“Yeah.” Axel sat up, hands running through his silver hair. I noticed the slight tremble to his fingers before he let his hands drop to his lap. “You’re right, nothing much has changed. He’s still out there roaming around. And I’m still virtually a prisoner in my own home.”
“I know it’s not fair,” Max soothed. “But it won’t be forever.”
“Won’t it?” Axel’s tone was sharp, bitter. “It’s been over two months already.”
“Would you like to come back with us?” Lady Sarhin cut in. “Through the gateway. We can set you up in a warded section of the high court.”
No.
I went to protest, but Rys’s head snapped round, his sharp glare pushing any words back down.
Axel shook his head. “Despite everything, I feel safer here.” For one brief, glorious second, his gaze found mine and I wanted to howl in triumph, but then he turned and smiled at Dathal. “Besides, Dathal’s teaching me how to fight. Can’t do that if I’m through the gateway.”
Fight?
There’d be no fucking fighting while we were watching him.
Dathal’s smile didn’t last long. He glanced at Nick, who nodded to whatever silent question he was asking. “Nick and I are coming home with you.”
Axel frowned. “No, you don’t have to—”
“I do.” Dathal shifted in his seat, focus solely on Axel. “With yours and Rys’s permission, I’d like you to let Nick ward your house.”
A quiet settled around the room.
“You have permission from the witches’ council?” Axel leant forward to ask Nick.
“I do. It won’t be as strong as the coven magic we use to protect our homes, but it’ll be better than nothing.”
It wasn’t unheard of for witches to use their magic to ward somewhere other than coven properties, but it was rare. Especially on shifter territory. The mix of witch magic and shifter magic could beunsettling. Throw in a fae and Goddess knew how it would feel to be in Axel’s house.
Lady Sarhin’s eyes narrowed. “If Axel’s house here needs magical wards, then perhaps he would be more comfortable with fae magic.”
Rys fidgeted next to me, jaw tight with tension.
Witch magic was one thing, and he knew Nick, trusted him. It wouldn’t be like a stranger coming into his territory. But a fae? Lady Sarhin might be joined with his father, but it wouldn’t be her performing whatever magic they used for protection.
But if it would protect Axel?
“Thank you, Lady Sarhin, Nick.” Axel said, glancing between the two of them. “But I think I’m safe enough in Rys’s territory with his pack guarding me.” Once again his eyes flicked to me before looking away again. “If Zh’alek doesn’t already know which one my house is, I don’t want to broadcast it by having the only one covered in magic.”
I wanted to point out that if he got that close, then we’d all failed miserably at protecting him, but Dathal beat me to it.
“If he gets that far into Rys’s territory, then surely you’d want to have your house as protected as possible. Especially if Zh’alek has witch magic with him.”
“Will it work that close to the gateway? Won’t the fae magic interfere with it?”
Dathal shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
“Rys?” Axel said, turning to face him. “It’s your territory. What do you think?”
The tense set to Rys’s shoulders told me he wasn’t happy. I didn’t need enhanced senses to recognise the unease rolling off him. His gaze shot to Nick. “It’ll be your magic?”
“David’s would be stronger—”
Rys shook his head. “No.” He closed his eyes for a moment, chest rising and falling as he sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t trust David. I trust you.”
Nick flushed, Rys’s words clearly taking him by surprise. “I can get him to go through it with me, the best way to protect Axel’s house without upsetting the balance of magic in your forest. Well, limiting it.”
