Chapter Sixty-Three

Demetria

Demetria walked with Cynthia from the pack house to Kerry’s with nervous butterflies in her stomach. Dan and Kerry stayed back at the pack house to deal with some pack-related issues surrounding the upcoming funerals.

She was glad to have something to do other than stick around for that.

She felt bad enough, and dealing with funeral arrangements made her skin crawl. Grace had been kind, but she didn’t miss the absent look in Axel’s eyes. She worried about him the most.

That was his father, and he looked up to him.

“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?” Cynthia asked.

Demetria glanced over at her pretty face, and the way her smile warmed Demetria’s heart. “Yeah. I can’t help it. It’s just … engraved into my thoughts, ya know.”

She nodded. “I do. It will fade with time, but in the meantime, we’ll focus our energy on Sabrina. I’m sure she’s ready to get out of that thing. I don’t get it. Of all things to put her in, ya know. Why not something you can actually cuddle with?”

Demetria smiled. “He did seem very attached to that thing, and I do feel really bad for it. We’ve all been so mean to it.”

Cynthia chuckled. “Especially Kerry. He hated that thing.”

“To be a werewolf, Kerry really hates other animals,” Demetria said.

Cynthia chuckled. “Like Roan, though I understand that one. Roan is … sexy,” she whispered, glancing around as if Dan would pop out from behind a tree.

Demetria couldn’t even lie. “He is,” she admitted. “But he admitted he watched me undress. The devil. Now I can’t look at him without thinking about that.”

Cynthia laughed. “I wonder where he will go after this? I mean, he’s been a cat for hundreds of years. His pack has had plenty of alphas since him. He really doesn’t have a place anymore. It’s kind of sad. He’s been with you for years, right?”

Demetria really hadn’t thought about it. “Well, as you can see, there isn’t any room in our house for him anymore. He’ll have to do something.”

She nodded, her eyes turning toward Kerry’s house. She pulled the pendant from her pocket and stopped in front of the steps. “I’ll get everything ready out here if you will go get Sabrina.”

Cynthia bent down to her knees and started pulling out the things they would need to free Sabrina. Demetria found her wide awake, those beady eyes glaring a hole into her.

She mimicked Ike’s laugh, and Demetria stopped beside her. “He’s dead, you can stop that now.”

Unlatching the cage from its holder, she walked Sabrina outside toward Cynthia. She moved around, squawking and waving her wings.

“Settle down,” Demetria said, putting the cage down. “Will we see her? I mean, I know she doesn’t have a body, but what if she tries to get into mine?”

She shook her head. “She can’t get in without certain preparations from us. We may see her, I’m not sure. This is my first time extracting a girl from a bird.”

Demetria bent down beside her. “Do I need to get a portal ready? Or will she find her own way?”

Cynthia poured something from her satchel into the small fire pit. “She’ll find her way—hopefully, I don’t want a ghost hanging around the pack house. They have enough to deal with.”

“That’s the truth,” she whispered.

Cynthia finished gathering her things and offered her hand out to Demetria. Demetria let her take the lead, and closed her eyes, feeling Cynthia’s magic in the air.

Minutes ticked by before Cynthia’s chanting stopped and the world around them stilled. Warmth settled against Demetria’s skin, and she braved a glance around.

The bird was gone.

Thank God.

Cynthia pulled her brows down in confusion, but then the leaves around them stirred against the ground. A gentle breeze, unlike the one from the night of the fight, tossed Demetria’s hair around her shoulders.

Like an apparition, a very familiar silhouette appeared in front of them. Demetria’s breath caught in her throat, and she squeezed Cynthia’s hand.

“Don’t be afraid,” Sabrina said softly.

Demetria relaxed at the fact her voice was different. “I stopped by to say thank you. You can’t imagine the feeling of … joy that I have inside—well, not technically inside—but you get the picture. I’m free, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry Ike thought he needed to do all of this to bring me back. I didn’t want to come back. Not with Ivory here. She—it doesn’t matter. She’s gone. Thank you.”

Demetria nodded, not knowing what to say. “You’re welcome,” she mumbled.

Sabrina glanced around the yard. “It’s a beautiful view out here. You should stay with your werewolf mate. I always wished I had one,” she said with a chuckle. “I never understood why Ivory rejected Roan. Stupid whore. All for her imaginary love affair with her brother. Pity.”

Cynthia chuckled, and Demetria looked over at her. “What’s so funny?”

“We’re talking to a spirit. It just slipped out.”

Demetria smiled. “It’s a little funny.”

Sabrina swirled around, stirring up leaves and fallen flowers from the nearest tree around them. Demetria watched the whirlwind and smiled when Sabrina disappeared.

“She seems lovely,” Cynthia said.

“Especially to have been with Ike. She’s pretty cute, too.”

Cynthia let her head fall back and she laughed. “I’m glad that’s over with,” she said, standing up to help pull Demetria to her feet.

“Me too. So, do you have a few minutes?” Demetria asked.

“I have all the time in the world.”

“Good,” Demetria said, walking toward Kerry’s house. “I want to talk to you about Claire.”

Cynthia seemed surprised but sat on the front porch swing with her. Demetria pressed her lips together. “I see you’ve grown closer to Dan?”

Cynthia blushed. “Yes. You and Kerry were right. He’s a good guy.”

“He is, and so is Claire. It will take her some time to loosen up, but she’s a great girl. And she’s going to be thrust into a position as Luna soon. She’s going to need support and understanding. I need you to be easy on her, don’t force a relationship, it will happen on its own.”

Cynthia twiddled her thumbs. “I understand.”

“Will you both be at the coronation for Axel and Claire?” Demetria asked.

“Of course. Dan hasn’t stopped talking about it. He’s very excited for Claire.”

Demetria smiled. “I am, too.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“What about me?”

“You’re staying here with Kerry? How are you going to manage to fall into being the beta’s wife?”

Demetria glanced over at the trail where Kerry walked toward them. “I think I’ll manage just fine.”