Nikoli stepped forward and bent down, looking around the bench. “Yep, it is. The humans see nothing here but an old dirty park bench. Not the sort anyone would want to sit upon.”
Interesting. Just how the hell did Baladar set this up, and how many more did he have?
“Arianna…” Kade reached out for my hand and I took it, sitting with him on the bench. Nix remained on his shoulder,
Finn settled into my side, placing two paws on the disc.
The swirl of mecca beneath my feet was just like a vortex, but I could sense there was only one path. The rest of the magical crisscross of lines were not available. With a deep breath, I focused on the one path, Baladar’s brownstone in Manhattan, and we were sucked into the vortex.
Arianna, forgive me.
That voice echoed through my head. The mecca was still trying to tell me something.
Before I could concentrate or try to focus on it, I was spat out of the vortex and into a grassy park area, underneath a large tree with shimmering pink flowers. Music was blaring, lots of bodies moving to the heavy beat. Looking around, I recognized the landscape. We’d made it to Baladar’s. This was his club night.
“Key?” The voice to my right had my head swiveling. Two beefy bear shifters were paused on either side of us. There was security on this vortex entrance as well apparently.
Kade growled then, and both of them about cried when they realized it was their king. Their knees slammed against the grass as they bowed deeply. “We’re so sorry, Your Majesty. We did not realize you would be here tonight.”
One of them was stammering out the explanations, the other seemed to be struggling to breathe. Kade’s expression remained hard, and I could see that despite his generally easygoing nature, he could slip into king mode no problem.
“Find Baladar. Now.” His command was low, no yelling, but the two guards shot up like he’d stabbed them in the heart. They took off, disappearing into the mass of bears on the dance floor.
Within seconds they were back, a flash of purple between them. Baladar. He wore a regal looking, deep purple suit, with a felt top hat. Opening his arms wide, he greeted us with a smile.
“Your Majesties, what an honor! Calista told me to be expecting you.”
Kade’s bear let out another low growl, and I stepped in front of him, drawing the magic born’s attention. Yes, Baladar was kind of a rule-breaker, but he was also powerful and helpful, and seemed to really like me, so I wanted to keep him as an ally.
“Sir Baladar…” I nodded my head in greeting.
His face grew somber as he assessed my face. “I was so sorry to hear about the dethroning.”
I gave him a small smile. “Thank you. It’s temporary, I believe. Selene won’t be queen for long. Right now what I need help with is getting my best friend back. Violet was taken to the Otherworld.”
I heard a crackling noise. Behind me, the rest of our group was traveling in. Monica, Blaine, Victor, and Nikoli appeared, striding straight across to join us.
Baladar assessed the group, stopping on my huge familiar. “Yes, I heard she was taken. I fear you’re not prepared for the unique and dangerous things you will encounter in the fae lands.”
Why was he speaking ominously and staring at my familiar?
I tried to draw his attention back to me. “I’m not a queen or shifter, who would ever leave a friend behind. Violet is my best friend. The fae took what’s mine and I will be getting her back.”
“She’s been spending way too much time with the bear king,” I heard Monica whisper behind us, followed by a few chuckles. They weren’t wrong. I was getting all bear-possessive like him.
Baladar nodded. “Yes, Violet is a special soul. I hope you can get her back.”
Kade was still growling when he said, “We can and we will.”
Baladar looked from me to Kade and back, tilting his head slightly as he examined us. “I was wondering when you two would realize.”
And we were back to the riddles. “Realize what?”
Baladar grinned. “Come on, you haven’t recognized it yet?”
I fought the urge to punch him, my wolf rising up, prepared to strike. We had no time for this, we had to move out of here and get this journey started.
Before I could say anything, Kade stepped into him, his voice flat as he said: “Just tell us, Baladar. We have no time for your mysteriousness.”
Baladar leaned over, bringing his head closer to us as he lowered his voice: “You’re bonded mates. Like the original shifters. You can speak into each other’s minds, feel the other’s emotions, sense when the other is in danger, no matter how far away. Haven’t you felt it? I can see it.”
I understood his explanation, but I wasn’t sure I believed what he was saying. Modern wolves didn’t have bonded mates. It was like an old tale from the origin of shifters, and no one knew if it was actually true or just made up.
Turning to Kade, I reached out a hand, feeling for that spark of energy that was always between us. The closer I got, the stronger the pull. Had this changed since we’d made love? For the first time I tried to speak to him using the same path I did with Finn – a bonded mental connection. As my energy expended, I realized my heart was hammering. I both feared the truth, and hurt at the thought that it might not be possible.
Kade? I focused the question, not sure if Finn would hear too.
Kade’s arms went around me and he lifted me up into his body. How is this possible? His deep voice rumbled through my mind, and right then, as our thoughts mingled in our consciousnesses, our energy let out a deep gonging sound, like a bell had been struck. My body sank into his as mecca danced around the room. Both of us glowed purple, and some of the space inside, from where Selene had stolen my energy, was filled.
“I can feel you,” I said out loud, still not used to speaking with him in my mind. “Your energy, your strength.” My voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I can feel you.”
Kade kissed me then, long and hard, the purple of our skin brightening. I could see it beneath my closed lids. Using our bond, he said to me: I can feel you too. Everything. Your kindness, your heart, your loyalty and love for all your people. Your love for me. I am not sure I’m worthy, but I will never take this for granted. You are my bonded mate. My true one.
My true one, I echoed back, losing myself in his embrace.
Eventually we had to stop kissing, but Kade kept me close to his side. He turned to Baladar, and I could feel the happiness and confusion within him. “It is true. We’re bonded mates. But how is this possible? I thought bonded mates were a fairy tale? No bears have ever bonded in such a way. There are stories, but no evidence of it.”
So it wasn’t just the wolves.