Spell-Weaver (8 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“I don't really know what I can do to help. My symbols don't function on command,” Summer said as she followed Mayhem, his impossibly broad back like a wall, his expression completely hidden from her.

“It's not your symbols that will do the trick this time,” he said, his voice gruff, strained from the worry she'd seen when she'd first arrived.

“It's not?” She had to practically jog to keep up with him, his long strides eating up the plush carpeting like he was running on a motor.

He stopped abruptly at a closed set of double doors and she nearly ran into him, coming up short and on her tiptoes. He laid his hand on the knob, cocked his head to the side to glance at her.

“You're his mate, destined to be with him. I know you feel it. I can sense your need for him.”

“How…”

He raised his other hand, his action commanding. Now she understood what Dave had been talking about. Mayhem commanded, you obeyed. In the wolf hierarchy, he had to be the alpha. “His wolf seeks its mate.
You
are its mate. I'm hoping that by having you near, the wolf will let Dyami come back.”

Summer glanced at the door. “Are you telling me that there's a wolf inside that room?” Her heart slammed against her chest and she took a step back. A wolf, behind closed doors, in a bedroom.
How civilized.

“Not just a wolf. Dyami.”

“You don't really expect me to go in there alone, do you?” She shook her head. She'd seen the wolves. They were huge. What if Dyami wasn't in control at all? What if the beast was feral, pissed off that she'd run?

Mayhem captured her chin in his massive hand, forced her to look into his eyes. What she saw there was not anger, but firm resolution. “I am certain that you can unlock Dyami from his beast. It is my job to protect my pack. Dyami is suffering. It's unnatural for the cycle to be disrupted as it has for him. He needs you. Only you.”

Summer gulped.

“The wolf will not hurt you. Ever.” Mayhem released her chin and turned the knob, opening the door just a fraction. “Trust your gut, Summer. As a Huntress, it will never steer you wrong.”

Dyami felt her and he knew it wasn't wishful thinking this time. His wolf was powerful, rebounding from the poison with so much force that Dyami had been shoved back…hard. He'd only been able to resurface briefly, sporadically and was still too weak to fight for control. A concept he'd never known before, having never had to battle with his wolf over form, the transformation had always happened naturally. Daytime was the wolf's time—nighttime his. This was his time, and yet he was not in control, hadn't been for a very long time. And with each passing day, it felt like his grip on himself was dwindling. Like if he didn't regain what he'd lost, he'd be
lost
forever.

The only conversation he'd had with the beast had been stunted, not making a lot of sense other than to show an all-consuming need to get
her
back. The wolf was taking a stand, sending a message, acting purely on instinct and yet trapped in a world of roads and cities and distances too vast to travel without detection. So he was sending a message to whoever would listen.
Bring the girl or Dyami is no more.
Harsh. Critical. Effective, apparently, because she was here.

His wolf caught her scent wafting in from under the door, a growl of approval rumbling low in his chest. He stalked off the bed, having been sequestered that day for demolishing something breakable in the house. Mayhem had not approved. His wolf had complied, despite the fact that he could have busted down the door at any time. Now that she was here, his wolf was agitated, desperate to see her. Her scent was like a taste on his tongue, one he wanted again and again.

The door opened, a beam of light from the hall almost coming to where he paced. His wolf stopped, and Dyami pushed forward, held back by a strong nudge.

“Wait, that's not how this is going to work, I need to be the one to greet her.”

But Dyami was arguing with a beast, the animal's mind agitated, determined to get Summer under his paws and fangs before anything more happened. Dyami felt the beast's intent. Knew that this was a mistake. Summer would be terrified. Would run again.

Dyami panicked, pushing harder for control.

Summer walked into the room, one hand snaking up to flick on the light.

“Dyami?”

His wolf growled—
“Mine!”
—at Summer, though to her it would only sound like a threat.

She paused, body trembling. “Mayhem? Are you sure…”

Dyami pushed forward again, trying to reason with the beast at the same time.
“She'll run. She'll go
.
”

His wolf stalked toward her. Summer caught the glint in its eyes, her own flashing large, her lips rounding into a silent ‘O'.

Dyami felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. His wolf wanted the girl, the girl was going to bolt, and his wolf liked to chase.

