Chapter 52

Kiera

When I wake my entire body is surrounded by pillows, my every curve cushioned so thoroughly I feel like I’m about to burst into flames. The pillows cradling me are so warm: smothering me with scorching heat even though I want to snuggle closer to their entrancing scent. I can’t remember ever being so comfortable. The pillows are even caressing me, stroking my spine and brushing through my hair.

Wait a minute. I realize, coming fully awake. Pillows don’t move. And pillows don’t have internal heat sources.

Blinking my eyes open, I realize it’s not pillows surrounding me, but a very large, very attractive wolf.

Relief spreads across Chase’s features the moment he realizes I’m conscious, and a tender smile stretches across his face. “Welcome back, trouble.”

Squirming against his hard muscles, I announce, “you’re too hot.”

His grin widens, “Why thank you.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I pout, giving up my doomed efforts to escape him. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m taking care of you - you were pretty banged up in the fight.” Some of Chase’s amusement disappears, “do you remember what happened?”

Racking my brain for details, a dozen scattered images appear: Viviane and I in the sushi bar, Courtney and Madison arriving, the fight, and my mate’s sudden appearance. “Yes.” I answer after a moment, “Why did you interfere? I had it under control.”

Looking thoroughly exasperated, Chase cups my cheek, “Kiera, a wolf had your neck in her jaws.”

“I would have figured out a way out of it.” I insist sullenly.

“Stubborn thing,” Chase croons, dragging the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, “Either way, you made me proud. You were so brave - risking your life to protect your friend.”

I wait for the scolding, but it never comes. Instead his warm eyes flicker to my mouth, and I realize he’s thinking about kissing me. I can’t let that happen, I don’t need to experience it to know I’ll never be able to resist him once we take that step. “Why are you in bed with me?” I inquire, distracting him.

His wolf shines through his eyes with a mischievous glint. “You looked cold.”

“So you decided to make me overheat?” I counter, arching my brow.

“You needed it. You’ve been out for more than a day - no matter what we tried.” Somehow he manages to look concerned and smug at once. “But you woke up almost as soon as I got in.”

“So are you going to get out now that I’m awake?” I press.

He offers me a knowing smirk, “No.”

Managing to roll over so my back is to his front, I complain, “Why not?!”

“Well,” he reasons, lowering his lips to my neck and making butterflies explode in my tummy, “what if you pass out again?”

“That’s ridiculous.” I gripe, trying to wrestle my way free. Unfortunately Chase only cuddles me closer, so close I can feel something long and hard pressed against my backside.

“Chase!” I yelp, unsure how to handle the sudden throbbing at the apex of my thighs.

“What is it, little lynx? He responds, voice full of laughter.

“Your…” I can’t say it.

“Mhmm?” He prods, inhaling deeply and making me very afraid he can smell my arousal.

Feeling a spark of inspiration, I wiggle my behind against his hard member, drawing a groan from my mate. “Naughty girl.” He growls.

“You were asking for it.” I quip.

Chuckling, Chase finally puts some distance between us, pulling away and rolling me onto my back. “Mmm, come here baby - let me look at you.”

His sharp eyes and feather light fingers investigate the healing gashes on my neck, the still green bruises across my ribs and half a dozen other battles scars. “How are you feeling? Honestly?”

“Sore.” I admit, wanting to stretch but too afraid to try. “Tired… confused.” My last word is a scarce whisper, but of course Chase zeroes in on it.

“Confused about what?” He murmurs, brushing my hair back from my face.

“Everything.” I admit, feeling horribly vulnerable. I don’t even know why I’m telling him this. It must be something about mate’s, some odd compulsion to bare your soul even when you don’t want to.

He nods as if he understands, “Viviane told Caspian you’ve been dying for me to figure out we’re mates for ages.”

“Sort of.” I shrug noncommittally.

“So why are you fighting me now?” He wonders aloud.

Shrugging again, I lie, “I don’t know.”

“Yes you do babygirl.” He admonished.

