Page 54 of Prey

“I second that,” I say, laughing.

“Anyway, this potion is done, let's get some bottles and we can get it ready to go.” Jessa reaches up in the cabinet and pulls out a funnel while Shasta goes into the pantry for a few bottles. They have a pretty good system here it looks like.

I have to say, I don’t really feel as nervous here anymore either, so I guess Shasta’s immersion therapy plan is working. I’m not mad about it. I’m glad to have been wrong. Fate knew what she was doing when she made Shasta my mate, even if I didn’t like it at first.

Kadi looks at me and winks as if he can read my thoughts. Well, after all this time he probably can. We watch as they bottle the potions. They leave one uncapped and Jessa drinks it down. Iwatch. I don’t know if I’m thinking she’s going to turn green, but nothing happens.

They both nod though as if things went exactly as they should have. I guess it’s a witch thing. They box the rest up and Shasta walks Jessa to the door, hugging her tightly. Joaquin and Laken follow her out the door like the shadows they are.

Chapter twenty-eight

Bestie Bonds & Sleepless Nights

SHASTA

Emmett stares at me as if he’s reading my soul. Maybe he is? We are sitting on the porch at Grams’. The guys are all insidechatting. Ethan actually pushed us both out here about five mins ago and neither of us have said a word.

“So, how do you feel about my magic marking you up without your permission?” I ask casually.

“No ma’am, nice try. Spill. You know what I’m waiting for.” He cocks his head and purses his lips at me.

I roll my eyes. “I don’t know what you want me to say? We figured it out at the clinic. I tried sucking the dark magic out of him and when I kissed him, I figured it out. It all went kind of downhill from there. He tried to kidnap me, Grams got the spider out of him. Come to find out, it had been in him since he was a kid, when they killed his parents. I didn’t tell you that day because I was a little overwhelmed with everything.”

“Holy shit. That’s a long damn time to have something like that inside of you. Joaquin filled me in here and there on the basics of how you were doing, but he was pretty close lipped about any details. Now I see why.” He whistles low.

“Then, uh, later that night he came and got me and drove me in the rain to his Pride land and I zapped-him-and-then-he-bent-me-over-the-bike…” I say in a rush.

“You what now? I don’t think I heard you right? You electrocuted him and then had hate sex on the bike?” Emmett cracks up laughing. “Girl, stop it.”

“Well, it wasn’tonit. More like over it,” I say primly.

“I one hundred percent see why you haven’t had time to tell me what was happening. Now for the important part, how are you feeling? I know it must be a lot. Two mates, fighting the Society and then finding your Dad.” He grabs my hands in his.

I don’t know why I haven’t made time for me and Emmett. It’s been hectic but I needed this.

“It’s been…he’s messed up, Emmett. He even told us he had these whole made-up scenarios in his head of what our lives were like out here. He snapped on Ethan, while it may havebeen somewhat warranted, it was still a lot. He apologized, and that’s when he told us how he made these things up to try to make himself believe that we didn’t need him out here. They did despicable, unspeakable things to him. How do you come back from that?”

“I don’t know, babe. But I know you, Eloise, and Winnie will do whatever you can to get him where he needs to be. Is he going to go to therapy?”

I nod and then tell him about Brigid.

“A freaking Goddess walking on Earth? Geez, Shas. You really have been going through all the things.” He sits back and lets out a long breath.

I lean back and fiddle with the tassels on the pillow on the swing. We sit in silence for a bit. Finally he speaks again.

“You know, I don’t mind the mark, Shasta. I can’t remember a time in my life that we haven’t been there for each other. What we are going to do tomorrow is dangerous as hell. We are basically going in blind. We have no idea how many of them will be there or who they even are. We might even be surprised by who we find there. The Society has been infiltrating the common ranks for years. Hell, they could even be in the Convocation for all we know. Knowing I have a way to get to you if something happens puts me at ease a little bit. Your mates have the emotional bond with you. They will always know what you’re thinking and feeling. I don’t need to know those things because you usually tell me. But if something were to happen to you and I couldn’t get to you? I’d lose it.”

I lean toward him and wrap my arm around his waist, leaning into his side. He wraps his arm over my shoulder and tucks me closer. “You’re my best friend, Em and nothing will ever change that. Mates, the Society, nothing.”

“I already know, silly girl, cause you’re stuck with me forever. Even more so now.” He cackles like a maniac. “You literally havea tattoo of my shifted form. Before you even get one for your mates. Nowthatis poetic.”

“We heard that,” Ethan says as he, Josiah, and Kadi step out onto the porch. “We heard you laughing and figured the serious stuff was probably over. “Are you ready to go home? We all need some sleep. The last few days have been long as hell.”

Emmett and I stand. I give him one more hug. Josiah leans in for a quick side hug and they wave goodbye and leave. I look at the guys. I’m a pretty lucky witch for sure. I have two great besties and both of my mates. My family is back together. Tomorrow is going to be hard, but it’s going to get us one step closer to ending all of this once and for all.

Kadi puts my helmet on and straps it up. We climb on the bikes and make our way to my shop. No surprise ex boyfriend outside this time. I wonder if he knows yet that his parents are dead? Not that I really care.

Loki is on the couch sleeping when we walk through the door. It still smells a little bit like the food Kadi made earlier and I smile to myself. It’s more a home now than it ever has been, but this place is going to be kind of small for three people. After everything gets done tomorrow, we need to have a talk about living arrangements.

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