Hunted (War of the Covens 1)

“Completely.”

“Where?”

Caia shook her head. “He’s about a day and a half drive from here. I can show you on a map.”

He nodded sharply and pulled his cell out of his jeans. “I’ll bring them home.”

“Caia! Caia!”

“Sebastian?”

They could hear footsteps thumping up the stairs. Lucien groaned. “Who called him?”

Irini shrugged. “He’s her friend. I thought she would want him here.”

It was sweet of Irini, but Caia really didn’t want any more people worrying about her. Sebastian almost fell into the room, his eyes widening when he saw her in the bed. He ignored everyone else, practically shoved Lucien out of the way, and collapsed on the bed next to her.

“Caia Ribeiro, I’m going to kill you,” he vowed hoarsely, and then dragged her into his arms for a tight hug.

They both ignored the warning growl from Lucien.

“Seb, I’m fine.” Caia pulled back from him, smiling. “Really.”

“Irini said it was a daemon.” His eyes were huge with awe. “You killed a daemon?”

“Yeah, but he got a lucky swing in,” she joked, uncomfortable with all the attention.

Sebastian drew a sharp breath. “Let me see,” he demanded, and when she made no move, he huffed. “Caia, let me see you’re okay.” When again she made no move, his hands went to the hem of her top as if to lift it. In two seconds, he was off the bed and pinned to the adjacent wall.

“Touch her again and I will kill you,” Lucien snarled into his face.

“Lucien.” Caia threw aside the bedcovers, ready to pull him off, which sent everyone into pandemonium. Marion swooped down on her, tut-tutting, while Irini and Ella shouted at Lucien to let go of Sebastian. Magnus was the only one to stay calm. He strode forward and peeled Lucien off the boy without breaking a sweat.

“Overreact much?” Magnus smirked, holding him back.

Caia had to admit, she was impressed with Sebastian. He shrugged his T-shirt back into place and frowned calmly at his Pack Leader. “I only wanted to check her wound.”

Lucien shook Magnus off, who moved to Caia to make sure she was alright. She nodded numbly at her uncle but kept her eyes on the two males who looked ready to battle it out. Over her.

“She doesn’t need you checking her wound. You’re not her mate.”

Sebastian smirked. “Well, neither are you, apparently.”

Magnus had his arms clamped around Lucien like a vise before he could swipe his claws out at the young male. Even Magnus frowned at Sebastian. “Show some respect, you damn pup. That’s your Alpha you’re deliberately baiting.”

The smirk slipped from Sebastian’s face, but he still looked less than deferential. “My apologies,” he bit out and then to Caia he said sincerely, “Sorry if I upset you.”

Caia nodded. “Let’s forget about it. I’m okay. And I know where Jaeden is.” She flushed at the beaming grin of appreciation and love Sebastian threw back at her.

“I knew you would find her,” he said reverently.

“You’ve seen she’s all right. You—leave now,” Lucien demanded in a stony voice.

The young lykan turned to his Pack Leader and then flicked his gaze to Caia, questioning. She couldn’t believe Sebastian would even attempt to deny his Alpha over her. The trembling tension in Lucien’s muscles and the winds of possessiveness that blew from his body told Caia all she needed to know.

“I think you better go, Sebastian. Thank you for coming, though.”

His face fell but he nodded, and with one last act of defiance pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You’ll be okay?” he whispered intimately.

She nodded frantically, feeling Lucien’s anger building. “I will. I’ll call with any news,” she promised and sent him a silent message with her eyes. He would be in on the search for Jaeden too. She would make sure of it.

When he had gone, the tension melted from the room, but Irini and Ella looked shell-shocked, Magnus almost as angry as Lucien. Looking mildly amused, on the other hand, was the sedate Marion, who watched on attentively.

Magnus huffed and looked around at his pack mates. “Someone needs to teach that boy a lesson.”

“Magnus, no,” Caia pleaded. “He doesn’t mean it.”

Lucien huffed in disbelief and Magnus shook his head in disapproval. “Even you should know, Caia, a male that young should not disrespect his Alpha the way that pup just did. Lucien would have had every right to tear him apart.”

“No,” Caia grumbled. “Sebastian was just worried about me.”

Magnus raised an eyebrow and then clamped a hand down on Lucien’s shoulder. “Come on, son. Let’s call Dimitri and grab a drink. Got any of the scotch I like … ”

After they left, Caia looked to the females for reassurance. But they were frowning at her too.

“You really should discourage him, Caia,” Ella advised sternly.

Irini bit her lip. “I would never have called him if I knew the boy was in love with her.”