Unlikely Queen (Crystal Castle 1)

“Wha—?” I barely manage. “She isn’t a werewolf,” I exclaim, feeling like I have to state the obvious.

“I know she’s a witch.”

“Well, isn’t that where the issue is? She isn’t a werewolf, so how can she be your mate?”

John shakes his head. “Not necessarily. I’m an alpha, and none of the women here can match my needs, match my power.” We both look to Tatiana, and I’m surprised to see she’s now awake and hearing everything we’ve been saying. Her eyes are still closed but a small smile plays on her lips, which is a dead giveaway.

“I didn’t believe it either, until I saw her,” John continues. “I need someone who can lead with me, and that someone needs to be strong and confident. I’ve been on this earth for hundreds of years, and not once have I even come close to finding a woman like her. Until now.” John rises and makes to leave, but before he exits, he turns, a megawatt smile on his face. “You can get up now, Tatiana,” he teases before walking out.

I look to Tatiana and she rolls her eyes. “Can you believe him?” She huffs, sitting up. “Like I will ever be his mate and howl at the moon with the bloody wolves.” Flicking the blanket to the side, she strides to the bathroom with a skip in her step. My sister is behaving particularly out of character, almost as if she is enjoying the idea of being a mate and the flirtation that goes with that fact.

“Is it true?” I ask while she washes her face. Werewolves and mating aside, we have a more important issue to discuss. “About demons. Is it true that the queen made a deal with them?”

“If angels are real, I don’t see why demons can’t exist. I haven’t personally seen one, but she couldn’t have gotten that powerful all on her own.” Tatiana leans against the bathroom doorframe, arms crossed. “While we were growing up, her powers were far weaker than mine. But now I can’t even chant near her without her interfering and breaking the spell.”

She pulls her hair back and wraps it in a bun. When finished with her own hair, she comes back to the bed where I’m still sitting and runs her fingers through my loose tresses. When she starts to braid it, I lean back against her legs and relax. She doesn’t do this often, only when she wants to concentrate, so I don’t talk or disturb her as she goes. Then, when I feel the last pull, I look up at her.

“We have to go to the vampires,” she says, and my horrified expression meets hers.

Has she gone completely insane?

Is her newfound love affecting her cognitive ability?

Witches don’t ever set foot into the vampire ward. Not ever.

“We need to summon the demon that helped the queen, and the only place to do that is near their castle at the crossroads.”

“No fucking way!” a voice booms from the doorway, and we both jump in fright at the mighty sound. Now minus a t-shirt, all muscles glistening with sweat, John takes up almost the entire opening. His eyes glow a bright orange, his jaw set like stone.

“Will you stop that and put on a shirt,” Tatiana chides, waving at his bare chest. She may have tried to flip off his assertiveness, but there is an unmistakable pink glow on her cheeks. She likes him, and for whatever reason, she feels the need to keep him at bay.

“You can’t go anywhere unless I go with you,” he asserts, and Tatiana scoffs. She wriggles out from behind me and stands head-on with John, preparing for battle.

“Please! You are not my father, and we certainly don’t answer to you or need you to escort us anywhere.”

Having none of it, John takes two steps forward, his dominating physique filling the room. His broad, tanned chest is right in her face. She has to look up to see him, and I can tell that was his intention.

“It’s not up for discussion,” he says in a slow rumble that even makes me still. “Wherever you go, I go. Do you know why?” Tatiana opens her mouth to answer, but he cuts her off. “Now that my mate has finally shown herself, I won’t let you leave my side.”

Her small hands push against his chest, but he doesn’t budge, not even an inch. This only adds to her frustration, so she tries again, this time with double the force. John snatches at her hands, yanking her close. A tiny squeal escapes her lips, her eyes hooded with desire I’ve never seen before.

“I’m going to kiss you very soon, and the last thing you will do is push me away. Do you know why that is? Because you will like it and you will scream for more.”