The silver of his eyes disappears behind a tight blink. “You’re only making my point.”
“Well…thanks. Truthfully, being a High Priestess isn’t what I want.”
Silver returns—as does the shadow as he moves closer, his feet dancing along the edge of the moonlit strip.
“As Mom’s heir, I’m next in line, but I could defer to any woman who steps up. If they’re blessed by Hecate through aceremony, they’re found worthy. If I gave up the role, it would kill Mom, so I go along with her teachings on what leading involves.”
Ryder ticks his head to the side, his gaze sweeping me from head to toe, but he doesn’t comment.
“Did you want to become Alpha?”
“Always,” he replies without hesitation. “If not High Priestess, what do you want in life?” There’s an edge to his tone—sharp, but cautious too. Like holding a knife, blade side up.
“Anything but that. Honestly, and it might sound strange, but to get away from the coven. I love Banff—don’t get me wrong; I’d never dare move to a city. People exhaust me, and I’d love something like…this.” I gesture at the line of cabins in front of us. “To live off the grid in a nice house, surrounded by nature. I’m too much of a princess to manage life outdoors, but magick would make it easier. With a cabin like yours, for example—though with a bathroom installed—and electricity—I’d be happy.”
Ryder’s breathing gets heavier. Dead leaves kick up as he paces a step backwards, disappearing deeper into the treeline. His tone has a different kind of edge when he talks. This time without the sharpness but a pure, unfiltered warning that makes little alarms flash through my head. “You should head back inside.”
It’s so sudden, almost mean. The opposite of the friendly conversation we’ve been maintaining. My chest aches a bit at the rejection, but it’s a reminder too. We’re merely strangers thrown together in an unfortunate circumstance. Personal conversations aren’t the point.
“Night, Ryder.”
Silver eyes stalk me the rest of the way back, but not once do I give him the satisfaction of looking behind me.
Never allowing him to spot the hurt.
The hurt that makes no sense for me to be feeling.
Twenty-One
RYDER
Once Carina is safelyinside my cabin, I glare at the moon above. “Think you’re funny?”
The woman fated to be my mate doesn’t want to rule her own species, but run away and live in the forest, in“a cabin like yours”.If it wasn’t my own life, maybe I’d laugh at the irony.
“I think I’m hilarious, thanks for asking.” The feminine voice slides from the darkness as a figure materializes in front of me. She’s sans cloak this time, and her long blonde hair is now a sapphire blue, but I’d recognize the waif of a woman anywhere.
“Freya.”
Hands clasped in front, she bows her head. “Alpha. Well, you’re lightyears ahead of your counterpart in terms of respect. For that, you get my patience, but a little warning, it’s short-lived.”
As her head comes up, purple eyes glisten with mischief, hinting we’re already past the deadline of her so-called patience. Especially when her hands unclasp and she instead twirls to give me her back and paces a few steps away. “Hm. This place is cute, isn’t it? Carina’s tucked inside, all cozy in your nest. Feels good, doesn’t it?” She tosses an evil grin over her shoulder, winkingto imbed the truth in deeper—harder. Like a fucking rock to the head. “Having your mate all safe and cozy in your space.”
A growl snaps my teeth together and I scan the area, looking and listening for sentries nearby who’ll overhear. Last fucking thing I need is the others aware of what Carina actually is.
“You knew the whole time, didn’t you?” Large steps take me to the witch’s side, my hand clasping around her arm. She’s so fragile—it’d take only a snap of her bone. And while I’ve never killed someone before, she’s angling to be my first.
“Obviously,” she drawls, tugging at my grip to dislodge herself. “You can let me go or magick will. Your choice, but magick won’t be kind.”
After witnessing Carina’s spat with her mother this morning, I don’t doubt it. One finger at a time, I unhook my hand from her.
Freya makes a show of straightening her invisible cloak. “Better. Temper, temper. Yes, I knew she’s yournîkâkîstis. You don’t become me without some insight. Seriously”—her eyes roll—“I’m starting to think you have more in common with our vampire friend. Ask your questions, since I know you have them.”
“Is she aware?”
“Not in the way you are.”
Thank fuck.
