Fortunately, Prince Darken didn’t like flying through the thunderstorm either.

He ordered the guardians to land in Amathus, a city controlled by humans, but the guardians, who fancied thunder, lightning, and storms, took their time to descend.

By the time the Guardian of Fire touched down with hot steam puffing out of his joyful mouth, I was a walking wet sponge, hunching and trembling in the cold. I stumbled toward the tavern that I could barely see in the heavy mist of rain.

Lucas and his peers were still unloading their stuff while the guardians, who were eager to return to the sky to drink in the storm, were testy at their slowness.

I ignored Ventus, not in the mood to share his excitement. All I wanted was to be dry and warm. Though I had my father’s potent Angel blood, I was still vulnerable to the elements, just like any human would be. I suspected I was especially susceptible to the cold after my magical session with Merlin, as I was still drained from caging my beast under the icy lake.

Merlin wanted me to unleash it to claim my dark Angel power, but I wasn’t ready. No one could overcome her deepest fear in one session. His lecture about courage had made me ashamed of my cowardice for two hours before the shame faded away.

Lucas caught up with me in a few long strides after he had Einarr handle the rest of the loading. The shifter held my shoulder to keep me warm, but it didn’t help much since he was also drenched. I hoped he wouldn’t shake his hair and spray water into my eyes. He was a panther, so I was sure he would like to do that the same way my wolves did.

If he shifted, it might help me warm up faster. But a huge black panther would incite panic and chaos among the humans.

Ares stalked out of the swinging-door of the tavern. He and Ventus had landed earlier. His gaze landed on me, then on Lucas, whose arm wrapped around me. In a flash, he was by my side in the pouring rain.

“Hands off, Lucas,” Ares ordered. “Go secure the perimeter.”

“I’ll escort Freyja to a room first,” Lucas said. “She’s shivering.”

“I’ll take her,” Ares said, his voice hard and menacing. “Go!”

What was wrong with him? Did he want me completely miserable just because I hadn’t found the First Witch for him? Before Lucas could release me, Ares pulled me to him and swept me into the tavern.

The tavern owner was a middle-aged human woman. There was a tiny spark of warmth in her brown eyes. She looked at Ares warily, then fixed on me. Two of her helpers stood on either side of her behind the counter, eyeing us with suspicion and whining about the rain.

Before the woman could direct her questions at me, Ares raised a hand to stop her and whisked me off upstairs. He almost half carried me to the room.

Goodness, there was a fireplace and the fire was lit.

I scrambled toward the fire, but Ares steered me away from it toward the bathing room.

“Go dry yourself first,” he said.

“I don’t have dry clothes.”

“There’s a robe there. I’ll buy you what you need tomorrow.”

After I bathed and dried my hair, I stepped out of the bathing room into the outer suite. My flaming hair pooled down my robe.

Ares’ gaze roved over me and grew heated. He stepped toward me, as if intending to brush a few strands from my face and then strip off my robe. I parted my lips and just stared at him, daring him and inviting him at the same time. Even last night’s humiliation wouldn’t stop me from getting down and dirty with him.

His scorching touch had imprinted on me. My body craved it. It had been so pleasurable when he had been inside me. I wanted his cock to fill the unending ache in my heated channel again. I wanted his whole shaft thrusting to my depth and never stopping.

I wanted him to fuck me the whole night, to compensate for what I had missed out on for nearly twenty-two years.

Angels were a sensual species, and I had my despicable father’s insatiable lust. The druid, who had all wisdom and knowledge, had told me to “own it,” so I’d have to start practicing.

This male, whom I could touch all I wanted, had awoken my carnal desire, yet he hadn’t even let me finish the appetizer last night.

I stalked toward him, swaying my hips, and the robe slipped from my left shoulder. I would bare my breasts for him. I would let him suckle my red nipples. I would show him the shadowy valley between my thighs and let him kiss it as long as he wanted.

The mating frenzy was like a fever. 

Ares stopped. “What are you doing, Freyja?”

He seemed to jerk awake from his trance at my aggressiveness. As a predator, he didn’t like being cornered. The lust was still in his eyes, thicker than the rain outside, but hard ice also formed in them.

Shame slammed into me, cooling the fire in my vein for a second.

“What else?” I snarled like my wolves. “I’m not warm enough.” I strolled past him toward the fireplace.

I sat beside the bench and put my hands near the flame.

The rain slashed at the windows over our silence.

Ares approached me from behind, and my body tensed.

He put a small table near the fireplace. “The stew will warm you up,” he said.

I picked up the bowl and spooned lamb stew into my mouth. I didn’t thank him. Why should I? If he wanted me to find his witch for him, feeding me and keeping me warm needed to be his top priorities.

