Hunted By Firelight by Krista Street
Chapter 17
~ WYATT ~
I left the kitchen not long after Charlotte and my mate disappeared so that I could find them. Given that laughter rang out from Charlotte’s room when I passed it, I didn’t stop.
Instead, I carried on to the chamber Avery and I shared, figuring I could check in with Nicholas and write my report to Wes.
I knew I could sleep, but if I kept up with these daytime naps, I’d inevitably get my days and nights mixed up, which would be problematic, so more sleep would have to wait until tonight.
At least Heidi had placed a cloaking spell at our chamber’s threshold, meaning Squad Three wouldn’t hear any further pleasuring I gave Avery. Thinking about that made my lips curve up when I stepped into the room.
A wash of magic flowed over me, the cloaking spell sturdy and strong. In the privacy of our room, the scent of Avery’s sex still saturated the air. It wasn’t nearly as potent as it’d been when I’d left her sleeping a few hours ago, but it was strong enough to make my cock twitch.
Damn. I needed to fuck her. Really needed to fuck her. I knew I wouldn’t feel satisfied until I did, and my wolf wouldn’t feel calm until I’d claimed her again.
But a claiming right now was out of the question. She’d probably freak out if I descended on her neck with elongated canines while my eyes glowed wildly. She’d only just learned that glowing eyes meant I felt strongly about something.
Sighing, I cupped the back of my neck. All in good time.
I sat at the small writing desk, the chair groaning in protest when it took my full weight, then pulled out my tablet. I began dictating my report into it, making sure to include Marnee’s reprehensible behavior. Even though it felt a bit like tattling, protocol was protocol. None of us were above SF law.
After that, I recounted the events starting with Avery waking up in the field, then progressed through the attack at the inn, adding the holographs to the report when needed by extracting them from my memories using magic the SF witches had programmed into our devices.
Once complete, I had a detailed six-page report with real-life graphics which accurately recorded the events since we’d entered the fae lands.
An image of Avery under the magical dome in the field outside the capital was the first holograph to pop up. I studied her face, the miniature rendition glowing above my tablet. It accurately reflected her fear and distrust since the magic had pulled it straight from my memories.
My stomach twisted to see my mate like that again, but then I reminded myself that she’d come a long way in only a few days since she no longer looked at me like I might eat her.
I smirked. Well, there was certainly one part of her I was more than happy to taste again. I sent the report off to Wes and then sent a message to Nicholas.
Any new findings?
His response dinged a minute later, and my stomach tightened when I read it.
Yes. I was just about to message you. Urgent findings to report. Attaching translated documents and one image now.
I sat forward, my spine snapping into place as I waited for his attachment.
It didn’t come.
Did you send it? No sign of it.
Impatience made my knee bounce, so I placed a video call to him in the Bulgarian libraries to discuss what he’d found, but a faint alarm buzzed from my tablet, then an error message appeared.
Frowning, I tried placing the call again only to have the same message appear.
“What the hell,” I whispered.
The error message was a general one, saying that calls to the Bulgarian libraries were unable to be completed at this time, so I settled for typing another message since messages seemed to go through.
No attachment from you has arrived. I just tried to call, but that didn’t go through either.
My tablet dinged.
Having technical difficulties on my end. I’ve just been informed that the sorcerers are doing monthly maintenance on the libraries’ wards. Calls and attachments won’t work until they’re done. Only messages are getting through right now.
I growled. Dammit.
When will they finish?
Late tomorrow night.
My stomach sank. If he truly had something urgent to show us, that meant either me or someone in Squad Three would have to return to the Bulgarian libraries to retrieve it. And considering I wasn’t a member of Squad Three, and I technically wasn’t on active duty, it only made sense to send me on the errand.
I strode from the room in search of Bavar. This hiccup was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now, but I’d have to.
The scent of cookies still clung to the air on the main floor, although roasting meat now accompanied it.
Not surprisingly, I found Bavar in the kitchen, sitting at a table near the window, away from the commotion. Beside Bavar sat a plate of cookies. He took a bite of one while he read something on his tablet.
Meestry was ordering the servants about and they scurried to follow his directions. Supper was likely only hours away.
“Funny finding you here.” I pulled out the chair across from him.
Streaks of the late afternoon fae sun streamed through the windows. Its warmth hit my cheeks, and I had to admit that the Shrouding Estate got one thing right with its strange pentacle design—the natural sunlight that graced each room. Given how narrow each wing was, the multitude of windows allowed for cross light, which brightened each room considerably. I imagined that design had been done on purpose, since such little light was able to penetrate the trees’ canopy.
Bavar popped the last cookie into his mouth, then dusted off his fingers. A rush of magic shimmered on his skin, and the remaining buttery smudges disappeared. “Such delicious biscuits. I do say I have a genuine fear of growing fat with Ms. Meyers around.”
“You’ve been the same weight since you hit adulthood.”
“True, but even my constitution is no match for such sugary, buttery delights.” He pushed his empty plate to the side. “Now, given the energy pulsing from you, I’m guessing something urgent has presented itself?”
“It has.” I showed him the messages between Nicholas and me, and then told him what happened when we tried to place calls or send attachments.
Bavar leaned back, frowning. “In that case, one of us may need to venture to Bulgaria.”
I grumbled. “Exactly, but a trip to the Bulgarian libraries is not what I had in mind right now.”
“Nor I. Even though nothing amiss has been reported by Lex and Marnee—the two on patrol duty right now—that doesn’t mean we won’t be attacked at any moment. The more of us here to defend Avery, the better.”
“Agreed. So what options do we have? Invite Nicholas here? Or should I go to him using a portal key and hope that the time difference doesn’t mean I’m gone for days?”
The time inconsistencies between the two realms often proved problematic with assignments. This certainly wasn’t the first time I’d run into a similar obstacle.
