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Chapter Fourteen

Calyx

I n all my long years, I’ve never seen a female nightmare.

Males of their kind are considered practically extinct, at least in the human realm.

Seeing a female with the level of power Gemma possesses is a shock.

It’s simultaneously frightening, and I’m strangely relieved to know Rogue has such a powerful sister.

I’ll need to brush up on my mental shields before meeting their father.

I have my own methods for fighting back, but that would be in poor taste when I wish to endear myself to my mate’s family.

After clawing myself out of the mental prison Gemma created in less than two seconds flat, my mind helpfully replays the images of all the occasions I’ve failed over the years.

When I couldn’t save Ash.

How I barely managed to save Cohen.

Knowing I couldn’t bring Anders’s sister’s mate back… Not in any true capacity. Not in any way that would give Sofia or Kent any type of actual peace.

All my failures laid bare.

And the nightmare studied each. Although, whatever else she discovered while poking around my brain seems to have quelled her concerns. Or perhaps Gemma simply acquiesced to her sister’s demands that she leave me be.

I’ve been on edge since watching the berserker bound from the back door of Owen’s.

Cohen might have been shocked to realize they still exist, but I know humanity.

Those who are hunted…hide.

They bide their time until the focus shifts to whatever is meant to be eradicated next.

I’d just love more information on who the berserker is and why he fled so swiftly.

At least part of that reason was likely to avoid detection, since his shift was imminent, but those questions will have to wait.

I focus on Rogue as I take a seat on the mattress near her feet. “Are you okay, darling?”

She nods. “My mother was here. You just missed her.”

I bite my tongue to keep from asking if she’s as delightful as Gemma.

The nightmare in question snorts, like she senses my thoughts.

“Anyway, I’m going to see if I can pop around and find Delta.

” She looks at me, which makes me frown.

I’m not interested in accompanying her. I have a mate to look after.

All else can wait until Rogue is feeling like herself again.

“I can’t siphon to places that I can’t conceptualize.

I would appreciate it if you could portal us to the sithen.

” Her dark eyebrows rise. “It’s the only way you’ll be rid of me.

I need to know I can find my sister if she needs me. ”

I nod. “That sounds reasonable.”

The trip to bring Gemma to the sithen is quick, and she siphons us back. It’s always a disorienting experience, but I put on a brave face for my mate.

She’s been fine with Cohen in my three-minute absence. He’s ultimately a caregiver before all else.

Gemma disappears in a cloud of smoky black shadows, and I turn back to Rogue.

“Ready to head home, princess?”

She frowns. “This is my bedroom. In my house .”

Cohen’s gaze darts around, like he’s verifying nothing is going to attack him for Rogue’s declaration, and I chuckle.

Sure, I have a lot of plates balanced in the air—the most pressing being my missing phylactery—but those two are adorable, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the three of us.

It’s been many years since any one location felt like home, but watching Rogue pack her belongings leads me to believe she has some emotional attachment to the house she’s leaving.

“I’m only leaving because my brothers will cause hell if they realize my quickening is going to start.” Rogue tosses the strap of a duffel bag over her arm, but I use my magic to levitate it over to me.

“Understandable. Are they younger or older brothers?” I ask, forming a portal that will lead to the sithen.

“Older by minutes.” Rogue smiles tiredly. “Gemma, Fox, Talon, and I were born from a clutch of eggs my mother carried for my father. One baby for each member of my mother’s pack. Oh, and I have five younger siblings too.”

I chuckle, barely holding back a comment about knowing what her family pack does to pass the time.

I’m fairly certain my kind is infertile, but I’m unsure if that extends to Cohen as my thrall. Perhaps that’s something we should warn her of.

Rogue is young. She might want offspring one day, and I doubt I’ll be able to provide that. Although, I wouldn’t be opposed to using a sperm donor if it came down to it.

Children are grotesque little creatures, but I regularly deal with the dead.

I’m sure I could keep pace with one or two.

