Page 10

Chapter Ten

Cohen

“ I ’m sorry,” Rogue squeaks. “Did you say mate ?”

Calyx has the tact of a wrecking ball.

I really should have seen this coming.

“Yes, darling.” Calyx nods as Ash prowls closer, giving Rogue a cursory sniff.

Rogue’s magic spills from her skin and dances over Ash’s fur.

That tiger is a sucker for scratches. I’m not sure Rogue even instructed her magic to act, based on the look of betrayal that she shoots at her hands.

“See, even your magic recognizes mine. It wants to play .” He purposely makes the word sound sexual, and I sigh.

Rogue’s hand shakes as she reaches down, brushing it over Ash’s fur.

I’m just behind her, and the overwhelming need to comfort her washes over me from nowhere. Sliding my fingers down her arm, I join her in petting the tiger.

“I knew she would recognize you,” Calyx says, sounding especially pleased. “Cohen only met her as the revenant version of herself that you see now, but Ash immediately acknowledged our connection.”

Rogue’s head twists, and she glances at me over her shoulder. “Wait, are you two mates as well?”

“I like the as well. It implies you’ve already accepted our connection.” Calyx laughs. “But no, Cohen is my thrall.”

I grimace like I do every time I hear the word. It has negative connotations, mostly related to vampires and their human blood bags. The donor gets a hit of euphoria every time the vampire feeds, and it can lead to ugly addictions if both parties aren’t careful and watchful.

My situation with Calyx is very different, but it’s also what a lich calls someone tethered to them via their magic.

I’m not a revenant, solely because Lorcan was able to administer CPR and resuscitate me prior to the spell being finalized.

“I drowned,” I tell Rogue with a shrug. “Calyx was in the process of tethering my soul to his to bring me back when Lorcan resuscitated me.”

We met Anders the same way.

I spotted him off the bow of the boat we were on, and Lorcan and I saved him.

The memories of my own drowning—albeit much more severe than Anders’s—were still fresh.

We became fast friends, and Calyx and Lorcan welcomed him into the fold.

He never actually died, so it was unnecessary for Calyx to link their life forces in the way he did for ours.

“There weren’t hospitals or medical treatments such as the ones available now,” Calyx says softly. “If I hadn’t finalized the spell, he would have died a painful death by, for a lack of a better term, dry drowning. It’s a truly excruciating experience, and with the amount of fluid in his lungs…”

“That’s how you’re so old,” Rogue says, nodding. “So the two of you are a package deal. Got it.”

“Four, actually.” Calyx smirks, and her head tilts to study his face.

“I’m a firm believer that pets are part of the family.

I have two. You’ve met Ash. We’ll save Dusk for another time.

He’s temperamental in new places, and I need to give him the opportunity to explore the property before springing a new mate on him. ”

Something between a snort and a scoff leaves Rogue’s lips.

“I’m sure you’re exhausted.” I slide a hand around her middle, pulling her back to my chest while I contemplate how to offset Calyx’s personal level of crazy. “It’s been a long day, and it must be closer to dawn than midnight. Would you like me to take you home?”

The floor rumbles under my feet, and I lose contact with Rogue as I’m thrown against the fireplace with no warning.

I groan and flail, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

A fire poker is all I see when I right my glasses, and it’s aiming straight at my forehead.

My magic flies out in an attempt to deflect the deadly object, but it’s Calyx who appears in front of me. He raises a hand as his skin gains the bluish tint that signals he’s using his magic. The smoky tendrils of his power wrap around the fire poker, and he tosses it to the ground telepathically.

“I understand your frustration,” Calyx says, but I have no fucking clue who he’s speaking to. “But I won’t stand for anyone or anything harming my thrall.” He spins around, offering me a hand.

When I take it, he pulls me up. “What the hell was that?”

Rogue appears next to me, and she stretches up to fix my glasses that are askew once more.

“The house views itself as Rogue’s home.” Calyx shrugs. “It was displeased with your offer to help her leave.”

“What?” Rogue croaks.

“The sithen views you as its protector.” Calyx turns to face her. “It will allow you to leave for short bursts of time, but the longer you’re on the property, the more you’ll strengthen its power, and it will, in turn, boost your magic.”

“The house thinks it owns me because you’ve delusionally convinced yourself that you’re my mate?” she asks, jabbing a finger at the lich’s chest.

