Page 56

V elda greeted us at her door, having changed out of her more formal attire from breakfast and into a short romper covered in daisies. “Hey, you two. What’s up?”

“If you’re not busy,” said Yelena, “we’ll have Logan give you the ability to see the monster, and then use whatever she has left in her stores to give your artifact a boost.”

“Oh, fuck yes. I’ve been wanting to get a taste of the magic. How do you give people the sight?”

“I’m not super sure how it works yet. I just sort of set the intention and let the magic flow.”

“Cool. Boost me, cutie.” Velda welcomed us into her suite. Four double beds were lined up on one side and I had almost forgotten Velda had claimants.

She caught me staring and explained, “They’re all at the dining hall while I get some work done. Did you want to meet them? I can page them to come back.”

“That’s okay. I can meet them later.”

Velda held out her hand expectantly and I took it in mine.

It was hard to focus with her ice-green eyes boring into me and the warmth of her skin sinking into my fingertips.

I started a mantra in my head, the silent request for my magic to do what I wanted it to, to give Velda the ability to see the danger that was on the other side of the wards.

She hissed as the magic flowed into her. “Oh, mama. That’s got some kick. I kind of like it.”

My cheeks flushed at her words, and Yelena laughed. “Let’s go double-check that it worked before we head down to the basement.”

Velda kept her fingers laced with mine, and Yelena took up my other hand, the three of us riding down to the main floor.

“How are you settling in since breakfast? Everyone was very chatty after you left.”

“Good chatty or bad chatty?” I asked.

Velda shrugged. “Bit of both. But you’re still set up to become a temporary Protector so it all worked out. Kendrick doesn’t hate the idea as much as he says. He just likes to fight.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

“You’ll get used to him,” Velda assured me.

We stepped out into the overcast day. The rain was so fine it might’ve been mistaken for mist, each barely there droplet caressing my skin.

I had always wanted to come out to the Pacific Northwest with Caden.

It just would’ve been nice if it was in better circumstances.

I didn’t engage in any of the competition between the West and the East Coast, they were each beautiful in their own way, and I was always down for time at the ocean.

If we survived all of this, I was going to go sprawl on the beach.

“So what am I looking fo—oh, shit. Stupid question. Damn,” said Velda. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“I don’t think any of us have.”

Yelena sighed. “At least we know Logan’s magic did the trick.”

“How bad do you think the nest is going to panic once they’re able to see this thing too?”

“Probably more than we’re ready for,” Yelena replied. “We might have to work down a list of people least likely to freak out. Definitely the ones we think we can rely on if we need to evacuate.”

The three of us walked up to the gate where the creature was blocking the road. It looked bigger than I had last seen it.

“Why isn’t it going into the city for prey?” Velda asked. “I know we’d be easy pickings if it got in here, but if it’s hunting, there are definitely shifters and witches in Portland.”

I took a step forward and day turned to night, moonlight spilling through the canopy, and Hecate standing patiently in the moss like she had been waiting for me.

Hello, Logan. I’m sorry to steal you away.

“That’s okay. What did you need to talk about?”

I must apologize for pushing Caden to speak. I dropped the idea in his head and as I said, this is not the ideal timeline.

“You told him to ask about me being a Protector?”

Yes. I don’t want to have to rush you, but I would also prefer all of you not to die.

Her words sent a pulse of panic through me. “Aren’t we safe here?”

For now. Are you nervous about accepting the other gifts I put in your path?

“Do you mean Yelena?”

She’s one of them, yes.

“This all feels very fast. I just accepted Seth. We haven’t even had time to explore what that relationship means. I’m bonded to him, but we haven’t spent a moment alone. I don’t know what it means for me, or for him. It’s too much.”

Hecate nodded thoughtfully. I have not asked you to walk an easy path, Logan. I’m sorry for that. I promise if you do walk the path as I have laid it, it will not be one filled with regret.

I took a deep breath, wrapping my arms around myself. “Why me?”

As I said before, one of your ancestors made a grave mistake.

Others in your family have tried to correct it and have been unsuccessful.

If anyone else had succeeded, this would not be asked of you now.

I know that it is hard to trust. They did not like the messages that I brought and now all of this has fallen to you. The consequences have only grown.

“What happens if I fail?”

