Page 10

CHAPTER 10 - ASTRA

O h, no he didn’t. All talk of kids was off the table after thinking about how painful Aaliyah’s swollen belly looked.

“No pups.” I giggled and shoved at Raze, and he rumbled and nuzzled his nose into my neck.

“You’re no fun,” he teased, seeming more like himself than he had been an hour ago when his wolf went wild to save me.

I sensed our healer removed some memories for the better, and I tried not to dwell on our tribulations when I wanted to be present with him and not set his wolf off again.

I was relieved and thankful at Liv for inviting Aaliyah and Castor to tend to my wolf and me, and for forsaking punishing Raze for breaking his commune rules.

Though, I couldn’t completely relax knowing I had to leave at some stage. In a few days perhaps, and the idea of leaving him behind again opened a hole in my heart. I pushed that aside to sink my fingers into his hair and revel in the masculine silkiness of it.

We didn’t get long to enjoy each other’s company when another knock sounded, and Raze’s eyes snapped to the door.

“Come in, Luna,” he growled.

Luna and I hadn’t spoken since I contacted her a month back to connect with my wolf and look after him. I was worried he might sink into depression after his exile from the prison without having a pack to fall back on. Luna came through, found him this place to stay, gave him a job helping her team track down gantii traffickers, and provided him resources to track Jaz’s missing box and secure the evidence to prove my men’s innocence and ensure their release from prison.

“Bestie!” Luna burst into the cabin with the gusto I usually had with her, a backpack on her shoulder.

God, she looked good. Silky curls over her shoulders, new purple glasses, salmon eyeshadow bringing out her hazel eyes. Fit and curvy in her tight jeans and classic pink leather jacket. Glowing with happiness, probably from being adored by her Academy harem.

Gable trailed behind her with a messenger bag over one shoulder, a backpack over the other. “Long time no see, Covalent Bonds.”

I laughed at his affectionate name for me, teasing my chemistry magick and all around nerdiness for math and science.

Raze rumbled at the flirtatious note in the warlock’s greeting, and I squeezed his arm, telling him to quiet.

“Hey, there!” I bounded off my wolf’s lap and into my best friend’s arms?—

something I wouldn’t have been able to do so easily without Aaliyah’s healing. “It’s so good to see you.”

I squeezed her tight, appreciative of seeing her and for looking after my wolf. Luna gasped at my iron grip. Nope. Not easing up. This moment deserved this kind of hug.

“Damn, you smell nice. Did one of your knights buy you a new perfume?” I leaned back to finger a curl. “Look at your hair. What are you using?”

Mine was always flat without any product in it. I was dying to style my hair and get some heat on it. Inject some sexy waves or curls for a night out on the town. One of many luxuries deprived this girl while being locked up. My release couldn’t come soon enough. Once I was out, I was going crazy, having a facial, doing my makeup, coloring my hair, getting a manicure and painting my nails, even a shiatsu massage. Everything and anything girlie.

Luna let out a tinkled laugh at the onslaught of my questions. “If I told you, I’d have to lock you up.”

I hit her in the shoulder. “Not funny.” It kind of was.

“Hey, big guy,” Luna called out, shrugging off her bag and dropping it to the floor. She took my hand, leading me to sit down with her. “You give those vampires hell?”

I covered his mouth before he admitted to tearing their heads off.

“I’ll leave you to catch up and get to work then.” Gable took out a series of crystals and metal instruments.

Luna giggled at her dark knight, as she called him. “Yeah, you get busy and let us princesses catch up.”

I smiled, remembering when we competed in a magical exercise in class and shook on a promise of the best princess winning. Better days.

Jokes aside, my friend was a real royal, and I was an imaginary one. Though, these days, she ruled over a fallen kingdom, the Brotherhood’s power dissolved and the members clung to whatever influence they could trafficking gantii, thanks to some spell she cast. Obviously, I wanted more details on how that came to be, but she was vague on the phone, preferring in-person conversations on that topic. Maybe today was the day.

“Yes, my princess.” Gable rolled his arm and bent over like a gallant knight, and I sighed at her princess treatment when I became a knight in service to the Guild.

