A smile curved her lips, but there was a serious light in her dark brown eyes. “So, did you.”
He dipped his chin in acknowledgement, wolf-style.
Knowing they were still held within her spelled invisibility shield, he cupped her face with one hand. “I’m loving this time with you.”
“Same here.”
He dipped down and kissed her gently on the lips. He felt her quick response as she leaned against him and slid both arms around his waist. When she parted her lips, he gently pummeled her mouth. Her sweet freesia scent rose in a wave around him then ignited his alpha-mating need all over again. Wolf fur rose on his cheeks and chest and the backs of his hands. He felt his incisors thrum in his mouth with a need to bite her and bond with her.
She drew back and stared at his wolf-sign. She rose up on tip-toes then pressed her nose into the fur. She sniffed and the tip of her tongue dabbed at his skin and his fur. It was so hot, his leathers shrunk.
He hadn’t expected any of this, her level of sensuality, her wolf-like qualities in the same way he exhibited warlock-sign, or how game she was. It was perhaps the latter that had him stirred up the most. He’d always thought of her as somewhat reserved, but not with him. She had an all-in attitude he loved. They were the same in this way, no half measures for either of them.
When he felt his phone vibrate, he drew back though he didn’t let her get far. “Fergus.”
“Mary and I are in the vicinity of the refuge. I’m thinking we need to scrutinize the plans then blow Julio’s compound apart.”
~ ~ ~
Once inside the refuge and seated in the dining room, Kiara poured coffee for Fergus, Mary and Warren. The men stood over the plans now spread out on the table in front of them. Mary stood beside Fergus also perusing the architectural drafts.
Kiara handed the mugs to each of them, then sat back down at the other end of the table. Her thoughts were fixed on the female wolves chained up in Julio’s bedroom. She knew what it was like to be bound and tortured. So, from the time she and Warren had flown out the back entrance of the compound, she’d thought of little else than returning and breaking those chains.
Maeve had done as much for her two months ago. She could still recall the tremendous sense of joy she’d experienced at seeing Maeve and Braden when they’d freed her from Veyda’s prison.
Fergus said. “There’s a lap pool on the second level. Huh.”
“That’s from the original compound,” Warren said. “I remember now. The alpha had been a swimmer before he became a wolf.”
“Right.”
Mary, steaming mug in hand, left Fergus’s side then moved to sit in the seat next to Kiara. She was a tall beauty with long blond hair and light brown eyes. “How are you holding up?” she asked quietly.
Kiara’s gaze flitted to Warren then back to Mary. For whatever reason, she knew exactly what the lovely fae meant. She kept her voice low. “I’ve never been so confused in my life.”
Mary placed her free hand on her chest. “I remember that feeling so well, like I was caught in the middle of a never-ending storm. It was frightening yet exhilarating at the same time.”
Mary was fully fae but exhibited many wolf traits and abilities because of her connection to Fergus. She was known mostly, however, for her ability to create and operate a functional dreamglide. She made an excellent spy.
There was one question Mary would be able to answer, however, that no other woman could. She kept her voice low. “Do you regret the bond? Being a fae yet serving as an alpha female to a pack?” All the other alpha-mates were wolves.
“To be honest, I thought I would because it’s such a significant commitment. But taking on wolf qualities has made it so easy to understand the needs of the pack as well as Fergus’s needs. I’m more at home in Savage than I ever imagined possible. I confess, I rarely go into Revel Territory anymore.”
“You don’t?”
She shook her head. “I even sold my vet practice. But these were the right decisions for me. It doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Just figure out what’s right for you. Whatever you choose, the rest will follow.”
Kiara nodded slowly. It was good advice, though hard to put into practice.
She turned her attention to Warren. He’d taken a seat adjacent to her and was on his cell with his beta wolf, Alessandro. His brow was pulled together in a familiar, tight line. “All right,” he said. “Keep Caldion locked down. I want our wolves safe.” When he ended the call, he met Fergus’s gaze. “Julio has added even more spies. My wolves won’t be able to help in an offensive, at least not right now. If they tried to leave the compound, Julio would know something was up.”
Fer
gus remained standing over the plans. “Sounds about right based on what my men told me. We can use my warriors for the battle. They’re ready.”
“Then we’re set.”
It wasn’t long ago that Warren had given Fergus shelter at the Caldion compound. A truly heinous dark witch and her lover had tried to take over the Gordion pack. Mary had helped battle the pair and had saved Savage at the same time.