Page 90 of Witchbane
“You mean by sharing the power?”
“That’s a good start.”
“Most of the leaders of the court would funnel that sort of power into building their court,” Wesley added.
“We plan to,” Liam said. “Not in the magical place way. More in the people are valued sort of way.” He waved his hand. “I assume we’ll be seeing more of you, and you’ll answer when we send a message now?”
“I belong to you and yours.”
That wasn’t really an answer. I sighed. “What do we do with all of them?” I pointed at Al and the fallen vampires.
“I will make some calls,” Wesley offered.
“The sun will be up in a few hours,” Liam said. “Will they die in the sunlight like regular vampires, or does the fae blood they’ve had save them?”
Carl appeared in the doorway, dressed, but looking battered and bruised. “We’ll have to move the bodies at least.” He looked like he could use food and a nap, not the job of hiding bodies.
“Let’s move them to the bunk house,” Liam said. “We will put some wards on them until we can figure out what to do with them.” He ran his hands through his hair. “While Wesley calls around to find out who can take care of vampires infected with fae magic.” Only then did Wesley get up, pulling a phone out of his pocket and pacing to the area where his car was. He leaned against it, relaxed, and not appalled by the mess of the parking lot. At least the shop was far enough out of town to not become a center of attention. If all the bodies were still there come sunrise, we’d have the entire town to make up explanations for.
I stared at Liam, still a bit in shock, feeling like I was about to pass out from exhaustion. But the ties in the bond were back, wide open, pulsing with warmth and life. I could trace every single one. From Dylan who was curled possessively around Sean now, to Carl who grumbled and snarled at anyone who got too close, and even in the distance to Ari, who waited for us impatiently at home.
“We have a court?” I whispered, unwilling to let Liam go for even an instant. Like I was some sort of fae ruler?
“It means they are recognizing you are powerful,” Liam said.
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Guess we’ll find out soon enough. At least you have one lackey,” he pointed at Wesley.
I groaned. “I need to do more research. Figure out how this fae thing works.” My stomach grumbled. At least this time it wasn’t the kitsune needing to eat. “Any chance I can get some sweet bread?”
“I think I can make that happen. Let’s head home.” Liam glanced around the garage, battered and having seen better days, it would not be useable for a while. “After I call in some repair people.”
“You can’t just,” I waved a hand around as if I could magically fix it all, “Like you did with the clothes?” He had a lot of this magic stuff figured out already.
“Only if I wanted to build it out of magic, and that’s not exactly long-term in this world.”
I blinked at him. “Does that mean I’m like the emperor with no clothes? I think I’m wearing stuff, but other people see me naked?”
“No one sees you naked but me,” Liam replied with a gleam in his eyes. “The clothes are woven from this world and magic. It’s complicated… yet not.” He sighed. “It’s been too long. I’m feeling very possessive. Needing to claim my mate.”
“Yeah?” I was okay with that. “Can we do that soon?” Cause I needed to wrap him around me and ensure myself he was real. My stomach grumbled again. “Maybe after I eat?” I looked around at the destruction. “Something other than magic, I mean. Since growing to demon size takes up a lot of energy and breaks stuff.” And he’d brought me back. Effortlessly. Was that the mate bond? The scion bond? Or something else?
“Does it matter?” Liam asked. “As long as we’re together, you never have to worry.”
“I won’t go crazy demon and eat the pack while you’re around. Got it.”
He snorted and dragged me toward the parking lot. “Let’s get you home, fed, and to bed…”
Which brought lots of ideas of him into my head. “I’m on board with that.”
Chapter 26
It took longer than I’d hoped to get home. By the time people were called and repairs were started, the pack all patched up and the vampires gone, the sun was high overhead. I admit to dozing a little, wrapped in Liam’s arms. When I next woke, I was surprised to find us at home, in his bed.
“Our bed,” Liam corrected. He was curled up around me and frowned as he seemed to hear my heart racing. “What’s wrong?” He sat up beside me, tugging me into his arms, holding me until I could breathe again.
“Sorry,” I whispered. “Jolted a bit. Last thing I remember is falling asleep curled around you outside the garage.” Fuck it was amazing to be home. This was real right? Not some crafted vision Hugo was using to keep me complacent? “This is real?”