Fates Entwined

41

Jordan got right up in my face, his eyes bright with anger. "Maybe the problem isn't me, it's you. Maybe you're just a bad teacher."

I poked my finger at his chest. "Or maybe you're a terrible student."

"Maybe you just don't want me to get better at sun magic because then I'll be more powerful than you."

"Maybe you need to get your ego in check!" We were both yelling at each other now, and I could only hope Roxandra was taking notice, because my heart couldn't take much more of this.

"This was a mistake," he said, stepping back. "All of it."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I don't want you as my teacher, and I don't want you."

My jaw dropped. "Jordan⁠—"

He took a step back, his face stony. "Go back to the Ophiuchus. We don't need you anymore."

"No..."

He pointed back toward the town. "Go. Just...go."

I let out a sob that wasn't entirely fake and turned away from him, then shifted into my wolf form, not even bothering to remove my clothes first. I shook away the torn shreds, kicked off my shoes, and ran down the path as fast as I could.

I ran until Jordan was out of sight, and then ducked behind some agave to catch my breath. That fight had taken a lot out of me, even though it was all part of our plan. I hoped Jordan knew I didn't mean any of those things I'd said. We'd had to make the fight look convincing, so Roxandra would truly believe I was gone. Assuming she'd been listening, of course.

I turned invisible and then headed back to the mesa, retracing my steps. I made sure to move silently as I drew near and kept my ears perked, listening for anything out of the ordinary. That's when I heard her voice.

"Oh, Jordan," she practically purred. "It's about time you got rid of that moon wolf."

"Roxandra! How long have you been here?" Jordan asked, as I climbed faster.

"Long enough to see that she had no business trying to teach you sun magic. But I'm here now. I can teach you everything you need to know."

I reached the top of the mesa, still invisible, but kept my distance. I didn't want her to sense my moon magic yet.

Jordan sat on a large rock, gazing at Roxandra, who was in her red hooded robes and had her back to me. "You can teach me things that Stella can't?"

"You know I can." She ran a hand along his shoulder. "And we can finally be together."

Jordan paused, as if he was considering. "Things with you were so much easier."

My heart clenched, knowing how hard this must be for him, but he delivered the line flawlessly. Good job, I thought to Jordan, even thought I knew he couldn’t hear me. Playing on her feelings for you.

"I know." Her hand moved to cup his cheek and she gazed at him with hunger. "It can be like that again. The two of us."

"The two of us," Jordan said with a suggestive grin.

She leaned forward like she was about to kiss him. “You’re the key to everything I need. I want your body, your blood, and your baby.”

Jordan’s face flickered with distaste, just for a moment, but he smoothed it away so fast that I hoped Roxandra didn’t notice. Meanwhile, my wolf screamed at me to destroy this b***h who wanted my man.

“What do you want my blood for?” Jordan asked, as he rose to his feet.

“All in good time,” Roxandra said, squeezing his arm. “You’re too pretty to worry about things like that. Come back with me, and you’ll know everything soon.”

"First tell me why you were taking the males in my pack. It couldn't just be to get my attention."

She sighed. "I was testing their blood to see if they had any sun magic, but their blood wasn't strong enough. Not for what I need. But yours...yours is perfect."

Jordan grabbed Roxandra's arm and dragged her to the center of the mesa, his face twisting with anger. "That's all I needed to know. Now I'll make sure you never hurt anyone again."

That was my cue. I muttered words in ancient Greek and moon magic lit up along the ground in a circle, forming a cage around Roxandra. I'd laid the trap last night, under the stars and the tiny sliver of a moon, when my magic would be stronger.

Surprise flashed across Roxandra's face, but then she laughed. "You didn't think this would hold me, did you?"

Fire exploded out of her, burning through my cage and setting her free in an instant. f**k, she was so strong. I was a pretty good Moon Witch, but I would never be at Roxandra's level. Only Larkin and Ayla would be able to fight her as equals. But I wasn't alone.

Jordan's claws were out and he slashed at Roxandra, but she managed to dodge away, faster than should have been possible. I gathered more moon magic and shot shards of it at her, which she batted away easily. Then there was a huge flash of light, as if the sun was suddenly in our eyes, and I had to look away. When I did, Roxandra was standing beside Jordan, who was clutching his arm. He reached for her but his reaction was painfully slow, and she easily moved back. A second later, Jordan crumpled to the ground in a heap.

"No!" I yelled and gathered more magic, but it was too late.

Roxandra reached down to take Jordan's arm, and then the two of them vanished in a puff of smoke.

I quickly latched onto the mate bond between us, trying to figure out where she was taking him, but my sense of him fizzled out immediately. I reached into the empty space, yelling Jordan's name, but there was nothing.