Page 19

Chapter Nineteen

Rogue

T his time we don’t portal like we did to get in. Several employees head out the side exit for a smoke break, and they’re so focused on getting their cigarettes lit that they don’t even notice how long it takes for the door to close behind them.

Calyx guides me toward the woods with a hand on my lower back, and Cohen sticks close to my side.

I jolt when Cohen’s cool skin brushes mine, but I don’t pull away as he interlocks our fingers.

Offering him a soft smile, I squeeze his hand to let him know I welcome the contact… I just wasn’t expecting it.

I’m growing addicted to the affection they both seem to so freely offer. I’ve never been the sole focus of one person, let alone two, and it’s a nice change of pace to pining over a man who doesn’t even know I exist.

Except , Owen called me his mate.

And every fiber of my being sensed the truth in his words.

Rationally speaking, I can understand why he would hold himself back, but it still hurts to think about.

Mates are supposed to yearn to be in each other’s company. At the same time, I’ve seen what an age difference can do when mates aren’t at the same stage of life.

Veryn spent the better part of three years avoiding Ember because of their parents’ decree. Having them in close proximity would have been dangerous, because nature doesn’t abide by the same laws humans and most supernatural creatures follow.

It’s confusing and messy.

At least with Veryn and Ember, it was always plain to see how much it killed him to be away from her. He stalked her around town for years.

Owen never gave me a single indication that he felt any connection with me.

Maybe it only clicked once he scented my quickening?

No, I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.

We reach the tree line, and Calyx pulls his hand from my back. “This should only take a moment,” he says, stepping to the side.

Cohen uses his hold on my hand to pull me to face him and wraps his other hand around my lower back.

“Are you doing okay? Your energy kind of changed while we were walking. I just wanted to check in to make sure everything is good between me and you.” His blue eyes search my face, and I stretch up my hands to resettle his glasses on his nose.

We’re really going to need to get him a better fitting pair.

He’s so damn sweet.

I rise onto my toes and kiss his cheek. “Everything is perfect between us.”

“Portal is ready to go…” Calyx chuckles. “Now, actually.”

The air changes like it always does when Gemma siphons in or out of a room, but the portal is behind me, so all I can see is the soft white glow.

Something catches my attention from deep in the woods, and I peek around Cohen’s arm to check out what it is.

Bright orange eyes unlike anything I’ve ever seen shine back at me.

A shiver runs down my spine.

My mind files through which shifters have orange eyes, and while I can think of several with amber, the color I’m seeing isn’t that.

This is almost an electric orange. Owen’s eyes always flash a light orange when his bear is near the surface, but they went full bright orange in his office when he called me his mate.

They didn’t glow electric orange , though.

Still, it’s the closest color I’ve seen compared to this.

A ferocious roar fills the air, making my knees rattle.

I stumble to the side, trying to get a better look. My magic isn’t reacting to the threat, and that alone makes me curious.

I don’t have much time to contemplate what could be happening as Cohen tugs on my hand. His other arm wraps around my middle, then we’re pulled into the portal and everything else disappears.

We land at the sithen, but outside of the house. I’m not sure if Calyx planned that, and I don’t get to ask. Both men step to my side, almost as if they’re checking me over for injuries, but I’m fine.

What I’m not expecting is a giant, orange-glowing bear to dive through the portal right as it begins to close. That’s dangerous on a level that’s difficult to comprehend. Someone could be cut literally in half if they timed it wrong.

Cohen and Calyx spin to address the threat as the bear snarls, but all I can focus on is how magnificent Owen looks in shifted form.

He’s massive .

And not a normal bear.

Not at all.

Both shoulders have huge plates that remind me of what sticks out on the side of an armadillo.

That doesn’t even do them justice. Comparing him to some type of extinct dinosaur might be more accurate.

They’re rigid and bone-like. He has brown fur and a slightly lighter shade on his neck and abdomen as he stands on his back feet and bellows a warning.

Well, he’s not glowing orange anymore, but I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad sign.

“Oh, fuck me,” Cohen hisses.

I would laugh, but this does seem rather serious…

Owen’s paws are bigger than my head.

“Nice of you to join us.” Calyx strides to stand between me and Owen. “Now is as good of a time as any for Rogue’s mates to get acquainted with one another.”

Owen leaps forward, swiping at Calyx’s chest, and I shriek.

My hands fly out, and I will my magic to pull the lich out of harm’s way, but he moves himself before I have the chance.

“Well,” Calyx says, shoving his messy black hair away from his face, “I suppose we’re not there yet.”

“Whoa, hey! No more of that!” I weave around him and point at Owen’s bear. “Why don’t you change back so we can have a conversation with Owen?”

I’ve never seen a bear look so flummoxed. It shouldn’t be as cute as it is, and I find myself slowly edging closer.

Glancing over my shoulder, I focus on Calyx and Cohen. “Could you guys wait inside? I don’t think he’s going to relax if you’re here.”

“Is that a good idea?” Cohen asks, jumping when Owen roars.

