Page 35

Chapter 34

Slow Burn

CHARLIE

“ S o this is where you went.”

I turn to watch Lennox as he strides toward me across the castle ramparts. As he approaches, I slip into his arms, hugging him.

“We shouldn’t,” he says into my hair, but instead of pulling away, he holds me tighter.

We stand that way for several minutes, our only witnesses a few birds and several strategically placed snipers.

After the explosion, Magdalene portalled us back to New York where we rushed to Luke, who thankfully barely noticed we were gone. However, before the day was over, Lock asked us to come back Wolf-Haven. Well, more specifically, he asked for Lennox, but Lennox refused to leave me and Luke behind.

Upon arriving at Wolf-Haven castle, Luke was overawed, but like a typical seven-year-old, he accepted his new surroundings quickly, especially when Lock and Sarena’s twin children invited him to play.

Lennox has been treating me like I’m made of porcelain since we got here a week ago. Since our near-miss with the last bomb. When we realized I wasn’t going to have time to disarm it, Lennox shifted to his wolf and carried me as fast as he could out of the castle.

He made it all the way upstairs and into the bailey before the bomb went off, the shaking ground throwing him off his feet. Thankfully, no one was injured except Magdalene and she recovered with a literal snap of her fingers.

The damage to the castle was mostly superficial, but once the rest of the world was made aware of ASHRA’s plot to destroy the peace between shifters and humans, allies around the globe pitched in to rebuild Wolf-Haven castle to its former glory.

Not only has the peace between humans and shifters been protected, but humans have been taking more notice of their shifter neighbours, calling for better protections for those who live among them. The President of the United States, Danica Chandler, visited the castle, personally overseeing the rebuild while negotiating a stronger alliance with King Lock.

Since arriving at the castle, I’ve taken to coming up to the ramparts to look over the city of Wolf-Haven and the surrounding countryside.

“You like it up here,” Lennox says, following my thoughts.

I nod, my head bumping his chin. “It’s nicer than listening to the banging of hammers all day long.” I make a mock-annoyed sound. “Come to Wolf-Haven to recover, you said. It’ll be peaceful, you said.”

He chuckles. “I didn’t think of the construction.”

“And you can’t really ignore a summons from your king.”

“I can and often do ignore my king, but a request from my brother is different.” He turns me to face him, running his hands lightly up and down my arms, sending waves of gooseflesh across my skin. “If you knew Lock before he became king you would understand. Underneath his cloak of importance is a grumpy woodsman who spent centuries avoiding human entanglements. He likes to have me along when he negotiates with humans because, while he was hiding out in the woods, I was living and working among them.”

Charlie smiles proudly. “You’ve come to understand and respect us.”

“I’ve come to love you,” he says, kissing my forehead.

“Why doesn’t your brother offer you a diplomatic position if he’s come to rely on you so much?” The life of a diplomat has to be safer than the life of a police officer in New York.

“He’s offered me a job on numerous occasions.”

“Ah, my wolf shifter cop is a cop for life?”

He smiles gently. “Not exactly. I’ve put in a lot of time protecting humans and shifters alike, but I’ve also come to realize how much of myself I’ve had to compromise to do that. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. Things that haunt me.”

“Like Edie,” I say, pressing my hand to his chest over his heart. He hasn’t forgiven himself for her death. “It’s not your fault. You can’t control the actions of others.”

“Perhaps not,” he admits. “But I can control my actions and if I’d chosen differently…”

I take his face between my palms. “You can’t change the past.”

He nods and lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing my palm. “You’re right, I can’t change the past, but I can use it to change the future. At least for some.”

Curious, I ask, “What are you thinking?”

“I think it’s probably time to hang up my police cap and look to doing something more worthwhile with my life.”

“What’s more worthwhile than protecting people from evil?”

“I can still protect people,” he says, an enigmatic smile curving his lips. “Just in a different capacity.”

“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity.”

“I’ll explain later, but for now we need to get downstairs. The rest of the family has arrived.”

I shiver, but not from cold. I’d rather continue standing on the chilly ramparts, watching the peaceful countryside than face the family tribunal gathering downstairs.

Picking up on my thoughts, Lennox says, “I get it, they can be a lot, but it can’t be worse than showing up for a date only to be faced with a few dozen Lopezes.”

I laugh. “You’re right, I’d rather face a Rage Witch than my sister, Maria, when she’s pissed about something.”

