Shifting Magic: Alpha Games Book Three, page 22
I should’ve been happy.
And I was.
But seeing Asher’s torn expression prevented me from being one-hundred-percent satisfied with Hugh’s death.
Asher?
My mate’s eyes landed on me. He looked dazed.
You can release me now. I communicated as gently as I could.
The blue bands of magic disappeared. I sat up and rubbed my wrists, my eyes locked, once again, on Hugh’s slumped body.
The Mother stared down at him. Sensing my gaze, she turned to me. I saw the tear rolling down her cheek, and the sight made my feelings even more conflicted.
She approached. I swung my legs over the desk but didn’t move to stand. I didn’t trust my legs to hold me up just yet.
Seeing her approach, Asher bowed his head and stepped aside.
Though the tear left a path down her face, indicating her sorrow, a kind smile lifted her lips as she looked at me. “It seems you have made your choice.”
I inhaled sharply. Her words reminded of my conversation with my mother. A deep sense of loss hit me when I realized it would be the only conversation I’d ever have with her.
“Yes.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I have.”
Even before my mystical conversation with my mother—before I visited the oracle—I’d decided I wanted to give Natalie the Moonstone. It’s why I went to speak with the oracle in the first place.
The relic had never been transferred to another while they were living. My birth being the only known exception.
But that exception gave me all the motivation I needed to believe there was some way to give the Moonstone to Natalie.
She was powerful. And good.
She’d been training to take over as Mother Goddess before my mother ran from Graystone.
The rebellion needed someone like her to unite them. And now that Hugh was gone, she could unite the covens too.
Though the Mother had blessed me with the Moonstone, I knew Natalie was better suited to wield the power, and to use the influence that came along with it.
The only question was how to give her the Moonstone.
The oracle made me fear it couldn’t happen.
But then my mother revealed otherwise.
The Mother had given me a choice, and I was confident I’d made the right one.
But instead of accepting my response at face value, golden eyes blinked at me, and the Mother pressed, “Are you certain?”
My forehead furrowed.
I wasn’t sure how I would be able to change my mind now that the Moonstone had transferred to Natalie.
I supposed if anyone could make it happen, it would be the goddess.
But I was confident in my choice.
So, with greater strength, I declared, “Yes. I’m certain.”
The Mother’s smile grew. “Very well. Thank you for your sacrifice, Blair. Your mother would be proud.”
Emotion clogged my throat. I could only manage a weak nod in response.
She stepped away. Asher took her place. He cupped my hand in his, then pressed a kiss against my fingers.
I’m going to need you to explain that to me later.
I huffed a weak laugh. Okay.
He kissed my fingers again. How are you feeling?
Rather than resorting to my default, “fine”, I admitted, Sore. But I’ll be okay. How about you?
His eyes took on a haunted look. I was sure they’d be that way for a while. I’ll be okay, too.
I squeezed his hand and offered a reassuring smile. It was wobbly, as was his.
We’d survived, and the worst was over, but wounds had been made. They would take time to heal.
I was thankful I had Asher to help me through it, and my family and friends as well.
Worry surfaced at the thought of them and their unknown fate.
“Do you know if everyone is all right?” Asher could mind speak with his pack, even in skins. He could communicate with the Wilds shifters who’d helped in the rebel attack and ask for information about my father and the Summit Pack.
“Casualties were limited to the Graystone coven,” Natalie—the Mother—replied. “And it was only those who were unwaveringly loyal to Hugh. The rest of the coven was glad to surrender to the rebels.”
Relief flooded me, but it receded when I remembered, “Hugh had vampires locked somewhere. They need to be rescued and—”
“It is all taken care of,” She smiled gently. “Rest, Blair. All will be well.”
I was prepared to say I didn’t need rest, but then a wave of exhaustion crashed over me. My shoulders slumped. My time in the cell had taken its toll.
Asher noticed and immediately moved to catch me if I fell forward.
But I wasn’t that weak.
I offered a weak smile. “I’m fine.”
He huffed. “That’s what you always say.”
His words strengthened my smile. I found the strength to slide off the desk. I wobbled, but steadied without needing help.
“I want to see my father.” I wanted to see for myself he was all right, and I also wanted to tell him of my conversation with my mother.
Seeing The Mother possess Natalie’s body, and hearing her words to me, I no longer doubted I really spoke to my mother in whatever space connected the living to the dead.
I wanted to share the moment with my father, and tell him what she asked me to say to him.
I looked at my fated mate. “Take me to my father?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
We looked to the Mother.
I bowed my head. “Thank you… for giving me a choice.”
I felt Asher’s confusion.
The Mother simply smiled. “I look forward to seeing all you accomplish, Blair Hemmings. Your future is bright and full of promise.”
I bowed my head again.
My gaze lifted in time to see gold power flare once in her eyes. Eyelids fluttered. And I knew I was looking at Natalie as her dazed brown eyes locked onto mine.
