Bound By Legend

CHAPTER TEN: SOMEONE IS WATCHING US

LEORIC

My body ignited with the closeness of my mate despite her obliviousness. Her vanilla cream scent engulfed me, my heart pounded. I rubbed my chest happily, my beast, Koda, finally at ease for the first time in years.

I drowned in her secrets. Took every dagger aimed at her without reservation. My life revolved around her safety. She may have convinced herself that it was because of political nonsense, but none of that mattered to me.

I had no need for some powerful advantage above other Lycans. Their existence was of no concern to me. When the arranged marriage was struck between our fathers, I’d encouraged it without hesitation. It wasn’t because of her brilliant mind, her ethereal beauty, or even the relationship between our families.

Reverie Dawne was my fated mate. I knew it from the moment she opened her eyes in the birthing room.

Lycans rarely found their fated mate anymore, so the fact that she was blessed twice? It had to be by design. What does it mean? A choice between us? Or must she harness a wolf and a Lycan within her heart?

My glare found Kieran Solvane across the room, he was nothing but a roach beneath my shoe. A pretender who played at being an Alpha–who ruled his pack with fear and coercion all the while, he stepped on the back of my mate’s ingenuity.

The energy of the room shifted and Koda sensed it immediately. She’s weaving…

Within moments, we couldn’t stop ourselves as we found our way to her. There she was, as a Lycan, we could see the energy as it rippled around her.

Her Spiritwalker ability…it’s been so long…

The ancient rite of Spiritwalking, sacred, timeless light surrounded us, and we basked in the power of Kamari. Her movements were fluid. Graceful, like a dancer attuned to the spirit of the Moon Goddess herself.

My mind wandered to my mother, decades ago, before she passed, she’d seen the worth of Reverie. My mother had been given the rare Gift of Sight, many feared her as much as they revered her.

The Princess isn’t just a princess.

She is a bridge.

The crossroads to us all, a heavy burden for one to bear.

Run as she may, Princess Reverie will decide the fate of us all.

“You are a fantastic mother,” the child’s mother commented. Alarms went off in my head, too close to the truth. Though Kieran didn’t seem to react, I saw it, that brief flicker in his eye. Alpha Knox smirked out of the corner of my eye. Where did he come from?

Before I knew it, we were all at Reverie’s side. With my Lycan ability, I was faster and could shield her from both of them. Thank the Goddess for the vanity she bestowed upon Mrs. Delilah Solvane. A sentence I never thought would ever cross my mind. She’d unwittingly played the perfect wingman. Her deflection to steal the attention of the paparazzi worked seamlessly before they could catch wind of three Alphas on the scent of one brilliant shewolf.

“Let’s keep her that way,” Koda whispered in my mind.

“Dr. Dawne,” Alpha Knox said as he drew my attention to the present.

She smiled warmly. “Alpha Knox. Excellent turn out. Well done.”

“Thank you. It was a lot of work, but it happened, pretty wild,” Alpha Knox replied.

“Reverie.” Kieran said simply, like an order. She raised a brow and looked at him.

“Alpha Kieran. Thank you for coming. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to make it, with your sister-in-law being in the hospital,” Alpha Knox acknowledged him.

“Gentlemen. I am not sure what this d**k measuring contest is between you, but I am exhausted and would like to leave. Alpha Kieran, doesn’t Luna Delilah need your attention? Alpha Knox, what is it exactly you want from me?”

Both men were momentarily stunned, but, Alpha Knox recovered much faster–oddly–and straightened his jacket. “Well, you are quite direct.”

“In a medical emergency, I don't have the luxury of beating around the bush,” Reverie replied.

“Fair enough. You are unmated correct? Let me take you to dinner?” Alpha Knox said.

My blood froze in my veins. Kieran’s face flushed red.

“We have some business to discuss. Delilah might have the press fooled, but I trust my own eyes. Not her lies.”

“Delilah didn’t lie. She saved that girl, right alongside Reverie,” Kieran snapped.

“If you want to give credit to Delilah, that is fine. Reverie is worth more than her weight in the gold she is allergic to. She doesn't need to explain or prove anything to anyone.”

Kieran’s expression showed a rare change to shock and confusion. “Wait, are you allergic to gold? Why didn’t I know that?”

Reverie smirked and raised a brow. “Is there a reason why you should know that, Alpha Kieran?”

He stared at her for a moment, then his gaze narrowed as he looked at me. “You’ve done more than proven that you continue to miss the point.” I answered smoothly.

“You can go,” Reverie’s eyes bore into Alpha Kieran. She dismissively turned toward Alpha Knox. “I am not interested in anything but professional relationships but thank you, Alpha Knox.” She then turned to look at me. “Ready to go?”