Lennox links his fingers with mine and we walk back to the door leading into the castle, nodding at a guardsperson as we pass. Security is tight with all the dignitaries making their way to Wolf-Haven to meet with the wolf shifter king.

“Investigator Lopez, a minute.” I stop and Lennox and I wait as Lyle Roth, the US diplomat to Wolf-Haven, catches up with us. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Which is why I was on the top of the castle. Since my mostly successful effort to save public monuments and buildings from being blown up by ASHRA, I’ve become somewhat famous, and it’s in part thanks to Lyle Roth. He’s been working overtime to make sure the world knows a human Latina woman from New York put her life on the line to save human-shifter relations. I suspect his PR stunts are being helped along by a certain witch, but I have no proof.

“I have a team on standby ready to conduct a photo shoot at the fire station whenever you’re ready.”

I frown, glancing at Lennox. “I’m not sure when we’ll be back in New York.”

“I understand you’re here recovering after your ordeal, but we really need to cash in on the good PR while we – ”

Lennox slips an arm around my waist and inserts himself between me and the fast-talking diplomat. “You can schedule an appointment with her secretary.”

Lyle looks taken aback, which is fair since I don’t have a secretary, but before he can speak, Lennox whisks me down the hall so fast my feet barely touch the ground. “Stay away from him,” Lennox growls. “He’s a leech.”

“He’s just doing his job,” I defend, but grin as I snuggle under Lennox’s arm.

Is there a curse still hanging over our heads? Yes. Should we be touching each other every chance we get? No. But keeping our distance isn’t working either, which is why we’re about to have a family meeting.

Stopping in front of the King’s conference room, Lennox asks me seriously, “Are you ready for this? The Wolven-Norths can be an intense group.”

Is it possible to be ready to face all of Lennox’s brothers at once?

“Not all,” he responds to my thought. “Not Fallon.”

“I’m sorry.” I keep forgetting about the oldest brother, which makes me feel terrible. Lennox loves all his siblings but his feelings toward Fallon are murkier than the others so to avoid the pain, he doesn’t think about his brother often.

We enter the room, interrupting what looks like a joyous family reunion. Vanessa is hugging Sarena, talking to her animatedly while Rush is shaking hands with Keenan.

Though the brothers look strikingly similar to each other, especially twins Lennox and Keenan, each one is distinct in his own way. Lock is tall and rugged with broad shoulders and a dark shaggy beard and head of hair. While he has a regal presence suited to a king, I can easily see the woodsman in him.

Rush, the only brother I haven’t formally met, has a frown pulling his heavy brows down. His lips are set and he has one hand on the butt of what looks like a knife on his belt while the other hand is firmly wrapped around his short, blond wife.

Keenan is tall with sandy-coloured hair, leaner than the other two, with an easy grin and a gaze that strays back to his wife, Vanessa, over and over.

The women in the room are beautiful, almost to a fault, which would ordinarily make me feel inadequate, but they’re all so nice in their own ways that it’s impossible to hate them. Vanessa is open and welcoming, excitable and fun, despite her status as a big-time actress. She’s chatting up a storm with Magdalene who’s wearing a leather mini skirt with a T-shirt that reads: CUNT (Cute, Unhinged, Numinous, Transcendent).

Staring at it, I say, “That takes some mental gymnastics.”

“Lennox, Charlie, come in!” Lock says more jovially than I’ve heard him say anything. He must be pleased to have so many of his family in one place. He touches my arm and asks, “How are you doing?”

I’ve barely had a chance to speak with the King between him attending peace meetings and me being suddenly in demand as a spokesperson for humanity. It’s been a disorienting week and he seems to understand, giving me a sympathetic look.

“I’m good,” I tell him, and he nods, directing us to sit at the table.

“Charlie!” Vanessa calls, spotting me. She rushes around the table and seizes me in an unexpected hug. “I’m so glad you weren’t blown up!”

I pat her on the back, glad at least one member of Lennox’s family seems to like me.

Lennox leans in as he pulls a seat out for me. “They’ll all love you once they get to know you.”

Lock’s sharp ears pick up our conversation from where he’s taken his seat at the head of the table, his wife on his right. “We already love her. She saved us from another long, painful war that could have ended in the total destruction of society as we know it.”

Flushing, I wave my hand at Magdalene who slides into a chair on the opposite side of the table from us. “It was a group effort.”

Rush sits next to her, his hand seeking the back of her neck where he massages her, his face creased in a perpetual scowl.

