Though, when she disappeared a moment later, I thoroughly regretted that decision.

  A snarl ripped from my chest, and I gripped the back of my neck as I looked around for her. When I couldn’t see my mate anywhere, I closed my eyes and searched for her scent.

  She’s still within the coven, my wolf said coolly.

  Where? I demanded.

  If you’d calm down, you’d know where.

  I wanted to be furious with his pretentious tone, but he wasn’t wrong. I still had work to do myself before we faced Moira. If I panicked every time I couldn’t see Andie, then I wasn’t going to be any real help to her.

  Just when I considered shifting and running toward the ritual rocks, Andie’s form flickered back into appearance, and she was grinning widely.

  “I did it,” she exclaimed.

  I forced a smile to my face. “Yes, you did.”

  She reached her hand out and grabbed mine. “Come on.”

  Before I could object, the world caved in around me and darkness surrounded us. The sensation only lasted a half-second, but as a shifter, teleporting wasn’t something we did. Ever. My stomach churned, and my wolf’s growls echoed inside my mind.

  We’re going to have to get used to that, I reminded him.

  He groaned and didn’t respond with words.

  Andie let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, good. I didn’t lose you.”

  I glanced behind her shoulder at Beatrix who looked amused on my behalf. “Can that happen?” I asked.

  The old witch shrugged. “People have been left behind but never lost in the ether. But that doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen.”

  Her lips twitched, and I fought a shudder. Andie grabbed my wrist. “I promise you won’t be the first.”

  I pulled her toward me and kissed the top of her light-pink hair. “I trust you.”

  She didn’t need my doubts. She needed me to stand beside her, believing in her abilities every step of the way, even when I had to be her test subject for certain tasks.

  I didn’t sign up for this when I agreed to find our mate, my wolf grumbled.

  One day, you’ll appreciate Andie’s magic even more than I do.

  At least, I hoped he would.

  A man about my height with burgundy eyes and dark coffee-colored hair stepped forward with his hand out. “Foster. I’m Maciah. This is my better half Amersyn and my second-in-command Zeke.”

  Amersyn nudged Maciah out of the way and flicked her long ebony hair back, revealing a tribal tattoo inking up her toned arm and a glint in her muddy red eyes. “The better and more capable half of our relationship.” She smirked, then pointed at me. “I remember you.” The vampire glanced at Beatrix next. “He’s the rogue wolf from Warlock, right?”

  She nodded. “Good memory. Yes, I was trying to help him connect with a pack so that he didn’t cause problems in my area, and I ended up with him in my coven. Go figure.”

  Zeke stepped forward and shook my hand, grinning widely. His white and pointed teeth stood out against his dark skin. “Nice to meet you, Foster. Have you met the East Texas Pack yet? They’re a solid pack you can trust as well. Beatrix knows.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t get out much, but I’ll remember that.”

  Andie’s nervousness before she’d teleported had been justified. At any point, Moira could show up and we just might need all the help we can get in defeating her.

  “So, is there anything besides blood that you need from us, Beatrix?” Amersyn asked, shifting on her feet and looking around.

  Beatrix sighed. “Nobody is going to come out of the shadows who isn’t supposed to. You can put your fangs away.”

  Amersyn scoffed. “Right. You don’t know what we’ve been up to lately. If you did, you might think otherwise.”

  Andie moved a little closer to my side. “I’d like to know.”

  The female vampire smirked and opened her mouth to likely answer, but Maciah cut her off. “We search for vampires who don’t respect human life and make sure they can’t hurt anyone else.”

  Amersyn crossed her arms and glared up at him. “I was going to say the same thing.”

  He tugged her against his side. “Of course you were, but with just a few more details.”

  She shrugged and winked at Andie. “Details never hurt anyone.”

  “I won’t lie. I’m good without the details,” Andie said with a short, high-pitched laugh.

