Page 10 of Tide Touched

‘Are you kidding me?’ I try to kick out at them.

‘Don’t be difficult,’ Guy on my right says.

Guy on my left squeezes, hard enough to make me wince.

‘Let me say goodbye, you blond bastards!’

Moira runs up to me, flames dancing in her hands. ‘I will melt your faces off if you don’t let me hug my sister,’ she snarls.

I exhale on a laugh. That’s my girl.

The guys exchange a glance, then nod, releasing me. I launch into Moira’s arms. ‘I don’t want to go,’ I breathe into her shoulder.

Moira hugs me, a hand on the back of my head. ‘I will come to you, I promise.’

The blond assholes drag me back. ‘We have to go,’ one of them says, almost apologetic, or maybe he just doesn’t want his face burnt off.

I drag my feet, eyes on Moira. I never knew I might be forced to leave this place. Ten minutes ago, if someone had asked me if I wanted to go, I’d have jumped up and down and demanded to know if there was a beach. And Moira would come. That’s all I’d need.

Now, I don’t have a choice. I determine to make these two guys’ lives a living hell for as long as possible, both of them cussing me out, probably tempted to knock me out just so they can carry me.

‘For fuck’s sake,’ one of them sighs. ‘What’s your name again?’

‘Fuck you,’ I hiss and spit as they slowly drag me away from Cinder.

‘Cool name,’ the other one says. I roll my eyes and try to kick him in the groin. The smirk slides off his face as he catches my ankle, grasping tightly.

‘Hey, just get in the car, alright?’ the other says.

I’m about to ask, ‘What car?’ when we round a corner. There’s a small convoy of vehicles: long-stretch black limousines sparkling in the moonlight. Carter sits in one, the door open, looking annoyed. Courtney has her legs crossed, arms folded over her chest, mouth puckered in a childish pout.

If I knew how to turn back into a wolf, I would. I would fight them tooth and claw to get away. I won’t be forced anywhere. This is insane. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to shift. Besides, my wolf, that part of my soul, wants Carter more than anything. She wants to be close to him. To smell him. To rip Courtney to shreds and claim him as my own.

Even as I swear at his thugs for manhandling me, I inhale Carter’s intoxicating aroma as I slide into the seat next to him. It doesn’t make sense, but he’s my mate.

I want him.

Carter’s hand reaches around me to close the door, his fingers coming back to brush my bare, upper thigh. Goosebumps erupt over my skin. Between my thighs is wet. I’m aching for him to touch me. Carter shifts forward a little, readjusting his pants, bulging against the fly of his jeans.

Chapter Five

Killian

As I watch that Water wolf take Katherine away, my muscles clench so tight it hurts. My stomach and chest writhe with anger. As the Tide Witches disperse, back to their prayers, I turn on my father. ‘How could you let them take one of ours?’ I snarl.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Katherine’s friend storms away, wiping tears from her cheeks, her short, red hair gleaming in the low light of the moon overhead.

My father runs a hand over his face. ‘It’s strange, this connection they have, but the Tide Witches have declared it a true bond.’ His eyes travel beyond my face, over my shoulder, where they stormed off. ‘They were here for a visit. A peace talk. I guess it was meant to be.’ He rubs his beard, and I know it means he’s uneasy

I turn, trying to control my anger. I’ve never been very good at it. I nearly went and punched that blonde wolf woman in the face when she knocked Katherine over. I grind my teeth together, my jaw aching. ‘Father. This is not right. She is one of ours. A Fire wolf, now she’s alone with them. Send me. I should go and keep an eye on her. What if they hurt her? What kind of message does that send? That Water can come and take our people, do whatever they want with them?’

Dad bites his lip. Inhales. Exhales. ‘I can’t send you alone. You’re my only heir. Take a squad with you. I can’t stress this enough, Killian.’ He sets a hand on my shoulder. ‘You go, you play nice. Be diplomatic. Respectful. Keep your distance. You are there for the same reason young Carter was here. An offer of peace, of friendship. You are not there to drag young Katherine back. The Water Pack estate will have to be her home, now. I know it’s… unprecedented, but that’s what the witches’ have decreed. The girl has always been fond of the water, anyway. You never know, she might find it a better home than she did here.’

It takes all my control not to growl in my father’s face. I can’t do that. I can’t let her go, not alone. ‘Fine,’ I say, too sharply. ‘Gather a squad. I’m leaving in an hour.’

I won’t let you go so easily, Katherine. I don’t know why, but I just can’t.

I’m coming.

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