“What if he brings forty or fifty supernaturals to fight with him? You passed out last night after killing fifteen.”
“But I’d lost control. I don’t intend to let that happen again. That was my first use of my awakening magic during battle, and now I know what to expect.”
He scowled.
“Why are you upset?”
“You want to use yourself as bait after having one experience of wielding that much power.”
“Well, isn’t that why we’re here in the courtyard right now, so I can learn better control?”
“One training session isn’t enough to learn that new ability.”
“I’m a fast learner.”
“It’s reckless.”
I cocked my head. “Perhaps it is, but the longer Jakub evades us, the more likely it is he’ll get away or show up when we least expect it, and what about the fact that the SF still isn’t here? That tells me that they haven’t been allowed into the fae lands to conduct an arrest yet, otherwise, they’d be crawling all over this town. So, it really comes down to us. Are we willing to take a risk to try to stop him, or are we going to sit back and hope that he doesn’t succeed in abducting me again when we least expect it? You have to remember that he’s still after me. What if he takes me tonight while we’re asleep?”
A hint of crimson flames rolled through his eyes. “I don’t like it.”
“Is that you talking or your wolf?”
His head tilted. “I don’t know.”
“I’m guessing it’s your wolf. Tell Mr. Wolf to cool it. I need to talk to you, the hunter, right now. ’Cause you’re a pretty analytical supe who’s rather adept at the chess game when it comes to getting what he wants.”
“Whatever are you referring to?” A sly smile tugged at his lips.
“Perhaps a little stunt you pulled that had me moving to Ontario.”
“You have to admit, I played that well.”
I snorted. “Yes, yes, you’re brilliant. Sorry, dear. Have I not stroked your ego enough?”
He laughed and pulled me closer. “Have I told you that it’s not just your violent side I love but also your wit?”
“You may have mentioned that before.”
His tongue darted out to taste my skin.
A pulse of desire quivered in my belly, but I shoved him back before we could get sidetracked again, and I had a feeling that was what he was trying to do. He didn’t like this plan because it put me at risk, but I was done being hunted.
“A delicious scent has just begun wafting off you,” he purred.
“Plug your nose. I mean it. We need to sort this out.”
He grumbled but wiped his expression clean.
I settled more on the grass in front of him. “So if we use me as bait and bring Jakub to us while I’m channeling all of your power, then we’ll have the upper hand.”
His nostrils flared, that golden hue brightening around his irises.
I cocked my head. “You call me a colantha for a reason, remember?”
A muscle tightened in his jaw, but he gave a curt nod. “I’m listening.”
“With knowing the area, we would have an advantage.”
“True.”
“And since we’ve already encountered Jakub several times, we already know what to expect.”
“Possibly true. He could have more surprises up his sleeve.”
“Unlikely. Each time he’s tried to abduct me, he’s either hidden or sent someone else to do his dirty work. And he always uses those blue cuffs. Only now, I’m immune to them. Are you?”
“Not yet. I was too busy hunting for my brother to pay a visit to the SF.”
“Oh, right, but I’m immune. So that right there gives us the upper hand. Even if Jakub were to capture me, I could break out of his cuffs.”
His nostrils flared again, and the muscles in his jaw began to tick, as that iron fragrance entered his scent.
“Why are you getting mad?”
“Because I’m thinking about him cuffing you and capturing you . . . it does things to me.”
“Well, keep your panties on. He hasn’t captured me yet.”
“It’s hard. I’d rather have my panties off around you.” A suggestive curve lifted his lips.
“You wear panties? I didn’t realize you were a cross-dresser.”
He snorted. “I’m more of a boxer briefs kinda guy if you hadn’t noticed, but I can call them panties if you prefer. I’ll even wear them if that’s your thing.”
“Black lace?”
He shrugged. “If that’s what you’re into. Speaking of black lace . . . When are you going to wear that little nightie I found—”
“We’re getting off track again.” I sighed and forced my attention away from our incessant need to banter. “So even if things went south, I can break out of the cuffs, and even if things were to go really south—as in Jakub actually abducted me—you could still track me. The blood bond makes that possible in this realm too. Right?”
“It should. The bond means I can track you anywhere, even across realms.”
“Super handy, but still a total violation of my privacy. Just sayin’.”
He smirked. “Would you like to be able to track me? I could have a tracking hex placed on me to your specification. Would that appease you, my love?” He leaned forward and nipped my neck.
A burst of goosebumps skated down my spine. “Speaking of tracking . . . If I also activate the curse, in addition to increasing my magical signal by pulling on the three of you, I’ll not only know if Jakub’s alive, but I’ll also be tethered to him. It would ensure he could find me, and he’d probably come for me if he could feel me that strongly.”
Kaillen grumbled. “If you activated it, then he would have a lifeline straight to your location.”
“Which would make it very easy to draw him out. This could end tonight.”
He seethed, but I pressed on.
“So do we have a deal? I use myself as bait, feed off of your powers to increase my magical footprint and my ability to see through his cloaking spell, and activate the curse tonight to capture Jakub?”
Kaillen was quiet for a long moment.
“Please? Will you try it for me?”
His jaw ticked again before he said, “Fine. We’ll try it, but if I see any inkling that you’re in true danger, I’m using a portal key and getting you out of there immediately, and then you’re banishing that curse.”
“Deal. You have my permission to be a possessive, dominant werewolf and whisk me to safety if needed.”
He leaned forward, until I tilted back. “Why do I detect a hint of sarcasm in your tone?”
My eyelashes fluttered. “Whatever are you talking about?”
A low growl rumbled in his chest before he hauled me back up. “If we’re doing this tonight, then we’re training all afternoon. Until I feel confident that you can successfully wield my power enough to see past Jakub’s cloaking spell, I won’t allow it.”
“Allow it?”
“You know what I mean,” he growled.
I sighed. “Yes, I do. Okay, in that case, we better get training.”
Chapter 23
Kaillen and I trained for six hours. It took that long for the hunter to feel appeased enough to consent to my plan. But I’d improved, even in that short timeframe. Each time I had his magic in my grasp, I used it to my advantage, before returning it to him. We also practiced with cloaking spells. He hid multiple objects under very heavy spells, and then I used his power to see past them. Most of the time, I could, and even though it wasn’t easy and I was far from perfect at it, I did have one advantage now. My wolf.