Page 17 of Cherry Moon

Aki knew it’d been rebuilt, but we never spoke about it. It was too painful for him. Being away from the cottage was too painful for him.

Is he becoming too sheltered?

I leaned closer to the window, looking in the direction of Green Park.

In place of the tube stood a smaller yet wider cylindrical tower with the same wolf’s head on top, now called Wolf Heart. Still made of frosted glass, and still the seat of global werewolf power.

A dome of pale golden light surrounded it, reflecting the hues of the moon. An anti-magic field, a weapon used against all sorts of magical attacks. The SCU also used bullets infused with it, the power deadly and effective.

Its presence around Wolf Heart kept the High Alpha and her son safe. A greater protection, lessons of the past learned.

But for how long?

I hated thinking so negatively. But here we were, on this plane with Aki’s swords gone, and fear choking the air.

“I can see it,” I answered Aki.

He didn’t say anything, returning his head to my shoulder.

I rested my head against his, closing my eyes. His unique scent of citrus caramel soothed the squirming in my belly, a perfumed scarf coiling around me, chasing my troubles away.

“I love you,” I told him.

“Love you too,” he whispered, snuggling closer.

Darn it. I just wanted to get him off this plane, out of London, and back to our cottage. Forget this blip, hold him in our bed and tell the world to shove it.

But the mazoku’s creation had come for him, its words a warning rolled in a threat.

Things were changing.

My beloved was a target.

I sighed, throwing my arm around him.

“I’m sorry, G.” His voice was such a soft, defeated tone.

“For what?” I asked.

“Crying like that.”

I kissed his head. “You went through a traumatic experience.”

“That’s my whole life’s MO.”

“Don’t say that.” I kissed him again. “You’re not a magnet for these things.”

“Feels like it.” He snuggled closer.

Being trapped on a plane and left in the dark poked at the embers of my anger. I’d love nothing more than to be locked in a room with whatever mazoku masterminded this attack so I could kick ten tons of crap out of their smoky asses. Make them scream for daring to come for the other half of my heart.

Mine.

Mine to love.

Mine to kill for.

The captain announced our descent into London City Airport. We put our seatbelts on, bracing ourselves for the landing.