Chapter 168

Agnes

The restaurant Elijah had chosen was just a twenty-minute walk from our villa.

“Here we are,” Elijah said, stopping in front of a charming little place with tables spilling out onto the sidewalk. “It’s supposed to have the best pasta and wine selection around.”

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, taking in the rustic wooden tables and chairs adorned with fresh flowers. Candles flickered in glass jars, and the string lights that were hanging overhead reflected themselves in the polished silverware.

The host led us to a table nestled in a corner, offering just enough privacy while still allowing us to people-watch. I settled into my chair, accepting the menu with a smile, and tried not to balk at the prices.

A few moments later, the server arrived. Elijah ordered their most expensive bottle of red, and we each ordered a decadent pasta dish as well as an appetizer to share.

The server nodded, jotting down our order on his notepad. His eyes flicked up to us. He hesitated, then asked, “Are you two mated? You certainly seem like it.”

The question caught me off guard. I felt my face heat up, and beside me, Elijah stiffened slightly.

“We’re married,” I answered, feeling strangely awkward now. “But not mated.”

“Not yet,” Elijah added, squeezing my hand beneath the table.

The server’s discerning eyes flicked to Elijah’s neck, where the mate mark from Olivia was just visible above his collar. I saw the moment of realization cross his face—the slight widening of his eyes, the almost imperceptible tightening of his smile. Elijah cleared his throat and tugged his collar up a little, hiding it.

“I see,” the server said, and I instantly knew we were going to be the topic of gossip in the breakroom later. We were already recognizable enough, even in this new place, if anyone took time to look into our identities. No doubt they’d find all the news articles on our love triangle with Olivia and would be talking about it well into the night. “Well, congratulations on your marriage. I’ll be right back with your wine.”

As he walked away, I let my shoulders slump a little.

I stared down at my lap, suddenly finding it hard to meet Elijah’s eyes. The tablecloth had a small stain near the edge—a drop of red wine, perhaps, from a previous diner. I focused on that, trying to ignore the unwelcome feelings bubbling up inside of me.

Elijah’s hand squeezed mine again, drawing my attention back to him. “Hey,” he said softly. “Don’t let it bother you.”

“I’m not,” I lied, forcing a smile. “It’s fine.”

He saw through it, of course. Just like he always did. “Agnes, I promise you, someday we’ll be able to say we’re mated. Truly mated.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted it more than anything. But the reality was that no one knew how to safely unmark Olivia without killing her. And even if we found a way, there was still the issue of my wolf.

“What if my wolf never emerges?” I asked before I could stop myself. “Wolfless people can’t be marked the same way. You know that.”

“Your wolf will emerge,” Elijah replied. He sounded confident. Far more confident than I felt. “Now that Olivia’s locked up, the curse should start to fade.”

I pressed my lips together, forcing myself not to mention the fact that it hadn’t. Not yet, anyway. I hadn’t felt even a whisper from my wolf, not a single sign that she was still there, waiting to be freed. It had been days since Olivia had been imprisoned, and nothing had changed in the slightest. I at least expected to feel the faintest shred of my wolf’s presence by now, even in my dreams.

Just then, the server returned with our wine, pouring a small amount for Elijah to taste before filling both our glasses.

I took a sip of my wine, letting the rich, velvety liquid roll over my tongue. It was good—better than any wine I’d had in a while—and it quickly warmed my chest as it went down, temporarily dulling the bad sensations that had settled there.

“Let’s not think about Olivia or mate bonds or any of that other stuff tonight,” Elijah suggested, raising his glass. “Let’s just enjoy being here, together, on our honeymoon.”

I clinked my glass against his, nodding.

The food, when it arrived, was as delicious as promised. We shared a decadent plate of bruschetta, polishing off every piece of toasted bread with tomatoes, and were still hungry for more when the entrees came.

