Ascended (War of the Covens 3)

“I’ve just never met a lykan as shy about sex as you, that’s all.” He smiled and then gave a bark of laughter as her expression turned mulish.

“That’s what every woman wants to hear. My boyfriend finds me amusing in bed … not sexy … amusing. Shy? Wow. Hot.”

All this talk of sex … He took a deep breath, trying to regain some control. But he leaned into her anyway, his lips inches from hers. “Your mate,” he corrected her hoarsely. “Not boyfriend. Mate. And I find your shyness refreshing. I find it even more so when it completely goes out the window when you’re in my bed.”

He felt her breath shudder against his lips, and that was it. His control snapped. Her hair slipped through his fingers as he clasped a hand behind her head and pressed her mouth to his gently. She groaned and kissed him back, and when he felt her tongue against his own, he growled, kissing her harder.

“Lucien,” she whimpered against his lips, and he knew what she wanted. He held her face between his hands, gazing into huge eyes that were, at the moment, glazed with lust.

He trembled with indecision. And then an eruption of laughter from the other side of the door brought him back to reality.

“We can’t.” He shuddered and pulled back. “You need to rest that shoulder … and we have company.”

She gazed at the door, a moue of disappointment touching her lips. “I hear that.” And then her eyes widened. “For Gaia’s sake! I didn’t even ask what happened. The Center?”

11

Trigger

Jaeden snuggled deeper into Ryder on the sofa, breathing him in deeply. She felt his arm tighten around her but his gaze never left the television. They were Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and the boy wizard was presently pissing off Jim Broadbent’s character.

“Badly done, Harry,” Magnus muttered, and Jae hid a snicker in Ryder’s chest. He felt it and squeezed her. He was telling her to quit it. You did not make fun of Magnus when he was watching the Harry Potter movies.

“Do you think Caia is awake?” Rose asked from her spot on the other sofa next to Alexa.

“Ssh,” Magnus hushed without looking at her. Jaeden, however, turned to look at her sharply, her gaze narrowing on the wolf. Jaeden knew from what Caia had told her, Rose was Lucien’s ex-girlfriend. The lykan was watching the double doors to the bedroom and had been ever since Lucien had closed them behind himself and Caia. Jae did not like the possessive look in Rose’s eyes when she watched Lucien … and she watched him all the time.

When the fighting had stopped, Rose made her way to the infirmary to see Lucien. Jaeden had watched her face when she realized Lucien and Caia were no longer ignoring their mating. Hatred for an unconscious Caia seared in her eyes. But no one else seemed to notice, Jae mused. Hmm, didn’t matter. She noticed. And she was going to be sure to keep an eye on Rose from now on.

She thought about the state of the Center outside of this suite. The Council had been amazing. They’d taken control in a matter of minutes, their combined power washing over the Center and stopping everyone in their tracks. They ordered everyone into one of the large reception halls and explained the truth about Marita and the labs downstairs. When Christian and Lucia, along with a couple of magiks, came out of the altar with the kids in question, the supernaturals could smell the truth in the air and see it on the faces of the traumatized children. Those supernaturals who wished to leave were asked to do so; those who trusted the Council could remain and help place protective spells around the Center to keep Marita out.

After the revelations about the labs, though, there were only a few who left. Unfortunately, the kids had to stay to answer the Council’s questions so they could uncover exactly what had been done to them, especially since the lab techs had fled at the first sign of trouble. The children’s families were being brought in, however, to be with them during the questioning.

As for the Pack Errante kids in Christian and Lucia’s charge, Alfred promised to question them that night so they could return with the pack in the morning. Jaela was too young to be questioned. Thank goddess. Jaeden had been relieved to feel little Jaela in her arms. Jae had cried and blubbered over her family for a minute before the events of the last few days seemed to be forgotten. Thankfully, Jaela was young enough for this to become a distant memory.

A lump of anguish lodged in Jae’s throat as she thought of Sunday, Ivan, and Kerianna. Unfortunately, she couldn’t say the same for them. It was going to take them some time to get over what they’d endured. Damn it. She tensed, and Ryder turned to look at her sharply. She shook her head and rested it against his shoulder again. She was just so mad. They were too young! They shouldn’t have had to go through what she had! And thank the gods it had only been a mild version of it.