CHAPTER THREE
Ray followed Evie into the cabin. She hadn’t changed a bit since he’d been gone. Oh, there was pain and sadness written on her face, but he was certain his own image held the same. Being apart from her had been the worst punishment he’d ever experienced.
The evil that had trapped him in faerie had essentially tortured him, but not being with Evie had made it all much worse. He knew shifters mated for life and that Evie was connected to him in ways he could only imagine, but he’d discovered he really needed her as much as she had probably needed him. If she was linked to him, so was he linked to her. A miracle that he hadn’t expected, but treasured, even though it had caused them both pain while they were apart.
And she’d given him a son. All on her own. Poor lass. That had to have been tough. There was very little he could do to make it all up to her now, but he was going to try. He was amazed she was even talking to him after his disappearance so long ago.
Twenty years! It hadn’t felt that long in faerie, but of course, time flowed differently there. He should count his blessings, because if he’d been subject to that power-draining trap for more than twenty years, he’d have been dead long ago. Apparently, he’d been in a pocket of the fey realm where time passed much more slowly. Lucky for him.
The cabin had a dusty smell, but it looked just as he remembered it. Same gingham curtains, same wood stove, same rustic wood furniture. Tarps covered the upholstered furniture to keep the inevitable dust from collecting in the fabric. He snagged an oil lamp from the table next to the door and found the matches they’d always kept alongside.
He lit the first lamp while Evie was already bustling around near the wood stove, building up a fire. She could see in the pitch dark of a North Dakota night much better than he could, after all. Werewolves were talented that way.
“Somebody must’ve been here recently,” Ray observed, looking around the place. “There are plenty of supplies.”
“Josh comes up here every autumn and makes sure it’s set for the winter, just in case. He was hiding out up here for a week or two before he went east and eventually ended up in Pennsylvania with Deena.” Evie was concentrating on getting the fire going while he wandered around checking out the cabin.
“What led him there?” Ray wanted to know. “And why did he leave you on your own in the first place? Growing pains?”
“You might call it that.” Evie sounded just a bit sarcastic. “Ray, he was a plain old garden-variety werewolf most of his life, but then suddenly, something changed, and he had all this barely-controlled magic to contend with. He was in serious danger from unscrupulous mages who hunted him to try to steal his power. Josh left to lead them away from me and to try to find someone to help him figure out what had happened and how to control his rogue power.”
“Damn. I’m sorry.” Ray sat on the nearest chair. His son had needed him—probably many times—and he hadn’t been there for him. He was a terrible father. He thought about that for a long moment while Evie turned back to the little flame she was coaxing into life in the fireplace. After a long moment of self-recrimination, he sighed. “Sometimes, it happens that way. A triggering event occurs, and dormant magic flares to life. If I’d been here, I could’ve helped him through it. Protected him while he was working on control and shielding.”
Evie left the fire, which was well on its way now, and sat across from him. “You’re probably not too late for that,” she told him, raising a tiny bit of hope in his heart. “The reason Josh was told to break you out of faerie was so that you could help train him.”
“Train his magic?” Ray nodded. “Yes, I can definitely help him with that. But who told him where I was? I didn’t think anyone knew.”
“There is one being who always knows, Ray.” Evie’s voice dropped to a respectful whisper.
“You mean…” Ray wasn’t sure, but it sounded like his son had encountered the divine.
“The Mother of All spoke to him. More than that, She asked him to serve as a Knight of the Light, and of course, he agreed. Sir Duncan has been training him until Josh and Deena could break you free. Deena is a priestess and also has fey blood. Between the two of them, they figured out how to pull you back into the mortal realm.”
“My son, a Knight?” He was awestruck by the very idea. He’d missed so much, but he might yet be able to build a relationship with his son as an equal—a comrade in arms, in service to the Light. It was a humbling thought.
“He’s a good man,” Evie said quietly. “Just like his father.” She reached out, touching Ray’s hand resting on the arm of the chair. He felt the impact of her gentle touch all the way to his soul. Moving slowly, he captured her hand with his and twined their fingers together.
