Maeve takes my hands in hers and squeezes them gently before placing a kiss upon my brow. “Sister, we are all connected to the Goddess and have the ability to interpret the subtle currents and whispers of Fate. I have been attuning myself and listening for centuries before I heard the whisper that would see us all free. Fate saw witchkind and all Others uniting, forging bonds of friendship and love, to create a better, more inclusive world, and to eventually take down The Five and restore the Balance.”
“So where do we go from here?” I ask as Erik embraces me.
Maeve releases my hands, standing tall. “I will recreate the legacy of my castle. Never again will it be a place of imprisonment and abuse. From this day forth, Rosewood Valley Castle will be a refuge for all Chaos witches, and any who dare defect and fight for our cause.”
“And me?” I press.
“I have a few ideas,” says Erik, interjecting with a knee-weakening smirk.
“Go now, Sister.” Maeve laughs with good humor, light sparkling in her emerald eyes. “Now that we are liberated, your Sisters may choose where they’d like to find solace. Here, or, as has been so graciously offered by your mate, in the mountain, the stronghold of the bear shifters. Go, now, young queen. Rest and recover. There will be much to do in the days, weeks, and months that follow—so find your peace while you can and savor it. You and I have been called to greatness by the Goddess, Asha, and we shall answer.”
As I nod solemnly, my hand strays to my forehead where I find something strangely solid embedded into my flesh just above my brows. I gasp. “My Gift of the Goddess. My jewel… I’m whole!” My heart sings, and my soul soars with wild abandon.
Erik and Maeve smile, mirroring my delight.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I can’t help but weep. “We shall answer, indeed!”
Chapter Fourteen
Erik
“Everyone is settled,” Asha says with a tired smile as she tucks a snow-white lock behind her ear. “Thank you for allowing my Sisters who wanted to stay with the clan to be here. I think they’d rather be anywhere other than the castle right now. And even though they might be a little scared, I think the thought of being surrounded by big bear shifters ready to protect them is already giving them some semblance of peace.”
“You don’t need to thank me, mate. Your Sisters are always welcome. Any friend of yours is a friend of ours. We’ll gladly keep them safe, and should any of them wish to join the clan, we will embrace them with open arms. We have more than enough space here, and new blood is never a bad thing.”
“I did notice a few of our bears’ gazes lingering over my Sisters… I think I may not be the only Chaos witch who’ll end up joining the ranks in a permanent fashion.”
“I noticed as much too.” I grin, wrapping my mate up in my arms. “It will make for an interesting future.”
“You mean something like a mountain full of hybrid witch-bear shifter cubs and youths running amok with any variety of elements?”
Laughter escapes me in a rush, and I kiss Asha’s lips, lingering just long enough to taste her sweetness. “Something like that.”
“Well,” says Asha, teasing her bottom lip between her teeth, “no matter what the future brings, at least we have one. And one thing is certain…”
I cock a brow and trail my fingers through her beautiful hair. “And what’s that, love?”
“You and I will be together, always and forever.”
“Of course. That’s a given, mate. We were Fated, and Istaked my claim before the Goddess. Nothing will ever keep me from you. I will always love you, and I will always, always want you,” I say, suggestively grinding my pelvis against her.
Asha blushes.
Dear Goddess! This woman enchants me!And I can’t wait a moment longer. “Come here,” I growl and playfully tackle her to our comfy pile of bedding strewn across the cave floor. Asha’s breathless laughter, accompanied by the scent of the quick wetness between her legs, arouses my inner bear, and I flip her over onto her knees.
Asha lets out a little “Oof!”
“I will have you as a bear has his mate,” I say as I position myself, stroking my length over the crack of her adorable ass and to the moist paradise awaiting me. I slide in with delicious ease. Rocking my hips back and forth as I grip hers, I drive myself a little deeper with each thrust.
My queen pants beneath me as she instinctively drops low. Resting on her forearms, she presents herself to my greatest advantage. Not needing a second invitation, I plunge all the way in, reveling for a moment in her rapturous tightness.
“Sweet Goddess,” she gasps.
“Oh, Asha, you feel like you were made for me,” I groan, feeling her pulsate around me.
Asha starts to push back of her own accord. Her labored breathing serves only to spur me on to more violent passion.
“Don’t be afraid, mate,” I whisper, my voice husky as I lean forward and seize her hair. I pull just enough to elicit a sting and a low moan from my mate.