Union Bound

3. Jasper

Why is nothing ever f*****g simple?

Air magic blasts from my palms, striking through Grandmother’s office doors and hurling them from their hinges. They crash against the far wall, shattering into a million pieces, leaving debris to float around the room before settling and creating a carpet on the ground. I should care, but destroying the door is only the first of what my nerves are yearning to do.

My hands fist in my hair, hoping to yank the frustration out straight from their roots. I did this to myself. Putting myself first—putting the coven first—meant not killing Carina for getting in our way. But when she stepped out from behind that shifter, a new revelation unfolded in my mind.

I can’t destroy this pack.

Pregnant. I fall into the nearby desk chair, feeling drained with disbelief. It consumes the cloud of wrath, wiping it away. Carina is pregnant. A little second cousin will be on the way. A half-witch, half-shifter in the family.

Grandmother is fuming that we didn’t take the pack down, while I’m simply frustrated at the way fate came to pass. Good game, Goddess, good game. My jaw unclenches for the first time since Carina revealed herself, while my head falls slack against the chair’s backing.

Because as annoyed as I am at Carina, she’s also providing us with an opportunity by single-handedly bringing the two species together. Her child will serve as a permanent connection to the shifter community because they won’t kill their own, regardless of the witch blood in it.

I think.

Her child may one day aid me, so ultimately, I forced Grandmother to let them walk free.

An ally today is an ally tomorrow.

But now I have nothing to give Fortuna. In ensuring the chance of a future alliance, I may have also f****d my future. My teeth press together, hating every second of this. One way or the other, my hands are tied and I’ll lose the possibility of something.

Why, Fortuna? Why this pack of all packs?

Fuck, I need a drink so I can escape in a stupor of alcohol and pretend this impossible decision isn’t happening. My gaze darts to the sideboard, to the row of glass bottles Grandmother keeps there for occasions such as this one. The golden liquid filling each one of them sings to me, to the point I already taste their potent flavour on my tongue.

Grandmother bursts through the doorway, a flurry of hands and curses. Her eyes quickly scan the scattered debris, but she ignores the mess, despite it being her doors I ruined, opting to continue casting her rage toward me. Greying hair sticks up around her face, as if she had been rubbing her fingers through it, causing her to look even more manic.

“What the hell were you thinking, Jasper?”

“I was thinking of Carina,” I growl, pushing past her. My arm purposely bumps hers on my way to the bourbon. Now more than ever, I feel like I need a drink, and when I pour an unhealthy amount, I don’t offer her any. “She’s family.”

Grandmother’s nostrils flare. “She chose the pack months ago. You know it as well as I do.”

I drop back in her chair, hoisting my feet onto the desk and aim for a look of ease, while ignoring the ongoing turbulent war inside me. “You wanted me to start taking charge. I’m taking charge.”

Her fists come down onto the desk, a force surprisingly strong for her age, causing a pen to jump and roll from it. “Taking charge does not mean letting power slip through your fingers, you stupid boy.” The wrinkles of her face fold as it scrunches into a sneer. “Have I made a mistake with you?”

Annoyance rumbles in my stomach at her words. Hasn’t today shown her I’m running the show now? The delicate tumbler in my hand collides against the wood, threatening to shatter with how hard I place it on the desk. I straighten, lifting my chin, ignoring how the muscles in my back tighten with tension.

“The coven had issues with my earlier decision of using her to find the pack.” I keep my voice low, calm, steady, and rational. “Do you honestly think they would be up for us murdering her? Even family has its limits. You saw how distraught Michelle was months ago when we let them take her. Death is a new low.”

Grandmother’s annoyed gaze flickers. She knows I’m right but won’t admit it.

“Besides,” I continue, lifting my glass to my mouth again, “think about it. A half-shifter in the family.”

“This is a good thing? I’m trying to purge our blood of shifter from our ancestors’ stupidity.”

She thinks so small, it’s sad. This is why it’s time for the older generation to move on. The second she told me I’d be the next coven leader, she sealed her fate. She doesn’t make the decisions anymore.

“Of course,” I purr, taking a large drink, opting not to expand on my statement.

Her eyes narrow. “Except now we have nothing to show Fortuna.”

My lips press together. Don’t I know it. It’s an issue I have no solution for quite yet.

“Did they say why they’re targeting the pack? I want to know why this, of all things, is what ensures the union.”

“No.”

As expected. More evidence Grandmother needs to pass the mantle over the moment I’m married. Anyone fit would have inquired about that. Instead, Grandmother’s determination to seize power took over.

“It has to be deeper than some stupid historical feud,” I muse, sipping my bourbon, while my free hand drums on my lap. I need a plan… something that will get me into their good graces—that’ll prove I’m worthy of them.

Grandmother reached out, wondering what we can do for such a union, but at no point has she even talked them into simply wanting us for us.

“Where are they presently? I’ll travel to discuss the union with them directly.”

Grandmother’s head snaps back as if I’ve slapped her and she straightens, removing her fists from the desk. “You’re stupid, boy. It took them over a month to respond to my letter. You think they’ll welcome you with open arms.” She scoffs, her eyes rolling beneath wrinkled skin.

A letter. Why have I never heard about this before? No f*****g wonder they want us to show strength. Our so-called fearless leader sent a f*****g letter in hopes to build a merger. They must have no respect for us.

