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Chapter Twenty-Two

Rogue

C alyx and Cohen leave through their own portal. At least I have Cohen’s phone number if there’s an emergency. If I need them, I’ll be able to call.

It’s annoying at times that Gemma doesn’t have a phone. I never realized how inconvenient it was when we were spending ninety percent of our time together, but it would be nice to be able to call her right now to check in.

That’s part of growing up, I suppose.

Siblings branch out and build their own families.

It’s time for me to focus on fixing my problems.

Planting my hands on my hips, I close my eyes and focus on the energy of the sithen.

“I would appreciate any help you can give me in finding a path to Owen’s office.

The bail bonds office, it’s where I work.

” I grimace, remembering how the house reacted with Cohen.

“Not that I’ll be going back. Once I solve the case of Calyx’s missing phylactery and make Delta pay, I plan to be here.

I just have to wrap that up first, so Calyx and Cohen will be safe. ”

I sigh, shaking my head.

I sound like a fool, and Owen is over there in bear form, listening to every word I say.

“I appreciate it,” I say, opening my eyes. My jaw falls as I spot the cobblestone path that now leads toward the woods. “Holy shit. I mean, thank you. That’s amazing.”

It’s kinda creepy knowing the sithen is always listening, but hopefully we can come to some type of agreement where it respects my privacy. At least, when I’m in the bathroom or my bedroom.

I shake my head.

That line of thinking will drive me crazy if I let it. It’s almost too bizarre to focus on, and I need to get moving.

Owen’s bear might be more stubborn than the man himself. He’s grunted and huffed, but not much else for the last five minutes, even as I’ve tried to rationalize with him about how much it would help to have Owen the man present.

“Okay, fine, then,” I say, finally reaching the end of my rope. “I don’t know how long that path will stay open, and I don’t want to risk missing it. If you’d like to join me, you better make the call pretty quickly.”

Owen’s bear looks entirely too cute as his head tilts.

And I’m still not risking losing my window to study Delta’s past cases.

I sigh, spin around, and head toward the newly formed path. My shoes clack against the bricks, but I stop dead in my tracks when the sound of bones cracking fills the air.

“Rogue, wait.” The voice is deep and scratchy, still more beast than man.

I turn to face him, and my eyes bug. “You’re naked.”

Pulling a hand up, I cover my face but make sure I can see the ground as I walk closer.

From the quick peek I got, I know a few things, like he has more chest hair than I thought I would be attracted to, but somehow it works on his muscular frame.

There are dark runes under his clavicles that run down each side and possibly even lower.

I can’t check without looking like a creep.

“I can magic you some clothes,” I say, awkwardly clearing my throat. “Or you could go inside and ask the house.”

Owen chuckles. “I’ll take whatever you can whip up.”

I keep my fingers over my eyes and bring my other hand up. My magic doesn’t need to make contact with the skin to work, but I misjudge the distance between us and end up thumping him in the chest.

“Shit, sorry,” I whisper as my hand tingles. My magic flows from my skin, and I focus on procuring him something he would normally wear. Once a few seconds pass, I pull my fingers away from my eyes to check.

Yep.

It worked.

No massive dick on display now.

Nope, none.

Just Owen in his normal attire of a plain white T-shirt, dark jeans, and boots.

My mouth goes dry studying the way the material stretches over his strong chest.

How am I ever supposed to look him in the eye again knowing that he has a thick happy trail of golden brown hair that leads down to a thick?—

Owen steps forward, pulling me into his arms.

I freeze.

Tell me he was not picking up on my inappropriate thoughts.

Exactly how telepathic are berserkers?

He only has that ability in shifted form…

Right?

“Shit,” he growls, and the word seems to vibrate through my entire body. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” He pats my back and releases me.

“You didn’t.” My eyes fly up to meet his. “We have a lot to talk about, but we need to go. I don’t want to miss the portal.”

He nods, swiping his light brown hair back from his forehead. “Lead the way.”

The trip from the sithen to the human realm is uneventful.

It’s so bizarre and honestly kind of underwhelming.

We walk along the cobblestone path, over the small bridge Calyx mentioned, through the forest for a bit, and eventually the path spits us out at the tree line just behind Owen’s.

“Do you think the business is in shambles?” I ask, bumping my arm against Owen’s. “You’ve been away for an entire twenty-four hours.” I laugh. “Ember, Gemma, and I have a running joke that we don’t think you ever actually leave.”

Owen snorts, planting his hand on my hip as we walk across the field behind the building.

“It’s not far off, but I own a house. I just leave Jeff and Thomas in charge when I need a little time off.

Not that my bear had the foresight to call them.

” His fingers run over my side, and my pulse picks up to what feels like a dangerous level.

He clears his throat, squeezing my hip. “He didn’t mean to scare you.

I know you got jostled around when he took off with you in his arms. He was actually trying to bring you to my home. ”

“You don’t need to apologize for that.” My right hand falls to his, and I interlock my fingers over his where it rests on my side. “I know how shifters are. I’ve seen Ember and Veryn dance around each other for years.” Frowning, I shake my head. “I almost don’t want to ask how long you’ve known.”

