Destined (War of the Covens 2)

Yeah, like she was going to sleep with Lucien, Rose, and Laila rattling around in her mind.

And then there was Vilhelm.

Don’t forget Vilhelm.

Because first chance she got, she was going to find that young magik and see how he felt about Laila’s imprisonment.

12

Homecoming

“He knows you’re okay, better than okay, actually, so why isn’t he hightailing it back to the city? I thought he was your little gang’s leader?”

He waited for Jaeden’s answer as they passed the sign welcoming them into town. Ryder was angry. Not only did he sit through breakfast with that chump while Reuben oohed and aahed over Jae but the idiot couldn’t take a hint and had traveled behind them all day, stayed at the same motel, and took a room next to theirs.

That was when things had started to get really irritating. Reuben wasn’t happy that Jae was sharing a room with Ryder and had gotten even unhappier when Ryder had less than politely told him Jae was going to be his mate. Jaeden explained the situation, assuring Reuben that this was what she wanted. Hearing her say that had gone a long way to smoothing Ryder’s ruffled fur.

His calm disposition lasted all of five seconds.

Reuben had insisted on staying the night in their room so he and Jae could talk and reminisce. Come morning, the vamp had decided he wanted to come back with them to visit the pack. Ryder still didn’t get why.

“Stop being condescending,” Jaeden muttered, her head turned away from him as she gazed out the truck’s passenger window.

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. Why are you so jealous? You know, if I wanted to be with Reuben, I would’ve done it back when we were in our ‘little gang’ together.”

“I’m not jealous. I just don’t get why the guy is still hanging around. Why he wants to meet your family.”

When he was met with silence, he threw her a longer glance before turning his attention back to the road. She was tense as Hades, her body stiff, jaw clenched. Concern—choking, unfamiliar concern—hit him hard.

“Jaeden, are you okay?” This was what Lucien was always going on about with Caia. This overwhelming protectiveness that he knew was irrational and yet was too powerful to control. Having always known when to stop pushing someone when they didn’t want to talk, Ryder found it unpleasant to realize that with Jaeden, he no longer had the option of politely backing off. He had to know what was going on with her. His grip tightened on the wheel again.

“Jae …” he warned, his lykan entering his voice.

She huffed beside him, but the noise immediately relaxed him. That huff usually signified that she was ready to talk.

“I’m nervous, okay? No, not nervous.” She sighed. “Nervous doesn’t cover it. I haven’t seen my family in months, and I’m a five-minute drive from them. Reuben is hanging around because he knows about the telekinesis. He knows how worried I am about it … all of it.”

That annoying possessiveness surged inside him. “Yeah, well, I know too. I get it. But I also know something neither of you seem to grasp. The pack—your family—will accept you, no matter what.”

Jae snorted. “Like they accepted Caia?”

It was true that some of the pack was still unsure of the half lykan, but for the majority, she was a welcome addition to their pack.

“That’s different and you know it. Caia was a near stranger to us, but you’ve always been here.” He chuckled. “And let’s not forget you were quite the favorite little brat of your generation.”

“That’s not true. I was never a brat.”

Ryder slowed his truck as he turned onto Dimitri’s street. He felt, more than heard, Jaeden’s intake of breath.

He glanced briefly in his rearview mirror, a sneer curling his top lip. “Vamp boy is right behind us. What, is he intending on being there for this family reunion?”

“Actually, yes.”

His heart slammed in his chest. “Why?”

“Because he’s my friend, and I’m sure my parents would like to meet the person who has been there for me these last few months.”

“I’m sure Dimitri’s gonna want to tear the face off the vamp who nearly got you thrown into a Daylight detention center for breaking coven laws.”

They stopped outside the two-story house that belonged to Jaeden and her parents, parking behind her brother’s Volvo. Ryder glanced from the clear view he had of Reuben in his wing mirror, taking a parking space a little down the street, and then to Jaeden who had gone as pale as a white moon.

“I never thought of that.” Her eyes widened in panic. “Oh goddess, what if he kills Reuben?”

“Would that really be so bad?”

That earned him a wince-inducing punch to his upper arm. “Ryder!”

He unclipped his seat belt. “Fine, if it’s that important to you that the vamp lives, I will intervene in the instance of attempted murder.”