that aside from a bit of a wild streak and a pinch of a witchâs natural deviousness, Mariketa had a good heart.
Lachlain didnât know if he could say the same for Boweâs mate from before. Heâd met Mariah on occasion when he and Bowe had traveled to convene with her father, the king of a large faction of fey. Lachlain had always found Mariah to be a spoiled sort, and though sheâd been beautiful, tall and blond, sheâd seemed to show disdain for all the elementals that the Lykae celebratedâfood, touch, sex. But Bowe had been content with her, so Lachlain had remained silent about his misgivings. Yet now . . . âBowe, it could be that you were given two.â
âHave you ever heard of that happening?â he asked, his tone growing frustrated.
âWell, no, butââ
âIn five thousand years of the clanâs record keeping, thereâs never been an instance of it. Five millennia, Lachlain. I know because I took half a decade to comb through every line of every single record. Every bloody one.â
Lachlain knew Bowe had been dogged in finding a way to have Mariah back, but he hadnât realized heâd sifted through all those records.
Bowe added, âThe witch put one spell on meâwhy would I noâ think sheâd hex me twice?â
âBut why would she do it?â
He ran his remaining hand over the back of his neck. âThere was a short window of time when she . . . when she wanted me for herself. She made me kiss herââ
âMade you?â Lachlain raised his eyebrows.
â Enthralled me to do it.â
âHow can you be sure you didnât merely desire her?â
âBecause I could feel it happening. And I have been true to Mariah all these years . . . until that witch toyed with me.â
The fact that Bowe hadnât bedded another for so long didnât shock Lachlain. Though the Lykae were notorious for their insatiable appetites, their kind revered few things above loyalty. âEmma knows the witch and has seen her without her cloak. She says Mariketa is a beautiful girl. Did you noâ find her so?â
âShe had a glamour on. I canna recall her looks clearly.â
âWhat did the Instinct tell you?â A guiding force with which all Lykae are born, the Instinct was like a voice in the mind directing the individual toward what would be best for him, as well as for the collective clan.
Bowe hesitated before admitting, âThe Instinct has long been quiet in me.â
Lachlain glanced away. The idea that his cousin had been denied the comforting presence of the Instinct was painful for Lachlain, but he didnât want Bowe to think he pitied him. Even when Lachlain had been tortured, the Instinct had never forsaken him.
Bowe added, âThe bottom line is that the gods could noâ be so cruel as to pair me with a witch.â
This was a good point. All Lykae mistrusted witchesâthe Instinct cautioned continuallyâbut Boweâs dislike had always been more marked than othersâ. Ever since he was a lad heâd had a pronounced aversion to them, even before Bowe had learned of his fatherâs tragic encounter with one.
Still Lachlain said, âI was given a half-vampire, half-Valkyrie as mate, and I could noâ cherish her more.â
âI could handle anything . . . just noâ a bloody witch, Lachlain.â
Lachlain let that rest for now. âYou canna travel until youâve built up some strength. And think, if you do in fact recognize her as your mate, for whatever reason, you canna go for her yet. Todayâs Wednesdayâthe full moonâs on Friday night.â And all mated Lykae turned in the heat of the moon.
âChrist. When I change I might pursue her as my mate and claim her.â
Bowe made the comment as if this was a scenario to be avoided at all costs, yet Lachlain had seen a flash of