I do not want to put the burden of knowledge on your shoulders. I still want you to choose because you desire to do so. You already carry so much. Even if you do not accept them as mates, they will be good friends to you. They will support you. I only hope that it is enough.

“I don’t understand. I have to take them as mates? Why?”

Hecate moved toward me like a mist, her hands cupping my cheeks like a mother might. My sweet child. Someone else will give you that knowledge. You won’t have long to wait. For now be patient, have faith, and don’t be afraid to love.

I stumbled into the daylight, Yelena and Velda at my sides holding me up.

“What the hell was that?” Velda asked.

“A vision. I’m still getting used to them.” My body felt exhausted and shaky, and both women looped their arms around my waist. The creature shrieked and flailed on the other side of the wards, its tendrils snaking up and around the dome.

Velda slipped into her animal form, a wonderfully fluffy brown bear with round ears and wicked claws. Hop on.

She lowered to the ground and I climbed onto her back, draping myself over the thick fur.

Velda carried me back to the nest like that, the monster’s screams echoing in my ears, and the messages of Hecate’s magic sparking in my blood.

Velda fit perfectly into the elevator, and I wondered briefly if they had designed it to accommodate all of their animal forms. We rode down to the basement and into the secret chamber where the artifacts were kept.

“Precious,” said Yelena.

“Yes?” I slid down off Velda’s back, holding tightly to her as my feet hit the ground.

“Would you mind if I tested a theory while you charge the artifact?”

“Sure. If you think it’ll help us figure something out, we might as well.” I turned to Velda. “Which one is yours?

“The painting. It was a protective love charm done between my great-great-grandmother and the witch that fell for her.”

“Is it real blood?” I asked, examining the bright red hues of the painting.

“Of course it is. There’s potent magic in the blood. It’s kept my family safe for hundreds of years, preserved with the witch’s magic.”

“What happened to the witch?”

“Burned, unfortunately. That’s one of the reasons my family originally left Europe.

We were from what’s now Germany, and things got too dangerous in the 1600s.

Sometimes I have dreams of the original forest of this land, memories that float down my bloodline.

They lived a lot of their lives as bears here, melting into the trees, settling so deep in the woods they rarely saw humans. Of course, things have changed since.”

I could see the forests as she spoke. The unspoiled coast lines, trees so large it took entire families holding hands to reach around them.

We had lost so much to greed and disrespect, to hatred for the people who were already here.

I didn’t know if Velda’s family had found peace, but she was here now, so at the very least it seemed as if they had found some semblance of safety.

I settled onto the dirt floor next to her.

She laced our fingers together, and reached our hands through the ward that sat around the artifacts until my fingertips reached the edge of the painting.

It vibrated under my touch, and, like Yelena had taught me, I opened myself to let the magic flow into it.

Yelena leaned against my back, her chin over my shoulder and her fingertips walking down my arm.

I shivered and turned to face her. “What are you doing?”

“Focus on your task. Let me test my theory. I’ll keep it PG.”

Her breath ghosted over my throat, her nose teasing against my ear, and her nails scraping over my skin. My breathing hitched, the magic pouring into the artifact fluctuating. Her arms slipped around my waist, one hand pressed flat against my stomach, the other resting on my thigh.

“That’s it, precious. You’re doing so well.”

Velda’s face was mere inches from mine. One of her hands cupped the back of my neck and goosebumps danced over my skin. “Yelena, it’s rude to play in front of me when I haven’t been invited.”

Yelena laughed against my skin, the sound rippling through me. She nipped my ear and my magic stuttered again. “Precious. Do you give Velda permission to play?”

Oh, gods. My heart was ready to beat out of my chest. I was used to being sandwiched between two beautiful predators, but the fact that it was these two was new.

I shivered despite the warmth of their bodies. Curiosity pawed at me like an insistent kitten. My pussy clenched when Yelena toyed with the hem of my dress, tracing patterns onto my flesh.

“It’s okay to say yes if you want to.” Yelena purred along my throat. “No shame among shifters. Or no, if you don’t want to. I won’t think less of you either way.”

Hecate’s words echoed back to me. Don’t be afraid to love. Did that apply to lust too?

Yelena’s claws pricked my skin. “Answer the question, precious.”

“Yes, but…”

“I can keep things PG too,” Velda offered.

Lo, is everything okay?