Page 38 of Fire Touched

Instead of folding me into a hug or something, Elijah gently reaches out, taking my hand. ‘I know, Katie. You know what, though, they’re your friends. It’s okay.’

I take a moment to think. Two warring thoughts. They wouldn’t hurt me. But… water. Obviously seeing the conflicting thoughts, Elijah guides me off the bed. ‘How about I make you a cup of coffee? Would you like that?’

I swallow. Nod. His hand in mine, I let him lead me down the stairs, my chest throbbing painfully, as though someone has stabbed at the vital arteries there. How could Carter be feeling this strange pain, too?

My thoughts are slow and muddled. Our bond. Something’s happened, Elijah said. But what? The more time that passes, the worse it seems to get. As Elijah leads me patiently down the stairs, my hand tightens on his. He turns to look up at me, a stair above him. ‘Don’t worry,’ he murmurs. ‘We’re going to fix it. We’re going to protect both of you.’

Chapter Twenty

Killian

I’ve done the worst thing I could ever do. Made my mate suffer. And don’t get me wrong, I know my mistakes have gone well beyond that. Elga stares me down as I approach her cottage, but as I move to step inside, she shakes her head.

‘I’ve just had a talk with Verron,’ she starts. ‘Considering the circumstances, we’ve agreed. The barrier is down. Prescott and the guards are escorting Julian to the barrier. The Water wolves will come and take what is theirs. I suggest you encourage Carter to leave with them.’

My mouth falls open. ‘What?! You can’t do that—’

‘We have. Without anyone to stop the wolves from dying upon impact to the barrier, to give them fair warning, I won’t be responsible for such loss of life,’ Elga says firmly. ‘Thanks to you, your girl and the young Water wolf are in no shape to do what they had planned. The alpha agrees. We are not the kind of pack to slaughter others. If they want their alpha, they can have him. Their heir, too.’

My heart pounds loudly. ‘No. I don’t—I can’t let you do that. Carter doesn’t want to go with them, his uncle is a bastard.’ I don’t know where the words come from. ‘You have to protect Terran, don’t you? What makes you think Julian won’t turn around and kill you all for keeping him captive?’

‘He’s signed an agreement not to, bound by blood.’

‘Oh.’ I raise my hands, then drop them, at a total loss. ‘We can’t just—what if they try to take Katherine back?’

Elga shakes her head. ‘Part of the agreement. He can’t have her.’

I freeze in place. ‘What about Carter?’

Elga’s silver eyes finally drop. ‘That… is less clear-cut. Killian, he’s Water. He’s theirs.’

Before I know what I’m doing, I’m shaking my head. ‘No. You and I both know you can’t separate them.’

Elga shoots me a glare. ‘You’ve already broken their bond. Separating them should please you.’

‘Well, it doesn’t!’ Fuck. I can’t do this. ‘Tell me how to repair it.’

Elga’s eyes soften, just a fraction. ‘I do not know if it can be, or how. But you are right, they should not be separated. Unfortunately, my alpha has to do what is right for all of us. Perhaps yours should be helping you.’

‘Yeah, well, I haven’t heard from the old goat, have I?’ I growl. I round on the witch. ‘What the hell do I do?’

Elga takes a deep breath, looking over me. She presses her palm flat over my heart. ‘What does this tell you to do?’

I blink at her. It tells me I’m an idiot, and an asshole, and… and a horrible mate, and a person and… and I need to pick up the pieces of what I’ve broken.

Elga nods, as though she knows what I’m thinking. ‘Katherine is now afraid of water. She needs that part of her returned. Go put the pieces back together.’ With that, she turns me around and shoves me down the path. ‘Killian,’ she calls, her voice dancing eerily on the wind. ‘This is your second chance. You won’t get another.’

For a moment, her words root me to the spot. Then I run as fast as I can back to our guesthouse. The kitchen and loungeroom are one big, open room. On the couch, sits Carter and Ella. Moira, Elijah and Katherine are in the kitchen, in their separate corners.

I close the distance to my mate and embrace her. A little startled, she hugs me back, but I hold her at arm’s length, praying for a moment before I speak. Please, let her forgive me. ‘Katherine.’ I turn her and pull her over to Carter. She starts to struggle, pulling away.

‘Killian,’ Elijah warns, a half-made coffee in his hands.

‘No, it’s okay.’ I pick her up and set her on the couch beside Carter.

A startled laugh escapes Carter’s lips. His hand pressed firmly over his chest, he exhales, as though, for a moment, he can breathe easier.

Katherine does the same, her eyes widening in understanding.

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