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Why is she so stupidly perfect?

Chapter 18

DARIUS

I’m usedto spending long days and nights alone in my office. Now that Charlotte has arrived and has slowly been growing closer to me and my nest-mates, I find it hard to sit here and focus when I could be with them.

Pushing away from my desk, I pop my back and groan, allowing myself to run through the magic that binds the nest together. Nothing feels out of the ordinary.

Our magic has been strange since Charlotte arrived, and I was beginning to believe what Marcus had said.

Mate.

Soulmate.

Fated mate.

All words with the same meaning—this witch is the center of our nest.

Blowing out a breath, I groan again. “Atlas will never let that happen.”

As if summoned by the mention of his name, Atlas bursts into my office with his wings flared in agitation. He grunts as he knocks down nearly a dozen books from my shelves.

“What is it now?” I ask, even though I don’t want to get into this.

“The witch. You can’t be seriously falling for the games she’s playing,” he growls.

Something’s off about him. The magic within the bond snaps and writhes between us. I could pull back, know that I should, but I also have a desire to see this through at least a little.

“She is a very nice woman, Atlas. You should give her a chance,” I say through gritted teeth, knowing none of the words I say will get through to him.

His trauma with witches makes it understandable that he wants nothing to do with them, but this is fate, and fighting fate will get us nowhere.

“I refuse. I refuse, Darius…You cannot make me tolerate her.” He barks the words out. All snarls that suddenly become clear.

He’s afraid. Putting on some kind of act to hide how he feels.

A soft rumble of understanding vibrates in my chest. “I’m not going to make you. I may be your alpha, but I am no taskmaster. Though it would be harsh to call falling for a beautiful witch a hardship.” I snicker.

Atlas grunts and begins to pick up my books, some of that rage simmering down, as if he forgot to feel it in the moment.

“I want solo assignments, Darius. I can’t be around you all when you’re falling at her damn feet.” He stands and reshelves the old tomes, some older than he is. “Marcus and Julius brought her into the nest, and that is where my line is.”

“They brought her into the nest without us?” I ask, the shock like someone dumping cold water over my head.

“I see they haven’t gotten around to telling you yet. They are far too busy shoving their tongues down her throat,” Atlas says with a roll of his eyes.

“Well, I’ll have to speak with them both, then. The nest is space for us to go and feel safe. You know that as well as I do, and they should know it as well.” I think back to the time many years ago when the only place Atlas could find peace was in the nest, surrounded by us as we lent him our strength to fight the demons waging inside him.

There are things he never told us about the witch who created him—the foul man who still haunts his darkest dreams on nights when we all feel helpless—but I know he never had anyone care for him before. As a member of my nest, I will always care for him and try to put his and the rest of our nest-mates’ feelings above any others.

That doesn’t include Charlotte. Yet.

The thought of forsaking her is like a shot to the gut.

“As for the solo mission, we will discuss it, Atlas. You still have much to learn about drawing your magic back. You’re good with letting it out, but wielding it is a different story.”

“I can wield my magic just fine. If you let me have more of it from time to time, I would be able to practice,” he snipes.