Adding up Rogue’s siblings leaves me flummoxed.

Who would willingly fill their house with nine children?

Gods, that’s four times more than what I think I could handle with my sanity intact.

However, I’m adaptable.

I’d be willing to see how it goes if it keeps my mate happy.

The sithen pulses as Rogue reenters the space.

Its contentment is almost palpable, and the little fae immediately allows Cohen to help her back into the bed she slept in last night.

There’s no way to be certain, but I believe the house may be lulling Rogue in hopes she’ll sleep and it can feed from her magic.

It sounds much more aggressive than what’s actually transpiring—if that’s even the case.

Once the sithen is at full capacity, Rogue will be able to funnel unimaginable levels of power directly from the heart of Faere with the house and property as the conduit.

In order for that to be possible, the sithen must first garner enough energy to get up and running.

What we’ve seen up to this point is a mere sliver of what it’s capable of.

“Would you like me to grab you a drink?” Cohen asks, pulling up the blanket and tucking it around her sides. “The house provided a variety of food. I could make you a salad or something? There are plenty of vegetarian options.”

“I’m okay,” she says, smiling at him. “Just beat. Anyone want to take a nap with me?”

Hmm.

I have many questions about what occurred at her job, but those will keep.

Cohen slides around the bed with comical haste and prepares to crawl in facing her.

He haphazardly kicks off his shoes and slides a hand down his front, using his magic to transform into a pair of pajama pants and a plain T-shirt.

He launches himself under the covers, like he’s terrified that if he waits too long, she’ll rescind the offer.

“Neat trick,” the sleepy fae mumbles, scooting close to his front. “I can do that, too, but I forget a lot and end up doing it the old-fashioned way.”

I have many faults, but jealousy is not one of them, yet I still feel a prickle of discomfort for how at ease Rogue seems with my thrall.

Cohen and I don’t have a sexual relationship, but we are life partners.

Our bond assures that, and my magic is very territorial over him.

Not to mention, I’m protective of him because he’s a beacon of light in an otherwise grim world.

I’m more than happy to share him with her, but she won’t steal my best damn friend. I’d also like it if she would offer me some of those soft smiles.

The fae in question glances over her shoulder at me. “Are you coming?”

A dangerous chuckle escapes my lips, and I barely hold back the comment I’m tempted to make.

“Of course, princess. We don’t want your ass to be cold.”

Sleep isn’t required for my system to function, but I sure fall asleep plastered to Rogue’s backside.

I wake up in the same spot, never having moved.

Rogue and Cohen are still knocked out with their faces close together, but the fae princess jolts in her sleep.

Awareness clicks slowly.

It could be a nightmare or a reaction to her upcoming quickening. Only, she’s cool to the touch as I brush my fingers down her arm.

“You okay?” I murmur, keeping my tone low in an attempt to not frighten her. My hand slides around her middle as my lips brush her cheek. “Darling?”

I’m unprepared for her to gasp and toss her head back and directly into my chin.

That’s not the shocking part.

She rolls to face me, and her eyes are milky white. I’ve never seen anything like it. Normally when someone has a vision, they get a faraway look, but she looks like something I’ve seen in a horror movie.

In a blink, her eyes change to normal, and she jolts when she spots me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, pushing her sweaty hair back from her face.

“Ember…” Her eyes clench shut. “Fuck, we have to hurry, or your friend is going to die. I’ve seen it. We can save him, but we have to go now.”

“Lorcan or Anders?” I ask as my heart rate picks up.

Lorcan is essentially immortal.

Anders…not so much.

“The druid,” she says, still sounding dazed. “He was gravely injured. Or he’s about to be.” She pulls a pale hand to her face. “Is it dark? It was dark in my vision, and it feels urgent that we go now.”

Cohen’s eyes meet mine over Rogue’s shoulder, his confusion evident.

I glance past him and eye the window.

It does appear to be dark.