“I’ve been a terrible mate, Evie,” he admitted. “I abandoned you when you needed me most.”
“Through no fault of your own,” she insisted. “Even before I knew what had happened to you, I knew you would never have left me like that on purpose. I thought maybe you’d died, but the connection between us made me think you were alive…somewhere. I tried to track you, but I failed many times. Now, of course, I know why. Even my wolf can’t track across the realms to faerie.” She let out a wry chuckle. Her tone was soft. Forgiving.
Ray wasn’t sure he deserved forgiveness. He wasn’t really sure of anything right now, except his mate’s soft hand in his. He was so damn tired, he wasn’t able to make much sense of anything, but he was free. That, at least, he knew. Unless he was dreaming again…
“This is real, isn’t it?” he asked suddenly, needing to know.
Tears sprang to Evie’s eyes, and she squeezed his hand. “It’s real. You’re here, with me, Ray.”
“It’s almost too much to believe,” he whispered. He felt an answering wetness gathering behind his eyes. Tears. He’d given in to them a time or two in his life, but he’d never allowed his captors to see his grief. He’d been strong for so long…
“I know.” Evie’s voice came to him as she moved out of her chair to kneel beside his.
He realized his hand was trembling. In fact, his whole body was shaking, just slightly. Fatigue had finally caught up with him, and if Evie promised him he was safely away from his enemies, he would trust her. She was the only person in the world he would trust. He could finally rest and try to recoup the power that had been drained from him for so very long.
“Come with me, my love.” Evie’s soft tones beckoned him to rise, her strong hands supporting his trembling limbs as she guided him over to the bed. Their bed.
How he’d longed to see this cabin again. The bed. The woman…his beloved mate. He’d missed her so much.
Ray wasn’t sure if he was speaking his thoughts aloud as Evie tucked him into their bed. He was shivering until she climbed in beside him and wrapped her arms around him, sharing her warmth. Evie was always warm—a gift of her shifter heritage—and more than just the physical, she warmed his heart, as well. The bond between them pulsed with caring. It was beautiful to his magical sight. He’d missed this closeness he’d never felt with another being. He’d missed her. He’d missed so very much…
Evie realized Ray was a lot weaker than he’d let on. She would bet he’d been running on adrenaline since he entered the mortal realm. It had gotten him this far, but it was clear to her that he was about to crash.
The shaking in his limbs worried her, but that might just be cold. She remembered he hadn’t always handled the winter chill as easily as she had. His clothing was thin. As if he’d been living in a summer climate. Who knew how the weather worked in faerie?
She was just glad to have him back at long last. She sent a prayer of thanks heavenward to the Mother of All, praying also for the safety of her son and his mate, and the return of health and vigor to Ray. Evie had a lot to be thankful for, but also a lot to worry about.
As Ray’s tension started to ease, and he settled peacefully in her embrace, she realized that, for this moment in time, all was right with her world. It might not be perfect—particularly since she didn’t know the full extent of Josh and Dina’s troubles back in Pennsylvania—but as she’d often told her son, perfection was overrated. Doing the best you could was good enough most of the time, and right now, the best she could was pretty darn good.
She had her mate in her arms for the first time in decades, and her inner wolf was happier than she had been in all that time. Things weren’t perfect. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But they’d work on it. They had a lot to iron out when he woke and many plans to make.
For one thing, she needed to check on Josh. Her connection to her son never wavered, so on an instinctual level, she knew he was still alive. That was comforting, at least. Whatever had happened after Ray poofed them away from the stone circle, at least Josh was still living.
As if thinking about him conjured him, Evie felt her cell phone vibrating in her coat pocket. She hadn’t bothered to take off her coat since the cabin was still cold. She fumbled around to find the pocket for a moment, then was able to hit the button to answer the call. She kept her voice low, but Ray didn’t stir. He was asleep. Or maybe unconscious. She wasn’t exactly sure which, but her wolf senses told her he was mostly okay. He just needed time and rest to recover his strength.