My expression turned smug, I nodded and followed her lead. Despite her confident and strong aura as she exited the venue, I caught her as soon as she collapsed against my black SUV.

“Reverie, Kamari, you pushed yourself too hard.” I scolded.

I placed her in the passenger seat. Once we moved out of the parking garage onto the roadway, the sound proofer kicked on and she sighed, relaxation seeped into her bones.

“Is it true that Kieran and Delilah were looking for kindergartens?” she asked.

“Yes, Merrick gave me the report earlier. After he pulled Rhiannon off of the roof when she tried to harness the clouds.”

She laughed. A true belly laugh. “I love her so much.”

“She has turned my palace into her personal proving grounds.”

Reverie grinned. “You’re welcome.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Neither would she. You spoil her.” She chastised.

I shook my head. “Hardly. I give her what she deserves.”

We chuckled before I grew serious once more. “Yes. They’re searching for preschool and kindergarten under the guise it's for Toby. Yet we both know that the heir in her belly will be priceless to him.”

“Do we need to move Rhiannon?”

“No. She is locked down, but I will let you know. Merrick is monitoring the situation. In between tea parties, pack duties, and any other wild adventure.”

“Thank you.”

“We need to discuss Spiritwalking. You have a patent for it yet?”

“No. I have actually stopped researching it. That was the first time in seven years…”

“Good. We need to make sure Solvane Frost has no access to any of it. Then, wherever you decide to go, you can patent it and reclaim your glory.”

“I agree. Ninety more days and I can get out of here.”

Ninety more days and she is free.

We stood outside the restaurant. Reverie’s hand slid into mine automatically. Just like when we were kids, I offered a wicked smile. She raised a brow and looked me over. Our steps were light as we walked together and gazed at each other, it was nothing short of perfect.

Koda offered a huff of approval before he resumed his security around us from within. Despite a twinge of jealousy that rippled along our connection, he was just happy to be with our mate. I smiled wider when a happy image of Kamari’s pearlescent wolf snuggled against Koda in our bond. Yet, something was still missing, there was a piece of Reverie that was still darkened. Still far away–

“Thank you for everything tonight, Leo.” Reverie’s whisky-dipped voice cut through the moment.

I bumped my shoulder against hers. “My pleasure Rev.”

“How will I ever repay your kindness? Truly?”

I stopped and looked in her eyes. “You know my terms,” I teased. “You just have to get divorced first.”

She shook her head.

I placed a hand on her cheek. “Reverie. “I’ve waited decades for you. We Lycans are not only patient, but we are slow to age.”

She smiled warmly and closed her eyes as her hand collapsed over mine. “You’ve waited long enough, Leoric.”

I put a finger under her chin to make her look into my eyes once more. “Not until you are ready. I want you to make the choice because you want to, not because of obligation, or to repay a debt you think you owe. You owe me nothing. Other than you getting the f**k out of Solvane–unless you choose to stay, then I will accept that decision too.”

“I never should’ve stayed in the first place. I was a foolish girl–”

“You were in love. Nothing foolish about that. Now, you just need to fall in love with me instead.”

She laughed. “Incorrigible.”

Across the street, a car door opened and closed. Kieran and Delilah’s voices bantered as she opened the back seat to let out her little brother Toby. My heart squeezed in my chest when Kieran lifted the boy from Delilah and held him close as they entered the children’s fun center.

She stared at the three of them while they walked in as if they were a beautiful family, ready to embrace the night together for some wholesome fun. Rhiannon was heavy on my mind like always as I placed a hand over my heart. The distance between mother and daughter was painful to watch. Reverie wore the exact expression her daughter did in moments like this. I hated that they couldn’t just be together all the time.

“Soon Reverie, soon,” I whispered. She shook her head as if she’d been brought back to reality. When she looked up into my eyes, the emotions that swam in hers were enough to devastate me.

“I know. Let's go,” she whispered in reply. Her hand slid from mine as she headed in the opposite direction. I looked at the door where Delilah and Kieran chatted with the doorman.

The audacity of that cockroach, to flaunt his secret life in the open while his real wife suffers in silence. Never again.

I clenched my fists, Koda snarled inside of me, but I suppressed my Alpha aura. Unwilling to give him a hint we had seen them, he didn’t deserve to know. My gaze fell on Reverie’s back as she retreated. She stood tall and proud. Like the Queen she was meant to be. Her eyes, filled with pain, would forever haunt me. So much existed in those hazel orbs, words couldn’t express all she’d gone through in her life. Solvane Frost had sought to break her, but instead, it empowered her–she’d come to realize that soon enough.

Reverie Dawne.

Not even half of who she was meant to be.

“Someone is watching us.” Koda growled.

I resisted the urge to turn and advance on them.

Out of the corner of my eye…movement…

Who? What? Why?

Mother, you were right–as always–the hunt has begun.