She sucked in a ragged breath, then exhaled, “Tell me I didn’t imagine that…”
She gazed around the room, disbelief, shock, and pure joy overtaking her features as she acknowledged her experience had truly occurred.
“It’s real,” I grinned. “And it looks like congratulations are in order… Mother Goddess.”
FORTY-TWO
“Magic has shifted,” Natalie’s voice chimed through the clearing, bouncing off the trees to reach the ears of every man, woman, and child who stood before her. “No longer do sorcerers hold the Mother’s gifts over the rest of the races. Today, let it be known that covens, packs, and clans are all equal. None shall be subjected to serve another. Not ever again.”
I stood between my father and Stephanie, listening to Natalie address the assembled rebels. An impressive number had made the journey to Graystone territory once news of the rebel victory spread. And the sea of faces gazed at the new Mother Goddess with unbridled hope, accompanied by a healthy amount of uncertainty.
It’d been three days since Hugh Graystone breathed his last breath, and the Graystone Coven and all those who’d lived under his thumb were relieved of his influence. Understandably, some were wary to believe the worst was behind them.
Time would alleviate their lingering concerns.
Time, and moments like this, where all three races came together and stood united—determined to never let what the Graystone leaders had accomplished ever happen again.
“With the help of the Wilds Pack and New York Clans, resources and aide will be offered to the shifter and vampiric races to help mitigate the damage left behind by Graystone’s actions.” As Natalie continued to describe the work that’d already been done to heal the scars of Hugh’s reign, I focused my attention on my fated mate.
Asher stood beside Natalie. Alexandre stood on the other side. My mate stared into the distance. His expression was neutral, but his fists unclenched and clenched at his sides.
A lot had been thrown at him these past few days, the most difficult behind Hugh’s revelation just before his death.
Asher had confirmed the truth of his mother’s past with his uncle. He, Axel, and Kayla had mourned the suffering their mother had endured, as well as the loss of a sibling they never knew they had.
They each were plagued by “what ifs” regarding Hugh and his upbringing.
Time would be needed to heal their wounds as well.
Duties and obligations kept me and Asher at a distance these past few days.
But, if I were being honest, I also stayed away because I wasn’t certain how to support Asher with his pain.
We’re fated mates. We completed the bond. But I knew so little about him.
How did he handle stress?
Was he like me? Did he like space to deal with his emotions?
Or was he like Stephanie, who could only feel better if she confessed every last detail of her predicament and unpacked how she felt about it.
I wasn’t sure.
And instead of simply asking him, I let myself be preoccupied by helping my pack cope with the loss of Beta Nathan. I stayed at my best friend’s house and spent each day wandering pack lands, wondering about the state of my mate.
I was pleasantly surprised with the welcome I received from my childhood pack.
To be honest, part of me feared they’d blame me for Beta Nathan’s death and that I wouldn’t be welcomed.
But the opposite occurred.
The council went out of their way to include me in pack discussions, the most important being the naming of the next beta.
My father had yet to make a decision, and I knew why.
Hunter was the obvious choice to take over his father’s position, but he was still too deep in his grief to be able to accept the role and move forward.
So, my father would wait.
When Hunter was ready, he’d become the Summit beta.
Natalie’s voice drew my attention back to the trio standing in front of the crowd. “Together, the three of us will form a council to keep the peace among all our peoples. Equal representation for each race will be a priority, and we are confident the democratic arrangement will foster generations of prosperity and safety for all.”
I clapped along with the rest of the crowd.
None of the information was surprising.
Natalie had practiced her speech in front of me and Stanley several times.
My eyes snagged on the blond shifter, gazing at his girlfriend with unbridled love and pride. It was impossible not to smile.
“That still weirds me out,” Chase sidled up beside me.
Before I could ask what he meant, he motioned to his smitten brother.
I chuckled softly. The blond shifter was head over heels for Natalie, and he wasn’t afraid to show it. It was a stark contrast to the way he portrayed himself in Alaska. “Stanley would make a hell of an actor,” I said
“Apparently.” Chase snorted. Then, his voice softened. “How are you holding up?”
“Okay.” Losing the Mother’s power had been an adjustment.
I hadn’t realized it, but much of my strength during my ordeal with Hugh had come from the otherworldly power. In its absence, my body succumbed to its mistreatment. Among other things, I’ve spent a large amount of the past few days with healers, both from the covens and packs, working to repair the damage done.
But everyone was confident I’d be good as new within a month.
Chase and I spoke quietly, but our conversation was still picked up by those around us.
Several heads nodded at me when I made eye contact.
Then, I felt a familiar tug in my chest that could only be caused by one male.
I looked up and saw Asher gazing at me.
His expression was unreadable.
Nerves fluttered in my stomach.
Find me once this is over, he said into my mind.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, but nodded. Sure.
FORTY-THREE
The crowd swarmed Natalie, Alexandre, and Asher after her speech ended. Exclamations of thanks, concerned inquiries, and optimistic remarks followed me and Stephanie as we made our way to the woods, heading towards Natalie’s cabin.
