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Chapter Twenty-Five

Calyx

R ogue demands to be given three minutes to take a quick shower while the berserker refuses to do the same. She huffs but exits the room once she’s magicked her clothes back on.

Once it’s just Owen and me, I turn to the shifter. He pulls on sweatpants, completely ignoring my existence.

“Did you find anything helpful?” I ask, trying to break the ice.

“Delta really likes to take cases involving missing relics.” The bear sighs and steps over, grabbing his shirt. “Which I should have picked up on years ago.”

“Perhaps, but lamenting the past gets you nowhere,” I say, shrugging.

I should know.

I spent nearly two hundred years in the deepest of all depressions when I couldn’t save Ash.

That tiger was my best damn friend long before I stumbled across Lorcan.

Being unable to save her will always be one of my most humbling regrets.

From that lesson, I learned to be even more vicious in protection of those I love.

There’s always some wisdom to be learned if you’re open to what the universe is attempting to teach you.

“If that’s the biggest thing you missed, I’d say you’re doing quite well.

” I offer a tight smile as the berserker turns to face me.

He tosses himself down onto the couch and begins to lace his boots.

“You’ve clearly started to repair your relationship with your mate.

All in all, I would call today one in the win column. ”

“I still don’t know where we stand or if she’s forgiven me.” Owen sighs. “I planned to take my time to earn back her trust, but she bit me, and there was no way I was going to deny the connection.”

I have a very good poker face after living for so long, but I didn’t see that coming.

I assumed it was the berserker who struck first.

The bond is a onetime per person kind of deal; I don’t blame him for accepting the connection.

Rogue really must not want to risk letting him get away.

“Just so you’re aware,” I tell him calmly. “I also have no intention of denying her. If she bites me, I’ll gladly accept the bond.”

The bear’s head tilts, and his eyes glow bright orange as he growls.

“I thought it best to get that out in the open.” I shrug. “I hold no ill will toward you for bonding Rogue, but I also won’t force my own future to be delayed simply to keep you happy.”

Owen sighs and shakes his head. “Understood.”

Good.

Glad we could address that.

Now we just need the fae in question to finish with her quick cleanup so we can return to the sithen.

“I need to let Jeff and Thomas know that I’ll be away again,” Owen says, shoving himself up from the sofa. He strides by me without another word.

I suppose that was his attempt at letting me know he intends to tag along.

By the time we make it back to the house, Cohen has cooked us all a hearty dinner. I’ve been vegetarian, vegan, carnivorous, and everything in between over the years, yet I still find myself frowning at the concoction on Rogue’s plate.

While Cohen whipped up thinly sliced steak in a Marsala sauce with mashed potatoes and broccoli for the rest of us, Rogue has a plate of veggies. Heaps of sweet peas, carrots, red and green peppers, green beans, and water chestnuts cover a bed of rice with some kind of sauce.

What I don’t see is a solid protein source.

Hopefully there’s something I’m missing. With her quickening approaching, we need to ensure she’s eating regularly. Her system is set up to stockpile calories for the days she won’t be interested in leaving the nest to eat…

Come to think of it, at some point, we should probably ask the sithen to get to work on building Rogue a nest.

“Okay, this is a little too domestic for me,” Gemma says from her spot on the other side of the table. She’s not eating, but I’m sure that’s because her kind consumes nightmares rather than human food.

“Okay,” Rogue says, jabbing her fork at her sister. “Then tell us what you found.”

“Cohen and I learned two of the three men behind the heists are shifters,” I tell the table to get the ball rolling. “They’re not part of the North American Pack, at least not from what we could gather.”

“She’s got shifters doing her bidding?” Rogue asks with wide eyes.

“It was a good thing we took the extra step to block our scents in the bar,” Cohen says, shoving a bite of potatoes into his mouth.

“Indeed,” I agree. “The third is some type of magic user. Likely a warlock, which would make sense. It would take quite a lot of power to siphon off the excess magic spilling from my phylactery and put it to work.”

Owen’s head whips up, and he frowns. “What does that mean?”

He’s tucked in close to Rogue’s side, and if he moves their chairs any closer together, he’ll be sitting in her lap.

I nearly snort at the thought.

I need anything possible to focus on, or my jealous side threatens to make an appearance.

She’s spent time intimately with Cohen and the bear.

And while I know I’m not owed anything, I would like the same time alone to attempt to win her affection.

If they’re constantly stealing her away, I’m going to get moody.

No one wants to see a moody lich.

“The three men we saw at the bar are not the ones enacting the heists,” I say to get back on track. “They’re likely responsible for procuring the bodies to be reanimated by my magic, but the reason the culprits continually disappear is because they’re revenants.”

“What?” Owen chokes out.

“Zombie thieves.” Gemma snorts. “No fucking way.”

“My magic fuels them just long enough to enact whatever crime they’re instructed to commit, and once that’s complete…” I offer Owen a pointed look. “All the evidence disappears with them.”

“Except for the traces of your magic, which the council has clearly come across,” Cohen adds.

“That would be my best guess.” I collect my knife and fork and prepare to cut a bite of steak.

“It would wrap everything up in a nice little bow if the paranormal council were to take possession of me. I’d be unable to retrieve my phylactery, and Delta could make a clean escape with the astronomical amount of money she would gain from selling my vessel. ”

“What did you find from following her?” Rogue directs the question at her sister.

“You mean, other than the fact the lich was this close to fucking you on the dance floor at Leon’s?” Gemma holds up her fingers only a hairsbreadth apart. “Not much. She certainly wasn’t spewing any extra information like she did when Calyx spelled her.”

