Zodiac Aligned

29

I wasn't so sure after seeing the way she'd been staring at him, but I didn't think it was my place to mention it. Something was going on between the two of them, but we had bigger problems to worry about right now.

Jordan stepped closer to take his clothes from my hands. "Was Roxandra here, or was I going mad from blood loss?"

"She was here. I took care of it."

He closed his eyes for a second as if he was in pain. "I'll never be free of her, will I?"

I wished I had an answer for him, but we both knew he was right. The only way he'd be rid of her was to kill her. "What does she want with you?"

"Besides the obvious?" He gestured at his naked body, his grin returning. The pain was still there, but the humor probably made it easier to cope with.

I raised my eyes to the ceiling. "Ugh."

The Scorpio alpha joined us then, interrupting us before we could speculate more. "Congratulations on your win," he told Jordan. "My beta will take you to a small, private hot spring where you can wash your wounds and rest your bones. Then we will talk." Dasan turned to me next. "I've had rooms prepared for your people as well. The Scorpio pack would be honored if you would stay the night and join me for a feast tonight."

I nearly told him that I didn't speak for the Ophiuchus anymore, but he was being so polite that all I said was, "Thank you for your hospitality."

"No, thank you for solving this problem for us." He bowed his head slightly. "We Scorpios keep our promises. We will join you against the Sun Witches."

A huge sense of relief flooded through me. Today we'd won not only the Leos but the Scorpios too. An alliance between all the packs suddenly seemed not just possible but within our grasp.

The Scorpio feast was an intimate affair, with only a select few members of their pack invited, along with some trusted Leos that Jordan had hand-picked, plus the Ophiuchus we'd brought. Dasan and his alpha female, a gorgeous woman with eyes that missed nothing, hosted us in a dark and mysterious cave, with dim lighting and soft music playing around us. They served Southwestern food full of flavors and textures that were new to me, along with a selection of fine wines and strong tequilas. A sense of mystery and intrigue surrounded the Scorpios, while the Leos were busy celebrating their alpha's win, and the Ophiuchus just looked out of place. Dasan kept encouraging everyone to eat and drink though, and soon everyone began to relax and let down their inhibitions.

We were all a little wild, after that. Maybe it was the full moon approaching, or maybe it was the feeling of victory after a battle, but after we'd eaten our fill, other hungers awoke in us. A few people paired off into the darkness together, including a Scorpio woman who led Jack away with a coy smile. It seemed Dasan wanted us to be pleased in every way possible.

To my surprise, Stella excused herself early and went to her room alone. Jordan had many offers from Leos and Scorpios alike, but he brushed them off with a cocky grin and a flirty word. And me? I found myself alone with Kaden once more, after being dragged away from the party by his firm hand.

He cornered me in a dark part of the cave, where no light touched, and kneeled in front of me once more. As his mouth pressed against my warm skin and his tongue circled my c**t, I cried out his name like a blessing. Once again, he gave me everything and asked for nothing in return. Then he carried me to my bed, and I asked him to stay. We fell asleep in each other's arms only minutes later, exhausted from everything that had happened that day.

Needless to say, I was very refreshed in the morning. And Jordan? He was like a different man. He'd picked another beta and charged him with leading the pack back to their village outside Phoenix. He'd also spoken with his cousin and had a lead on where his mother was hiding—in Nevada.

Our next destination.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

We drove down a long, winding dirt road that led off the main highway and into the middle of nowhere. Jordan was in the driver's seat, his face taut with concentration, as the car bumped along the uneven ground and kicked up dust that made it hard to see. Not that there was much to see, anyway. The landscape around us was rugged and barren, with nothing but rocky hills, shrubs, and gnarled, spiky trees for miles.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kaden asked.

"Nope," Jordan said. "Do you have a better idea of where to go? I'd love to hear it."

Kaden growled and slumped back in his seat. It had been like this the entire trip, which had only made it feel even longer. I was the only one here to mediate between the alphas too. Stella, Jack, and the other Ophiuchus had opted to return to Toronto instead of going on this wild quest with us. I was beginning to think they were the smart ones. So far, we'd gotten lost twice. We'd been driving for hours, and it was starting to feel like we'd never find this place. I scrubbed my hands over my eyes, ready to call it, but when I looked out my window again I spotted the distant silhouette of houses in the distance.

I sat up straighter and pointed. "There. Do you think that's it?"

"Let's find out," Jordan said. He put his foot on the gas and I held on to the inside of the car as we zoomed along the rocky road. We were soon greeted by a large fence with a gate that marked the entrance to the property, and we stopped the car to get out. The gate was made of sturdy, weathered wood and was adorned with a sign too faded to read. Beyond it, a long driveway led up to the ranch house and a few other structures, which were surrounded by vast open desert and distant mountains.