“And what’s your nickname? Dick-for-brains?”
“Oh dear.” The incubus tutted while pulling a sad face. “So little imagination. Poor Raven. Good thing she has me to spice things up in the bedroom or our poor little pet would die of boredom.” I clenched my fist, fully prepared to floor the bastard, but he stepped back out of range with a grin. “I’ve changed my mind. Your nickname is vanilla popsicle.”
“Zane! Behave!” Raven’s sweet voice washed over me like honey, soothing my frazzled nerve endings.
“Yes, pet.” He winked at me before pulling Raven in for a kiss. She squeaked in protest, but I sure as fuck didn’t miss her breathy little moan when he released her. The bastard smirked and sauntered back inside, leaving me hard as fucking stone, despite the subzero temperature out here.
“Um, I thought you’d left.” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. I took in her snug sweater that molded to her perfect tits and her tight jeans that hugged her perfect little ass. Bad idea. Luckily she didn’t look down as I moved my bag to cover the bulge in my pants.
I’d told her I was planning to leave the minute we returned from casting the location spell. And I had intended to do that.
But here I was, about to throw my life away for the sake of a witch who already had two, three, or maybe four mates.
I huffed out a sigh. “You’ll need my help on this stupid quest to find a vampire who is probably already dead.”
Her expression hardened. “If you think I’m wasting my time, you may as well go.”
She was wasting her time, but that was neither here nor there. Something prickled in my periphery, and I half turned to see my father’s brother walking toward the cabin, the witch he’d had at his side last night trotting along behind him.
Raven’s face froze. From the way the color drained from her cheeks, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
The bear shifter materialized at her back without her saying a word.
The older mage scanned me from head to toe when he arrived. His expression remained bland, but I caught the undercurrent of tension emanating from him.
“Raven. Are you ready to leave?” he asked, ignoring me.
My brow furrowed in confusion. “How do you two know each other?”
“Adam’s my guardian,” Raven explained before she cocked her head in surprise. “Do you know him?”
“He’s my uncle.”
“Wait…what?” From the way her eyes widened in shock, she hadn’t known her guardian was my father’s brother. Understandable. Adam had been off the radar for so long I doubted anyone remembered Dad had a brother.
Adam waved his hand dismissively. “We don’t have time for fond family reunions. It’s time to go home, Raven.”
Maverick growled. “She told you last night she’s not going anywhere.”
Adam rolled his eyes while the witch with him sneered at the bear. I still wasn’t sure who she was to my uncle.
“Yes, yes. I accept she’s your mate, so you can come too.”
“How kind.” My uncle scowled at Maverick’s sarcastic riposte, but he didn’t try using magic on the shifter.
“Maverick works here at Starfall, so he can’t just leave,” Raven pointed out. “And besides, he’s not my only mate.” She gave my uncle the fakest smile I’d ever seen. “Great news, eh?”
“That’s impossible!” Adam spluttered with a frown. “Only shifters have more than one mate.” He turned slowly, acknowledging me for the first time. “Why are you here, Alaric?”
“He’s her mate too,” Zane piped up from behind Maverick. The bear rolled his eyes while Raven looked like she hoped the ground would swallow her up.
“The jury’s out on that one,” the bear muttered before whispering something in Raven’s ear. She stiffened her shoulders while refusing to look at me. Not that I blamed her. I’d done nothing to deserve the mate bond.
“Does your father know?” A vein throbbed in my uncle’s temple, and he seemed worried rather than disgusted. Probably because he knew exactly how badly my father would react.
“He is unaware,” I confirmed through gritted teeth. Adam exhaled in relief.
“It would be better for everyone if he didn’t find out,” he said.Like I didn’t already know that. I almost rolled my eyes but thought better of it. There seemed no point in pissing my uncle off, given we’d only just met. I needed all the allies I could get these days.
