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“How?” Cherry demanded.

“Confidential.” Rowan shrugged.

“So there are no more instances of rage lust occurring?” Cherry’s brows knitted together in confusion.

“We found out why there was an increase and we took care of it, but no, we didn’t stop the instances of rage lust completely. We’re working on it.”

Cherry’s nose flared, “I’m thinking that maybe you could be of help to the Coven at this moment.”

Rowan let out a sharp laugh. “Say what?”

“You’ve debuted this week in the Mystic’s Top 100.” Cherry said, “You stopping the wolves in Greece was unexpected. You showing up to stop Black Cove’s attack on Draconis amplified your power and position. You’re currently good PR fodder, and like the dragons will surely use this to soften their relationship with the public, I’d like to propose a similar relationship with the Coven.”

“You know that my relationship with the dragons is because their king is my mate, right? Exactly how could you offer something similar?” Rowan crossed her arms.

“Well…” It didn’t seem that Cherry had quite had a proposal all planned out. “We could give you a leadership role.”

Rowan sighed, “Cherry, I have not changed my stance. I want nothing to do with the Coven. There’s too much history between us, especially if you take on the role of the Elder.”

“I could leave it to someone else!“ Cherry hissed. “Ms. Dahl. Judgement has been called for Antoni Barros. His testimony will tear our credibility to shreds. The accusations the shifters will throw at us will be detrimental to our operations. The Coven may have seemed like a source of misery for you, but we have helped more than harmed over the years.”

“Yes, you have. But the moment you tried to infringe on my will is the moment you lost your chance of ever receiving my help. There’s only one thing the Coven and you can do to survive the public outlash. Confess. Give your side of the story. Help the shifters point the finger in the right direction. Antoni Barros acted alone, and though he will apparently use rage lust as his excuse for his actions, he’ll throw both the shifters and the Coven under the bus when he tells his side. Only your testimonywill save the Coven Cherry, especially if you’re the one in charge. How could anyone think that this was a Coven backed initiative if its current leader was a person he hurt?”

Cherry’s eyes glistened as she shook her head. “That’s just it, Ms. Dahl. He made me a victim. How can I take command of a force like the Coven when he exposed me as someone weak enough to become a victim? ”

The image of her bloody body gave Rowan pause. She couldn’t do this. Trick the woman who was still so obviously affected by the man into testifying, even if it would be better for the Thunder, for the people she’d agreed to lead.

Still, she had little mercy for the woman who’d been at the center of making her life hell for so long to offer words of comfort.

“It’s your story, Cherry. You decide if you were truly a victim or a survivor.” Rowan stood. “I’ll see you around.”

Chapter 36

“An amusement park?”

Alessandro grinned down at the flabbergasted face of Rowan as she looked around the sidewalk surrounded by rollercoasters and carnival games. The sounds of screaming riders and laughter screeched out as he produced two hats with “Jacques’ Famous FunGround” stitched in bright yellow letters.

“Only one rule, no magic.” He said, holding one out to her while he placed the other over his head.

She narrowed her eyes. “Who blabbed?”

He lifted the bill of the hat to show off his mating mark as an answer. Though much slower than his memories had come to her, since their talk over his godhood, she’d let up on herblockage of the bond. He had seen a few recollections of what had been Rowan’s core. Most notably of the bunch, a memory of a day in an amusement park where a costumed rabbit had scared her out of her mind.

Since that day, she hadn’t been able to face returning to a supposed place of joy that she could only associate with terror.

“Today, we are conquering fear together.” He placed the cap on her head, tilting it back so he could place a brief kiss on her forehead. “Even if that damned rabbit shows back up.”

She wrapped her hand tightly around his and stuck to his side. “If that damned rabbit shows back up, I’m going to set it on fire.”

Alessandro tutted. “No magic.”

She bristled. “If you hated me, you should’ve just told me. I can take it. I’m a big girl.”

“If I told you I hated you, you’d probably drown in tears,” he teased, leading the way to a stand equipped with water guns and galloping horses.

Rowan sighed. “I knew taking you out of that cave was going to bite me in the ass one day.”

He laughed and pulled a stool out for her to occupy while he took the one next to hers. “Would you like to wager?”