Raze got up and crouched by the fire, adding twigs.

Gable approached him and set a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, big guy. Help me set up protective crystals and wards around your cabin. We’re just the handsome muscle .”

Raze paused for a beat, as if he didn’t want to leave my side. I knew how he felt when the threat of leaving him behind to return to the Guardians hollowed my heart.

He finally relented and climbed to his feet. “Astra enjoys objectifying me.” He shifted his cock in his pants, and my cheeks stained pink.

Hashtag fact. Multiple times I happened upon him naked after he shifted out of his Lycan skin, and my gaze drifted below the belt. What was a romance novel fiend like me to do? Look away? Yeah, right. I was appreciating every hard edge of his body and not apologizing for it.

“See you in a minute!” I called out after him, crashing into my friend’s shoulders again and bursting into a fit of giggles.

Girl talk and friendship felt like a thing of the past when we hardly caught up, thanks to my limited communication privileges. We made the most of it and adopted a schedule to keep in touch every two weeks. I appreciated that my friend didn’t forget me and leave me behind when she had a busy timetable with Academy classes and four boyfriends to entertain.

Luna dragged me back for a longer hug that squeezed the breath from me. “Liv told me what happened. I’m so sorry. How are you?”

“Fine now, thanks to the healer,” I replied.

My heart gave a flutter that she erased the worst of my memories… at least I think she did… a black hole in my recollection gave it away. Probably for the best it was gone.

“Hot drink?” I got up and searched Raze’s cupboard for snacks or tea, finding a box of black tea.

“Please.” Luna came with me and grabbed the coffee mugs.

Just like old times. We had many late night study sessions before tests or exams. Other times, we grabbed a coffee or hot chocolate in between classes. The reminder of the Academy sent another stab in my chest. God. That was so long ago. Eighteen months. Time flew.

She grabbed milk from the fridge as I filled the kettle. “I admire how strong and brave you are. I would have collapsed into a fraught heap at half of what you’ve been through.”

I smiled at her compliment. “I have, plenty of times.”

“How are your men doing?” Luna hunted for sugar, but didn’t find any, since Raze was against the product when his mom was diabetic.

“They’re good.” One hand twist. “Back at the prison.” Two hands twists. Shit. Missing them prompted my anxiety. “I don’t want to go back.”

Luna pulled me in for another hug. “I know you don’t. We’re working on it.”

Her words felt like an empty promise, and I withdrew, shoving my hands under my armpits. Wouldn’t her influence as savior of the Guild been enough to warrant a favor for a friend?

I shut that topic down and raised another. “I healed Tor’s back.” I exited the kitchen and did a lap of the lounge to work off excess energy.

Luna leaned on the bench and let me do my thing. “With your magick?”

I stabbed a hand through my hair and informed her what my powers conveyed to me. “I was panicked and performed a new form of chemistry and created new cells in his body and forged his broken vertebrae. I awoke a dormant gene in Knoxe, too. Healed the vampires while I was at it.” I flashed V fingers. “Queen multitasker here.”

“That’s incredible.” Luna poured boiling water into our mugs.

I scrubbed my hands. “My father showed me a new side to my powers.”

Luna paused and looked up at me. “Your father?”

“Shit. I forgot to tell you about Loco.” I didn’t like to get too private on the phone when the guards listened in. We usually stuck to mundane topics, vague “how we were doing” type conversations.

Luna’s eyes widened at his nickname.

I brought her up to speed on everything, finishing with, “He gets along well with Cole’s mom, and that keeps him in line when he wants to murder all my men, especially Tor, for teasing him and calling him Dad.”

Luna let out a nervous laugh. “That sounds awkward.”

“It’s been difficult to adjust to him being in my life again when I thought he skipped out on us,” I admitted.

“I bet.” Luna reversed back to a point I made about him being housed in maximum security. “Cole’s mom said the same thing about being locked up for years.”

“Serena never mentioned that to us,” I said.

