to think I was using our connection as a way to manipulate her into coming with us. Taking her the way I had, tasting her desire and having her come on my tongue—it had changed everything for me. And I couldn’t have her doubting that.

It made more sense now as to why I’d been pulled into her orbit. I’d learnt my lesson when it came to mixing work and pleasure, but with her…

I’d been foolish, and now I had to make it right. I would prove I was worthy of her, not just because of the bonds Nyx wove between us, but because I could be her partner, her friend.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Ivy needed the bonds for her magic. The amount of control she’d held during her kidnapping and the fight sent a swell of pride through me. Still, the high-tension situations we were entering would only test that. I doubted she’d be able to keep her control if anything else happened.

“She deserves better than this,” I muttered in reply, standing to pace the length of the window again. I caught sight of Elias and a black panther streaking through the forest, but they disappeared into the heavy mist curling around the trees. “She deserves better than a mate who lied to her and betrayed her trust.”

Rowan blew out a loud breath. “You’re right. She does. So be that for her now because she’s going to need you. Especially with everything that’s going on with her mother.” He clapped me on the shoulder, forcing me to stop and face him. “Maeve also wants to see you.”

I groaned, which earned a laugh from Rowan. “Time to go see the boss lady.”

“Then, my mate,” I murmured, following him from the room.

My gaze strayed to her closed door. The bond between us twinged like it could feel her moving around.

Soon, I told it. Soon we’ll be with her.

~

Before Rowan and I could make it to Maeve’s temporary office, I felt a sharp tug in my chest. Absent-mindedly, I rubbed the space over my heart.

“You okay?” Rowan asked, stopping me outside Maeve’s door. His brows pulled into a frown as he stared at where I rubbed at my chest.

“I don’t know,” I replied, as another tug forced me to take a step back, and a wave of panic rushed through me. “Shit.”

I turned away from him to face the long hall we’d just come down. The tug in my chest, which turned into a spark of something else, pulled me towards Ivy’s room.

I took a stumbling step before Rowan pulled me back. “What’s going on?”

“Ivy,” I gasped, clutching my chest as the panic wound around my heart. “Fuck. Something’s wrong.”

Rowan released me, shouted something to Maeve, and followed as I ran towards her room. She should have just been showering. Thea was supposed to be with her. We were meant to bring her here so she was safe.

My heart pounded with the sudden fear of something wrong. It leapt into my throat as I slammed into the bedroom.

Ivy writhed under the sheets of the large king-sized bed, her wet hair surrounding her like a halo of darkness. Her hands fisted the white sheets, knuckles whitening as a low moan passed her lips.

The door to the ensuite bathroom flew open, steam billowing from within to reveal Thea wrapped in a white towel. Her eyes flew from Ivy’s tense body to mine before widening.

I turned away from her as a strangled sound fell from Ivy’s lips. My heart stuttered a beat as I moved towards her, everything else in the room falling away. My magic pulled me to her side, and I gave into it freely. If there was one thing I’d learnt in our short time together, it was that I’d do anything to protect my mate.

Power swelled in my chest, and the same entity I’d felt during the battle reared its head. Ancient, powerful, and tied to my mate bond with Ivy. The power within me, a blessing from the Goddess, reached for her with a mind of its own.

Ivy curled in on herself as I sat carefully on the edge of the bed. “Ivy?” I murmured, reaching out for her as the bedroom door hit the wall and the rest of the team filed in.

“What the hell is going on?” Elias growled, but I didn’t look up. I could feel them all gathering around us. Their own powers seemed to come through and brush against my own. It sent a strange shiver down my spine, but I tried to ignore it.

Ivy’s face twisted in pain, and she made a gasping sound that twisted something in my chest. Sweat beaded along her brow, and her magic travelled intricate patterns along her skin. My power yearned for hers, and I wasn’t prepared to keep it at bay, especially when her eyes flew open and were wide with fear.

She sucked in a sharp breath and sat up, chest heaving as she searched the room. When her gaze landed on me, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and I held her tightly to my chest.

“You’re okay,” I murmured, stroking her hair. “I’m here, Sweetheart. We’re all here.”

I could feel the thundering of her heart against my own skin. Fuck, her nightmares were getting worse. Over her shoulder, I found Maeve’s eye, and from the look on her face, she was thinking the same thing.

There was still so much I didn’t know about the early transition of the daughters of Nyx. My mother hid so much from me, and now I regretted not asking more about her time before her mates. It sunk like a stone in my stomach, knowing that if I had, I would be able to help my mate.

Even as her racing heart slowed, I held her close. Because I knew without a doubt that I would need to be better—for her, for our future. I would do anything to make sure she was protected and safe, especially from these nightmares.