When we fell asleep, it was early afternoon. Perhaps the house lulled us into a slumber to feed off the excess energy from all three of us. Cohen might not have the level of power that I possess, but he’s a gifted warlock.

“Why are you not moving?” Rogue huffs, throwing off the blanket and climbing down the bed.

At some point, either she or Cohen used their magic to change her into a sexy pair of sleep shorts that barely covers the bottom of her ass and a tank top.

As soon as her feet are on the floor, she slides a hand down her front.

Her magic forms a pair of jeans, a tank top, and a coat.

I can’t see her feet from this angle, but I’m sure she manifested boots and weapons as well.

“Your friend is dying! Or about to be! Why am I the only one moving?”

“Lorcan is incredibly hard to kill.” I still use my magic to float out of the bed as Cohen scrambles off the other side.

It’s true. I’m not too concerned for my oldest friend, mostly because I know he’s exceptionally good at keeping himself alive.

Also, it would take something extremely powerful to injure him to the point I would be concerned that he wouldn’t make it.

That thought leads me down a path of worrying about Rogue.

I’m immortal, and not just the anti-aging kind that most shifters are.

I’m truly undying, even if I occasionally need to reform a new body for myself.

Cohen is protected because of our connection, but if something is out there that could take Lorcan down…

I don’t want my mate anywhere near it. “You’ve been rundown, princess.

Why don’t you stay here and rest while Cohen and I investigate?

” I swipe a hand down my front, manifesting comfortable clothing.

“Not a chance,” Rogue hisses, stomping to my side. “My best friend is out there losing her shit and possibly on the verge of losing her mate. Get moving. Open a portal.”

I open my mouth to counteroffer, but Rogue grabs my hands, and I’m pulled into her vision.

Rogue stands in a small clearing.

Woods line the right side, and a small stream takes up the left, but it’s in the distance. All I can see initially is Rogue and her surroundings.

That morphs as I spin around.

The sound of snarling, fighting wolves fills the air, but my jaw falls when I spot Lorcan with a spear through his chest.

The fact he hasn’t ripped it free to join in the melee sends alarm pulsing through my system.

My eyes widen as I spot the full moon in the sky.

Gods.

Lorcan is weakest in the days leading up to the full moon.

Tonight is the night before the full moon…meaning he’s legitimately the weakest he’ll ever be.

On every full moon, he completes the replenishing ceremony, sacrificing his blood to Mother Nature and the earth. They, in turn, judge his sacrifice and if they deem it worthy—which they always have—they replenish his life force and his magic.

If he’s unable to complete the ritual, he would normally be able to try again the next month, and while he may be weaker over those weeks…he would survive. I’ve never seen Lorcan face such a grievous injury within a literal day of when he’s supposed to complete the ritual.

I’d like to believe the universe would keep him alive to allow him to make the sacrifice tomorrow night, but I’m not in the business of hoping and praying.

I rip my hands from Rogue’s and begin to form a portal to pack lands.

That stream was familiar. I believe it’s the one Lorcan follows to get to the small waterfall that he’s so fond of.

I know that sappy bastard well, and I’m sure he brought his mate there for a romantic date under the stars.

If only he was smart enough to wait until his magic was at full capacity.

It’s no matter.

Cohen can see to Lorcan while I address whatever beings clearly want to die tonight.

The portal forms, and Rogue moves to jump through, but I grab her arm.

“You may come with us, but stay close to me, princess.” I study her face and don’t release her until she nods her agreement. “And as soon as we’re done, we’re coming back to the sithen so you can rest. Agreed?”

Rogue doesn’t look back as she jumps through the glowing circle that should lead us straight into a battle on pack lands.

“Yes, Daddy.” Her voice echoes around the room long after she’s gone.

Gods.

That word slipping from her lips sends a jolt straight to my cock.

Fucking Lorcan.

Cockblocking dick just had to go and get himself almost murdered.

Cohen follows Rogue through the portal, and I roll my shoulders back and jump through too.