Summer took a step back, hands raised in front, shaking her head, body shaking, fear rolling off her in waves.

“No!”
Dyami screamed, pounding forward like he was trying to break through a steel door.
“No!”

His wolf leapt. Summer turned. Dyami rammed as hard as he could.

When he collided with her, it was human on human—Dyami, the man, curling his body around Summer, cushioning the impact as they landed with a thud on the ground.

Her heart was pounding so furiously in her small body he feared she might pass out. “It's me, Summer. Just me.”

She pulled her head back, shoulders pushing against his arm. He was loath to release her, but knew he had to give her some breathing room.

“Dyami?” She breathed a deep sigh as she stared down at him, her eyes watering. And then she wound up and punched him in the jaw.

“Ow!” he bellowed with a chuckle. “What's with the sucker punch?”

She laid a few smacks on his chest as she pushed herself back, straddling his hips. “Your wolf scared the ever-living shit out of me!”

“I know, I'm sorry.” He grasped her hands, pulling her forward slightly. He loved how her body fit onto his, his cock straining for freedom as her weight pressed down on him. “The wolf works on instinct. He wanted you.”

Summer took in a deep breath, let it out slowly. “You know how hard this is to believe, right? I've been thinking and thinking, trying to wrap my brain around all this craziness.”

“What does your gut say?” He pulled her down more, shifting his hands to her forearms, tugging her closer to his chest. His gaze strayed from her eyes to her lips, those sweet, pouty little lips.

She stopped fighting his hold, positioned herself so she was inches from his face. “My gut says to stop wasting so much fucking time.” And then she pressed her lips to his, kissing him tenderly at first before coaxing him to open up, stroking his tongue with hers, her kiss so deep he felt she was devouring him.

He rolled her under him, slammed the door to the bedroom closed with his foot. Gripping her hips, he pulled her legs farther apart, wedging her against his cock, the friction of his clothes maddening. Wishing for the first time that his transformation left him naked, all he wanted at that moment was skin on skin.

She moaned against his lips, arching into him, her breasts taunting him with their proximity. Trailing kisses across her jaw and down her neck, he cupped one breast, loving that she wore no bra. He looped his other hand under her to pull her up, bowing her more, giving him access as her nipples jutted, straining against her tank top. When he tugged the cloth down, one breast popped out, followed by the next. Darting his tongue out, he licked one, then the other, nipping ever so gently before returning to the first for a proper suckling. He loved her tits. They were small to suit her body, perky nipples, little delicious pink berries. He sucked her in, twirling his tongue against her, pulling a soft moan from her lips.

His dick throbbed, pre-come soaking his jeans. He needed inside this woman. Mark her with his cock. Mark her with his bite, properly this time. Not in a rush, spur of the moment decision but claiming her as his mate while he made love to her.

He pushed himself to his knees, her body sliding down his until her ass hit the floor. She raised her fingers to her mouth, and sucked two in before lowering them to her nipples, circling one, moving to the other for a pinch, a flick. When she was done there, she trailed her fingers down her stomach. He groaned as she popped the button and unzipped her jeans, his cock jolting when she slipped her fingers under her black lacy panties, her eyes closing, her body arching once again as she touched herself.

Fuck that's hot.

He pulled his dick from his pants, stroked himself while he watched her, squeezing the crown before sliding back down. She watched him, her tongue darting out to dab the corner of her mouth, just the suggestion making his cock pulse for her. With a growl he let himself go, pulled her pants from her body, snapped the lace of her panties and wedged himself between her legs. Her fingers were still playing, coated in her juices as she rubbed along her slit and circled her clit. His cock nudged her pussy.

“You're mine, Summer.” He leaned into her.

She offered her fingers to him, slipping them into his mouth as she opened her legs wider. “I think I'd like to be.”

Not an overwhelming yes, but he'd take it. He had time to convince her. With a groan, he sheathed himself deeply, one thrust and he was encased in her, his cock spasming as her cushioned walls hugged him hard. A perfect fit. She wrapped her legs around his back, hooking her ankles, pulling him deeper.

Hands on her hips, he lifted her, rolling his body slowly at first. He pulled himself back until he almost slipped out before thrusting hard, fast, without mercy. Marking her.

“Mine.”

His wolf growled.