His witch? Then what was I? After half of the stew went down to my stomach, my mood improved significantly. I had to separate myself from the First Witch to protect my sanity.

Freyja was no longer the First Witch, and the First Witch was Ares’ bitch. He’d rejected me twice because he wanted her more.

Lust set me ablaze whenever I was him, and I knew he had no intention of acting on his desire, because he didn’t want to—what were the words?—screw up his own future.

It would be hell to continue on this journey with him. I thought I could use his resources to get to Mysth. I was wrong. If I kept him around, the wicked lust would drive me mad before I reached the Fey realm.

I placed the empty bowl on the table. I didn’t ask him if he’d eaten.

“Prince Darken,” I said. “I need to go shopping in Amathus tomorrow. I need more traveling clothes.”

“I said I’d get you more tomorrow,” he said. He sat on the other side of the room, polishing his sword. He didn’t spare me so much as a glance. “I’ll send your other clothing to be laundered tonight.”

“I don’t want you or your men to pick my clothes,” I said.

“What’s the problem?” he said, now looking hard at me. “You wore the ones from the druid just fine.”

“Merlin knows my taste.”

“Then I’ll have Einarr buy the same style.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you trying to lock me up by not letting me go anywhere other than the seat on Ignis’ back?”

“The fewer people see you, the safer,” he said. “The druid said you were being hunted. Who hunts you, Freyja?” He studied me darkly. “I won’t let them near you and sabotage my plan.”

Right. I would lead him to his witch—his future. After that, he wouldn’t care if the hunters got me or not.

“Do you know who they are?” he asked softly now. “Has anyone ever hunted you before?”

I kept a bored look. “Yes,” I said.

“I’ll cut them down before they lay a finger on you again.” He shot up from his chair, a death threat glittering in his eyes, and a ring of crimson formed around his irises. “Who are they?”

“You and your minions.”

He gave me a long look before frowning. “I thought we’d put this behind us. You find me the First Witch, then you can do whatever you want and go wherever you desire.”

That was all he ever cared about.

“If you want me to put this behind us, let me shop for my own clothes. I also need some feminine stuff. I use only the brand I used before.” Over his resigned look, I added, “You do realize that I’m a female who has delicate needs, right?”

“Fine, I’ll go with you,” he finally said.

“No! You don’t need to come,” I said.

He regarded me suspiciously.

“You’re the great Prince Darken,” I said. “You don’t accompany a woman on an errand.” I paused. “Or do you often do that?”

“Never,” he said. “But this is different. You’re the path—”

“—to your future, to your witch,” I finished his sentence for him. “I got it. Still, there’s no need for you to come with me.”

“I don’t want any hunters to find you,” he said.

“Your three Dragonian followers will guard me. It’ll be just a couple of hours of shopping.”

A light flashed in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking. I usually asked for Lucas, but since I would ditch the prince and his lot forever tomorrow, I had no intention of dragging Lucas down. As for whatever punishment those Dragonians would suffer after they lost me, I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass.

“I’ll guard you,” he insisted.

He would grow more suspicious if I kept protesting.

“Suit yourself,” I said with a shrug. “But be warned: shopping with a female like me can get very boring and tedious.”

He snorted. “Nothing with you is boring,” then caught himself and huffed. “Just try not to make any more trouble tomorrow, as it’s what you do the best.”

“You wear me down, too, Dragonian,” I said. “So I’m going to call it a night.”

The truth was that I couldn’t stand staying longer with him in the same room. I was still so aroused. His potent presence, intoxicating scent, and male body filled my mind. I had to constantly get myself in check, so I wouldn’t jump him.

I strode toward the bedchamber, and his heated gaze followed me. Every moment he saw me, he wanted me, but he wouldn’t have me because he coveted the First Witch more than anyone and anything. Even when he had had his cock inside me, he still stopped at the last second.

The only way for me to have him was to tell him who I really was, but I was also stubborn. He would never have my truth. 

I’d be gone forever tomorrow.

I listened to the wind and the rainstorm, unable to sleep. At some point before I dozed off, I heard a knock on the door of the outer suite.

Lucas was there, asking about me.

“She’s resting,” Ares said. “Go watch the night.”

“Why are you doing this, Ares?” Lucas said quietly.

“Doing what?” Ares said.

“Try to keep her for yourself,” said Lucas. “She isn’t yours and you’ll have another soon. Are you using her as a backup until you find your mate?”

“Careful, shifter,” Ares snarled. “I’m not using her for anything other than finding my witch. After I have my fated mate in my arms, if you still want the wolf girl, be my guest. But not before that. I need her to stay focused, and I won’t let anyone fuck up my plans!”

Keep debasing and bruising me, asshole. I squeezed my eyes tight against my thoughts.

It would be easy to get lost in a human city like Amathus.