  Beatrix walked between the five of us. “As cute as this little conversation is, we have things to do. Which vampire wants to go first?”

  Amersyn put a finger on her nose, and Zeke quickly copied her movements. I had no idea what was happening, but whatever it was, Maciah wasn’t impressed.

  His gaze shifted upward, and he sighed heavily before stepping forward. “Seems as though I’m going first.”

  “Great,” Beatrix deadpanned. “Follow me.”

  Behind us, there were the three rocks and a small table with jars and bowls on top of it.

  Evelyn teleported next to us, a shimmer of energy disappearing around her form. “Are we ready?”

  “Finally. Did you find the dagger at Spell House?” Beatrix asked while she poked inside one of the bowls.

  Evelyn pulled a small three-inch blade from her back pocket. “Right where we left it last time.”

  Maciah held his hand out, wrist up, and without hesitation, Beatrix sliced his skin open and positioned his hand over one of the jars.

  Copper scent and heavy energy filled the air, and I took a step back, pulling Andie with me. Amersyn followed our movements and stood next to Andie when we were a few yards away.

  “I met your aunt once—at least only once that I remember. I thought she gave me special abilities, but she was a tricky one. She instead stripped a concealment spell she’d placed on me when I’d been born. I didn’t even know I was a vampire until Maciah found me.” She nodded toward the vampire, and her eyes softened.

  Andie relaxed her shoulders. “Interesting. That seemed to have been my aunt’s specialty. I’m glad she was able to help you, though.”

  Amersyn’s eyes landed on Maciah again and she smiled softly. “More than I think she ever realized.” The vampire cleared her throat and nodded at me. “How’d you end up here?”

  I shrugged. “Long story.”

  Amersyn’s gaze trailed over me. “Got it. An alpha. No worries. We don’t need to exchange stories. I’m just glad we can help. Beatrix did a lot for us a while back. Even if she won’t ever admit it, she cares a lot more than people usually realize. When she reached out and asked for more blood, I knew whatever was going on was serious. That witch hates asking for help more than I hate dirty bloodsuckers, which, if you knew me, is a shit ton.”

  Andie tilted her head to the side. “You hate your own kind?”

  Amersyn waved a hand. “Not at all. I just hate vampires who think they’re gods and that murder is cool. We can drink blood without killing people. It’s super easy as long as you’re not a grade-A douche.”

  I’d never met a vampire who gave a shit about anyone other than themselves. On the rare occasion, you could find one who at least respected their nest, but even then, I didn’t trust them. They were the demons of the supernatural races, and there was a very good reason for that.

  Maciah finished with Beatrix and was rubbing his already healed wrist when he joined us. “She’s taking full jars,” he complained.

  “Then she must need them,” Amersyn countered.

  He raised a brow and cocked his head. “You didn’t ask her why she needed more blood when she called?”

  She smiled at him. “Of course not.”

  “What am I going to do with you, woman?” he grumbled, pulling her flush against his side.

  Amersyn leaned against his arm and glanced at me and Andie. “He’s going to love me for centuries, and he’s going to enjoy every second of it.”

  “What the fuck, Beatrix?” Zeke screeched, garnering the attention of all four of us.

  The old witch shushed him. “Maybe that will teach you to tell people I’m ‘batshit crazy.’”

  His shoulders hunched. “Oh, come on. That was before you ever helped us. I didn’t know.”

  Beatrix pointed to the wrinkles on her face. “I might look old, but my memory is as sharp as ever.”

  Andie grimaced. “Should we help him? She’s taking blood from both of his wrists.”

  Amersyn waved a hand. “Nah, he’s tough. I staked him once and he didn’t die. This won’t kill him, either.”

  Andie looked up at me with wide eyes, and I just shrugged. Vampires were odd creatures. I wasn’t about to try to understand them.

  9

  ANDIE

  Meeting the vampires was more interesting than frightening. I hadn’t been afraid to meet them, but I’d expected them to be more intimidating. Instead, they were like any regular bickering family, which calmed any lingering reservations I’d had.

