Page 40 of The Wolf and the Chimera (The Witch and the Cowboy #3)

Ryder

As I paced the length of the suite I shared with Elle, I left dirty footprints across the white tiles and tried to think of what to do next, but my thoughts kept circling back to my mate, who was naked and wet and half-claimed only one door away.

And exhausted from using her power, I reminded myself.

When the door clicked open, and Elle emerged from the steam, her gaze immediately sought mine. Though we needed to form a plan, I needed her more. I needed to close the final gap between us, as long as she was up for it.

Judging by her ravenous expression, she was up for it.

I studied her gleaming skin and the curves of her body, hidden by a plush, white robe. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I prowled closer.

“My clever girl,” I said in a low, rough voice. I grasped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You saved us back there.”

Unable to stop touching her, I peppered kisses on the high expanse of her cheekbone, another on her jaw, then another on her neck. Elle’s breath hitched.

“I lied,” she whispered. “That’s not very virtuous.”

I tugged the thick collar of her robe back and kissed my mark on her skin. A satisfied rumble buzzed my chest .

“You have plenty of other virtues,” I countered.

She draped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer. I inhaled her lilac scent, now mingled with a trace of my own, and groaned.

“Gods,” I whispered. “If you knew how badly I want you, Ellie, you would run.”

“Why?” she asked and pulled back. Her warm gaze bored into mine. “Why would I do that when I want you just the same?”

Her robe would be nothing to remove. All it would take was one tug on its flimsy belt, and she would be standing before me, naked and wet and smelling like lust itself.

Someone knocked.

“Whoever is on the other side of that door,” I growled, “is going to get their throat ripped out if they don’t leave.”

“Even if it’s your mother?” Kalli asked.

Clearly mortified, Elle hid her face in her hands.

Sexy and adorable, I thought. And only half-claimed.

“Ryder?” Kalli called.

I cursed, and Elle shoved my chest.

“Go,” she ordered and righted her robe, so her mark was once again hidden.

Cursing under my breath, I stomped to the door and glared at my mother. Instead of her usual paint-stained overalls, she was dressed in a clean sweater and jeans.

“I know you’re not happy to see me,” she said and raised her hands in supplication, “but I’m here for your mate.”

I narrowed my gaze. “Why?”

Kalli kneaded her hands. “Don’t be mad.”

I arched a brow, but Elle appeared at my side wearing a sweater dress that draped over the swells and dips of her form.

“Hi, Kalli,” Elle greeted. “What do you need?”

How can she be so polite?

For a moment, worry stole my breath.

Did Elle not feel the drive to claim me now that we had returned to our realm? Did she regret the mark I loved on her skin?

As if she could read my thoughts, she shot me a glare and laced our fingers together. I longed for the day we would be completely inseparable and could share the mental link that would allow us to communicate telepathically.

I needed to secure that link, for both my own sanity and Elle’s safety. If I could tether her to me, I could keep her from the sorceress’s grasp, should she ever rear her ugly head again.

“Well,” Kalli said and pulled me from my thoughts. “The day you arrived, I sort of…well, I ordered some dresses I thought you might like for a claiming ceremony.”

I balked. “You did what?”

“I know you want to have the ceremony in your father’s territory,” Kalli continued, “but I thought you might let me share this part with Elle.”

“Why can’t you just come to the ceremony at Dad’s?” I asked. “Does the Sovereign’s leash not stretch that far?”

Kalli flinched, and her hurt didn’t satisfy me the way I thought it would. Again and again, she picked that blond asshole over me.

Nothing I could say to her would match the pain she caused.

“Ryder,” Elle admonished.

I dragged a hand through my hair. “Elle’s too tired to play dress-up right now.”

I moved to shut the door, but Elle’s hand slapped against the wood. She glowered at me.

“ Elle,” she snapped, “can speak for herself.”

I swallowed. I had made the decision for her, but it was the only one to be made. I wouldn’t let her gallivant off with my mother, the Sovereign’s damned mate, when she was exhausted.

And half-claimed.

“That would be nice,” Elle said to Kalli.

I glared at her, but Elle didn’t back down. Kalli cheered.

“Wonderful!” she said. “I can’t wait— ”

“I’ll shower and change and then we’ll go,” I interrupted.

