Page 28 of Luna Ascending

It touches me in a weird way - the bond I feel with him is pretty fucking strong. He's the same arsehole I grew up with, more of an arsehole for keeping such a huge thing from me. His place with me hasn't changed, and I make sure he knows it. It obviously means a lot to him to be able to finally share all of himself with his alpha. It means a lot to me too, but I'm still fucking pissed he didn't do it earlier.

When Tavey mentions casually that he's heard some interesting news about Freya he has my full attention immediately. My heart beats wildly, my pupils dilate and my wolf surfaces.

I look up to see Tavey watching me closely – it's a fucking set up to see my reaction. I concentrate on getting my breathing under control while Tavey talks to me like I'm an errant toddler.

“Aaron, you have to listen to me... really listen. To the whole story”

“Spit it out Tavey, and watch your fucking tone I'm not a child or a cretin”

“Sometimes I bloody wonder Aaron” he snipes before backing down at my warning growl, “ Okay, okay... Look. It's just that I think, , our view on Freya was a bit unfair. I was sceptical when Liz first told me but now...”

“Spell. It. Out”

“It's just, well... I don't know how relevant it is, but Freya didn't know she was a witch until recently. She didn't know what she was. She had a whole 'coming out' thing with Liz. Very touching” he says drolly “I categorically didn't believe it until we spent some time with her – she can't cast properly, not even simple spells. She's got raw power, but little control.”

My mouth's bone dry, my wolf is howling and running circles in my head. If Freya hadn't known what she was, if she couldn't cast simple spells... then she couldn't have put a complex love-binding spell on me. It could have been cast on us both by the Coven, but my gut's screaming that there was no spell, that these feelings were real all along.

I feel light, lighter than I have in months, and all my alpha-blooded feelings for Freya flood back. I want to find her right now, hold her to me, and I want to claim her, hard.

Glancing at Tavey I catch his grave expression. I'm not going to like whatever else he has to say.

“Aaron, just hold the fuck up there, and hear me out. Whatever Freya knew or didn't, I'm not sure it matters now...she's engaged, to Marciel”

Tavey tries to gauge my reaction and when I just stare at him blankly he ploughs on.

“She didn't tell Liz that she was engaged initially, so fuck knows what that means about their relationship...Not wanting to tell her best friend - that's pretty screwed up. But, she IS engaged.”

Tavey grabs my arm and gives me a shake, obviously concerned I was just hearing what I wanted.

“She may not have cast a spell on you Aaron, but she's marrying Marciel de Vaudou. There is no way of knowing how deeply she is involved in the Coven now that she knows what she is. Whatever her reasons for it – sheismarrying Marciel”

After a final terrier-like shake he lets my arm drop.

My wolf howls and demands we shift, animal form is easier than thoughts right now. My clothes shred as I change, giving over to my wolf and taking off for the woods.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Freya'S POV

I've been trying to curl up into a comfy position on this upright, ridiculously expensive sofa for over half an hour and it's not working. Sometimes I would give anything to be back in my own little flat, surrounded by plants, stomping around in an oversized knit and granny pants, without worrying about what Marc might think if he saw me.

I guess though, without all this change I wouldn't have been so immersed in all things Coven. I might have been a danger to people. Having everything taken care of by Marc, or his staff, ought to have given me plenty of time to try out my magic... but Marc's been pretty strict about wanting me to read the dusty tomes of dry history first.

It wasn't until I outed myself to Liz I started to feel excited about the possibilities of my power. I'm itching to start exploring myself.

When Marc's not around it's much easier to experiment. Not knowing my powers, or really being in control of them much yet, is pretty damn embarrassing. And he disapproves of my dabbling. It's daft, I'm not some fragile little flower, and I'll never learn to control myself if I don't bloody start practising!

I've been stealing private moments to concentrate on expanding my skills, although recently he's been away more often so it's been easier. It's a bit of a relief that he's around less – his need for kinky sex is taking me far more out my comfort zone than I care to admit.

Catching up with Liz has been tricky -she's pretty busy between work and her boyfriend, and Marc doesn't really approve of her. He said something weird about cougars, once I told him I knew what she was. He said they were all manipulative. I guess I don't know much about the shifter world, and hemightbe right in general, but that's not my Liz. No way. Marc won't be budged from his opinion, but it seems racist to me. Or speciest, if that's a thing?

He's away for the whole weekend for business, so I've finally got a chance to do something I've been meaning to for weeks. I fish out a scrap of paper from one of the expensive handbags he bought me. I've so many new things it's frankly embarrassing.

Scrutinising the list of people Liz suggested I go speak to, I pick one at random. I need to start finding out more about myself, and the Coven haven't been much help. Too much coddling. I snort in consternation.

My migraines are back, and I assume it's because I don't have a handle on my powers. This weekend I'm going to find some of these 'old crones' Liz directed me to, and start getting some proper answers.

Chapter Twenty-Three

---