“You were there?” Rogue hisses.

“I straight up told you I was going to keep an eye on her.” Gemma shrugs, shoving her long, dark hair over her shoulder.

My eyes narrow.

She is indeed very powerful.

I never even sensed her.

Luckily she’s an ally, but I don’t like the precedent that sets.

“It’s only been a day. These things take time,” the nightmare says. “I doubt she’s checking in on the super secret relic she stole on the daily, but eventually, she will. I’ll steal it back, and once that’s no longer a concern, the rest of you can deal with her.”

Hmm.

That does sound lovely.

Here’s hoping the universe allows things to run smoothly.

Gemma leaves to continue monitoring Delta, and Owen stays long enough for all four of us to finish eating before pulling Rogue into the living room for a conversation of their own.

I handle gathering the dishes and stack them in the sink. It might be lazy, but I politely ask the sithen to handle them, along with the pots and pans Cohen dirtied cooking the meal. If it doesn’t, I’ll address them before breakfast in the morning.

Cohen watches me from his place at the table. I give him a jaunty wave of my middle finger as I edge close to the wall with the doorway that leads to the living room.

Is it underhanded to attempt to listen in on what’s happening?

Possibly.

But I need some time with my mate.

Is it too much to ask that the universe could allow me a bit of time with the woman I’ve waited millennia for?

I’m barely in place, leaning against the wall, before Rogue and Owen come around the corner.

She jolts, and I take the opportunity to plant my hands on her hips to pull her into my chest.

“Oh shit, you startled me,” she says with a laugh as she tilts her head up to meet my eyes. “Owen needs to head back to the office. Will the sithen offer him a portal the same way it did for me?”

I barely hold back the beaming smile that aches to cross my face. “I believe it will. It did for me as one of your mates, but I’m more than happy to make a portal if the berserker has business he needs to attend to.”

Rogue smiles and nods appreciatively before turning to him. “You can always call me if you need help getting back.”

“I can give you my number too,” Cohen says helpfully.

What a perfect turn of events.

Perhaps the universe doesn’t hate me.

The sun setting over the horizon makes for a beautiful backdrop as I lead Rogue down the gravel-lined path toward the fountain.

We’re technically not in the human realm, but the atmosphere of the sithen seems to have synced with it.

Perhaps because that’s the realm Rogue is most comfortable with. Or that’s my best guess.

She frowns as we come to the new pathway I found this afternoon when Cohen and I returned. It guides us off to the left, running parallel with the tree line.

“Okay, am I going crazy?” Rogue asks. “This wasn’t here before, right?”

“It was not.” My hand tightens on her hip as I lead her toward the three small cottages.

“I believe we’ll have travelers soon. That, or the sithen was simply strong enough to expand, so it chose to do so.

” We crest the first hill, and the buildings come into view in the small valley before the next.

“What do you think? Your imagination formed them…”

She gasps, tilting her head. “No way! What are those, even?”

“They’re essentially tiny homes. Mini apartments? Whatever you’d like to call them, but they’re to give your guests somewhere to wait until you’re ready to see them.” I grin down at the awe on her face and pat her hip. “Would you like to see what you built?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’ll be as much of a surprise to me as it is to you.” She laughs, skipping out of my hold and down the hill.

Gods.

She’s fucking beautiful.

And she somehow manages to make me feel excited to live again.

That, in and of itself, is a gift.

All three cottages have the same design, at least from the exterior.

Rogue approaches the one in the middle, stepping up onto the small, covered wooden porch. There are two Adirondack chairs on either side of the door and not much else, but it will be more than welcoming for any weary travelers.

The door pops open as she tries the handle. Stepping inside, she twirls in a little circle.

I follow her in, more focused on how amazed she looks than the actual decor, but it’s homey.

There’s a full-size bed that takes up most of the right wall.

Straight ahead is a love seat and coffee table, and to the left is a small kitchen.

There’s a two-person table, several cabinets, and a mini fridge.

The space would be cramped for more than two people, but I have faith the sithen would adjust things if necessary.

Rogue surprises me by face-planting into my chest. She wraps her arms around my lower back and cuddles close to my shirt. “This is amazing. Are you sure you didn’t have anything to do with it?”

“I can’t take any of the credit, I’m afraid.” I bend, nuzzling my cheek to the top of her head. “That’s all you, princess.”

My sweet fae rises on her tiptoes, and the look on her face says it all. She desperately wants me to kiss her.

I want that just as much, and obliging is no hardship.

Rogue and I meander back toward the fountain hand in hand.

Ash trots along at Rogue’s side, continually bumping her hand until she gives up, scratching the oversized feline as we walk in companionable silence.

I’m surprised when Ash takes off.

Normally she likes to stick close to me, but as soon as the loud splash fills the air, I know what happened.

Rogue laughs. “Oh Gods, is she swimming in the fountain?”

“That’s my best guess,” I say as we crest the hill.

Only, Ash is not in the fountain, but the newly formed swimming pool. It must have just appeared because it wasn’t here when we originally passed by.

Rogue bounces on her toes. “You know, the one thing I miss from living with my parents is the pool.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “I was going to suggest a warm bath before bed, but how do you feel about a dip in the hot tub?”

I would suggest the pool, but knowing Ash, her hair will be everywhere. Also, it’s still a bit cool for a spring night. The small hot tub has steam rising from it, while the pool does not. That leads me to believe the pool isn’t heated.

“I could go for a swim,” Rogue says in a breathy whisper. “Do you want to magic up suits for us? Or should I?”

Laughing, I pull her to my chest. “Oh, princess, I have a much better idea.”