“Josh?” Evie answered the phone, knowing it had to be her son calling.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Josh’s voice sounded so good in her ear.
“Yeah. How about you?”
“We’re fine. It got a little hairy for a bit after you guys left, but we handled it. Everything’s secure. Where the heck are you?”
“Honey, Ray didn’t fully understand the situation. He saw me, and I guess he felt protective. He used one last push of magic to bring us to our old cabin. We’re here now, and he’s down for the count. He said the creature that came through behind him was his jailor. It was siphoning off his energy a little bit at a time. We would’ve come back to help you, but he didn’t have the power. He’s asleep now.” At least she hoped it was a normal sleep. She didn’t really have any medical training and couldn’t do much for him way out here in the middle of nowhere by herself if he needed medical intervention. All she could really do was pray.
“That’s all right, Mom. Between us, Deena and I were able to send it back where it came from. I’m sorry if we scared you.”
That was her boy, always taking on the responsibility for those around him. If they’d been in a Pack, he would’ve been a good Alpha, but he’d always had too much of his father in him to do well in Pack life. She’d understood that from the beginning. She’d left her Pack—where she’d been of somewhat low rank—to be with her mate. Evie had never been very dominant and was more of a lover than a fighter, which meant she didn’t stand very high in the Pack hierarchy. But she’d been okay with that. She understood her place and accepted it.
Ray had changed everything. With him, she’d felt complete for the first time in her life—as if she fit somewhere...with someone. They’d formed a Pack of two, which had been good enough for her.
After Ray disappeared and she realized she was pregnant, she’d lived for the tiny life inside her, and Joshua had become her Pack. They’d done well together, but he’d had to leave when his magic flared out of control.
She’d prepared for a life alone, never dreaming Ray would—or even could—return. Now, here he was, with her. She almost couldn’t believe it. This was her most fantastical dream come true.
“Thank you, Josh,” she choked out, hoping her son would realize the tremendous emotion contained in those simple words.
“I’m glad it worked out.” His low, serious tone told her he understood. Her boy was a sensitive soul. “Call me if you need me. Otherwise, we’ll talk again in the morning, okay?”
“We should be fine for the night. You stocked the cabin with everything we could need. I’ve got the fire lit, and it’s already warming up.”
“Good. Deena says goodnight, and we’ll speak again tomorrow.” He paused. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
His concern made her smile. “Yes, worrywart. I’m with your father.” Her voice wavered with joy. She cleared her throat so she wouldn’t burst into happy tears. “Truly, Joshua, I couldn’t be safer. Ray is… Well…he’s something special. You saw. His first instinct was to take me to safety, despite how drained he was.”
“That says a lot for him,” Josh admitted. “But is he strong enough to defend you if something dangerous comes to call?”
“Honey, we’re in the middle of nowhere. Nothing’s going to sneak up on me, of all people. I’m still a wolf. You know how sharp my hearing is, even in human form. And if I really need help and Ray can’t handle it—which I’m sure he can, because he can handle just about anything—I can go wolf and run to the reservation. The shaman there should be able to lend assistance.”
“Promise me you’ll do that at the first sign of trouble. And call me. Just hit the speed dial. I’ll answer any time, day or night.”
“I know that, son. Joshua…I love you so much. You’ve given me back my life.” Her voice broke, this time, with emotion she couldn’t suppress.
“It’s only fair. You gave me life. I’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”
“I do. And what you did tonight… I don’t have the words…” Yeah, the tears were coming, and she wasn’t going to be able to hold them back much longer.
“It’s okay, Mom. I know. I love you. Have a good night and stay alert. Call me if you need me.”
“I will, worrywart.” She hiccupped as she laughed, and they hung up on a good note.
Then, the tears came.
Evie wept silently, her joy overwhelming her for a bright moment where her heart expanded beyond its capacity to hold in the feelings. She held on to Ray, warming him with her body, stroking his muscled arms, cherishing the fact that he was with her again. She listened to him breathe and rested her ear over his heart, reassured by the steady beat.
She fell asleep that way. In the embrace of her mate. The only man she would ever love.