Luna slid my mug across the counter and came around to take a seat, patting the one next to it, and I joined her. She ran me through a conversation Cole and Luna had with his mom regarding her investigation of a corrupt faction within the Guild, and how she got close to nailing them, and they locked her up in the Guardians.

My friend blew on her hot drink. “Do you think your dad has anything to do with the investigation, and that’s why he was locked up too?”

“Anything’s possible.” I cupped my mug and replenished the warmth stolen from my body by shock. “I’ll ask him when I return.” My voice died off at the end, my throat clogged by emotion.

My men finalized the Styx contract by killing him and arresting some of his vampire faction. They’d collect on the contract points and earn their release from the prison, leaving me cold and empty without them… well, once all the fugitives were rounded up. Who knew how much longer I had with them all. Thinking about it made me want to curl up into a ball and cry.

“Let’s talk about something else.” Luna rubbed my back.

Good, I didn’t feel like talking anymore. Sleeping for an eternity felt like a better option. Awaking to the kiss of four handsome princes who swept me away to their kingdom where there were no political schemes and enemies definitely fit my current mood.

“Cole is with Tor now,” Luna said, not asking more questions, as if she sensed I didn’t want to go deeper on that topic. “He was summoned to the prison to fix his exoskeleton.”

Crap. He better not uncover Tor’s secret and notify the warden. My hand-wringing picked up speed.

“Cole sent me this.” Luna fished out her phone from her pocket and showed me the text on the screen, a message from Tor.

Hey, Supergal.

Thinking of you. Hoping you’re safe and well. Missing you lots. Loving you forever. Looking forward to being with you again. Oh, and feeling great, thanks to you. Wink face.

Don’t worry about Knoxe, Pascal, and Dad.

I sniffed at the last word and his prank on my father by calling him that. I kept reading.

I’ll take care of them until you come back. We’ll always find a way back to each other.

Always your bad boy,

Love, Tor

Aww, my Superguy. I covered my mouth, holding back a wave of emotion that snuck up on me. My hand and body shook as the crest closed in and slammed into me. I burst into tears, shuddering at the intensity. Luna hugged me while I sobbed, clutching her phone tightly to my stomach, holding Tor with me.

The door to the cabin flung open and Raze exploded inside. “Why are you crying, Little Wolf?”

Luna raised a palm at him, and he whined, staying where he was and scratching at his chest. I buried my face in her shoulder, trying to subdue my tears and not dismay him further. He growled as Gable dragged him outside to finish their project. My friend held me until my tears and emotions dried up. We split apart and sipped at our tea, sitting in comfortable silence.

When the guys finished their spell, they came back inside, and Raze hurried to my side, brushing my hair and shoulders. I reached back to clasp his hand, needing his earthy scent to ground me.

“This will cover you until the full moon,” Gable informed. “Then I’ll have to come back and replenish the weakened spells.”

The next full moon was due in half a month. Fourteen days with Raze didn’t feel like enough when we were together every day for almost two years. Cold flushed my heart at that thought of us parting again and not being able to hold or kiss him for months on end.

“You’ll be able to walk within the sanctuary, no problem.” He fished out a medallion. “If you need to leave for whatever reason, wear this.”

“Thanks.” I pressed the medallion between my palms and slumped in my chair.

Raze’s throat started to make the whining noise he did when his wolf tried to soothe me. I stuffed down my dread and slapped on a smile.

Gable crossed his bag over his chest so it didn’t slump down his arm. “Fortunately for my business and the Guild’s, but unfortunately for you, not all the Veil issues were resolved by the sixth element. Were they, Princess?”

“Nope.” She linked her fingers with his and ran them back and forth between his. “Sorry about that. I should have kept hold of the sixth element until I checked that everything I wished for was changed.”

Luna’s parents buried a symbol in her mind that was used by ancient sorcerers to wield a sixth power, beyond the standard five magick elements of earth, air, fire, water, and death. Her grandfather pried the symbol from her mind and tried to take over the world with it, but failed, thanks to Luna and her men stopping him. In the process, she freed the sixth element from its servitude and asked it to render her grandfather’s organization powerless. As such, Brotherhood of Serpents, long-standing enemies of the Guild, were no more. Further wishes repaired gaping holes in the Veil, reducing breaches by gantii into our world, though it didn’t entirely eliminate the fluctuations in Veil strength caused by solar bodies and celestial events. That would have put the Guild of Shadows out of business!

