30. Kezia

He didn’t havesex with me the next day. Instead, Doc gave me a thorough examination, and between him and the shaman, I was given a clean bill of health.

With Doc’s supervision, I visited Landon, finally hearing the whole truth of his subterfuge. In true Landon style, he’d tried to play both sides. Not for an advantage but so he could figure out what the hell was going on. His dad knew him better than he thought, and when Landon insisted he capture me, Bale became even more suspicious.

Landon hadn’t been lying; he truly thought I could help free his mom and sister. He believed that Cannon would be hot on my heels. He hadn’t known the plan to kill Cannon, hadn’t counted on it at all, and then was left scrambling about what to do with me since he’d dragged me into the mess. When he had disappeared, saying that he was at Cannon’s funeral, he’d been locked in a cell until he was persuaded to go along with the lie. He told me Bale thought Tev would kill Cannon, they were expecting his death, but when I hadn’t reacted like someone who had just lost their mate, they knew Cannon lived. Which is when they locked up Landon.

He also had never suspected his father’s true hatred for me. His horror as he relived his last days within the compound made us both cry.

I knew that Cannon and Kris were fed up with him, but I knew why Landon lingered in the bed—he feared he had nowhere to go. I promised him he was welcome in my pack, but I was sure he would go where his twin settled.

Cassandra was blooming. There was no other word for it. She looked radiant, and I felt drab beside her. Pregnancy suited her, and with the threat of the bond gone between me and Cannon, I admit, I felt slightly broody when I left her.

Doc argued heavily against it, but I left the house and went out to see my pack. Cannon had been called to an emergency at Anterrio Pack, and from his grumblings, I guessed it was a regular thing. He’d left this morning with the warning I was to rest.

In the streets, I was swarmed with my pack. They let me go at my own pace, and they were never far from me in case I got tired, but their love surrounded me, and I felt so blessed to have found this pack.

Mypack.

When Cannon came home, he found me in the food hall, surrounded by friends as I caught up on all I’d missed.

“I thought I said rest when I left this morning,” he murmured as he sat beside me.

“You did say rest,” I told him as I stole a chicken wing from his plate. “I’ve rested enough.” He went to argue, but I leaned over and kissed him softly. “Our pack walked beside me and made sure I had company. I have spent the day with our pack, my love, I was fine.”

His eyes searched my face, but he said nothing further about it. Instead, he dipped his head and brushed his lips over mine. ”My love?” he said, a smile hovering over his mouth. ”I like that,” he told me, kissing me more firmly this time.

When he leaned back, he reclaimed his stolen chicken wing, winking at me as he bit into it. The pack watched us, smiling at our open playfulness. As Cannon began to eat his meal, he lifted his arm in invitation, and I eagerly snuggled into his side content to be close to him as we spent an enjoyable evening with the pack.

Days passed and my strength and color returned. Cannon and I had made love, slow, sweet, and tender, and I had cried halfway through at how gentle he was, at how much he loved me. I was healing, but one thing still bugged me, and it would bug me until I had an answer.

“A rabbit?”

Barbara sighed as she swung her door open. “Come in.”

I marched inside, wearing jean shorts and a tank, presenting less like an alpha every day. Taking a seat, I glared at her. “Dish it.”

She blinked, then went to her kitchen and returned with a plate of scones. “Tea?”

“I don’t mean serve me, I mean tell me the truth.”

She opened her mouth to speak and snapped it closed. With a wry smile, she rolled her eyes. “The shaman had the rabbit, so I used what was available.”

“So you never sent Moonstar to my mom as a rabbit?”

“Good Goddess, no!”

“Then why tell me you did?”

She looked at me in confusion. “I sent the spirit to Andrea for protection. I never said she was in any form.”

She hadn’t? I scowled at her. She met my look calmly. “Where is Moonstar? I know she isn’t in some rabbit.”

“When I committed the ritual to save your soul, I was able to separate you both. You need not worry about Moonstar ever again.”

“I don’t even know how you did it. No one tells me; did you tell them?” When I saw her steady unblinking gaze, I got angry. “You told them nothing. You capitalized on the fact they would be so desperate to get me back they wouldn’t question how you did it at all.”

“You are free. Isn’t that all that matters? You don’t need to worry.”

I frowned. “But I am worried. What happens to her? Is she gone? Is she…dead? I need to know she is all right.”

Barbara watched me. “She is happy. She is free.” When I went to speak, she shook her head. “I will tell you no more.”

“Why did my spirit need to be taken? It was my body that was broken, so why even take me out of it?”

Barbara rubbed her forehead. “Kezia, I am a servant of the Goddess. These were the signs she sent me. I did what I did as I was told by Luna. For her. For you.”

“So you don’t know?” I glowered at her. “I was in a rabbit for a month, and you don’t know why?”

She took a deep breath. “Your body had been through a lot of trauma. You were dying, Kezia; I wasn’t there, but I felt it. I knew you were barely holding on. I took your spirit so that your body could heal.”

“How did you feel it?” Leaning forward, I scowled at her. “You don’t know me that well, Barbara. I will not give up until you have given me answers.”

She sighed and looked away. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink?”

Milk and cookies.

