Chapter 34 THIRTY THREE

Chapter 34 THIRTY THREE

NYRA'S POV

“You are one mean wolf," I grumble, snuggling closer to Kade. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me even closer until there's no space between our bodies. My head is resting on his chest and his leg is draped over my waist. “Do you think they heard us?"

He laughs, the kind he's been giving me all night, the kind that's slowly becoming my favorite sound. “Judging by the amount of hormones that bled through our bond, I am definitely sure they did."

My cheeks heat up and I hide my face in his chest. It's morning, but neither of us show any sign of leaving the bedroom. He didn't let me get rest until the early hours of the morning, and when I woke up at dawn, he was laying beside me, staring at me with a foreign expression.

“So what happened to you? Last time I asked you, you told me you were poisoned. I have a feeling there's more," I tell him, looking up at him. If someone had told me yesterday that I'll be sharing a bed with Kade, I'd have laughed and told them to drop the joke.

But here I am, cuddled up with him.

“They didn't tell you?" He asks, running his fingers through my messed up locks.

“They did. But I have a feeling there's a lot they kept for you to tell me on your own."

He hums and sighs. " See, we all had a mate once. She was a witch and during that time, witches and werewolves were on good terms. We found her on a full moon night and claimed her instantly. We lived with her in peace for a while until the light wolves decided to start the purge. They cast a spell that made it impossible for us to control our powers, rendering us vulnerable.”

I listen with rapt attention to him as he explains how their powers spiralled out of control throughout the fight and how the light wolves were able to defeat them, all the while brushing his fingers through my hair.

“Then that night came." His voice drops, and his tone becomes graver and the pain in it guts me. “It was a full moon, just like last night. My powers were spiraling out of control and I could feel it. I retired to the terrace needing to be alone, but Lucien sent her after me. She tried to get me to calm down but I…" He swallows and I can see just how painful just thinking about the whole thing is.

I raise my gaze to meet his and his beautiful blue eyes are clouded with unshed tears.

“I killed her." He states like it means nothing. “Her coven was working with the light Alphas and they sent her to weaken us. That was how we found her."

I don't ask him about killing the witches because I already know what I want to know about the issue. " And Lucien? Zoya said he killed his mate. Who was it, if you are the one who killed Yuna?”

He shakes his head. " That's a conversation between you and Lucien, baby."

I don't push further, rather I ask.“ And the poison? What caused it?"

He sighs with exhaustion, like simply thinking about the memory is a chore on its own. " It was a curse. For killing her daughter, Yuna’s mother cursed all four of us. Our magic was turned into an infection that'll slowly eat away until there's nothing left of us.”

Oh!

I don't ask him if there's a counter spell because a witch seeking revenge won't hand you a counter spell.

\~~~

I walk towards Keiran’s office with steady steps, trying not to limp or give any indication of the wild night I had with Kade. After the construction in his bedroom, we had a shower and got out of bed. He had to leave for the border to inspect the recent attacks of the light wolves on the rogue packs.

I on the other hand received a summon from Kieran to meet him in his office.

Do you think he's mad?” Lyric asks and I shrug.

" I have no idea, but I don't think that's the case. He doesn't seem like the one to get mad if I fuck his brothers,” I reply as I walk down the corridor to his office.

If Kade gets on my nerves at every chance he gets, Kieran is more detached than anything in this world. He doesn't show any sign of interest in me whatsoever.

I knock once on his office door and push it open. Keiran is standing by his window, backing the door, a glass of liquor in his hand, and a cigar. It surprises me that he smokes,but then again, Riven Blackthorn has always been full of surprises.

" Have a seat, Cara Mia.”

I walk in and take a seat at his desk. After minutes of silence, he finally turns to me, his gaze stern and serious. “I called you here because we need to talk. Urgently." He takes a long drag of the cigar and shuts his eyes for a second. When he opens them, to they're a few shades darker.

“You see, you bonding with my brothers is a beautiful thing. Lucien seems more approachable lately and I caught Kade smiling like a lovesick fool this morning while on his way to the border. Even Riven has changed for the better.” He pauses.

" But?” I press on knowing there's more to what he has to say.

“There's a lot at stake. The moment you set foot in Istanbul, the search for the crystal fragments begins. When you finally find them, you'll need to sacrifice what you love most in order to activate it,” he explains. He doesn't have to explain any further for me to know what he's taking about.

" They haven't marked me yet,” I tell him, completely ignoring whatever he just told me.

" They will, they're just scared. Marking you seals the bond completely and both, especially Kade, are scared of what that will mean for you," he explains.

I smile and shake my head. “I'm not your previous mate, Kieran. I can handle anything that comes my way."

His lips curve in the fraction of a smile and he gives me a look I can't quite decipher. “We’ll see about that now won't we, Cara Mia.”