Page 43

"I know. I can still feel his magic." She turns to give me a sad smile, her hand still stroking the fur, mindlessly.

"Despite what others might think, I know you're not a bad person, Ryker.

You were just given bad ground to grow in, but even still, I think you might find a way to flourish.

" Her gaze cuts to Serena, where she stands with Pike on the other side of the table.

I watch as she smacks his hand, making him yip like the wolf he is, before pulling back, and I realize he almost touched my poisonous pink vine, just like Serena had when she first arrived.

She tells him as much, and the color leaves his face before his eyes catch mine.

“Why the hell do you have something like that?” Pike asks, sounding horrified, and I can't stop myself from huffing a laugh.

“I like to know what's in the woods. New plants pop up all the time, and those that sprout in the Forgotten Forest often have aversions. Poisons, flesh-eating fungus, blinding pollen, deadly scents. Nobody else dares venture into these woods, so I might as well document what I find. It gives me something to do when I run out of books.”

I hadn't meant to say that much, but it all kind of spilled out. I'm not used to anyone having any interest in me. I feel my cheeks heat when Pike pulls a face, his brows drawing down to match the frown of confusion on his lips.

"You and Sol would get along great," he tells me, making Serena laugh and though she attempts to hide it behind her hand, she fails. "Who the fuck reads for entertainment?" It sounds like he's talking more to himself than asking any of us, but it earns him a smack to the chest all the same.

He snatches her hand, chuckling as he rubs at the spot before bringing Serena's fingers up to his mouth. "Not nice, Buns," he teases before he sticks one of her fingers in his mouth and… bites it?

Serena sucks in a breath before snatching her hand away and giving him a dirty look.

I'm not sure I'll ever understand people.

“Anyway, what was so important that we needed to do this now, Theo?” Serena asks, turning her attention to Theo, making Pike pout.

Strange. All of her mates are strong beasts, alpha beasts who aren't exactly small, yet they all are soft for her.

Theo is strangely docile as well, though I don’t know if that has something to do with Serena or just her personality.

For some reason, growing up, I imagined anything related to the gods to be; I do not know, more serious, maybe scary.

Theo might not be a god, but she’s as close as I’ve ever come to meeting one.

“Let’s wait ‘til everyone’s here.” Theo is once again petting the rug. Her full attention focused on it as if she didn’t bring Serena and Pike to my doorstep for some unknown reason that she’s not ready to share yet.

Wait…

“Who else are we waiting for?” Serena asks before I can get my thoughts together.

I hear them before Theo can answer, though I’m not sure she was going to. Actually, as I watch her, I’m almost positive she wasn’t going to.

I look to Serena as I listen for a sign of who approaches, but she’s not where she was a moment ago. Instead, she's at the door, smiling as she pulls it open and disappears outside without so much as a word to us.

Her mates.

That’s the only answer that makes sense given the fact that Pike and Theo let her leave so easily, not to mention it makes sense with what Theo had said.

It only takes a few minutes before Serena returns, and I almost pat myself on the back for managing to stay put while she was gone.

She’s strong, and so are her mates, but these woods are dangerous and nothing like they’ve ever experienced.

Even most residents of the kingdom don’t venture this far, and if they should, well, they don’t often come back.

Serena is all but skipping as she comes back through the door, dragging the quiet twin, Sol, I believe—the one Pike said I would get along with—behind her. His eyes go wide the second he sees the wall of jars before he quickly looks to the table. I think Pike might have been right.

Blair slips in behind him without a word, moving off to the side, his attention on Serena the same way it always is.

I look him over, trying to, I don't know, understand him better, I guess, but there's nothing.

His face is blank, his eyes unreadable, and his posture that of someone who is in complete control.

Blair could easily lead an army, yet I get the feeling that's the last thing he would ever want to do. He’d much rather stay back and keep Serena safe from the shadows, almost like the assassins in old tales.

His gaze flick toward me, and we lock eyes across the room.

I want to look away, but I can’t. I’m stuck, feeling as though looking away will lose me something, even if I’m not sure what.

We remain locked in our stare off for long enough that mine begin to water before Serena coughs and we both look away.

