Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

Ella nodded, contemplating the situation like the world depended on her decision. “Yes. We’ll find dresses to match.”

“Shouldn’t I try it on first?”

“Well, duh.” Irini laughed. “I can’t believe it. I’m going to”—she stopped abruptly as a saleslady walked by—“be getting married,” she finished instead. “And you’re trying on an evening gown. My world is askew.”

The sales lady through them a smile and moved on out of the changing area. As Caia trundled reluctantly into a changing stall, the salesshe called through the curtain, “You never answered my question.”

“No. It’s not like a wedding,” Ella replied. “There are no vows. Just one of the Elders, in this case, Magnus, reciting the binding ritual in Greek in front of the rest of the pack who stand as witnesses. Then the ceremony is over and we have a party. Yes, like a wedding reception.”

“So … why the color-coordinated dresses?”

“Political propaganda. I suppose they are a kind of like bridesmaid dresses, except we wear the same color as the bride. I want everyone there to see you as my family.”

Caia didn’t know what to say. She would show gratitude but Ella would only shush her. Apparently, she was supposed to be used to Ella’s kindnesses by now—the rest of the pack just expected and assumed such loyalty.

She pulled the curtain back. “So … is it okay?”

Irini and Ella gasped.

Caia’s face fell. “That bad?”

“No.” Irini pulled her out of the stall to look in the mirror. “You look stunning.”

Caia stared wide-eyed at her reflection. The color of the dress was just the right shade for her peaches-and-cream complexion, making her hair seem lighter and her eyes greener. For once, she actually felt pretty.

“It’s nice,” she admitted, nodding shyly.

Ella nodded in agreement. “I think it’s a winner.”

Caia had thought finding one dress would make the task of finding dresses for Irini and Ella easier … but no. By the afternoon’s end, her feet were killing her and they’d been in every dress store in town. They eventually found a dress for Ella, and Irini was in the changing rooms trying on their last three options for her.

Ella, for once, was relaxed. “We’ll get shoes later. I’m too exhausted to go on.”

Thank goddess, Caia thought.

“I just can’t believe this is finally happening.” Her eyes sparkled, an ecstatic mother-of-the-bride. “You know, Irini and Aidan had a thing when they were younger.”

“I’d heard something like that.”

“Yeah, Irini was the popular girl of the pack back then.” She smiled, fondly remembering. “And very sought after. Dermot and Aidan were her avid suitors.”

“Dermot? Alexa’s big brother who …”

Ella nodded, her expression somber. “The very one. Thankfully, Irini had seen past Dermot’s charm and straight into his ambitions. Every time he came around to ‘see’ Irini, he was always seeking out Lucien. But Aidan … aww, goddess, that boy had it bad. Flowers and chocolates, kisses on her hand, gentlemanly, old-fashioned courting … Irini loved it,” Ella tittered, and then her expression became bittersweet. “Aidan was so despondent when she left.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ella blanched, realizing her blunder. “Oh no, Cy, no. It’s not your fault. And anyway, now we know the two of them were truly meant to be mates. I’m so happy for her.”

“Me too.”

They were silent for a moment as Ella smiled to herself, and Caia pondered another question. Finally she felt brave enough to ask. “Ella?”

“Hmm?”

“Is it true that … when lykans mate, they mate for life?”

Her adoptive mother seemed startled by the question. “I keep forgetting there is so much about this life—the life that was always meant for you—that you don’t know.” She sighed. “Most lykans find their mate, but not all of us. I was lucky to meet mine, and Irini’s lucky to have met hers. What it means is that we literally can’t have children with anyone other than our mates.”

This news wasn’t a total surprise but confirmation. “I remember Irini mentioning something, but I guess I didn’t really understand. You mean, we can have relationships with other people, but if we don’t find our mate … we can’t have children naturally?”

“Well, it’s more that if Artemis doesn’t bless the union, then you’re not mates, despite what your heart may be telling you … and you can’t have children naturally.”

Caia blinked. “It’s entirely up to Artemis? What if you don’t find your mate? Or, what if you really think someone is the one but Artemis disagrees?”

“Then Artemis is right, and that person isn’t your mate. No children. That’s why it’s imperative that our Pack Leaders find mates. Otherwise Lunarmortes would occur all the time. The pack’s been lucky that way.”

“So Lucien …”

“Will have to find his mate if this family is to continue leading the pack.”

This left Caia reeling. Artemis had really screwed her lykan children over with this. “You can never love anyone again?” She winced when she realized how blunt and insensitive that had sounded, but Ella shook her head, seeming not to mind.