Kapitel 29: Chapter 29: Operation Frustrated Romance

Naomi POV

It wasn't that long ago she faced hostility upon returning home to face the people she'd hurt, especially her family. But Naomi Tenebruso Sinsworth couldn't conjure up much sympathy for Ravyn's former husband Daxius.

She stared at him as he lay on a crystalline-covered bed in the Healing Wing. His turquoise eyes, unnerved her.

Jiro and Garnet, Cyran and Naomi, as well as the Chalices and Patch working with Anneliese, cast a wave of light that traveled up and down Daxius' body. Tulaska and Roslynn swept him with their sound bath that they made from their rattles. They had done this for Lord Drannor Glynythyra, who in the end proved to be in league with the Dark Goddess.

The smell of the magical energy was sharp and powerful and made her nose run and eyes water.

Daxius stared back at Naomi and the corners of his mouth quirked in a smile. "Finding anything that interests you?"

Naomi shook her head. "Not yet. Cyran?"

He just growled, sounding annoyed.

"Nothing here either," Garnet chimed in, raising her strong, graceful arms and letting the shimmering light flow.

Daxius just lay there, staring at them, full of calm. For the life of her, Naomi couldn't decide whether he was a threat to the family that needed to be eliminated, a victim, or something in between. Unfortunately, none of the family were in an "in between" state of mind–they were too outraged on Ravyn's behalf.

The closest to neutral was Jiro, who knew that they couldn't rip Daxius to shreds because, amazingly, Ravyn still seemed to care for him. Otherwise, why would she give that fiery speech that made Naomi want to strangle the man? Ravyn still had feelings for him.

Was it love?

No, Naomi had eyes, and she'd seen the energy between Ravyn and Jude–as well as the way Jude went full wolf on Daxius. The whole family was aware by now, even Dane, who seemed to be pretending it didn't exist for Lilia's sake. Whatever Ravyn still felt for Daxius, it paled in comparison to the growing feelings she had for Jude.

"I've heard that this Dark Goddess often doesn't show herself." Daxius' eyes were fixed on Cyran and Naomi in particular. "How would you know if she'd moved into my body?"

"We've gotten better at detecting her in six years," Cyran said matter-of-factly.

Daxius' eyes were like a sunless sea. "You didn't detect ME and I've been in Evenhide territory for weeks. Ravyn and her lover didn't—"

Patch's claws clamped down on Daxius' arm. "Hold STILL or I'll hold you down."

Daxius' attitude didn't help, but Naomi knew the family well enough to understand what was really going on under the surface.

For some reason, Patch, who'd meddled in all his brothers' love lives, looked like a whiny teenager whenever anyone even mentioned Ravyn's budding romance with Jude. Even the devil-may-care spy chief and prankster of the family, the one who was always up for fun, couldn't stomach the idea of the woman he considered his mother having a romance.

She wondered if this was exclusive to wolves–if their belief in a fated mate made them reject people having more than one mate over a lifetime. But no. The Sinsworth housekeeper Sarina took another mate after hers was killed. Besides, humans had far more drama and killed each other over family quarrels without warning. Wolves accepted fated mates.

However, Patch didn't have to like it. Naomi wasn't sure how she felt about it–but she had no doubts when it came to Daxius! The man deserved everything he was getting. And yes, people had said the same thing about her and Cyran. But Daxius seemed even less trustworthy.

Daxius' eyes flicked up to Patch. "I'm being as still as I can without being lifeless."

Garnet interrupted before Patch or one of the others could say something inflammatory. "It's true we didn't find you right away, but you didn't exactly want to attract attention–and we weren't expecting you. For all we knew, you were with that traveling minstrel show."

"WHAT traveling minstrel show?" Daxius blinked, sounding almost innocent.

Anneliese bared her teeth. She really should become a wolf at some point, Naomi thought. "The one that was in town the night you vanished. Was the dancer you ran off with gorgeous? I bet she was a contortionist."

Daxius spluttered with laughter. "Defolim's beard, Anneliese, you really do have a wild imagination. You always did. Always pulling my Lilia into schemes."

"She's not YOUR Lilia anymore," Anneliese's mother Edna shot back. With the same energy and dynamic presence as her daughter, Edna Chalice added to the family's multiple strong females. "You lost that privilege."

"She's still my daughter!"

"Legally," Anneliese's wise father Graydon added, flexing his muscles that he'd gotten from his former career as a wrestler and boxer. "But the magical community frowns on parents mistreating their children and magical laws absolutely protect the welfare of the child."

"I never mistreated–"

Kyon leapt on Daxius, letting the wizard feel his full weight. Although a big fluffy bear, Kyon was the most physically powerful of the brothers when he chose to be. Naomi was reminded of what she'd read about the behemoth wildebeest-whale shark, a gentle giant whose sheer bulk could crush people.

Daxius gasped, "GET OFF ME."

