CHAPTER 68

SYLVIA

“What happened?” I asked, shocked to the core. Now I understood why Hunter was acting so out of control.

“The woman I spoke to said the whole house reeked of dark magic. It must have happened right after we left.” He laid his forehead against mine and I cupped his face in my hands, our eyes meeting.

“Have you spoken to Father? What did he say you should do?” King Lucien certainly would suggest something.

“Yeah, there’s the thing… I wanted to speak to him, but knowing Father, he would want me to put down Joffrey. Sylvia, I can’t do that.” He uttered a pained groan. “Either that or start a war in the witch community, wipe them all out. I know Father has a deep-seated hatred of their kind.”

“But Selena…?”

“Is a healer. I already told you.” Hunter answered me, tight-lipped.

I threw my hands up. “Fine! She is a healer.” Whatever. I turned away from him, shuffling papers around on my desk. Aldine previously put everything in meticulous order, there was no need for me to check on it.

Hunter turned on his heel to go but looked back at me over his shoulder. “You coming? I’m going to have a chat with Selena.”

***

Selena glanced up from perusing her charts as we entered her office, her reading glasses perched on the tip of her slightly turned-up nose. She lifted one immaculate eyebrow questioningly at us.

“Alpha, Luna, to what do I owe the pleasure? Are you both well?” she enquired, getting up from her chair.

“Aside from Luna’s hormones being all over the place, we’re great.” Hunter said.

I threw him a death-glare. He shared a knowing look with Selena which made me huff and cross my arms across my chest. This was not what I signed up for, to have my personal feelings discussed with… a healer. I have not forgotten how it felt when she delved around in my mind. Although she technically did save my life.

Selena chuckled. “I could give you something for that.”

Hunter pulled my stiff body into his side. “No need. I have my own medicine in mind.” He said with a wink, and I felt all the blood rush to my face. Gods, this man.

“We need your help about another matter, Selena. I understand if you refuse, I won’t hold it against you, because I know your history.” Hunter said while holding me close to him.

“I guess I’m not going to like this.” Selena grimaced. “We should go to my home. More privacy there.”

We followed her out of the clinic as she led the way to her tiny cottage at the back. I don’t what I expected to find, maybe herbs hanging from the rafters or dead snakes in bottles, but I was surprised to see the interior warm and welcoming. Very homey.

Colorful rugs on the wooden floor, two comfortable couches decorated with a variety of pillows. No crystal balls, just a large wooden chest serving as a coffee table on which an array of books was stacked.

“Please, take a seat. Can I offer you some herbal tea?” she asked as we sat down. Hunter’s large body looked out of place in the small space. I chuckled inwardly because I couldn't picture him with a teacup in hand.

As if he read my mind, he nudged me lightly in the ribs. “No but thank you. Could we…?”

“Of course, Alpha.” Selena sat down on the opposite couch, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles in her pants.

Hunter cleared his throat. “There’s been a death in the witch community. Madame Helen was murdered last night, possibly right after I left her.”

Selena’s hands gripped her knees and her face paled notably. “Hunter! Why would you go there?” Her voice rose sharply.

“I wanted information on a death witch named Madame Sophie.” He said, keeping his tone low.

Selena jumped up from the couch, closing her door and drawing the curtains. “Don’t you dare say that name in my house, Alpha Hunter.” She rounded on us, stopping inches from his legs. “Why in the name of the Goddess would you do that?” I saw small flickers of light in her eyes, like tiny stars exploding. Her red hair flew out of her ponytail as if they had a life of their own, framing her face.

“Calm down, Selena.” I warned her. There was not telling what Hunter would do if she got out of control.

Selena threw herself on the other couch, holding her head in her hands and mumbling something incoherent.

“I’m sorry, Selena. I wouldn’t come to you if I had a choice. But we need your help.” Hunter went to her, bending down beside her. “I know you’ve kept yourself hidden from them for a long time and I don’t want to endanger you or anyone else in our pack. But Joffrey took Marcelle’s body to her for resurrection.”

Her head came up sharply. “I see. So, what do you expect me to do, Hunter? Scry for her?” she laughed a harsh bitter sound. “Are you prepared to risk the consequences?”

“I thought you could do the same to him what you did to access my memories.” I offered.

Her eyes flashed to mine. “You know as well as I do those were false memories planted there by Drake. I couldn’t get through the block. Either you put it there or he did.”

She had me there. I still didn’t know what memories were real and what not. Maybe I didn’t want to know.

“And how do you suppose we get him to cooperate? If he is under her spell, she will know the second I tamper with his mind.” She jumped up again, going into the kitchen where she rummaged through drawers and extracted a bunch of strange looking herbs. She rolled them together tightly and lit them on fire. Then she blew out the flame and began walking through the house.

“What is she doing?” I whispered to Hunter.

Selena heard me. “I’m cleansing the negative energy you brought to me.” She approached us and waved the strange smelling smoking bunch over us.

“Are you going to help us or not?” I asked a bit sharply. I felt she was being overly dramatic. Hunter rolled his eyes in my direction, shaking his head slightly.

“I’m still considering it.” she called to us from her bedroom.

“I won’t force you.” Hunter said. “Think about it and let me know.” He indicated for me to leave, and he followed behind me.  

“Well that went well…” I said, sighing.

Hunter smirked. “Better than I expected.”

***

King Lucien organized helpers to paint the baby’s room and I had to oversee the work as well as order the furniture and everything he could possibly need in the first year of his life. This all according to King Lucien’s instructions.

Aldine, Tasha and of course Nina came to help with tons of suggestions and preferences. Nina was displeased that her brother was not going to sleep in her room. To show us exactly how she felt about that little bit of information, she threw a huge tantrum which caused my head to throb close to bursting.

At the end of the day, I was exhausted. I went to bed earlier than Hunter and only woke when he slid under the covers next to me. Caressing my hip and thigh, he moved my hair out of the way to place hot kisses from my neck to my shoulder.

 “You smell so fucking good I could eat you.” He groaned, moving me on my back so he could suck on my heavy breasts.

“Have you been drinking?” The heady odor of Absinthe wafted off him. It wasn’t unpleasant, the aniseed fragrance.

“Hmmm… I’m drunk with love and lust for you, Angel,” he purred against my stomach. His fingers moving downward to circle my mound and his thumb strummed the sensitive nub sending ripples of pleasant electric shocks through my body.

“I need you, Luna.” He looked up at me, his amber eyes shining like gold with his desire.

“Then take me, my Alpha, my love.”

***

“Please… please, Drake. You know I love you. Don’t do this to me.” I was hugging his legs, pleading for him not to leave me. “Don’t take away my baby.”

“You don’t want her, little mouse, and you don’t want me.” He snarled, kicking me away from him.

“What the fuck, Sylvia! Wake up!” Hunter shook me hard.

Heavy with sleep I turned around to face an aggravated Hunter.

“What?” I sat up quickly, “Is something wrong? Where is Nina?” I asked in a panic.

“She’s sleeping. You were dreaming. Saying how much you loved Drake.” He threw the sheets off him. “Drake. What the hell were you dreaming?” He bristled with anger.

“I-I don’t know, Hunter.” Mostly that was true, I only remembered bits and pieces. But I remembered how it made me feel. I felt extremely sad, as if I had lost something precious to me.