Though at the moment she's just as pissed at him. A minor relief.
Orion speaks up, voice low and apologetic, "He's right, Mona. We can't risk you. Not near Deidre's magic. She's one of the most powerful witches alive. She is the High Priestess of Northwood. That title implies the entirety of the north."
"It's okay for you to go, then?"
Orion opens his mouth to, who-knows-what—defend himself, the plan, shift the blame to me—instead, he snaps his mouth shut and comes to a stand, looking to me for help.
Of course. Because that's what I do. Be the bad guy.
"Orion and I are strong enough to overpower the witches. And we won't be alone. Kendrick and some of his men will be there. Together, we are the strongest shifters in the fucking country. And the witches won't know we're coming. Frankly, it should be easy. In and out."
"Then why can't I come?"
"Because you can't," I snap. Then immediately feel bad. Fuck, I'm not good at this. I don't know how to have a mate, how not to treat her like she's just one of my wolves. Maybe the Moon Godden made a mistake.
Too bad if she did, though. Mona is mine and I'm never letting her go. So, I apologize as best I can. Crossing the room, I snatch her hand in mine and pull her up. She comes easily.
Even towering over her as I do, she still has all the power here. In moments like these, it may not seem like it. But no one, not since I was very little, and even then—only my parents—has the kind of power over me like she does.
"It's too much of a risk." If something happened to her, I wouldn't be lost—no, I would become a one-man army. I'd destroy everything and everyone in my path to get her back, to avenge her. Lune or not. Responsibility to others, or not.
She jerks her chin up, defiant but sad. "So I'm just supposed to wait? What if something happens to you?" Her voice is so small.
"Nothing will happen to us. And it will be easy, I promise. But if you came, we would be distracted, and then something could go wrong. It's safer for you—for all of us, and for whoever they are holding at the compound—if you don't come."
"You think I'm weak."
"That's not—" Orion starts, but I cut him off.
"We're not saying you're weak. We're saying, you're not expendable."
"And you are?"
I let out a groan, knowing this is just going to keep going in circles. Mona must sense the same. She stabs me with a finger and hisses, "If something happens to either of you, I'll kill you both myself." Then she shoves past me, bare feet slapping the hardwood, and stomps up the stairs. The bedroom door slams loudly, enough to make the pictures on the walls rattle.
Orion scrubs his face, then slouches into the chair by the chessboard.
"If she came and something happened, we'd never forgive ourselves. I can handle her mad. I can't handle her hurt or dead," I defend.
He nods, but won't meet my eyes. Then picks up a knight from the board and moves it up and over. "I know. Just feels like we're two steps forward, one step back with her."
I huff a laugh and pick up a pawn. Mona's lost a few of them, but not all. You can still win a game and take the queen with a pawn.
"You've just never had a woman in your life. You should go out west and visit your mom and sister more often, then you'd know how to handle one."
"You aren't seriously comparing all women to each other. Or all women to her—" he points toward the stairs. "No wonder you're such a slut. You couldn't keep one happy. We're doomed."
I laugh for real this time. "Nah. Relationships, I mean. Two steps forward, one step back… that's still progress. You're just shook because it's the first time she's mad at you, too." I slide the pawn forward one move. "I, for one, and relieved not to be singled out for once."
Orion snorts. "You're an idiot, my friend. A brilliant strategist—" he nods toward the board, where I'm about to take his queen in three moves or less. "But an idiot all the same. You keep saying shit without thinking, without taking her feelings into account. One of these days, she's not going to forgive you."
I wave him off. "I'm not worried about that. She's my mate. She'll always forgive me."
He laughs with a cough, and I refuse to fidget against his accusation. I may not have any experience keeping a woman, but that's because I've never tried. I'll show him. And Mona. I'll figure out this communication thing. I don't need to coddle her. I just need to keep her safe, and as long as she understands that, we'll be fine.
We finish the game, and Orion re-stacks the pieces. It's late, but there's too much on my mind to consider sleeping. He must feel the same.
"We have two days to prepare," I say finally. "Kendrick's guy will give us what he can, but the only thing he's promised is to drop the shield protecting the property before the moon hits its peak. We'll need to move fast."