"Then stop lying," Kyon said in a cold tone that made Naomi's blood turn to ice. "You LEFT Lilia. Your child. That's the ultimate betrayal."

"Kyon, you're blocking our scans," Jiro said in a flat tone, but his eyes said he would be more than happy to let his brother continue this little lesson another time.

Slowly, Kyon climbed off Daxius and stood off to the side. Tulaska and Roslynn didn't even object. No one did.

Through their bond, Naomi could feel a swirling storm of pity and anger from Cyran. Wherever Ravyn and Jude were–and she had a good idea–at least they were safely sheltered from dealing with this.

* * * * *

Jude POV

Goddess!

He straightened his room three times, turning down the bed, scattering wildflower petals all over the sheets. Then, he burned sensual oils in Kyon's incense burner. No music, but the bedroom looked as appealing as he could possibly make it …

He hadn't felt this skittish since he and Emer bonded for the first time–and it had been another first for both of them. It wasn't that he never felt aroused by the scent of a lovely she-wolf. It was just that he wanted to save himself for his fated mate.

That was still true, apparently.

He stiffened as he remembered a dream he'd had about Emer last night. She stood on the other side of a thick pane of glass, trying to talk to him. The glass muffled her words. That was all he remembered of the dream.

Kneeling, he prayed. "Moon Goddess, please tell Emer that I will always love her, but Ravyn has come into my life and it would take a stronger man, wolf, and Alpha to refuse your will–although I admit I tried. I can't rebel anymore. More to the point, I don't want to."

His senses alerted him to Ravyn's presence and he rose on shaky legs, then turned to see her beautiful face lit from within with a smile.

"Do you know that I've said similar prayers to the Goddess Brigid AND the Moon Goddess since this started?"

His laughter rippled in the room. "And?"

She took a deep breath. "I accept your offer … to bond."

His wolf danced crazily.

"To be your mate and your Luna."

His wolf was dizzy with joy.

"To be claimed by you and to claim you in return." She smiled wryly. "Witches have our own ways of doing so. I might tell Lilia and Anneliese about them at some point … that is, unless they finally decide to become wolves themselves."

"You'd make a d*mn beautiful wolf."

She'd come within arm's reach of him and he pulled her into his embrace. He allowed himself to experience how right she felt in his arms, how her body fit to his. His mouth had gone dry, but nothing that kissing her couldn't cure.

Instead, he lowered his mouth to her throat and kissed the hollow gently, his tongue delving into it. "I want to claim every spot on your body," he murmured against her skin. "At least once. So, if you're not prepared for that, tell me now."

Ravyn gasped in pleasure, her eyes rolling back in her head, as his tongue bathed that sensitive area. He trailed kisses across her collarbone and growled when her hands cupped his buttocks and squeezed gently, caressing and kneading. Ravyn understood her own sensual power as a woman. She might not use it often, but he found that irresistibly sexy.

"Will you claim me too?"

"I'm yours."

He felt this powerful woman tremble in his arms and he kissed her gently on the lips, stroking her hair. Her sudden shyness stoked the already burning flames of desire inside him.

His manhood, hot and hard, pressed against her, and the thought of sinking deep inside her made his tight control weaken.

"I do have one condition," she said in an unsteady voice.

He was glad for the distraction. "What is it?"

"After we bond, we make the journey with Daxius to this island."

Even though he'd made that bargain hours before, his wolf rebelled with a vengeance.

Their mate was NOT going to that island with that dishonorable, wife-abandoning, child-leaving, slippery man who might have ties to the Dark Goddess.

"No."

It came out as half growl, half howl.

Ravyn smelled shocked, like the air before a thunderstorm. "Jude!"

"NO. This is your mate talking."

She stepped back, her head up in indignation. "We're not mated yet."

"It doesn't matter. I'm your mate and–"

"And nothing. DANE agreed to this," Ravyn reminded him, with steel in her eyes. "Do you want to challenge his authority again?"

"Infuriating woman!"

She smirked. "I take that to be a 'no.'"

Goddess, he desired her even more because of her defiance. "I will protect my mate and my Luna. ANY Alpha would. Any shifter male would."

From her hesitation, he knew he'd scored a point. "Jude, be reasonable. I explained why–"

He gripped her arms lightly. "I heard you. But that was before you agreed to bond."

"You wanted to make this trip with me! And I did NOT agree to surrender my brain! Or my power. Or my conscience."

His teeth sharpened, and his claws came out. His eyes turned wolf gold. "You're the future Luna of the Silverpaw Pack and that's more important than your quest."

She threw up her hands. "Lilia complains about stubborn Alphas–I always tell her to compromise with Dane, to listen to him. I take back that advice now. You all are pigheaded, unmanageable–"

Her words bounced off him. He leaned in close. "I'm going to keep you safe, Ravyn."

She did the unthinkable and the shocking. She leaped on him like a she-wolf and began to spar with him.

Oh, this was going to be fun.