Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

“What the—” She tried to scramble away, but he stilled her, his eyes wide on hers before returning to their hands. A moon-colored glow spread with slow intensity through their hands and up their arms. It settled through their entire bodies like a peaceful warmth before melting into nothingness.

Caia had seen it before.

She ripped her hand out of Lucien’s and gathered her quilt to cover her naked body.

How was that even possible?

Had they just been mated?

About to ask Lucien what was happening, Caia stilled at the panic in his eyes.

“Caia …” It sounded like a plea. “I’m so sorry, Caia. I was going to tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

Lucien tried to reach for her, but she flinched back, making him growl in irritation. He glared at her and sat up, pushing at his hair, his hair she’d mussed when they lost control. She fumbled, trying to distance herself from the look in his eyes, now a fierce mixture of pleading and possessiveness.

“Tell me what?” she repeated.

Not taking his eyes off her, and apparently unabashed by his nakedness, Lucien stood and pulled on his jeans. “That we’re mated.”

It felt like a bomb had gone off in the room, and with it the bulb in her bedside lamp shattered, throwing the room into near darkness, the only light cast from the bright moon outside her window. She saw Lucien frown at the lamp and then back at her, his eyebrow raised in questioning.

Yes, she had broken the lamp! It really was the least of their problems at the moment.

“Mated?” she asked, her voice an octave higher than normal.

He sat on the bed, and she couldn’t help but retreat again.

“Our parents asked Artemis to betroth us when we were kids. You were just a baby, a few months old. I was only six.”

“How is that possible?” Caia whispered, a lump in her throat as she tried to process this news.

“Back then, we weren’t sure why She agreed, but now we think perhaps it was because of Gaia. If you are the child from the prophecy, then it stands to reason She wanted you protected. My father offered me to your father as an assurance that the pack would always protect you.”

She understood now. “Because only a Pack Leader had that authority.”

“Exactly.”

“It’s why you ran away,” she mumbled, everything making so much sense now, “when you were seventeen.”

“Yes,” he whispered. “But I’ve accepted my responsibilities since then.” Responsibilities? She jerked as if he’d hit her, and he noticed. “No, Caia, I didn’t mean—”

“Stop.” She was suddenly desperate to be away from him, scrambling from the bed, tugging at the sheet to hide her body. “Don’t.”

“Caia, please let me explain—”

“Did you know? Did you know that sleeping with me would close the deal?”

He groaned, edging around the bed. “Caia, no, I didn’t think—”

“I swear to Artemis, Lucien Líder, if you come any closer, I will kill you.”

Perhaps it was the quiet stillness in her voice that stopped him. It was more cutting than any shrieking female.

“Caia …” She heard the trembling anger in his voice, and she looked up to meet his furious gaze. The silver in his eyes shone against the moonlight, and she knew she was about to commence a miniature war with the Pack Leader. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re my mate. End of story.”

She scoffed. “I don’t think so. Once again you lied to me, and there isn’t even an excuse for it. Does the rest of the pack know about this?”

He shook his head. “Only the Elders, Ryder, and now Sebastian.”

“Sebastian?” And then she chuckled, a hysterical little laugh. “That’s what you were telling him today.”

Lucien nodded. “I had to. He thinks he’s in love with you.”

“And what, you think this apparent mating between you and me means he’s not allowed to be?”

That was the trigger. Lucien moved so fast, she barely saw him until he had her in his grip, his hand cupping her neck, holding her head back as if she were an offering. “Let’s get this straight,” he snarled. “I don’t care how angry you are with me, you are mine, Caia, and I will kill anyone who takes what’s mine.”

She shivered but not from the cold. “I belong to no one,” she said bravely. “And I definitely don’t belong to you. How could I be with someone who doesn’t trust me? Who I can’t trust?”

He released her, anger blazing in his eyes though his tone was neutral. “You’ve had a shock. You’re not thinking clearly. We’ll discuss this in the morning.”

Caia didn’t say anything. She didn’t think she could. She was on the precipice of launching herself at him, claws unsheathed. Her breath fell rapidly. Caia waited until he left the room before she collapsed onto her bed.

How could this be? She shook her head and winced at the spot of blood on her bedclothes. Her blood.