“Because it shouldn’t have taken so long.” I confess. “I knew instantly.”

“So you’re punishing me?” Chase clarifies.

Turning my head away from him, I consider the idea. “Not intentionally.”

My mate catches my chin and pulls my eyes back to his. “But you are.”

“I don’t want to be.” Suddenly I feel like crying. “I don’t want to feel this way - like all my insides are tied up in knots. Like giving in to you would make me weak.”

Chase sighs, watching me intently. It’s a few moments before he finally responds, and I feel like he can see straight through me. “I don’t know why I didn’t see you before, Kiera.” He proclaims solemnly, “But I promise you this- now that I do, you’re the only thing in the entire world I can see.”

——————————

Viviane

Kiera looks a thousand times better than she did yesterday, out of bed and moving around without any of the stiffness that seemed to plague her before. Chase still hasn’t let her out of his rooms, and though she pretends to be outraged, I can tell she’s secretly pleased. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine - no, truly I am.” She adds when she sees my skeptical expression. “How are you doing?”

“I feel like I owe you everything.” I share. I wanted to tell her this the first second I saw her after the fight, but Chase convinced me to keep things light. “You really saved me, Kiera.”

“Eh, it was only an excuse.” She jokes, “I’ve wanted to fight those slags for eons.”

“I’m serious.” I profess, “They almost outed me. If you hadn’t been there…”

“You would have found a way out on your own.” Kiera argues, “you don’t give yourself enough credit Viviane.”

“No, I give myself all the credit I deserve.” I rebut, “you’ve saved me more times than I can count. At the settlement with Mordred… if it wasn’t for you he would have scented me.”

“What was he even doing there?” Kiera asks, “how did he get involved in trafficking mermaids? What role does he play?”

“I don’t know,” I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair. “I mean, it sort of makes sense. He was on the run, he couldn’t find a legal job, he clearly had a proclivity for this sort of thing. It seems like a natural fit.”

“But is it too much of a coincidence?” Kiera suggests, “I mean his stepdaughter is a mermaid and then he ends up trafficking them?”

“I don’t think he knows.” I claim confidently, “if he did, he would have come after me. All this means is that his circumstances allowed him to collide with the darkest bits of the city’s underbelly.”

“Maybe.” Kiera agrees, looking unconvinced.

“We need to go back.” I decide abruptly.

“What?!” Kiera asks in shock.

“I know what Mordred is capable of.” I remind her hoarsely. “If he’s out there hurting other women, whether they’re mermaids or shifters - I have to do something.”

I refuse to stand by like I did at the bar, too cowardly to join a fight I caused. I need to be strong like Kiera, I need to help others the way she helped me.

“It’s dangerous, Viviane.” Kiera hisses.

“Are you saying you won’t come with me?” I inquire.

“Of course not.” Kiera shakes her head, seeming offended I would suggest such a thing. “I’m saying we need to be careful.”

“We will be,” I promise. “We just need to figure out what’s going on, not dismantle the entire ring by ourselves.”

Kiera still looks unsure. “Have you told Caspian any of this?”

“Are you joking? He’d blow a gasket.” I retort. “Have you told Chase?”

“That’s different, we haven’t been mated.” Kiera insists.

“Sure,” I scoff, “Like that would stop him from laying down the law.”

My friend ignores me, “Besides, the moment he found out he’d tell Caspian.”

“That’s true.” I concede.

“Speaking of things that would make your mate have an aneurysm, have you heard anything more from James?” Kiera questions, “that favor he asked for?”

“No,” I shiver, “but honestly, I think I’d rather tell Caspian about what happened then actually keep my word to James. I know whatever he asks of me is going to be bad.”

“I swear, Viv,” Kiera exclaims. “You are a magnet for trouble.”

“Tell me something I don’t know!” I laugh, flopping down on the sofa.

“So,” Kiera broaches, leaning over the backrest to look down at me, “when do you want to go back to the settlement?”

“Whatever the day,” I decide, “It needs to be soon.”