He sighed, running his hand through his hair. It wasn’t often that Nathaniel looked tired, but his face seemed to have acquired new lines, etched deep. “Most wolves mate with the woman their human selves choose. The wolf must accept the mating, but most understand that a mate is a key part of a long and happy life. However… there are some wolves–most consider them blessed by whatever gods watch over us–whose wolf recognizes the mate of its heart. And the man recognizes the same.”
I swallowed. “So, your wolf recognized Evie first?”
He nodded.
“When?”
“The first time we met her. I had no understanding of what was happening, or why my wolf raged when she feared us. It explains why I was able to scent the chip in her neck. But I didn’t fully understand until the funeral. I caught her scent, no longer clouded by the chip… and my wolf showed me the truth.”
I didn’t know what to say. Nathaniel’s gaze was steady on my face. “Your sister is many things, but she’s not a witch. Or at least, not just a witch. She’s going to need to be protected, and yet, if she learns I am her mate, she will leave. She knows we’re watching over her right now, but if she wanted, she could take steps to end that. I have no doubt that if your sister put her mind to it, she could leave without a trace.”
I took a deep, shuddering breath. “And what about Liam?”
He shrugged, not at all worried about the threat the other wolf could present. “Evelyn left him a note. Likely similar to the one she left you.”
I was curious despite myself. “Your wolf doesn’t want to kill Liam?”
“He doesn’t enjoy seeing him touch our mate. But there is a reason I am Alpha. A reason I was able to gain control of my wolf before any other. I struck a partnership with my wolf, and if there is one thing we are both good at, it is patience. We can wait for Evelyn to realize she is ours, but we can’t protect her if she leaves for good. And that enrages my wolf to the point where I may be unable to control him.”
“If I don’t tell Evie, she may never forgive me.”
“If you tell her and she leaves, and whoever is hunting her finds her, you will never forgive yourself either.”
Nathaniel got to his feet, cast one last affectionate look at the griffin, and prowled back into the forest.
21
DANICA
My neck ached as I blinked open my eyes. The scent of caffeine wafted toward me, and I struggled to sit up. I’d fallen asleep on the sofa, unwilling to risk lying next to Samael.
He hadn’t been in my dreams.
My eyes were heavy as I stared into space. Today, I’d make sure I had a representative from every faction ready to help with the spell.
Vas emerged from the small kitchen, silently handing me a cup of coffee.
“Thanks.”
“Did you get much sleep last night?”
I shrugged, glancing at my phone. It was 8am.
“A few hours.”
He took a seat in the recliner opposite me, and we both sat and sipped our coffee in exhausted silence.
A representative from every faction.
I obviously had the demons, and while Kyla had offered to represent the werewolves, Nathaniel had stepped in, claiming that it was a good move politically. I had a feeling it was his Alpha need to protect at work, his wolf unwilling to allow one of his pack members to risk themselves when he could do it instead.
Meredith would be my witch representation, since Evie was still nowhere to be seen. I was also planning to ask Aubrey to represent the seelie. If he told me he couldn’t, thanks to his loyalty to Taraghlan, I would ask Eldan, who would be there in his capacity as healer anyway.
That left the unseelie… and the mages.
I’d managed to alienate every single mage in the Triangle. Not only had I left the Council to work for Samael, but I’d then killed a handful of mages. Not to mention, I’d destroyed their facility. Keigan was my only hope.
I chewed on my lower lip. Disappointment had been written all over his face when I blew up the facility. Who knew if he’d help me save Samael’s life?
