Page 27 of Fire Touched

He leans forward, hands braced on his knees, trying to breathe. ‘Y—yeah.’

I rest a hand on his back, glaring daggers at Julian. ‘You’re a fucking monster.’

Julian’s lip curls. ‘And you’re to be my family.’ He clasps his hands together, his eyes dancing between me and Carter. ‘So, any happy news yet? Hmm? Will I be getting those hybrid pups shortly? Katherine, while you did steal what’s mine, that would be a wonderful way to make it up to me.’

‘You psycho,’ I spit. ‘No, I’m not pregnant. And he doesn’t belong to you.’

Carter catches his breath and straightens. A weight falls in my stomach when I notice the marks on his throat. ‘Katherine and I share a different kind of bond, Uncle. Not a mate’s one. She and I are going to bring the packs together, peacefully.’ He rubs at his undoubtedly sore throat gingerly. ‘I want to keep my pack safe, and I need you to do that.’

Julian’s eyes glitter. ‘No.’ He smirks. ‘Not fun people saying that, is it?’ He leans back on his cot.

I stare at his arm, wishing I’d burned him more, then push the thought back. Maybe that’s another reason Carter and I are bonded. To keep each other strong and balanced. If it weren’t for him, I might kill Julian. I came close once already. Perhaps he helps keep me back from that ledge.

Carter takes a patient breath. ‘You’re a proud alpha, Uncle, I understand that, but please see reason. If the pack come after you now, they will all die. The witches will ensure it. Do you really want that?’

Julian’s expression is unreadable. He stares between us for a moment, eyes hard. ‘I won’t give you what you want.’

‘Why not?’ I growl, losing my patience.

Julian’s lip curls in contempt, but he says nothing, turning his head.

Carter nudges me. ‘He’s done talking, let’s go.’

On our way up the stairs—Elga obviously took her leave at some point—he rests against the wall and sets a hand to this throat, eyes squeezed closed. ‘Remind me not to stand too close next time. I should have known that. I assumed magic would keep him in.’

‘Let me see.’ I gently pry his hand away from his throat. There are finger-marks splayed over his neck, each bruise setting a deep, boiling anger off within me.

‘Just another bruise.’ Carter tries to bat me away, clearly self-conscious. He gives me a small, apologetic smile. ‘What do we do now? Elga told us to get Julian to send the others off when they come for him.’

We march back up the stairs, the flickering lanterns doing nothing to warm the chill settling inside me. ‘Why would he want his people to die?’

Carter shakes his head. ‘He doesn’t. But even more than that, he doesn’t want to give up. He thinks he’s still in a position of power, and us asking him for something just reinforced that. All he could do was say no.’

‘Asshole,’ I gripe.

Carter nods. ‘I guess we have to go back to Elga and ask her what to do next.’

‘I don’t think so.’ We step out of the underground tunnel, out into the open air of Terran, and I’m grateful for the oxygen and sunlight. I turn to Carter. ‘You can do it in his place.’

Carter blanches. ‘What? No, Katie, I told you, I can’t be alpha, my pack will kill me. They will tear me apart—’

I grasp his forearms to calm him. ‘No. That’s not what I’m saying. You can go in his place when the Water wolves come. You stay safe with us on this side of the barrier, but you can go right up to the divide and warn them away.’

‘What makes you think they’ll stop and listen to me?’

I pause. ‘I guess we’ll have to get their attention first. You’re not the only one who can control water, you know.’

Chapter Thirteen

Katie

Later that night, we all meet up for dinner in our guesthouse, Carter finally released from the infirmary for good. The six of us haven’t all been together since before the Water wolves attacked just after we arrived at Terran.

Killian sits beside me, warmth radiating off him as he hugs me close. ‘I missed you,’ he rumbles into my ear. I lean into him, the chill from the dungeon melting away at his embrace. We all catch up on what the others have been doing, and we finally get to Carter and I visiting Julian in the dungeon.

‘There’s a dungeon?’ Moira says, echoing my earlier alarm. ‘Why is there a dungeon? I mean, I suppose in this instance it come in handy…’

Elijah peers at Carter. ‘What happened to you?’ He gestures to his throat, concern edging his voice.

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