Page 26 of Tide Touched

I grit my teeth. ‘No. On you go.’

‘What are you doing sneaking up on the estate?’ Elijah moves closer to us. ‘You can’t be aiming to attack anyone with such a small group,’ he muses. ‘Yet your beautiful friend seems quite distressed. Perhaps I can be of assistance?’

I open my mouth to tell him to shut up, mind his own business, but I don’t get a chance.

‘My best friend, Katherine, is Fire Pack. She was mated to Carter, and they took her. I want her back.’ Moira’s body flickers with flames, her usually soft green eyes hard as glass.

I take a measured step back.

Elijah raises his brows. ‘You’re kidding? A Fire and a Water? That can’t be true. The witches—’

‘Say it is real,’ Moira waves this off. ‘I don’t care. She doesn’t belong there. We’re going to break her out.’

I sigh. ‘That is not what we’re doing.’

‘That might not be what you’re doing,’ Moira growls, ‘but that’s what’s happening.’

I catch Elijah’s smile, the amusement that shines in his eyes. He likes her. Pfft, I think. At his peril.

‘Well,’ Elijah muses, turning back to his group. ‘Tell you what. If such a mate-bond is possible, I’d like to know more about it. My squadron can continue their business without me for a time. If I may join you?’

The fiery determination dissipates from Moira. ‘You may.’

I scoff. ‘I’m in charge here.’

Moira rolls her eyes. ‘Sure you are.’ She pats me on the shoulder. ‘Hurry up, would you? Daylight’s burning.’ To my shock, she and Elijah lead the way.

Elijah gives me a sympathetic smile—which I growl at—then follows at Moira’s side like a puppy.

Patrick gives me a look.

‘Shut up,’ I snap, following.

We break for lunch a short time later. I’ve never met an Earth wolf before. It feels foolish, dangerous, even, to travel with someone who is basically an enemy. But he has a point. We should have come in larger numbers. While ‘we’re not breaking her out’ remains the official party line, Moira and I are on the same page, even if I won’t admit it aloud.

I can’t let Katherine remain as she is. Locked up. A prisoner.

I watch Patrick and the others set up camp. To my surprise, Elijah helps, pitching a tent with Moira, and offers to hunt down our meal.

‘So,’ I say, sitting at the warm fire, chewing roasted rabbit. ‘The estate is another day away.’

Elijah drags his attention from Moira to me. ‘What’s your plan?’

This time, Moira lets me talk. How kind of her. ‘It has to look like we’re just there as friends, neighbours, to say hey. See how Katherine is doing. That’s all. I’m hoping we’ll be welcomed as guests. Another reason for our small group. Once we’re inside, I’ll find Katherine, and—’

‘—we’ll break her out,’ Moira finishes.

Elijah rubs his hands together, inching closer to the fire. ‘Sounds good to me.’

‘You support this?’ Patrick asks.

Elijah gives a shrug. ‘If one of mine needed help, I’d do anything for them. So, yes.’

‘Even though she’s mated to him, to the Water Pack’s heir?’ Patrick presses.

I shoot a glare at him, but he doesn’t back down.

‘Look,’ Elijah starts, ‘I don’t know this young woman, obviously. But I think checking on her, at the very least, is a good idea. Now, do tell me more about this mating bond. How can she be mated to a Water wolf?’ He speaks openly, addressing the question to any, or all, of us, but his gaze finds Moira.

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