“The sithen never would have allowed him access if he meant her harm.” Calyx winks, spins around, and guides Cohen toward where I assume the house is located.

The fountain is behind me, and I know the house was back that same way, but I’m a little jealous, seeing how at ease he is here. The sithen is supposed to be my creation, and he’s way more in tune with it than I am.

I should probably work on that once things settle down.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Cohen hisses, glancing over his shoulder at me, and, presumably, Owen.

“I trust our mate to be able to protect herself.” Calyx shrugs and continues pushing the warlock along.

“If he’s also her mate, he physically won’t be able to harm her.

The sithen would never allow that, anyway.

You saw how violent it became when you offered to…

” He trails off like maybe he realized it wasn’t a good idea to bring up the fire poker incident.

I focus back on Owen’s bear, who’s still standing on his hind legs.

“You can’t be a normal bear. I mean, you’ve got to be several feet larger than a polar bear.

Wow…” I continue rambling as I approach, and the beast doesn’t make any sudden movements.

“You know, Owen assigned my team a big case. I got a break on it tonight, but I won’t be able to tell him if you don’t let me talk to him. ”

Once I’m within reach, the bear stretches a paw out and pulls me closer. He’s as gentle as something his size is capable of, and the sharp tips of his claws still dig into my lower back.

My hands land on his stomach, sinking into his fur. It’s both soft and crunchy, which is a weird combination. “Hi, um, I guess I should say nice to meet you.”

The bear’s head lowers, and his warm breath fans over my face and neck. What I’m not prepared for is him to take off with me in his grasp. I end up half tucked under him as he runs a little like a gorilla, or I guess a giant bear, with a meal in one massive paw.

I’m very tall, but somehow my feet land against what I assume are the tops of his ankles. And as long as I apply pressure, I don’t end up dragging the ground.

He’s actually rather tender as he bounds through the forest.

It’s hard to find something to hold on to since it seems inappropriate to use his fur, and he’s far too broad chested for me to get a good grip on his sides.

“I’m not sure where we’re going, but I doubt this is going to work out the way you think it is,” I tell him, trying to focus my magic.

My father has the ability to soothe monsters in beast form. I’ve never had to use the skill, but theoretically, I should be able to.

Closing my eyes, I let go of the anxiety that he’s going to run us headfirst into a tree, instead concentrating on soothing, peaceful energy.

My right hand digs into the fur right over where I assume his heart would be, and I do my best to project my thoughts.

I assure him that everything is fine, and he can relax because we’re both safe.

It doesn’t have the intended effect, but I am able to sense his confusion. I believe he wants to take me back to the forest near Owen’s house—possibly even find a cave to stash me in.

The process continues for quite some time, to the point I start to get annoyed.

Almost like he senses my frustration, the bear comes to a stop.

When he carefully places me on the ground, I glance around.

Our surroundings look very similar to the place we started from, something I’ll heckle Owen about later.

The sithen really isn’t about letting me leave, so I wasn’t too worried.

I’m more enamored by Owen’s bright orange eyes as he hovers over me. His paw rests between my back and the ground, and he’s gentle enough that it doesn’t dig into my skin.

“Are you ready to give Owen back yet so we can have a conversation?” I ask, moving to brush my hands over the bear’s furry face. “Actually, you know what? Can he hear me, by chance?”

A cold, dry nose bumps my cheek as the bear sniffs my hair. I’m not sure why I was expecting an answer, but Ember’s wolf can answer simple yes or no questions by shaking or nodding her head when she wants to.

Perhaps Owen and his bear are too disconnected for Owen to be able to communicate with me?

I guess it’s possible.

Ember has mentioned it’s a rare occasion that her wolf can push her out completely. Normally they coexist together, no matter the form, but Ember shifts regularly. I’ve never once seen Owen in animal form, nor heard of anyone else who has.

That can’t be healthy for either one of them. Looking at him, it’s easy to see he’s not a normal bear, but I don’t have the first clue what species he could be.

I freeze when the bear sticks his snout in my neck and inhales deeply. There’s no way he won’t be able to scent Calyx from the dancing we did in the bar…and come to think of it, I’m positive I still smell strongly of Cohen.

“Just in case Owen can hear me, I’m going to tell you about my case.” I pat the bear’s thick jowls. “Delta is definitely up to some shadiness. After what I learned tonight, I feel confident saying she is behind the Market Heist Crew…”

I go on for so long that I explain fully about how I met Cohen, went searching for Calyx, found the sithen, and eventually circle back to what a sketchy witch Delta is.

Owen’s bear watches me with a careful intelligence that leads me to believe he can understand every word I’ve said.

He seems enamored with listening to me speak, and it’s a heady experience…so I just keep talking.

I tell him what a sithen is—in case he doesn’t know—and embarrassingly cover the conversation with my mother to make sure he understands that at least she is supportive of our relationship.

At some point, Owen’s bear lowers over me, trapping me to the ground while not crushing me with his weight. It’s weirdly romantic, despite being pinned to the grass.

Huh, I might actually like the bear better than the man. At least he seems one hundred percent interested in me.