Kalli scoffed. “You can’t see the dress before the ceremony, Ryder. It’s against tradition.”

“It is bad luck,” Elle agreed.

“I don’t know if you noticed,” I said and clenched my jaw, “but we kind of already broke tradition.”

I looked at the spot where Elle’s mark was and raised my eyebrows pointedly. Anger flittered in Elle’s dark eyes, but she forced a smile and looked at my mother.

“Could you excuse us for a second?” she asked sweetly.

Kalli nodded, and I slammed the door shut.

Elle led me into the bathroom and spoke in a low, rushed whisper.

“I’m going with her,” she said. “Your mother is trying to do something nice, Ryder, and besides that, no one knows I was able to use my power without the sorceress using me. I shouldn’t be so tired I can’t try on a few dresses.”

I hated her sound logic.

“I don’t care,” I insisted. “You’re not leaving my side.”

Elle recoiled. “Is that an order?”

I gritted my teeth. “Does it have to be?”

Elle stepped closer, and though I stood a head taller, she managed to look down at me. Red flickers of light glittered in her eyes.

“I am your mate,” she said, “not your subordinate.”

I sighed. “I know.”

“Then let me do this,” Elle said and took my hands in hers. “It’s just dress-shopping with your mom. It would clearly mean a lot to her, and it will keep Lyall thinking that I wasn’t capable of helping that much during the battle. We need them to trust us until we make our next move.”

I hesitated, and Elle clasped my face with her hand.

“Circe told me to find out why the High Witch doesn’t make a move against Lyall,” she said. “Maybe this will help me discover the truth.”

Circe had been adamant about discovering all the secrets held in the estate. If anyone were to know them other than Lyall, it would be Kalli.

My thoughts drifted to the woman standing on the other side of our suite door. I had always judged her for being more of a lapdog to Lyall than a mate.

I couldn’t treat Elle like that.

I wouldn’t.

“One hour,” I agreed. “Please, Elle, don’t be gone longer than one hour.”

She nodded and reached on her toes to press a brisk kiss to my lips.

“I’ll be back soon,” she promised.

As Elle left, hand-in-hand with my mother, I realized that in my gut, I didn’t think Kalli would harm my mate and prayed she didn’t shred the last remnants of my faith in her.

???

Elle

Standing in front of the three mirrors, I basked at my reflection. Throughout my life, I had loved clothes. I loved fabrics of different textures, patterns, and colors. I loved unique silhouettes and glittering embellishments.

I loved this dress.

Its pale yellow, capped sleeves curved around my arms like a lover’s touch, and the sweetheart neckline flattered the swells of my breasts. Satin shifted into a cloudy tulle skirt, which was embellished by glittering, lacy appliques.

“Great gods,” Kalli whispered. “You look beautiful.”

I smiled at the werewolf beaming in my reflection.

She had turned her large dressing room into a princess-perfect bridal suite that reminded me of movie montages and childish dreams. A short runway led to the triage of mirrors and divided the space in two.

Women’s clothing hung on the racks bordering the space, though most of it looked far too fancy for Kalli to ever wear.

Mahogany dressers and drawers also lined the green and white walls.

“Traditionally,” she said, “wolves wear gray or white claiming dresses, but I thought, given your connection to the sun, you might prefer this.”

I turned and studied the back of the gown, which was no less exquisite than the front. The fabric dipped low, revealing a daring expanse of skin. Buttons lined a track down the center of my frame, and Kalli had painstakingly buttoned each one.

“Where did you find this?” I asked. Despite my mixed feelings toward the she-wolf, guilt ate at me. “It had to cost a fortune.”

Kalli waved me off. “I have more money than I have ever known what to do with.”

The twinge of sadness in her voice caught my attention, and I faced her. Kalli forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m glad he found you,” she said softly. “He deserves happiness.”

Love shined in her eyes for the son she had abandoned.

“Are you happy?” The question slipped off my tongue, but I didn’t snatch it back. “Does your mate make you happy?”

Her smile faltered. “He’s my other half.”

That’s not an answer.

Kalli clutched my hands and bored her green eyes into mine.

“Ryder will make you happy,” she promised. Her voice grew impossibly quiet. “He’s his father’s son.”

