Mark her skin.
Make her every promise in the world to win her submission to our fate.
But I couldn’t push her. I didn’t want to scare her off.
I knew she could be as brainwashed as my mother about her pack and their cultish ways, and I needed to give her time to arrive at a decision on her own. Without me influencing it.
And she chose me.
Knowing that she’s mine–that Aster chose me over pack and power and all the magic she possesses–makes me want to drop to my knees and praise the Moon Goddess. I want to get her alone, strip her naked, and worship her body all night to show my gratitude.
I swing Aster up into my arms and appeal to Brick. “We only came because Aster had the vision that Madi was in danger. I’m not asking to keep my job. I'm not asking for your help, or your permission to free my family. I just need you to let us go, so I can get them out before my sister is raped by every alpha in their pack in one of their sick rituals.”
Madi blanches.
Everyone looks over at Sully, but his lips aren’t moving. I look back to Madi, who bares her teeth, and hinges clawed hands together in the sign for growl.
Brick’s expression remains inscrutable as he studies me. “How do you plan to get them out?”
“I’m still working on that plan. I have a tracker on each of them.”
Aster’s body trembles in my arms. Her breath is coming in shallow gasps. I need to get her out of here. I want to get her alone. I twist toward the door and back. “May we leave?”
“Give them a room in the East Wing,” he says to Sully. To me, he says, “Attend to your mate. We’ll talk more about this plan of yours tomorrow.”
I follow Sully to the room without taking my eyes off my beautiful mate. I can feel her heart pounding with her decision. Like she’s scared and excited at the same time.
I know what this means to her. She’s giving up her role as Seeress. Giving up the magic that she loves. Giving up her visions.
I know they are her source of power, but part of me rejoices that she won’t suffer through them anymore. I hated seeing her so vulnerable, weakened by the debilitating side effects of them.
I love you.
Aster’s words project into my head. She’s speaking to me telepathically. My beautiful, magical mate.
I try to project it back. I don’t know if she can hear me, but I know she must feel the ecstatic sense of soaring in my body. The avalanche of love pouring out of my heart and into hers.
Sully says something that makes Aster smile.
“What?” I ask.
He turns to face me and signs as he repeats it. “I said get a room, you two.” We arrive in front of a door, which he pushes open. “Here’s a good one. I’ll instruct the guards to give you some space tonight.”
Aster blushes.
“Here.” Sully hands me my phone. I thank him, pocketing it with relief. I’ll be able to access the trackers, but not the drones.
“Noah,” Sully hesitates, all glimmers of amusement disappearing. “You did the right thing, coming here. The Alpha Rites are an abomination. They should be stopped at any cost.” A visceral blast of cold comes from him, and from the menace in his glowing eyes, I can see why Brick chose him as pack enforcer.
Aster gasps, eyes widening, like she’s Seeing something about Sully.
Thank you, I sign.
He nods gravely to both of us and walks away.
I gently set Aster down and close the door. We’re in a large, stately bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. A dark mahogany four-poster bed stands in the center, covered in what looks like a fluffy feather blanket wrapped in a plum silk duvet. Matching plum pillows in all shapes and sizes adorn the head of the bed.
“What was that about?” I ask.