Sol has a book in his hand, one of the few down here. It's one of the many I’d written about what can be found in the woods. I haven’t touched it in years, which is why Sol was able to blow a cloud of dust off of it, right into Serena’s face.

Sol’s less nice brother follows Blair in, his face looking like he just sucked on a lemon as he looks around, but he stays quiet as he lets the door fall closed behind him.

His eyes soften as he looks at his brother with their mate, and I’m a little shocked that there doesn’t seem to be even a hint of jealousy.

I obviously have never had a sibling, but in the books I’ve read, they are often portrayed as frequently butting heads, and that’s just for things like chores, not something like a mate.

Storm moves aside, his back to my wall of jars, and I get the feeling he doesn’t share his brother's love for learning.

Though I do think he shares. I’d noticed it the last time we were in the clearing. Something’s different with the way Pike and Storm are. They seem more open, and I get the feeling it’s not just friendship, as they all already seemed to have come with that from the other realm.

I’m not judging. It’s none of my business, really. If Serena doesn’t care, then who would I be to? But it does seem odd. Pike and Storm seem to be almost as opposite as they can be.

I wonder how they stumbled upon that…

On second thought, no, I don’t. Not everything needs to be broken down and explained after all, and I feel like a creep ninety-nine percent of the time with Serena already. The last thing I need to do is add thinking about them together into the mix.

Serena smiles as she looks around the room.

The cabin is much more crowded now, and I can’t help but feel pride knowing she’s happy in my home.

It only lasts for a moment, though; my stomach ties itself in a knot as her eyes sweep the room, filling with sadness for a moment.

As quickly as it was there, it’s gone, but I hate that it was there to begin with.

Serena is so pure, fierce, and kind that she, of all people, deserves to be happy.

I wish I could make her happy.

Looking around the room, I try to figure out what might have triggered that look. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. The cabin might be full, but there are those that are important to her that are missing.

Lyle’s still out there somewhere. I haven’t been able to track him as much now that I’ve been helping Serena train with her shadows. I’ve been exhausted. Using my magic is taxing, which is why I usually refrain, but that’s not an option anymore. Serena needs me.

I’ve never been needed for anything more than killing and terrorizing people…it’s strange but not unwelcome. I’m not sure there’s anything Serena could ask me to do that I wouldn’t.

It’s dangerous but somehow feels like everything I’ve ever wanted. To have purpose, to be needed as a person, not just as a tool.

Lyle isn’t the only one that’s missing either, but he wouldn’t come here if—

My thoughts are interrupted as Blair moves back to the door and once again pulls it open as if ready to leave.

What is with this guy?

Instead of walking out, he pulls open the door and steps aside. I’m left blinking hard to ensure I’m really seeing what I think I’m seeing.

Garrett, the prince of Anolas is standing in my cabin…

This can’t be right, and apparently I’m not the only one who thinks that because, other than Theo, all eyes are on him.

“What are you doing here?” Serena asks, her voice sounding slightly harsh and guarded, and I can’t say I blame her. I know Garrett isn’t my biggest fan; I wouldn’t be either if I were him. So why is he here?

The answer stands right in the center of my dining room. The same reason we’re all here.

Serena.

Garrett might be the prince, but with Serena he’s just a guy, her mate. Just like the rest of them, he’s at her mercy, and she doesn’t even seem to realize it.

Garrett looks around the room before his eyes land on her once again, and I see him swallow hard before clearing his throat.

I’ve gone against Garrett and his troops many times, and every time he’s been the definition of calm and collected. Ready to lead his men and save his citizens.

This is almost a different person standing in front of me right now.

“I want to help,” he says before his eyes cut to me, and I can see the hatred that burns in them. I don’t look away; I deserve it. I know I do. His not trusting me is smart because I’m not always in control, but with Serena, it’s different.

I’d rather stab a knife through my heart than hurt her. It’s not even a question. One day I might have to do it to keep her safe from me, and I would do it with a smile.

But this isn’t about me, not really.

Garrett turns back to Serena before he looks down at his feet, unable to hold her gaze.