All Chapters of The Mate Hunt: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

RonanSomewhere beyond the council chamber, an alarm began to ring.The alarm changed everything, though not because it frightened me. It changed everything because Evander smiled, and that alone told me everything I needed to know.The first bell rang somewhere beyond the Council chamber. Then another followed. Then three sharp blasts in quick succession, echoing off the high stone walls.Every Council guard moved at once, their boots striking the floor in perfect unison. The main doors slammed shut with a force that rattled the air, and heavy iron locks dropped into place with a grinding finality.Maeve's hand tightened around mine, her fingers cold. "What does that mean?"Theron was already on his feet. "Council lockdown."Marek turned toward the sealed doors, his brow furrowed. "Why?"Nobody answered him.Evander did not move from the truth circle. The two guards who had approached to take him into custody suddenly stopped mid step. One touched his ear as though listening to some

Maeve“He's trying to run.”Ronan's eyebrows lifted. I smiled, and then I reached for him. Not physically. For the bond. For Caine.For the enormous, impossible thing inside me that I had only just started learning how to use. Ronan's expression changed immediately.“Maeve?”“Evander activated his little containment protocol because he thinks I'm dangerous.” Silver slid beneath my skin, and my pulse thundered. “So maybe we should stop disappointing him. He's still on Council territory.”Holt frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”I didn't know how I knew. I just did. When I had forced Isolde's army down at Caine, I hadn't reached for individual wolves.I had reached for the land, for every wolf standing inside the boundaries I recognized as mine to command. This wasn't my territory, but the Council compound had boundaries too. Old ones. Power lived here, and authority lived here.And after everything Evander had done, after the Council itself had recognized him as acting

MaeveI had been pregnant for approximately thirty seven minutes, and Ronan had already become unbearable."No."I stared at him. "I didn't even say anything.""You were about to get out of bed.""I was about to sit up.""You are sitting up."I looked down at myself. Technically, he had a point. Elowen had propped enough pillows behind me that I was almost upright, though Ronan apparently considered anything beyond this specific angle an attempted escape."I need to pee."That finally shut him up. Elowen snorted from the other side of the room, not even looking up from her work.Ronan's eyes narrowed. "Can you walk?"I stared at him. "I froze an entire Council territory. I think I can make it twelve feet to a bathroom.""You also collapsed immediately afterward.""Afterward being the important word.""Maeve.""Ronan."Elowen closed the medical ledger in her lap with a snap. "If either of you makes me regret confirming this pregnancy, I will separate you myself."Ronan looked at her. "

RonanMaeve was not supposed to attend the hearing. Elowen had been extremely clear about that. Then Maeve had stared at her for approximately ten seconds. Now Maeve was attending the hearing, under conditions.No magic. No standing for extended periods. No attempting to freeze the Council. No threatening anyone with royal dominance. No creative interpretation of the previous three rules.Maeve had taken particular offense to that last one. I had taken no offense at all."You're hovering.""I am walking beside you.""You're walking so close that our shoulders have touched twelve times.""You counted?""Yes.""You're supposed to be resting your brain."She stopped in the corridor and stared at me, arms folding across her chest. "I am pregnant, Ronan. I have not suffered a traumatic brain injury."Cassian made the mistake of laughing behind us. I looked over my shoulder, and he stopped, mostly.Maeve pointed at me. "See? This.""What?""This thing you're doing.""Keeping you alive?""I

MaeveWe were supposed to leave Council territory before noon. Ronan had already informed three different people of that fact.Cassian had packed our things. Soren had somehow acquired enough food for a four day journey even though we would be home before dark. And Elowen had threatened to tie me to Ronan's horse if I attempted to use magic before we crossed back into Caine.Everything was ready. Except me.I stood near one of the tall windows in our assigned rooms, staring down at the Council courtyard while my hand rested absently against my stomach. Still flat. Still completely ordinary. It was strange knowing something could change everything while remaining completely invisible.A knock came at the door. Ronan looked up from where he was securing the leather case containing copies of the Council records."If that's Holt, we're leaving.""It isn't Holt."I knew before the door opened. Isolde. Ronan looked at me, not asking whether he should let her in. Asking whether I wanted him