Page 83 of Rafe

“She will be here within minutes. Enough. I need to know you are serious about this. I can sense your frenetic energy. What happened to my bathhouse is…not acceptable.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. Hydrogen peroxide works well to get blood out.”

Ilsbeth blew out an audible breath, curling both her hands around her glass.

Rafe paused, carefully considering his words. “I accept your offer. I don’t know about this prophecy stuff, but I want to do the spell. No more vampire.”

Though Ilsbeth never smiled, a hit of excitement flickered in her eyes. “I have watched you suffer for nearly two years, my son. This does not make me happy. You see, while Greyson and Viktor are content as vampire, I am aware, more than most, that a wolf must be wolf.”

“The vampire consumes me. And this thing with Skylar? It’s difficult. I’ve messed this up.”

“You don’t need to explain your nature to me. We all make mistakes. I’m sure you are aware of the Acadian beta.”

“I am aware.” Dimitri.

“The allure of the wolf, the magick of the shifters can be consuming. It is not something the Goddess is likely to erase. But the vampire? The magick is used to transform a human in death. Only one vampire can give to another. Viktor gave you his. But it wasn’t enough to save a wolf. You were much too strong to accept his gift of life. But my magick is of the Goddess, no matter how much I tainted it with the darkness from the underworld. And today I’m much stronger, more careful as to where I expend my energy.”

Ilsbeth gazed into the fire. “My power will be used for good. The spell I’ve got will extract the vampiric magick, sending it back to the Goddess, and if willing, you shall live on as a wolf. But this brings me back to your lovely human. What are you willing to sacrifice?”

“Once Zyaire is gone, Skylar will be safe. She can return to New Orleans, and I will go back to Wyoming to the pack. Everyone will be happy.”

“Do not lie to me!” Ilsbeth slammed her palm onto the marble end table.

Rafe’s wolf growled, his attention trained solely on the witch. “What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to tell me the truth. No lies.”

Rafe shook his head, restraining a storm of emotion that threatened to explode. “The truth? I’ve tasted Skylar. My wolf. This beast inside.” He pounded his chest with the front of his closed fist. “They crave her and no one else. I couldn’t feed right today, let alone fuck another woman. I barely drank enough to keep me from losing control.” Rafe’s expression flattened, sadness in his eyes. “I think she’s mine. My vampire, it’s bonding with her. And I can’t control it.”

“You could stay vampire and possibly bond with her. There are not many hybrids, but it’s feasible. You’d have a lifetime. But once I do this spell, your vampire will be gone forever. The bond as well. You understand this?”

“I do.” Rafe’s heart tightened in his chest. “But how do I know what I’m feeling is real? It could be the vampire. When I become whole again, and the bond is broken, we will both be free. I’m sure I’ll still be attracted to her, but the bond of the vampire will be broken.”

“And if it isn’t? If you still want her?”

“Then I’ll do the adult thing, the right thing, and I’ll leave her. I’ll know my mate is out there, but it’s not her. Just like you should have done with Dimitri. I must accept fate and move on for her sake and for mine.”

“After your juvenile display at the pool she is aware you’ve been feeding with another woman. It appears she has received the message.”

Guilt ripped through him at her words. “I, uh, I’m trying to do the right thing. Not just the right thing but live in reality. I must feed and if I bite Skylar, if I drink from her…” Rafe recalled the sweet taste of her essence, and willed his fangs not to descend. “No, I can’t do it. It will only further seal the bond this vampire inside me wants.”

“I’m pleased to see you make the correct choice.”

“I care about Skylar.” I’m falling hard. “But this is not the way. What you and Viktor did to save me…I appreciate the good will behind the act, but I can’t live like this anymore. I need to be with pack. To lead a pack.”

“And so it shall be. You understand there will be another sacrifice required for this spell?”

“There always is.” Rafe rolled his eyes.

“But are you ready to kill Zyaire?”

“Are you ready to tell me the truth?” Rafe pressed her.

“You have not spent time in Hell. Kellan and I shared this experience. While I cannot prove him wrong or right, the evidence has begun to speak for itself. He told me of a hybrid, An Alpha who’d grow strong. He’d destroy Zyaire before her evil contaminates this world.”

“Let’s say it’s true. I’m the only one who can kill her. It. Whatever she is?” Rafe paused in thought. “Who is Zyaire?”

“She’s my sister. I’ve known her all my life,” Ilsbeth confessed, her expression impassive.