Longing flashed across her face, and she took a sip from her champagne flute, as if to steady her nerves. Down the hall, footsteps clattered, and I stiffened. When her green eyes met mine, Kalli’s gaze was serious.

“I thought we’d have more time,” she admitted in a rushed whisper, “but at least you connected with your chimera.”

My stomach dropped .

“What?” I asked and shook my head, but Kalli took my hands in hers.

“You couldn’t have heard that without heightened senses,” she said. “I’m not your enemy, Elle. I don’t want to be.”

The footsteps drew closer, and Kalli took a shaky breath.

“The bodice,” she murmured.

The door clicked open, and Kalli pulled back to admire my gown. A smile lifted her lips.

“The bodice is my favorite part,” she continued.

The tense moment passed so quickly, I wondered if I had imagined it.

Lyall swept into the room and grinned. In their human forms, the twins flanked him. While Lyall’s gaze trailed over my form, theirs remained cold and cruel. I wasn’t sure which reaction was creepier.

The three of them blocked the only exit, and the distance between me and my mate suddenly became gargantuan. Power heated my veins.

Control, control, control.

I forced a pleasant smile on my face. “I think we found the dress.”

As he pulled his mate into an embrace, Lyall’s grin was predatory. The champagne had glazed Kalli’s eyes, but I caught the way she stiffened in his arms. He breathed in her scent.

“You smell a bit sad, mate,” he whispered. “Who do I have to kill?”

Had Kalli drunk the champagne to try to mask her emotions?

The she-wolf chuckled, but her hand trembled. “No one, Sovereign. I’m just feeling sentimental.”

“A claiming ceremony is a big deal,” I added.

Though I didn’t quite understand Kalli’s motives, I wanted to bolster her story. Instinct urged me to run, and my chimera writhed under my itchy skin. I fought to maintain my composure.

“Such a big deal,” Lyall agreed. His grip on Kalli tightened, and where his hand clasped her arm, her skin grew pale. “Having a claimed mate means so many things, like having access to the psychic bond between mates.”

Kalli’s dull smile dropped.

“Right,” I said breathlessly. I focused on Kalli. “Thank you for the dresses, but I better get back to Ryder.”

Lyall and the twins didn’t move out of my path. I swallowed, but Lyall chuckled.

“Don’t you want to change before rushing off to your mate?” he asked. “Kalli didn’t even want me to see your claiming dress in order to keep its appearance a secret.”

As blood roared in my ears, I forced a small laugh.

Control, control, control…

Not just of my chimera, but of my own fear.

“Right,” I said. “Silly me. Kalli, would you mind helping me change clothes?”

With a bit too much exuberance, she nodded and tried to step toward me. Lyall’s grip on her arm didn’t budge. At her sides, her hands shook with barely perceptible tremors.

“Before I go,” I said sweetly to Lyall, “did you need something?”

His blue eyes met mine. “Oh, Elle, I need you more than you know.”

Silence settled over the room, and my control snapped.

Light flared from my chest, and claws sprouted from my fingers. The brief flash of pain was nothing to the violent song humming in my veins.

My light faded, and the twins launched themselves at me, but their swipes were messy. Disoriented by my power, they blinked and squinted.

Without moving a step, the Sovereign unleashed his dominance.

For one crucial moment, its sudden weight paralyzed me. Unaffected by Lyall’s power, the twins pounced.

The others believed Lyall not to possess the control Circe had wanted Ryder to learn, but …

They were wrong.

The twins twisted my arms behind my back so tightly, my shoulders screamed in protest. I kicked and scrambled, but the two wolves were too strong. I couldn’t break free.

I couldn’t break free.

Kalli pressed a hand to her mate’s chest.

“Lyall?” Kalli asked. “What’s the meaning of this? I think-I think you’re scaring her.”

Lyall’s grip on Kalli’s waist tightened, and she sucked in a breath. His fingers were bone white.

“During this lovely time you two have shared,” Lyall said, “did you realize what you have in common?”

I swallowed. My chimera paced and roared, but no matter how I twisted or shifted my weight, the twins’ grips were unbreakable. Their strength was unlike anything I had faced.

Kalli’s voice was shaky and hollow. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re both fucking liars,” Lyall said.