Pushing myself to my feet, I gaped at her. “The bond. That’s why you think it’s broken. You drugged Cannon, my mate, and you did something to him. To our bond. He told me…” I was muttering as I paced. “He told me you said you did it for us both…” Looking up, I saw her watching me, her focus intent. “It wasn’t to show him I could lead this pack; you did something to the bond. What did you do?” Leaning over her, I felt like screaming, but I remained calm. “What did you do to our bond?”

Barbara sniffed delicately as she looked away. “Sit down and I will tell you.”

Taking a seat, I couldn’t stop glaring at her. “Speak.”

Barbara watched me while she adjusted her sweater, leaning back in her chair slightly. “They tell me that not that long ago, you were seeking to break the bond?—”

“Things changed.”

She gave me a look of disapproval. “If you would let me speak…” When I said nothing, she continued. “I heard you went to the scientist.” Her lips curled with scorn. “What would medicine know about a spiritual gift?”

“You knew how to break it?” I asked her quietly.

“I do.” Barbara gave me a small smile. “It’s why I came here. I knew you were running. Running from it. I wanted to see for myself if you truly did not want to form the bond, and if not, I would help you break it.” Wearily she leaned back even more, getting comfortable. “But you were both so blind to each other. Anyone could see how you both needed it, wanted it.”

I couldn’t stop the smile as I remembered the fools we had been. “We were stupid.”

“You are stubborn,” she corrected with a gentle look. “Both of you. I could have left, but I liked it here. He is a good alpha, your mate.” Barbara looked around her room. “It is hard to be a druid. Many shun us, preferring the blindness of a shaman to see what they cannot see themselves. I keep my calling to myself, but I am always at the service of Luna.”

“She made you stay here?”

Barbara shook her head. “No. I would like to stay here. It feels like home, and I…” She licked her lips nervously. “I would like to remain close to you.” Seeing my eyes widen, she hurried on. “I know you have no trust in me, but I care for you, Kezia.” She broke my stare. “Your mother would kick my ass if I left you now.”

I didn’t know how I felt about that. She had saved me, but she had also lied to me. I had had enough of lies; it didn’t matter who they were from. Not anymore. My trust levels were low.

“Tell me what you did,” I hounded her.

“Luna sent the signs. I knew something bad was coming, more than war. Cannon felt it too. He came to me. It was my house he stood outside. Luna called him to me. When I answered the door, I didn’t know what she wanted. Cannon and I talked, and I could feel your newly formed bond.” She broke off with a faraway look in her eye. “It was so new, so strong, I could practically see it.”

“See it?”

Barbara nodded quickly. “There was an aura around him; it was almost golden.”

Royce had said Moonstar had healed Cannon with magic that was golden. An uneasy feeling churned in my belly. “Golden?”

Barbara gave a soft laugh. “Silly, I know. A bond is not physical, it cannot be seen.” Blowing out a breath, she continued. “I know how to break a bond. I know that, while it cannot be seen, it can be felt. I also know that a strong bond can be”—she looked at me quickly—“stretched.”

“Stretched?” There was a dangerous undertone to my voice I didn’t recognize, but Barbara did.

“I pulled the bond between you, and I tethered part of it, just a small part, to me. So that if anything were to happen to you, I would know and I would be ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“To save you, Kezia.”

“I was healed within days, so why keep me away for so long?” She said nothing and I watched her through narrowed eyes. “Moonstar? She fought you. She didn’t want to go, did she?” She still said nothing, but I pushed on. I knew I was right. “Moonstar was still in my body, wasn’t she? You tethered,” I spat the word out, “my bond to Cannon to you, but that left Moonstar in my body.” Anger thrummed through me. “Where is she?”

“She is gone. She is safe.”

“Where?” I demanded.

“I will not tell you.” She met my look squarely, and I knew in this, she would not bend. “It is so good to see you healthy, alive…demanding.”

I snorted, but in truth, I didn’t know if I should argue with her. I was back, wasn’t that all that mattered?

No. Moonstar mattered. She mattered a whole lot.

Looking at Barbara, I knew I’d need to figure it out another day. “So, my mate bond is broken?”

“Can you feel it?”

“I think…maybe?” Uncertainty swept through me. “I don’t know if it’s wishful thinking.”

She shifted her eyes down. “You need your heat to determine that.”

“Make my heat come.”

Another impatient frown. “I can’t do that, Kezia.”

“Yes, you can. You meddle with all of Luna’s cycle; meddle with mine.”

“It would be a false heat.” Reaching over, she patted my knee, and I fought the urge to rip off her arm. “Be patient.” Standing up, she looked down at me, tenderness in her gaze. “I know you do not trust me, but you will see, I only did what was best for you, Kezia.”

I left her house feeling grouchier than when I went in, and I still had a list of unanswered questions.

The highlight of my day came when Cannon woke me, slow and sure, from an unintended nap. He covered my body completely with such possessiveness that I was beginning to think it didn’t matter if the bond was broken, but I knew that it did. I wanted my mate to be my mate.

I wanted the silvery mark on his collarbone to tell everyone he was mine. He wasn’t the only possessive one in our relationship.

Later, we were in the kitchen, having coffee, having just come back from a run. I’d shifted to my wolf for the first time knowing there was no danger of Moonstar coming forward, and I hated to admit it, but it was liberating.

The shaman greeted us as he came in and handed a rather intricate-looking envelope over to Cannon.

“What’s that?” I asked as I ate a handful of nuts.

“A letter for the alpha, from the Pack Council.”