Page 21

Chapter Twenty-One

Rogue

O wen’s bear is in the same spot when I exit the bathroom after my shower.

The room seemed bigger when we walked in last night, and seeing it in full daylight, I’m sure it is.

Having a house that can adjust size based on my needs is the most incredible thing I’ve ever heard of.

I’m vaguely concerned about what happens when travelers start showing up to gain passage to other realms, but I haven’t run into that yet.

I suppose I’ll deal with it as it comes.

The door pops open and Calyx sticks his head inside. He spreads his fingers over his handsome face, and it’s clear he’s peeking through them. “Decent, princess? Should I avoid looking? Oh, there you are and already dressed for the day. How fortuitous.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Sorry to disappoint, but the house left me an outfit on the bathroom counter.” I run my hands down the soft dress. “It’s really on point with which fabrics I would pick for myself.”

Calyx barges into the room, crossing it in several large steps. He ignores Owen and pulls me to him with a hand on my ass. “You look beautiful.” He brushes his lips over mine. “I can’t wait to continue what we started last night. Unfortunately, Cohen and I are going to be away for several hours.”

“Searching for your phylactery?” I ask.

I much prefer having all four of us here at the sithen. It feels safe from the paranormal council and anyone else who would mean us harm.

“I know your sister plans to keep tabs on Delta, but we now have three additional subjects to gain information on.” Calyx nuzzles his cheek to mine, his stubble scratching over my skin. His scent hits my nose, and it takes everything in me not to beg him not to leave the safety of the sithen.

Shaking off those thoughts isn’t easy, but I believe my upcoming quickening is affecting me more deeply than I would like. Fae don’t leave their nests in the days before the quickening hits. They want their partners there, too, to ensure they’re safe.

“I was just about to try to sweet-talk Owen into letting me check Delta’s past cases,” I say, squeezing Calyx before stepping back. “I’d like to see if we can prove any connection between her and other missing relics or antiques.”

“That’s a solid idea,” Calyx agrees, rubbing his hands together. “Do you have plans for how you’ll get to the office if the stubborn bear does agree to hand over control?”

I frown, shaking my head.

I hadn’t thought about that at all, and I regret not having the ability to siphon or portal.

Calyx chuckles. “Well, then, allow me to teach you a fun trick.”

Calyx leads us out the back door and toward the fountain. My jaw falls when I see it’s grown double in size and has several flowing water features.

Cohen keeps pace at my side, and Owen’s bear follows us.

Cohen’s anxiety about having the massive beast watching every move we make might be to blame for why he doesn’t hold my hand, but he does brush the backs of his fingers against mine as we move.

The white gravel that lines the path to the fountain also looks refreshed, as does the paint on the water features, and there are now benches lining the sides.

“The sithen is expanding,” Cohen says, smiling. “According to what I read, it should continue building strength the longer you reside here.”

“That’s amazing,” I say, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze.

We’ve barely gotten any time alone together, and I ache to melt into his chest and maybe to prod him a little about where his head is at with us.

Cohen tugs me to him, giving me a quick hug. “If he doesn’t change back, are you planning to go to the office on your own?”

I shrug. “I’m really hoping to reach him. It’ll be a lot more helpful if he’s there to tell me exactly where to look.”

It’s strange that Gemma hasn’t popped up, but I guess it’s technically only been around twenty-four hours since I’ve seen her. Maybe a little less, based on when we chatted in my room after she brought our mom over.

It fries my brain to comprehend how much has happened in such a condensed amount of time.

“Now, for our lesson.” Calyx comes to stand next to me and Cohen. “But first, a hug.” He wraps himself around my back, and I end up in the middle of a Calyx and Cohen sandwich that makes me wish there weren’t other things we have to focus on today.

The lich kisses the side of my head, and a freaking whimper escapes my lips. It’s a little embarrassing how desperate I am for all their tender touches, but I hope they never stop being so generous with their affection.

If that makes me needy…I can accept it.

When Owen’s bear lets out a displeased chuff, my heart aches. I don’t want to make his bear suffer, but I’m not going to censor myself with my other mates just to make him happy.

Owen and his berserker need to determine whether they want to be part of my pack. If not, I can’t force them to change their minds.

Dammit.

Owen and I need to have an important conversation, and I have a feeling that will only happen without an audience. Owen has always been a loner, and I worry how he’ll adapt to pack life.

Calyx steps back, and I release my hold on Cohen.

“Okay, how do I get to the human realm when I can’t portal or siphon?” I ask, spinning to focus on Calyx.

The lich chuckles. “You ask the sithen to create a portal for you.” His hands fly out to his sides as he gestures around. “We’re in the space between realms. Ask the sithen for safe passage to your destination, and it will provide it.”

I frown.

Maybe I didn’t play pretend enough as a child, because that seems hard for me to believe.

“Am I just supposed to verbally ask it?” I rub my temple and tuck my hair behind my ear as it whips in the wind. “And once I’m in the human realm, am I stuck until I can get you to portal us back or ask Gemma to siphon me here?”

“Give the sithen more credit.” Calyx grins. “Much like travelers will find their way here from a multitude of different locations, you can leave the same way. And find your way back in that same manner. I recommend creating a path similar to the one you’ve built here with the gravel?—”

“I didn’t pick that,” I squeak.

Calyx hums. “At least subconsciously, you did. Ask the sithen to give you a path and focus on your desired location. It will handle the rest.”

“And if I think of the sithen in the human realm…” I gesture around with my hands. “What? A path will open that leads me back here?”

“Exactly,” Calyx agrees. “When I first stumbled upon the sithen, it was a cobblestone path that led to a small bridge over a bubbling brook. Once I passed over the bridge, I could sense the change in the air.” He shrugs. “And here we are in the veil.”

That is incredible.

The magic of the universe blows me away at times.

“Okay,” I say, smiling. “I’ll give it a shot, but if you make it back here, and I never do… You should probably pop into Owen’s office to make sure I didn’t mess anything up.”

The lich smirks and pulls me into his arms. “That I can do, princess.”

He pushes his lips to mine for a sensual kiss that makes my knees weak, but it’s over all too soon.

I really wish we didn’t have actual responsibilities. Snuggling around the sithen sounds much more appealing than a day of investigating Delta.