  They left soon after their blood donations. Beatrix had disposed of the dark magic with some of the crimson liquid before Foster and I headed back to my house. I’d expected the process to be a big deal, but all she’d done was pour half a cup of the blood into a stone bowl, speak a spell, then funnel the dark energy into the bowl.

  Billowing smoke rose several feet into the sky, and after a minute, Beatrix was done. She then stormed off once she found out that neither Foster nor I had bothered to check our emails to see what tasks had been assigned earlier that day.

  Now, we were back at the house and both had our phones out, reading the email.

  The only thing on my list was to practice magic. I was mildly disappointed by that fact but also a little grateful. If I was going to help the coven and pack get my necklace back and prevent Moira from taking any more magic that she had no business having, then I had a lot of work ahead of myself.

  “What’s yours say?” I asked Foster when I glanced up.

  His azure eyes met mine, and he set his phone down. “I’m supposed to make sure you’re working on your magic at least six hours a day with only one day off a week and to be liaison between the coven and pack. Though, there was fine print that made it very clear my responsibilities could change at a moment’s notice.”

  I sighed, not really surprised by Foster’s tasks. “I wonder who’s going to be helping me with the magic or if I’m supposed to figure things out for myself like I did earlier with teleporting? Though, it was Beatrix who told me how I could bring you back with me.”

  He reached for my waist and tugged me into his lap from across the couch. “I would bet that you’ll be working with several people while also doing your own training. At least, that’s what I would suggest if I were in charge. That will be the quickest way for you to learn. You’ll especially want to work with people like Ava and Evelyn.”

  I scrunched my face. “Why? Neither of them seems like a good teacher. They’re usually pissy about something.”

  Foster brushed a section of hair behind my ear. “Because you need people who won’t take things easy on you. When you’re with those people, I’ll make sure I’m at the pack, so I don’t interfere. While I want you to be pushed and be able to protect yourself against whatever we’ll be facing, I’ll still have a hard time seeing you knocked on your ass and not being able to do anything about it. Mate instincts are sometimes too strong.”

  I pressed my hands over his chest. “How are those mate instincts right now?”

  His skin vibrated beneath my palms, and his eyes darkened instantly. “Pretty damn on point.”

  Since the night before, there had been a constant hum inside me. Like electricity searching for its source. Foster was my source. I’d thought the feelings growing inside me over the last month had been equally because of the bond and because Foster was an amazing man, but with our connection more solidified, I was certain that the pull I’d felt had only a small fraction to do with my initial attraction to Foster.

  Our fated bond had only been lingering before I accessed my full magic, just enough to make me believe in its power, but now? Everything about how I felt was heightened. Though, I wouldn’t give credit to the bond for all my feelings.

  Not the way my stomach fluttered when his fingertips trailed over my arms. Or the way my core tightened when he gripped my hips and tugged me closer. Or the way I wanted to melt against him when he kissed me so reverently, as he was doing right then.

  Everything about Foster was more than I’d ever imagined. He made my skin tingle. My heart race for more. My mind believe in the impossible.

  After all I’d lost and how alone I’d felt the last few years, I hadn’t thought it was possible to feel so alive again.

  And I never wanted that feeling to go away again.

  Foster leaned his forehead against mine, staring into my eyes. “You’re feeling some pretty big things over there.”

  I pushed up on my toes and kissed him. “That’s all because of you.”

  His left hand moved back up my side, his thumb brushing over my breast as he went, causing my breath to hitch.

  I closed my eyes, soaking in the moment and the shared feeling. His hand raised to my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. I felt like I could fly if only I didn’t hesitate to jump, because with Foster, anything was possible.

  I was safe and cared for and admired and respected. All the things I’d ever thought I wanted and more.

  When I reopened my eyes, Foster was grinning. He didn’t do it all that often, so I cherished each and every time I was blessed to see it.