Owen stops and turns to face me. “Since the day we met.” His face contorts almost like he’s in physical pain. “Since way before it would have been right for me to tell you.”

“I’m an adult,” I tell him, and even I can hear the exasperation in my tone. “I have been for a year and a half.”

Owen’s eyes light bright orange, and his head shakes violently. His sharp nails dig into my side as his bear fights for control.

My magic spills from my skin with no instruction from me. Light teal wispy smoke circles him, and it clicks—it’s trying to soothe him to prevent his berserker from taking over.

“Your kind is as wanted by the paranormal council as Calyx is,” I whisper, placing my hand over his heart.

“You can’t change. It’s too risky. Whatever the two of you are fighting over, you need to save it until we’re back at the sithen.

” I had no idea what a berserker was until last night when Calyx and Cohen filled me in.

Owen’s features morph, and his already furry face transforms into more bear-like features and back again.

“Fucking stop showing your ass,” he growls.

“I’ll tell her. Fuck. Just stop.” He focuses on me, retracting his claws from my hip.

The sharp sting surprises me. I don’t bother checking to see if he drew blood through my dress, though.

It wasn’t intentional, and even if he did, my natural healing will handle it within seconds.

“My bear wanted to claim you the first day he scented you. He would have waited until you came of age to initiate a relationship, but he wanted to tell you that day.” His head shakes, and the fur that was forming on his cheeks and neck disappears.

“He wanted to tell everyone. To claim you as his, but I wouldn’t allow it. ”

My magic senses the truth in his words, and my stomach twists. Although it’s nice to hear him finally level with me for once, it’s not what I wanted to hear.

Not at all.

“You’re not even twenty.” Owen’s huge hand lands on my jaw, tilting my face up toward his. “Do you have any idea how many twenty-year periods I’ve lived? A fucking lot.”

My eyes search his.

I can feel the pain radiating from him, but I’m still annoyed.

“I really don’t like that you let me believe I was crazy. Do you think you’re the only one who felt the pull?” I ask, trying to keep from lashing out. “Because you’re not. Fae feel matebonds just like shifters. You had no right to take the choice out of my hands.”

He runs his thumb over my cheek, and I ache to nuzzle my face into his wrist. It’s the connection, the pull fated mates feel to touch each other and be in close contact.

I’m still really frustrated with him, but the universe doesn’t care, and it will continue to try to pull us together until we honor that connection with claiming bites.

“I’m sorry that I hurt you,” he says, teasing his calloused fingers over my jaw.

“You never gave me any indication that you felt drawn to me, and I thought it was better to give you the chance to live a little more life before I addressed that conversation. That’s not even getting into how messy things will be when Atlas finds out. ”

I sigh.

He’s not wrong there.

I just don’t care.

My mom literally ran from her husbands—two of my dads—for twenty years. She knew she had two fated mates in Faere, but she fell in love with Atlas and Malice and claimed them as her own.

That was messy too.

They have no room to talk.

“Were you able to hear what I told your bear last night?” My hand still rests over his heart, and I brush my fingers over the soft material of his shirt.

“My mother said we should bond before letting anyone in on our connection. But the bottom line is, I’m an adult.

No one is going to tell me who I can or can’t be with.

” I shake my head, pulling my hand down.

“Not if they want to continue to be a part of my life.” I step back and head for the back door of the building.

“If they don’t want to be supportive of me building a life with my mate , then I’ll just let them know Calyx is even older than you.

Trust me when I say he won’t give a fuck what anyone has to say about it. ”

Owen huffs, and his heavy footfalls fill the air as he picks up his pace to catch up with me.

“It’s not about what anyone thinks. No one’s opinion matters more than you.

It’s everything else. Morally speaking, it felt wrong to pursue you when just being with me could put you in danger from the council and anyone else who still hunts my kind. ”

I stop dead in my tracks and do an about-face. The magic I inherited from my mother flies to the surface, and I shove it down with all my might. My vision still takes on the smoky charcoal sheen that signals my eyes have changed to black.

“The council would have a few things to say about my magic too,” I say, quirking an eyebrow. “You know what my mother can do. The council is after Calyx and Cohen too. I would say the universe knew exactly what it was doing when it fated me to the three of you.”

Owen’s eyes widen, but rather than retreating, like anyone who gets a look at my mother’s magic does, he steps forward and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I had no idea you inherited your mother’s magic.”

“Well, now you do.” I shrug, closing my eyes and willing them to change back to their natural light gray.

“I might not be ancient like you or Calyx, but whatever power flows through my blood is primordial. So, let’s just stop questioning the age difference, okay?

It’s really starting to get under my skin. ”

“I will do my best,” Owen says, smiling softly as my eyes pop open.

Dammit.

It’s really not fair that he’s that hot.

Or maybe the universe knew exactly what I would want in a man. It’s all a ploy to bring fated mates together. Whatever powers that be stack a mate with every desirable trait you could dream up and a few you wouldn’t know to ask for, and bam…

Heart eyes and weak knees.