Bavar cocked his head. “I would hate to lose you if an attack is imminent. Perhaps inviting Mr. Fitzpatrick for a visit is the best option.”
I leaned back in my chair, stroking my chin. While the thought of seeing Nicholas didn’t make me smile, a rage-induced glower didn’t twist my features either. Nicholas had proven kind and useful during the past few days. Perhaps he was right and I should let the past go. Let bygones be bygones.
I pictured my little sister’s face.
The age-old rage burned in my gut, but I pushed it down.
That was a long time ago.
“I’ll extend the invitation, and if he’s unable to come here, I’ll have no choice but to leave and visit the libraries.” I made a move to pull out my tablet.
Bavar raised a hand. “Before you do that, I’m hoping to discuss your rest days a bit further. I’m guessing that you’ve been doing a bit of work today if you’ve been conversing with Nicholas. Does that also mean you sent your report to Wes?”
“I did, not long before coming to find you actually.”
Bavar sighed. “I suppose I should count it lucky you’ve slept at all today. How are you feeling?”
“Better. More like myself. I’m still a little tired, but not like I was.”
“Excellent. Consider it fortunate that you’re a wolf. Many species wouldn’t recover as quickly as you.”
I scratched my chin. “Speaking of my report to Wes, I had to include an incident with Marnee.”
Bavar cocked his head. “Oh? Pray tell.”
I described how Marnee had tried to use her song on me and her jealous reactions I’d scented on several occasions. With every sentence I uttered, Bavar’s expression grew darker and darker.
“You have a history with her, if I recall correctly?”
I nodded curtly, still hating that I’d allowed myself to succumb to her all those years ago. “Once. Three years ago.”
“And she’s carried a torch for you ever since.”
“Unfortunately.”
“I knew something was amiss with her. This confirms that the other warning signs I’ve seen aren’t to be taken lightly. I fear she’s been gone from the sea too long.” He shook his head, an orange strand of hair curling across his forehead. “She’s supposed to be there now as she was due a six-month soak, but as you know, with this incident regarding Avery, many of the squads were shuffled around or called back from leave.”
I leaned forward in my chair, a scowl brewing. “Has she done anything else worrisome?”
Bavar frowned. “Nothing concrete, but she’s been slower to respond to orders and less social with the squad. I’ve sensed restlessness in her during the past few months, which isn’t surprising given her extended time on land. It was also the reason she was due for a soak.”
“How long has it been now, since her last leave to the sea?”
“Two years.”
I winced. “That’s pushing it.” Sirens, like werewolves, had an inherent need for their natural worlds. If a wolf stayed alone for too long, away from his pack or other wolves, he turned rogue—becoming a bloodthirsty psychotic wolf no longer in control of his mind.
It was the same for sirens. Away from the sea for too long, a siren could change mentally, becoming too salt deprived to function normally. In severe cases, entire personality changes occurred. But unlike wolves, returning to the sea—for soaks as we called them in the SF—could reverse the process for a siren. She would become healthy again, returning to her former self.
Not so for a rogue wolf. Once a wolf went rogue, he stayed rogue.
“She’ll need a sabbatical the minute this assignment is over,” Bavar said, more to himself than me. “And I’ll need to keep a closer eye on her, as well as touch base with Wes. Let me know if you witness further concerning behavior from her.”
I dipped my head. “I will.”
“Now.” Bavar sat straighter. “Back to the matter at hand. You shall be inviting Nicholas to Shrouding Estate?”
I pulled out my tablet. “Yes, I’ll do it now.” I typed in a message, keeping it short and concise.
Are you able to bring copies of what you’ve found to us? The SF can provide a portal key.
A few minutes passed before Nicholas’s reply came.
I will speak with the library governor and request temporary leave to conduct SF business. I will be in touch to let you know if it’s approved.
“Sounds like he’ll try to come to us. He’ll let us know.”
“Wonderful. Please keep me abreast of all developments.”
The two of us left the kitchen. In the hall, Bavar clasped his hands behind his back. “I’ve arranged for an additional bed to be brought to your chambers after the supper meal.” He gave me a side-eye.
I quirked an eyebrow. “And?”
He feigned an innocent look. “And what?”
“I’ve known you long enough to know you’re fishing for information.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Just ask, Bavar. You know you want to.”
He sighed as we reached the end of the wing and the great central room soared forty feet to a domed ceiling. Railings from the second floor halls overlooked us, as the wide staircase waited to the left. But nobody was traipsing around upstairs, so we still had relative privacy.
“Oh, all right,” he finally conceded. “I can’t help but wonder if you still need the second bed. We did all hear the rather”—he cleared his throat, a devilish glint in his eye—“impressive performance you gave this morning. Surely, Ms. Meyers is welcoming you into her bed now.”
I shook my head, irritation washing through me that everyone had heard my mate’s screams, but also amusement at the roundabout way Bavar always asked things.
“She hasn’t accepted me as her mate if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Who said I was wondering?” But an interested curve of his lips told me that my mate status with Avery was exactly what he’d wanted to know. He fiddled with his dagger, the jeweled hilt flashing in the sun. “Did she, um, accept you as her mate prior to the event which led to her resurrection and unfortunate memory loss?”
“She did.” I bit back a smile that he’d actually asked the question outright. “And I expect with time that she’ll do so again.”
“In which case the second bed won’t be needed tonight?”
I crossed my arms. “You still better send it. I’d hate to have made progress with my mate today only to have us backtrack if she thinks I now have free access to her bed whenever I please.”
Bavar laughed, but then quickly sobered. “You’re right, best to play it safe. Otherwise she might not allow you to have any more of her biscuits, and we all know that would be a tragedy.”
I took in his very aghast expression and barked out a laugh.
