Page 23 of Fire Touched

‘And when you went to ask our alpha for an alliance just now, you did so to protect those you care for?’

I narrow my gaze. ‘I didn’t come here for an interrogation, witch.’

‘No, you came because you care about Katherine.’ Elga leans forward to take a sip of her tea. ‘There is much to learn and understand about her, and I think a good step would be acknowledging that you are not the only person who is capable of helping her. You’ve grown up in contention with your father, without a mother. You’ve a temper. But you have shown you can get the best of it, not it of you.’

As much as I want to argue, I run my hands through my hair instead. ‘I want what’s best for her. If you can help Katherine, if she wishes it, please do so. Though, if possible, I would like to be included, too. To support her.’

Elga smiles. ‘Very nice. Have another biscuit.’

I glare at her before going and bringing the whole plate to the sitting area. Before I leave, there’s something I want to ask. ‘This might be one of those times I sound like an asshole, but you seem to know, well, everything.’ My cheeks heat at the thought she knows about our… shower. Anyway. ‘Can you tell me about Katherine’s bond with Carter? If it was real or fake, or a mistake? If they still share one?’

Elga drums her painted silver nails on the arm of her chair. ‘The thing about knowing things, young wolf, is knowing who best, if anyone, to share it with. I’m afraid that information is only for Katherine and Carter. I mean no offence, or to cause you any hurt. That’s the way it is. You wouldn’t want me blabbing about your business to others, would you?’

A weight settles in my gut. So, there is a bond between them. She all but confirmed it.

‘Young wolf, I am not the first to remind you, but perhaps you will listen clearly now. You have your mate, and she has chosen you. This world is filled with magic and complications, but sometimes the easiest, most important truths are the simplest ones.’ Elga offers a kind smile.

Just because I’m feeling, well, hurt, I glower. ‘Speaking of simple magic, what gives with your barrier? I’m willing to bet you Starlight Witches are responsible for it, and look how easily the Water wolves got through!’

Elga’s silver eyes look sharp enough to cut. She takes a steadying breath, holding her hands out to the fireplace. ‘Those Water wolves were meant to enter. All that happened was foreseen.’ She levels me with a hard stare. ‘I advise you not to throw stones. Or next time, I may throw them back. I tire of your presence. You may take your leave.’

Chapter Eleven

Katie

Even though Killian left breakfast for me in our room, I haven’t eaten much besides coffee—which is not something you eat, but still. Despite the release of our shower, a nervous tension boils in the pit of my stomach. Elijah and Moira sit across from me in the kitchen of our guesthouse.

I assume Killian went to talk to the Earth Alpha, but my mind is elsewhere. Without a word, I get up and let my feet carry me toward the infirmary.

‘Katie?’ Moira calls. ‘Hey, wait. Have… have you talked to Julian? What—’ I catch the worried look she exchanges with Elijah. ‘What exactly are we planning to do with him?’

I don’t have a plan. ‘Not my concern,’ I say, deadpan, and turn on my heel. I barely pay attention to where I’m going, my mind in a haze, as I reach the infirmary. I should have knocked. There’s a gap in the two sets of white partition curtains.

Carter is pulling a shirt over his head, but it’s the black, red and blue scattered over his body that makes me inhale sharply. He turns, alarm flaring in his blue eyes. He quickly pulls the shirt down. ‘I know it looks bad—’ His voice is quiet, urgent. ‘Please, don’t worry. I’m healing.’

Rooted to the spot, my eyes are glued to his torso. There’s not just the stab wound from the knife, but still several, dark bruises. From Julian. From what Carter saved Moira from. I cross the room in three, quick strides and wrap my arms around him, careful not to hold too tight.

Carter exhales, surprised. For a moment, he stills. Then relaxes, and hugs me back. ‘I’m okay,’ he says, but his voice is tired. ‘Do me a favour, don’t tell the others how… bad it seems. I know Moira would feel bad, and she doesn’t need to. And Ella… she would be upset.’

I pull back to meet his gaze. In that moment, I know with all my heart that whatever bond connects us isn’t romantic. Perhaps I’ve always known, I just mistook it. I hug him again, careful not to press on any wounds. I meet his gaze, sympathy welling in me. ‘Where is Ella?’

Carter waves at a side door. ‘I sent her to get some fresh air while I got dressed.’ He settles back on the bed. ‘She’s barely left my side,’ he says, dreamlike. Then his gaze finds me. ‘I didn’t get a chance to tell you, Katherine. That I’m proud of you. For not killing him.’ Carter’s lip quirks up. ‘But I do appreciate the threat.’

He hasn’t said so many words in a long time. I lean back to study him. This last week, he’s been too withdrawn. He wouldn’t have appreciated a hug, and for a moment, I worry I’ve overstepped just now. But he’s not pulling away. ‘He deserves it,’ I breathe. There’s some deep, twisted part of me that still wants to kill the Water alpha for all the pain he’s caused, and I don’t know what to do with that, but it scares me a little.

Carter’s blue eyes soften. ‘Yeah.’ He clears his throat. ‘He does. But you don’t deserve to live with something like that.’ He squeezes my arm. ‘That’s the important part.’

We both lean back on his bed. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ Carter says quietly. ‘The Water Pack… my pack… they’re without a leader now. They’ll come for him.’

I watch how he moves, trying to hide the pain he’s in. ‘You’re the rightful heir,’ I remind him. ‘You could take over.’

Carter shakes his head. ‘By kidnapping my uncle? No. They wouldn’t accept that. I’d have to formally challenge him and, let’s face it, I wouldn’t survive that. No, for now, someone will rile them up and organise the pack long enough to retrieve him. I hope Terran have other means of protecting themselves because that barrier wasn’t of much help.’

For a moment, I really look at him. Not at how lean he is, or the marks on his skin, the shadows in his eyes, but him. He looks older than when we first met, by a year or two, not weeks. Blond stubble coats his cheeks and jaw, making him look a little haggard, but it kind of suits him. It’s clear he carries a lot of weight on his shoulders. ‘The barrier kept your uncle out.’ For which I’m very grateful.

‘It did, but lives were lost because of me.’ His voice hitches, and I know he believes every drop of blood those Water wolves spilled here is on him.

I nudge him with an elbow. ‘He brought them here, not you. We’ll find a way to protect this place better. I’m sure Killian’s off speaking with Verron right now, trying to make friends.’ I pause. ‘I was expecting a scoff at that.’

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