“No, princess.” Calyx sighs. “We’ve been over this.

The sithen has nothing to do with me. I believe it called to me first, simply because I was receptive, but even the small amount of my power that it drained to create this is unsustainable.

The symbiotic relationship that it needs to thrive can’t be formed with just anyone.

It needs access to your magic to grow into what it’s destined to become… ”

“Cohen is right. It’s been a long day.” Rogue sidesteps Calyx. “I need rest. Everything will make more sense in the morning.”

“Did you want me to—” I cut off when Rogue turns around, slapping a hand over my mouth.

“No, don’t risk it. I’ll stay here for tonight,” she says, projecting her voice like she wants to ensure the house hears. “But I have to work tomorrow, and there’s no getting out of that. Hopefully the house will be content with me sleeping here for eight or so hours.”

A fire bursts into existence in the fireplace just behind me, and I squawk, jumping away before my clothing can catch fire.

I’ve never seen a sentient house before.

Knowledge is kinda my thing.

I love to learn and research all there is to know about something.

So, on one hand, I find this place fascinating.

On the other, it’s kind of terrifying.

It’s a bit more spiteful than I prefer my houses—or any place I intend to sleep, for that matter.

Some exploring garners three bedrooms on the second floor. One is much larger than the other two, with a four-poster-style queen bed and an attached bathroom.

Calyx dismissed Ash when he stepped in to save me with the fire poker, and he leans against the doorframe as Rogue peeks around the room.

“The armoire to your right should provide you with anything you ask of it. Just make sure to be specific when imagining a clothing article, or you might find yourself with a granny-style sleep dress like they wear in Faere.”

No matter the style, Rogue would be gorgeous in whatever she wore, but I can also understand that everyone has their own preferences.

“Thanks.” She pulls her phone from her pocket. “What I could really use would be a charger for this.”

The atmosphere in the room sizzles, and a phone charger forms on the end table next to the bed.

“Okay, that’s weird as shit,” Rogue whispers. “But amazing. Thank you.” Her head shakes. “I just thanked the house. Wow. I really need a solid night of sleep.”

“We’ll get out of your way.” I shove my hands into my pockets and stride toward the door. “I’ll take the room right across the hall. Um, that’s where I’ll be if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Cohen,” she says from behind me. The sultry tone of her voice sends a shiver down my spine that settles right in my dick.

Christ.

I’ve gone over five-hundred years never feeling true attraction for another person.

What a hell of a time to discover I can feel sexual desire.

At some point, we should likely discuss that kiss, but for now, she needs to rest and recuperate.

And, hell, so do I.

It’s been an incredibly long day.

Calyx moves to lean against the wall opposite Rogue’s room, and the door closes behind me with a soft click.

“You know, I spent several hours earlier today lamenting the fact Anders and Lorcan will have new loyalties with their new packmates. We’ve been a unit for, what?

Two hundred years?” He grins, shoving off the wall.

“They’ll be hunkering down with the pretty she-wolf as she announces to the world alpha-omega hybrids exist.” He steps over, tossing an arm around my shoulder.

“But I believe the universe has exciting things planned for us as well.”

I snort, shoving up my glasses.

Sleep is calling my name, but the first thing on my list will be learning more about sithens.

Calyx squeezes my shoulder. “You could have called for me if you needed me. There’s no point in waiting for me to summon you.” His bite on my throat radiates with warmth, proving our connection.

And his words are true.

I can summon him through the bondmark that links us together.

“You just wanted one-on-one time with our mate.” He laughs. “Not that I blame you. She is quite alluring.”

That she is, but she’s not my mate.

Technically speaking, she’s Calyx’s. And while I do feel a deep level of connection to her, I’m not sure she’s as sold on me. That could lead to disastrous consequences if she were to ask Calyx to release me.

If he undid our tether, I would simply cease to exist.

I know enough about how deep the bond is between soulmates, and fae are said to be even more territorial than shifters when it comes to their fated mates.

Rogue might prefer not to have to deal with her mate’s thrall at all, but I suppose that’s a worry for tomorrow.

I have bigger issues that need to be addressed—first being that Calyx was dead in the vision Rogue and I shared.

I frown, shaking my head. “I need to tell you about what I saw…”