ARTEMISIA
His scent envelops me before I can recognise him fully with my eyes adjusting to the dark.
“You are drenched,” I smile as Cayden frowns at me.
“I didn’t think. I just started running here,” he says, making my heart flip happily.
He looks around, stepping closer. “Why are you all alone?”
I tilt my head, looking at him questioningly. “I’m not alone.”
“I’m here,” Hendrick says, making him turn around fast. “Didn’t you smell me?”
“No,” Cayden answers absentmindedly, causing Hendrick to look back at him sceptically. “Must be the rain.”
Clearing his throat, Cayden turns back at me. “Whatever. You didn’t lower back your wall.”
“Oh, Goddess,” I giggle, touching my head. “Sorry, I totally forgot.”
‘Don’t lie to him,’ Cassy protests, but I ignore her.
I didn’t think that he would show up personally.
“I tried to call you but you didn’t pick up, so I guess I panicked,” he says, making me look at him concerned.
“Are you sure you are alright? Why didn’t you mindlink Fynn or Hendrick?” I ask, shifting to sit on my heels.
He shrugs, passing his hand through his dripping wet hair. “Guess I just didn’t think of that. I was too concerned and you have to stop blocking me out!”
“Okay,” I say, lowering the wall protecting my mind.
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Thank you.”
I suppose that being separated hurt him as much as it hurt me.
“Will you tell me why you didn’t warn me now?” I ask, making him shift on his feet.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Hendrick says, before vanishing into thin air.
Cayden clears his throat, clenching his jaw shortly. “I got the decree a few days ago and Logan and I were working on getting it cleared. I didn’t want to trouble you as you finally got to relax here. That’s all.”
“That’s not enough, Cayden,” I take a deep breath, shaking my head. “You really need to start talking to me. This is not a fun game anymore. We are really risking big. I have so many people around me who I can’t trust. I can’t start doubting you as well, Cayden.”
“I know! I didn’t think they would send her here right away. I was still trying to get through the report about the pups and thought that they would process my request first. When I found out that they thought it was an emergency and carried on with their procedures anyway, it was already too late. I’m sure they will decline my objection because my reasoning is too weak in the next few days.” Cayden shrugs. “I’ve been an idiot. Please forgive me.”
I let my arms slump as I stare at him, nibbling at my lip. I know that I should still feel angry at him, but he really looks like a watered poodle, making my heart squeeze.
“Come.” Spreading my arms, I open and close my hands repeatedly.
A gorgeous smile spreads on his lips as he accepts my invitation, crawling onto the bed.
I laugh as I hug him, his strong frame making me fall back into the bed. “You are drenched.”
“Hear who is talking,” he jokes, wrapping his arms around me, making me squeal as the water seeps from his clothes into mine.
Cayden snuggles in further, kissing me between my breasts and groans. “I missed you.”
“Who would have ever thought, seeing that you ran through your pack grounds and the pouring rain,” I chuckle, driving my fingers into his hair.
He grins, sucking my skin between his lips. “I should have warned you. But there is no way I can let you face her alone.”
“What’s with the pack?” I ask, looking at him wide-eyed.
He closes his eyes, leaning his head back against my breasts. “Logan is taking over until we are back. I actually came to pick you up.”
“Do you think this is a good idea? After all that happened?” I ask, and he sighs exasperated.
“I think he has proven that he has his shit back together and I’m sure that he understands what is at stake for him when he fails. Also, we will be driving back in the morning, and I figured that the risk of him fucking up would be minimal.” Looking up at me, he adds, answering a silent question of mine. “And I increased the guards appointed to the dungeons.”
“Okay,” I breathe out and he shifts, dragging me out of bed with him.
“Enough now. Come take a warm shower with me,” he says, making me giggle as he already carries me into the bathroom.
***
“You can’t be serious about wanting to make her move around constantly. Did you see how weak she is?” My mother is standing in front of Cayden with crossed arms and his face is clearly giving away how much he hates being contradicted.
Also, I think my blush will not help her case as I think back at how Cayden could assure himself about how well I was feeling last night in the shower.
“We just made her move here to keep her safe. Logan and I have questioned the culprit who was sent to us from your territory and now she is safer in her home where our doctors can work with the ones of the royal palace. You surely don’t want her to give birth to your grandkids in a beach house, right?” Cayden asks in an annoyed tone while Matthew is gesturing to him wildly to cut it.
And even if he looks at him disinterested, he doesn’t really get what he tries to tell him.
Or he simply doesn’t care.
“What do you mean by culprit?” my mother asks, her defiant expression falling.
Cayden straightens his spine, crossing his arms over his chest as he clicks his tongue. “The one who your son accused of being a kidnapper and murderer.”
“What has that to do with property lines? Did someone trespass?” She looks around confused and I lower my head while Cayden snorts.
“Are you being serious right now? What property lines?”
Matthew groans, throwing his head back into his neck.
“I don’t think she knows,” Fynn says, causing my mother to turn around to him.
“Know about what?” she asks, turning around lost.
Cayden gestures to the armchair behind her with his head as he scoffs. “You might want to sit down.”
My mother sits down carefully, and my heart squeezes more and more painfully in my chest as he fills her in about the real reason we went to court for and I see her expression fall, shock taking over.
As soon as he has finished, the room falls silent, my mother looking around with a void look as she tries to put together her scattered thoughts. It takes a few minutes before she lifts her gaze to me, tears prickling in her eyes. “You didn’t have any signal problems…”
I lower my head, shaking it and she lifts her hand to her lips, gasping. “I knew we had problems with you as a pack, but I didn’t know about all of this. Oh, you must be thinking I’m just here to harm my daughter or my grandkids.”
“Honestly, yes!” Cayden says coldly, making me look at him with an incredulous look.
I’m really disappointed in how cold he is acting towards her.
“Should I leave?” my mother asks crestfallen, and I skyrocket out of my chair before Cayden can answer.
“No!” I shout, laying my hands on her shoulders. “Everything is screened, right? She doesn’t get to touch any food or drinks.”
“I will stay away from everything,” she sniffs, while I try to hold my head high under their intense gazes.
Taking a deep breath, Cayden gives in. “Okay. She can stay. But at the smallest doubt that you are trying something strange, you will be sent away.”
“Or worse,” Fynn adds with a sly grin.
Turning his head, Cayden addresses Rachel directly. “The same applies to you.”
Rachel nods, remaining silent as he sets his eyes back onto me. “Now pack your things. We are going home. We still have a marking ceremony to plan, don’t we?”
“Yes,” I say happily, dragging my mother to her feet to go pack our things.