“Thank you everyone for coming today. Despite the topic of this meeting, it’s wonderful to have so much of our family in one place.” His lips twist into what I assume is a smile, though it looks like more of a grimace beneath his bushy beard. His voice is a deep rumble as he continues, “I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Lennox’s mate, Charlotte Lopez, and her son, Luke, into our fold. Welcome to the family.”

I’m startled by the loud cheers that erupt around the table. Queen Sarena tips her head back and howls with delight, the sounds issuing from her human throat hilarious. As the noise dies away, I can’t help but giggle as copycat howls erupt from all around the castle.

I’ve learned since arriving at Wolf-Haven that if one wolf shifter starts howling, a whole lot of them like to get in on the action. It doesn’t matter if they’re in their human form or wolf, they all howl. It’s funny during daylight hours, but less so at night when half the city starts howling together.

“Thank you, everyone,” I say, feeling shy as all eyes land on me. “It’s been a pleasure visiting Wolf-Haven and getting to know you. Your hospitality toward Luke and myself has been really wonderful. I just wish I could be a true mate to your… to Lennox.” I look at him helplessly and he squeezes my hand.

“It’s why we’re here,” says Rush from across the table. “To see if we can help the two of you.” He’s the one brother who intimidates me the most with his permanent frown and fierce glare, so I appreciate that he wants to help us.

Magdalene beams at him and gives him a smacking kiss on the cheek, like he’s performed exactly the way she wanted him to.

“While I appreciate it, I don’t understand how any of you can help us,” I say.

Lennox nods his agreement. “We’re trapped by the curse. Too bonded to be separated, but unable to truly mate without crossing the parameters of the curse. It’s a no-win situation.”

“There’s always a solution when magic is involved,” Magdalene says, wiggling her blackened fingers. “It’s just a matter of what you’re willing to sacrifice.”

“I refuse to allow anything to happen to Charlie, so most magical solutions are out,” Lennox says stubbornly.

Magdalene rolls her eyes. “We don’t have to do much to her. I was able to turn Vanessa into a phoenix, wasn’t I?”

“I had to die in order for that to happen and you don’t even know how you accomplished it yet,” Vanessa points out, looking guilty when Magdalene shoots her a betrayed look.

“I’m working on it!” Magdalene snaps, crossing her arms. “There doesn’t always have to be an explanation. Sometimes magic just is.”

“Without knowing exactly how you turned Vanessa into a shifter, you probably can’t recreate the spell, can you?” Lock says gently to his witch sister-in-law.

“Well, no,” she admits. “But I can use a similar setup to Vanessa’s, gather the same people, use the same magic. We’ll wing it and see what happens.”

“No,” I say, and all eyes swing to me, making me sweat a little under the scrutiny. I clear my throat, trying to speak with more authority, “The spell gave Vanessa immortality, right? Would it do the same to me if it worked?”

“Of course,” she says immediately. “That’s the point.”

I shake my head. “Then my answer is no.”

“Don’t you want to think about it before rejecting such a gift?” Rush asks incredulously.

“I don’t mean to seem ungrateful,” I try to assure him. “But I don’t need to think. My answer is no.”

Lennox explains for me. “Charlie loves her son and family too much for her to consider a life of immortality, which would mean eventually leaving them all behind.”

Magdalene looks stricken for a second before saying, “I should’ve thought of that.” She looks from me to Lennox, her eyes sorrowful, “But you’re immortal and you can’t leave her.”

“Won’t leave her,” Lennox corrects his sister-in-law.

I’m sweating, my hands shaking as I confront Lennox’s family and essentially tell them I don’t care how much their brother loves me, I will never accept a life of immortality.

It’s Lock who finally breaks the silence, his tone unreadable as he directs his comment to Lennox. “You know what’ll happen when it’s her time.”

“What does he mean?” I ask, frowning at Lennox.

He takes my hand beneath the table and squeezes. “It’s not important.” To his brother, he replies, “I would expect you would do the same if our positions were reversed.”

Lock nods slowly, his gaze sorrowful but understanding. “It’s a difficult path you’ve chosen, balancing between staying near each other but not actually mating. Though human lives are much shorter than those of immortals, the years will pass slowly for you, death waiting for you at the end.”

Lennox gazes at me, the heat of his love searing me. “Being near Charlie, helping her when I can, watching Luke grow up, it’ll be worth it.” The conviction in his voice as he addresses his family has me convinced as well. If this is all we can hope for, then I trust Lennox to make it work.