Hot resentment poured into my veins at my friend for not freeing me when she restored Blaze’s powers, removed Talon’s curse, and brought Gable’s brother back to life. I must not have been high on the priority list compared to her boyfriends.

Luna must have read it in my face and twisted back to me, claiming my hand. “I didn’t forget you, bestie. I asked for your freedom, but for some reason, it wasn’t granted, and…”

Why not? Was I being punished by some divine power? The dark block of bitterness in my chest melted because she included me in her wishes.

Gable took over for her. “You’ve got a different fate now, Covalent Bonds.”

I sniffed again at him for trying to make me feel better.

“You’re needed in the Guardians for some higher purpose that will become apparent soon.” Gable’s cheeky smirk lifted my spirits. “And I’m not just talking about the chemistry with your men.”

“Stop it!” I went to hit him, and he chuckled and leaped out of the way.

Luna giggled at us.

When I came back, Raze kept up his doting brushing of my hair, and my heart lightened.

If it weren’t for my time in the Guardians, I wouldn’t have met or fallen in love with four very special men. I reasoned with myself that if Luna’s wish worked, I wouldn’t have them in my life.

“Thank you for trying, bestie.” I swiped at my nose, and Luna smiled solemnly.

“Oh, I forgot.” She dashed away to collect the bulging bags she and Gable brought with them, hauling them to the kitchen. “We stocked up on goodies for you both on the way, which is why we were late.”

She unzipped the front panel of the first bag, tipped it up, and packets of food spilled out. Beef jerky, Timtams, candy, hot chocolate sachets, cake fingers, and biscuits. My stomach rumbled, since we had barely been fed or given water.

Luna pushed the jerky in Raze’s direction. “For you, big guy.”

He rumbled his appreciation and tore open the packet, throwing a few slices back and chewing them.

“For you, bestie.” She nudged everything else in my direction.

“Favoritism. I got kidnapped by vampires to help you.” Raze snatched two packets of cookies and hugged them like a possessive wolf, surprising me that he didn’t throw them out when he despised sugary treats.

“Don’t listen to him, bestie.” I laughed and stretched over the rest of the pile, guarding my turf. “Mine,” I growled at him, and we both broke into a laugh. It felt good to smile after everything.

“I grabbed you a collection of clothing.” Luna pushed the second bag at me. “Challenger brand exercise clothing.”

Ohh, my fave. I wore it all the time for comfort during study sessions.

I wanted to remove my uniform and change into the sweatpants and exercise sweaters.

“Come on, love.” Gable tugged Luna away. “Let’s leave them to it. They have a lot to catch up on.”

Oh no . Our visit was almost as short as our phone conversations. I longed for the days when I could spend half a day or more lounging with her, sharing girl talk.

“See you, bestie.” Luna swept me into her arms and crushed me. “Raze has my number if you want me to bring more goodies over.”

I showed her my appreciation with a fierce hug in return. “I will.”

Luna let me go and embraced Raze. “See you, big guy. Don’t forget we have a mission next week.”

“I won’t.” My wolf squeezed her back, then stepped back, shaking Gable’s hand. “Thanks for the wards, warlock.”

“Any friend of my princess is a friend to me.” Gable bowed again, smirked, took Luna’s hand, and led her out the door.

When they left, my heart pinched, instantly missing her.

Raze carried me and my cookies back to the sofa, nestling me between his massive thighs and leaning me against his sturdy chest.

“You’re not going to throw these in the bin, are you?” I asked, ripping the packet open to get to the sweet prize. “I know how much you hate sugar.”

“No. Eat until your heart’s content, Little Wolf.” Aww. My wolf was allowing it to cheer me up or spoiling me since we hadn’t seen each other in so long.

It felt nice to have a sense of home with Raze despite my heart stinging to have our entire pack with us. Soon, I told myself. How soon was a matter for fate to decide, and I hated that it was outside my control.