Page 46 of Foretold

“Thank you,” he whispers, his hand touching my wrist before I drop it.

Axe stands next to Rion as Rave lets him drop to the floor, leaning over him. Suddenly, sparks come out of his hands. He’s imitating Rion’s magic. It makes me realize how special Vale is as a void because if he were here, no one close to him could use their magic. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with one day.

Bane knocks Rion unconscious, and my brothers grab him while Bane moves to my side, and August’s gaze scans my face as if making sure I’m okay. The old me he knew is no more, and she wouldn’t have been able to cope in a situation like this. I don’t know what that says about me. I’d like to think I’ve grown.

But maybe I’ve just accepted the darkness.

Or maybe I’ve become it.

Rave turns and stalks toward me, his movements predatory. He’s the most dangerous male and not just in his own kingdom.

And he’s all mine.

“Why is it every time you come to Chaos, someone tries to kidnap you?” he asks, scowling. “And yet you still want to come back here.”

“What can I say? I’m a hot commodity here,” I reply, resting my face against his chest as his arms surround me.

He presses his lips against my hair. “I don’t care how pissed you are at me or how much you hate me. I’m just fucking glad you called when you needed me.”

I don’t hate him.

I’m just hurt.

But I don’t say anything and stay in his arms until we head back to the castle.

We have a prisoner to torture.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rave

Being in Chaos and watching Astrid mingle with her family here intrigues me. I hate that she comes here without me—outside of my control and protection—but the fact that she called me when she needed me means more than she could know. She still fucking needs me. I’m under her skin and in her mind and body, exactly where I want to be. Astrid might still be angry at me, but I can tell she is slowly forgiving me. My life is almost exactly how I want it, especially now that no more lies exist between us. However, if Bane doesn’t stop looking at Astrid like he wants to kiss her, I’m about to start a war by punching him right in the fucking face.

“Are you okay?” I ask Astrid, looking back at her after sending a warning glare in Bane’s direction. She is staring out of the dining hall window, lost in thought. “We can train your new magic when we get home. You don’t need to fear it, love. It protected you.”

I run my fingers across her back, and she shivers, bringing those beautiful hazel eyes to me. I love how my touch affects her because the feeling is mutual. Just a look from her can bring me to my knees, which is both humbling and fucking terrifying because no one has ever held that power over me.

“I need to ask Zython if he can do that,” she murmurs, stepping closer to me and resting her head against my chest. Her vanilla scent hits me, and I close my eyes, taking her in. My mate is fucking perfection in every way. I love everything about her, and I wonder if she knows just how fucking crazy I am for her. My fingers gently grip her neck, and her breath hitches slightly. I lower my head to her ear. “I’m going to the dungeons and seewhat information we can get. Why don’t you get some rest?”

Kissing her temple, I wonder if she’s going to listen or decide she wants in on torturing the man who just tried to kidnap her. Her eyes flicker, and I can tell she’s unsure what to do. But then, out of fucking nowhere, the Witch Queen shows up. Pandora is my childhood friend, although recently she’s become more loyal to Astrid than me. Instead of that annoying me, I feel grateful that Astrid has made a friend, especially one who’s female, considering all her otherfriendsare simply men waiting and hoping for their chance to one day fuck her. I don’t know if women are just naïve or only see what they want to see, but men aren’tjust friends with women for the hell of it.

They all wouldn’t say no to fucking her if they got the chance.

She has a damn line formed, just waiting for me to fuck up again, and I don’t think she has any idea.

I fucking hate sending her here if I’m being honest, but she obviously needs it. Her soul needs it. And as her mate, I want to give her that even if it makes me feel sick to my stomach.

“Astrid!” Pandora calls out, a wide smile on her face. Her dark hair is a little longer than I remember, her violet eyes dancing between my mate and me.

Astrid lets go of me to hug her. “Where the hell have you been?” she asks, and Pandora smirks.

“Why, did you miss me?”

With her arms around Astrid, Pandora looks up at me. “Rave. Didn’t expect to find you here.”

“I’m just as surprised as you are.”

Albeit curious. I want to see exactly what my mate gets up to when she’s away from me. Although I do have eyes on her in the castle, it’s completely different from being here myself.

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