Page 39 of Fated Exile

Though her last sentence stifles much of the hope in me, I dare to dream. "If you know anything, it's more than we know. Unless I'm able to speak to Vivia again we won't know anything at all. I'm not even sure what made it possible in the first place, or if she'll be around after the Summit. Whatever celestial bodies, power from the Mating Circle, and need from the pack's danger combined with my blood to summon her, it can't be predicted."

"Okay. I hope it's helpful." Kerry gives me a tremulous smile, then laughs a little when Cat shoots her a thumbs up. "When I was younger, one of the older witches told me a folk tale about an evil wolf-creature that cast magic. It wasn't a very kind story to werewolves—some of them are like that. The wolf terrorized a small town until this little girl with a spark of magic in her got the courage to face him. She slayed him with a sword she stole from the center of the village square, plucked from a statue's hand. Thinking about it, the story makes no sense, but maybe it helps to know that there may be a blade that works?"

I deflate a little, though I try not to show how much Kerry's story disappoints me. If a blade could kill Delphine, surely it would've been discovered by now. "I'm not sure if it'll help or not, but it certainly can't hurt. Do you know what the blade was made of?"

Kerry considers it for a moment, then shakes her head. "I wish I did, but if that part of the story was ever specific, I've forgotten it by now. The only thing I know about the sword is that it was pulled from the statue's hand. She used her magic to change it from stone to... metal, I suppose? Because until she did, it was a part of the statue itself."

I swallow. There's no center of town around here with a convenient stone sword shoved in a rock, so I won't be able to do the same thing. But I thank Kerry for the story, and when Cat starts up again with a fun tale, I let her regale my aunt with more misadventures from her youth.

After a few more minutes, I get a text to my phone, and excuse myself. Grabbing a sandwich in the kitchen on my way out, I head out of the house to find Roarke waiting for me in the driveway, his sedan parked behind him.

"Ready to go?"

"Barely." Sighing, I wrap the sandwich up and shove it in my purse for later. My stomach is still in knots and I can't bear the thought of eating it. "Are you sure we have to do this?"

"Once I'm alpha and you're my mate, we'll share a mental connection, and I'll have that same connection to the pack." Stepping forward, he reaches out and places a hand on the small of my back, where its warmth leaves tingles. I let him tug me against his chest until I can feel the rumble of his words against my skin. "You'll share in my position by virtue of your powers alone. We have to get the pack to trust you and accept you as co-alpha."

I bring my hands up to rest on his shoulders, butterflies flitting in my stomach. "It's not typical."

"It was in the old ways," he murmurs, dipping his mouth down to skim my forehead. "I want you beside me, Delilah, as my equal. Not my subordinate, but my mate. That means we'llbothbe alpha."

The idea sends a little shiver down my spine. "What if I abuse my powers?"

"What if I abuse mine?" he counters. "We'll keep each other honest and in check. Besides, you're not the type to abuse your powers. I wish I could say the same about myself."

His words snap my gaze up to his face, and I frown, taking a step back. "What?"

"I meant to tell you sooner." Roarke's summer blue gaze is sure and steady, though worry crinkles his light brows. "After Kieran's fiasco in the Mating Circle, when things went so terribly wrong, I did something I shouldn’t have. I encouraged him to take steps to... forget. For just one night, I told myself. When he resisted, some instinctual part of me took over and encouraged him to let loose. What I thought would be just one night turned into more."

Coldness washes over me as I realize what he means, with dawning horror. I have to know. Have to ask. Because this could change everything between us.

"Are you the one who caused his addiction?"

Seventeen

Delilah

Ihave to give Roarke credit: he doesn't look away, and doesn't shy from the question. As my pulse races, he calmly faces me. His summer blue eyes shine with the truth. I tell myself that this doesn't have to change anything. But my own question rings in my ears.

Did you cause his addiction?

"I played my part in it." His mouth creases unhappily. "Believe me when I say that if I could take it back, I would. I've apologized for what happened a thousand times. In so many ways, I blame myself for where Kieran wound up. If I hadn't pushed him..."

Breathing deeply, I try to order my thoughts. My gaze jerks away from Roarke's eyes and lands on the line of trees in the distance behind him. Images of a distraught, helpless, and high as a kite Kieran pop into my head.

But so do other things: Roarke's fierce loyalty, his protectiveness of his friend, how many times he tried to keep him clean, and the no doubt thousands of moments I missed out on while I was exiled. He blames himself with his words, and I can tell by the expression on his face that he deeply believes at least some of the fault for what happened to Kieran lies with him. That doesn't mean he's right.

"Kieran knows about this?"

"Yes."

"And he's forgiven you?"

After a long pause, Roarke admits, "Yes, he has, whether he should or not—"

"Then it's not my business to forgive you as well, but of course I do." Putting a hand on his cheek, I step into the embrace of his arms and stretch up onto my tip toes. "I know you, Roarke. The man I know wouldneverdo something hurtful like that on purpose. And just like I know that, I'm certain you'll never make a similar mistake again."

His lips brush mine as he murmurs, "So you're not worried about leading the pack beside me?"

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