My linguine was loaded with plump shrimp and tender scallops, all tossed in a light garlic and white wine sauce. Elijah’s arrabbiata was fragrant with tomatoes and chili, and he insisted I try a bite, warning me about the heat with a mischievous smile.

It was indeed spicy, but in a pleasant way that bloomed across my tongue rather than burning it. I chased it with another sip of wine, feeling the tension from earlier slowly melt away.

We talked about everything and nothing as we ate—Thea’s upcoming school year, my designs for a new clothing line, Elijah’s plans to expand the pack’s territory. Normal, everyday topics that had nothing to do with witches or curses or missing children.

By the time we’d finished our main course, I was feeling much better. The wine had left me with a pleasant buzz, and Elijah’s obvious adoration—the way his eyes rarely left my face, the way he leaned in when I spoke—was a balm to my wounded pride.

When the server suggested dessert, Elijah looked at me with a question in his eyes.

“Actually,” I said, “I think I’d like to walk a bit. Stretch my legs.”

Elijah nodded. “Just the check, please.”

By the time we paid and left, the air had grown considerably more humid and hot, a promise of nighttime rain in our future. But the street was livelier now, filled with tourists and locals alike enjoying the evening, and neither of us had any intention of going home just yet, even if it rained on us.

“How about some ice cream?” Elijah suggested, nodding toward a small shop just down the street. “I noticed it on our way in.” He was slurring his words slightly because we’d wound up splitting a second bottle of wine, and the way he stumbled on the letters was both hot and adorable.

The idea of something sweet and cold after our rich meal was tempting. “Lead the way.”

The ice cream shop was busy but moving quickly. We studied the dozens of flavors on display, eventually settling on vanilla for me and dark chocolate for Elijah. Cones in hand, we continued our stroll, eventually finding our way to the boardwalk that ran along the beach.

The ocean was a vast darkness to our right, the rhythmic crash of waves a soothing backdrop to our quiet conversation. To our left, the town twinkled with lights, music and laughter spilling from open doorways.

“This is perfect,” I said, leaning against the railing. My ice cream was starting to melt from the sudden humidity, dripping down the side of the cone, and I licked it quickly.

Elijah watched me, a small smile playing at his lips. “You’ve got a little...” He reached out, his thumb brushing the corner of my mouth. “There.”

The simple touch sent a shiver through me. I turned my head slightly, pressing a kiss to his palm.

His eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, his free hand settling on my waist. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“You might have mentioned it once or twice,” I teased, my tongue feeling pleasantly thick and unwieldy from the wine and sugar, “but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.”

“Well. You’re fucking beautiful,” he murmured, leaning in so I could smell the wine and chocolate on his breath. “Stunning, actually. Breathtaking.” His dark eyes flicked over my exposed collarbones, and he ran his finger across one, making me shiver again. “Devastating, actually.”

His lips met mine then, tasting sweet and bitter at the same tie. I melted into him, my free hand coming up to rest against his chest. I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath my palm, and mine instantly began to beat in tandem as if it had been waiting to pick up his rhythm.

When we broke apart, he rested his forehead against mine. “Everything will work out, Agnes. I promise. Your wolf, the mate bond—all of it. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But there was a flicker of doubt in my gut, an instinctual uncertainty.

Still, I pushed the thought away, refusing to let it ruin our evening. Elijah loved me. I loved him. We had built a life together, and it was only just beginning. For the first time in a long time, maybe even ever, I was happy. Truly, deeply happy.

“Let’s finish our ice cream and head back,” I suggested, dragging my tongue across my lower lip and tasting a hint of chocolate there. “Maybe we can take advantage of that king-sized bed.”

Elijah grinned, dropping a quick kiss on my nose. “I like the way you think.”

We continued down the boardwalk, still slightly tipsy from the wine, our shoulders bumping occasionally.

But just as we were about to turn back toward town, the night sky opened up with a distant crack of thunder and a streak of lightning in the distance. It began to rain in a torrential downpour, soaking us instantly.