His climax mounted, her moans turned frenzied, head rolling back, fingers playing with her nipples. His fangs punched through his gums, instinct driving him to mark her properly. He lowered down, forcing her hands out of the way as he nuzzled her neck, her shoulder, that little curve that called to him. He pounded her flesh and she rolled up to him, their bodies producing one continuous wave of pleasure.

“Dyami!” she cried out as her pussy spasmed around him, forcing his cock to pulse, his own orgasm to reach the brink of release.

He scraped her neck with a fang, drawing a beat of blood, the sweetest nectar on his tongue. She angled her head to the side, giving him better access. Her body squeezed him relentlessly. As his orgasm crested, he sank his fangs into her shoulder, embedding within her flesh and snapping their bond ever tighter.

Their bodies quivered in unison as the intensity rocked them both.

Chapter Sixteen

“Um, you bit me,” Summer said with a chuckle when Dyami collapsed onto her, his weight somewhat balanced on his forearms. His arms shook from the mind-blowing pleasure still rocking his body.

“I did.” He kissed the fading mark on her shoulder.

She craned her neck to look. “It's disappearing!”

“That's part of the magic. The wound closes and fades very quickly, leaving the bond behind.”

Summer shifted her head so she could look at him. “I feel like you've done that before.”

He nodded, rolled onto his side as she pushed herself up, leaning her body on her hands behind her.

“You did do that before! In the shop when Vic attacked! I'd forgotten about that!”

Vic had put a symbol on her, making her forget. She couldn't say when exactly, but she could feel its presence unraveling as she focused on it.

Vic.

She sighed. Bonded to Dyami, she knew she was meant to be with him, beast or no beast. Vic though… She might never completely understand why he acted the way he did, why he lost his shit in those last hours of his life. If he'd been meant to be her soul mate, just as Dyami was, then perhaps his actions were those of a desperate man. It didn't excuse them though—it just made them a little easier to swallow. Talia had said that there was a battle, and that she had to choose sides. So she had. Wolves ruled and Dyami was hers, but she would always have a place in her heart for Vic. Gone but not forgotten.

Dyami traced a finger along her thigh, staring up at her like he knew what she'd been thinking. She felt a tingle of guilt. Two men in her heart. He would have to accept it. He won, after all. They stared at each other, silent words passing. An understanding coming through, unspoken.

He cleared his throat. “My wolf needed you marked. It's what brought your powers out.”

“Like a catalyst?”

Dyami nodded as he continued to trace a finger up her leg, over her belly. “Yeah, something like that. It brings out your powers.”

Summer stared down at her body, skin still glowing with a hint of pink, a sheen of sweat everywhere. “I feel like we're connected.”

“It's part of the bond. Our destinies are entwined. Meant for each other.”

“I have a lot of questions.” She smiled, her face growing red, a blush on her cheeks that made him want to kiss her there.

“I bet. Shoot.”

“Does the transformation hurt?” She motioned up and down his body. “When you go from wolf to man?”

Dy shrugged. “Nah, not really. It happens fast, no time to really think about it. My wolf pushes through or I do, depending on what time of day it is. The pack is governed by Mayhem's cycles, and he is ruled by the sun and moon. When the poison was eating me alive, my transformations stopped.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, wincing at the memory. “And yeah, that fucking hurt like hell.”

“So you can't control it?”

“No, not yet anyway.” Dy winked. “I'm still considered young in the werewolf world, maybe with time—”

“And your clothes, they don't shred to pieces like in the movies? Do you think like a human while you're in your beast form? Do you eat raw meat? Like little bunnies? Do you hunt for prey? Do you play with your food?”

She was teasing him, her eyes glinting with amusement.

“It's all part of the magic. It's powerful stuff.” He leaned forward. “I can tell you that anything you've seen or read, or otherwise believe about werewolves is not really how it is, not usually anyway. And I don't know all of the answers. But we've got time to figure it all out, together.”

She laid a hand on his cheek, cupping his face, stroking her thumb over his lips as she moved toward him. “I hardly know you.”

He smiled, kissed her thumb. “What does your gut say?”

“It says I never want to hear those words again.” She chuckled, leaned into him and replaced her thumb with her lips. “It also says that getting to know you is going to be a lot of fun.”