  “I love you, Foster. So much that my heart might explode.”

  “I love you more than my own life. I have since the moment you nearly took me to my knees.”

  Our mouths crashed together, every stroke making me crave more of him, more of the way my heart soared when we were together.

  I was still in Foster’s lap until he lifted me back up and settled me on the cushion so he could lean over me, but he was too damn tall to make this work on the couch.

  “Bedroom,” I suggested.

  The back of his hand stroked my cheek. “We don’t have to.”

  I offered a slight grin. “If you want to keep my heart from exploding, then we most certainly do. I meant what I said, Foster. I love you. I trust you with my heart, my body, my life. And that’s not because of the bond. I thought it was part of it, but now? Feeling the pull toward you, the pulsing need inside me? That’s only an amplification of what I already knew I wanted. And that’s you. All of you, Foster. Now and forever.”

  His eyes darkened and glossed over, and he took a shuddering breath. “Shit, Andie.” Foster gathered me into his arms and stood up. “I don’t know that I’m deserving of all of that, but I promise I’m going to do my damnedest to try to be.”

  The guilt he still held inside him over his past hurt my heart, but talking about that now wasn’t going to make anything better. Loving him and showing him how much I believed in him was what he needed and what I wanted, too.

  Foster carried me into the bedroom, throwing back the comforter before settling me on the cool sheets. He leaned over and kissed me softly, pushing my arms above my head. “Let me love you tonight.”

  Hell. My whole body shuddered.

  He moved down to my feet, sliding my socks and shoes off before his palms moved back up my legs, keeping even pressure over my jeans.

  I lifted my head to watch him as he deftly unbuttoned my pants and gripped the waistband. My hips rose to help with his efforts, but regardless, Foster took his time removing the coarse material from me.

  His lips pressed against each ankle and barely strayed from my skin while he made his way back up. Every touch was like fire. I was lightheaded, but I felt more alive than I ever had.

  My hands ached to touch Foster, and I reached forward, tangling my fingers into his hair. His tongue dipped into my belly button before swirling around. “Shit, Foster.”

  He didn’t relent. Instead, he moved over to my right hip, then left a blazing trail of heat until he reached the left.

  Foster leaned up, resting on his knees, and cupped my center, still covered by my black underwear. “So eager.”

  “We’ve had weeks of foreplay. Do you blame me?” I countered, raising my hips into his touch.

  He slipped his fingers under the damp fabric, sliding one over my slit until I couldn’t stop myself from bucking beneath him.

  His weight lifted off me, and I huffed before realizing he was undressing. He threw his shirt across the room, and the scent of sandalwood with a hint of citrus invaded my senses.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep inhale. I’d thought I knew what Foster smelled like—an earthy tone—but this was something else entirely. I was thanking the bond for amplifying the scent so intensely for me to always remember.

  Foster kneeled over me, pulling me back to the present. He was gloriously naked. It was a sight I’d seen on occasion before, but having my heart so open to him now was like taking him in with fresh eyes and feelings.

  Every muscle thrummed with energy that called to me. Every curve begged to be touched only by me. Every scar made me want to kiss it away.

  His hands moved up my sides, taking my shirt with them as they rose up, forcing my arms to stray from where I wanted them.

  Foster bent forward, kissing my lips briefly before creating a path of heat with his mouth down my neck, then to the center of my chest.

  He nipped at the tops of my breasts while my back arched, and he unhooked my bra from the back with one hand. He tugged the restrictive material off my arms and threw it behind us before cupping my breasts and running his thumbs over each nipple until they pebbled.

  My skin burned and thrummed, begging for some sort of release, but Foster didn’t seem to be in the slightest bit of a hurry.

  He moved back up, stroking my neck as he steadied himself above me. His dick throbbed right at my center, and I wiggled my hips until he pressed down, offering me the smallest bit of relief.