“What did this letter say?” I fold my arms over my chest, looking intently at her.

Her brow c***s, accepting my challenge. “Who I am, that I have a grandson available, and that I’m requesting a union with them.”

I scoff. “More reason for me to see them in person. Maybe then, they’ll see us as being even remotely worthy.”

Grandmother’s head shakes back and forth slowly, amusement tilting her lips. “Boy, you still have so much to learn before you go traipsing into another coven’s stronghold. They will blast you to another country before you even make it to their boundary. They have a barrier surrounding their territory.”

“Let them.”

The new voice jerks my gaze to the right and I stand, my glass getting abandoned. Magic graces my palms, ready to defend, until my eyes focus on a dainty figure and the telltale, waist-length blonde hair of the Goddess’s representative, Mary. My hands instantly lower, as does my head in a small nod. She’s royalty to witches—the Goddess on Earth. We piss her off, we piss the Goddess off.

“Mary,” I greet, straightening in respect. “My apologies.”

Grandmother instantly jumps into overdrive and scoots in front of me, her body bending into a small bow. “Mary, we were not expecting you today.”

Mary’s youthful mouth lifts into a smirk and she glances away, scanning the alcohol shelf she leans beside. Her hand darts out and she lifts the same bottle I was drinking from. “The good stuff. Nice.” Her eyes flick over to us, stopping specifically at Grandmother’s bowed form, and she smiles, pushing off the wall. “Oh, none of that.”

“How may we help you?” Grandmother asks, her voice spiking in panic. She’s nervous; something not seen often. From her position in front of me, I spot the tendons in her neck tightening, her spine going rigid. Mary’s visit could mean anything because there’s never a pattern.

Mary strides by us and plops into the chair I recently abandoned. Her legs cross and her hands fold over her stomach as she leans back, the leather creaking with her movements. She exhibits the ultimate sign of relaxation. “A birdy told me you’re trying to hook up with Fortuna.” Her brows waggle and her ancient eyes study me. “Yeah, you’ll be perfect for her.”

Her. My muscles twitch, fighting the urge to demand information about my future bride.

I’ve looked into Fortuna’s heiress, of course, but never could find her name. Perhaps I could have contracted someone to find something out—spelled a human even—but I never fully cared to go through that much effort. It was simply curiosity that drove me, not interest.

“There’s an age difference,” Mary continues, her lips curling into a devilish smirk. “But your tenacity and her… yep, you two will be a hoot. I’ve seen it. The Goddess chose well.”

“Seen it?” Grandmother’s voice deepens with confusion.

My heart races. It’s no secret Mary knows everything the Goddess wishes to share with her, even if it’s decades or centuries into the future, but hearing her words—that the Goddess chose me—has me stepping forward, needing to be closer to the truth-holder.

Mary’s grin grows wider and she drops her feet from the desk, sitting up to face me head on. “Oh, yes, it’s why I’m here actually. Before you go in there, hands blazing to win your bride, you don’t need to. They want you as much as you want them.”

“What?” Grandmother screeches, before composing herself. She steps back, rubbing her palms down the length of her dress. “Excuse me. I was under the impression that… Well, this is surprising.”

If what she says is true, then just like that, all my problems are solved. Knowing this months ago would have saved so much effort.

“Why the run around?”

Mary shrugs, except all of us know she’s lying. “Ask them yourself.”

Grandmother speaks up, approaching as well. “Forgive my questioning, but what does the Goddess have to do with this union?”

Mary dismisses her with a wave of her hand. “The Goddess has plans in place for a few special couples and it so happens that Jasper and his future wife are the final one.”

Chills drift through my entire body, rocking me to the core. Special couples… Even the Goddess is aware of what I already know. I’m meant to be in charge of Fortuna—it’s the only reason she’s chosen me to be part of her grand plan. A plan I hope I live up to.

Thank you, great Goddess of life, I send a silent prayer to her, resisting a smile.

Mary’s eyes bore into me. Her piercing gaze tells me I’m failing at the collected expression I’m aiming for, but she says nothing and stands, clapping her hands together. “And on that note, I’m off. See you at the wedding in two days. I’ll be performing the ceremony.”

“Two days,” I exclaim, my brain scrambling to keep up with her words. Two days and I am in charge of all that power.

“Two days,” she confirms, nodding. Her eyes flick to Grandmother. “Two more days, Sybil, and you’ll be passing on your position.”

Grandmother has never mentioned if she’s happy to give up the position earlier than planned or not, but her emotions don’t matter. Not when everything is falling into place; when everything is perfect again.

Mary vanishes then, small puffs of her smoke dissipating in her spot. Once they clear and all trace of Mary is gone, Grandmother steps in front of me. Her eyes are crinkled, as if she’s focusing on something, but her withered lips move into a smile I know to be mostly genuine. Because in the end, even if she needs to hand the coven off sooner than she believed, she wants the connection to Fortuna more.

“The Goddess wishes for this to happen, Jasper. This is wonderful.”

I ignore her, opting to silently agree instead. My eyes remain over top of her greying hair and out the window beyond the desk.

In two days, I’ll be a husband. A marriage of convenience I’ll ensure will only be convenient for me.