The sorceress had offered it to me anytime I needed an escape. And at that moment, I needed a moment to get my bearings and brace myself for my conversation with Asher.
I knew it wouldn’t be anything catastrophic, but I was still nervous.
My best friend picked up on that easily.
“It’s going to be fine,” Stephanie said. “I don’t understand why you’re so nervous.”
Neither did I.
“A lot has happened lately. I mean, I technically mated another man—” His brother, no less.
“Stop.” Stephanie glared. “That’s ridiculous. You didn’t have a choice. Asher wouldn’t hold that against you.”
“I’m not saying he would,” I told her, but uncertainty colored my voice. I cleared my throat and willed more confidence into my next words. “Things are just a mess right now. There’s a lot of emotions, and Asher and I haven’t had the chance to unpack them.”
“Because you’re avoiding him.”
I sighed. “It seems like we’re both avoiding each other.” Except for his last words to me through our mental link, Asher hadn’t gone out of his way to speak with me about anything on his mind.
We hadn’t even slept in the same room since being reunited, and both me and my wolf mourned his absence.
And we didn’t know what it meant.
We reached Natalie’s cabin and made ourselves at home.
I was burrowing into the plaid chair closest to the fireplace when the front door opened, sending me to my feet and crouching in a fighting stance.
Tension left me as I recognized Asher.
But it hiked back up when I saw his expression.
He was pissed.
Stephanie was in the kitchen brewing herself a cup of tea. Sensing Asher’s mood, she swiftly made her exit. I watched her leave and saw her mouth “good luck” before closing the door behind her.
“I thought you agreed to find me.”
“You looked busy. I figured it could wait.”
A flicker of sadness crossed his expression. “Why are you avoiding me, Blair?”
“I’m not.”
He gave me a pointed look.
I inhaled a steadying breath. “I thought you might want space,” I admitted. “And you haven’t exactly sought out my company, either.” I cringed after the last words left my mouth. They sounded petty. And immature.
Mother, what is happening to me?
I never used to be this way.
Then again, I never had a serious relationship before.
Much less a fated mate.
I realized I had a lot to learn when it came to this relationship. In more ways than one.
“I thought you might want space as well,” Asher said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.
“Me?” I blinked. “Why would I want space?”
He ran a hand through his hair and stepped forward. “I don’t know, Blair. We have an amazing night together, we vow to stick by each other’s sides, and then you run off with Jocelyn to visit the oracle and get abducted again.”
Pain-filled eyes locked onto mine. “Why didn’t you tell me your plan? I would’ve helped you.”
My throat threatened to tighten, and my wolf whined when she sensed his pain through our bond. “I didn’t think you would let me go.”
Shifter males were protective. And mated males were even worse.
I didn’t believe Asher would hear my plan to visit the oracle—to try and discover some way to remove the Moonstone from myself to limit Hugh’s power when he controlled me—and let me go.
Asher growled. “That’s not true, Blair. You’re my mate. My partner. I don’t control your actions any more than you control mine.”
His words warmed me like a cozy blanket. Happiness filled my chest, replacing my earlier worry.
He closed the distance between us and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as he continued, “But if you ever do something so dangerous without telling me again, I may just give into my baser instincts and lock you in my basement. Don’t worry though, it’s furnished.”
I choked out a laugh.
His demeanor softened at the sound.
Then, he drew me into his chest.
I went willingly, burrowing my face into his shirt and savoring his familiar scent. Woods and crisp air. My fingers clutched the fabric.
For several minutes, we simply held onto each other. We breathed the same air, letting our wolves revel in their proximity.
Our romance was a whirlwind, and so much had happened since the moment I realized Asher was my fated mate, but we needed to run together sometime soon. Our wolves deserved to celebrate our mating together.
“We’ve got to stop with these misunderstandings,” Asher murmured against my hair.
“I agree.”
His hand ran down my back, then up again.
His strokes soothed me, in more ways than one.
He wasn’t angry.
He still wanted to be with me.
We still had a future together.
A future, though, that became more complicated now that I no longer possessed the Moonstone.
I almost brought up the subject, but I decided it could wait.
Instead, I leaned my head back and looked up at his gorgeous blue eyes and said, “So… a council, huh?”
He huffed a laugh. His hand continued caressing my back. “Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll be dragging you onto it in no time.”
I pursed my lips. “No, thanks. I think I’ll pass.”
He laughed.
And I decided it was the sexiest sound I ever heard.
Seeing my expression, Asher’s gaze heated. “I’ve missed you, Blair.”
A thrill ran through me. “I’ve missed you, too.”
“Please don’t make me worry like that again.”
My hands snaked up and I lifted on my tiptoes to lace them behind his neck. “I’ll try not to.” I pressed my lips against his.
The kiss was gentle for a brief moment. Then, Asher’s hands cupped my ass, and it was game over.
