Chapter 167
Cassie
Warming up was harder than I thought it would be. I had been cold before but nothing quite like this. It was like the ice and snow had seeped through my skin and started to coat my very bones.
I was frozen stiff and not even the hot water of a bubble bath had helped. I’d been able to hear bits and pieces of Julian’s phone conversations but not much. I didn’t have a clue what he was really thinking. All I knew for sure was that he had filled in the rest of his inner circle. Scarlett was one of those now. Scarlett and her council. Scarlett the female alpha.
I mulled over the fact that she was the first in history. And wondered how we could use that to our advantage.
I thought so long that the bath water cooled and my teeth began chattering against each other again.
Stepping out of the deep bath I reached shakily for the giant bath towel that was warming on the rack and wrapped it around my shivering body. Another was wrapped around my head.
Body still quaking because I was so cold I padded towards the bedroom, leaving a trail of wet foot prints on the wooden floor. I needed to get dressed in as many layers as I could find and then I needed to-
I stopped short in the bedroom doorway. Julian hadn’t bathed with me but he looked fresh and clean as he lounged in the bed. The blankets piled high over him. He didn’t look any where near as cold as I was.
Seeing me standing there he smiled at me. Lifting the blanket he patted the mattress next to him.
“Jump in my love.”
I only needed a moment to think about it before I dropped the towel in a puddle on the floor and jumped in next to him. Instantly the covers were back over me and I was trapped in the warm heat under them.
“Why are we in bed in the middle of the day?” I asked as I snuggled down into his chest. The heat of his body was glorious against my skin.
“Because.” Julian’s arms came about me. “I almost made you freeze to death because I couldn’t wait to be inside of you -“
I cut him off. “I wanted that as much as you did. I needed it. That’s why I ran.”
“I know.” He said patiently. “But my job as your mate is to be your protector and not just your lover and then I almost lost you to some woman watching us in the woods.”
“I should have gone after her. It was just-“ I hesitated. “I’m sure she said my name. It was like she was saying it over and over again as she came towards me and it kind of threw me for a loop.” I shook my head. “Still, I should have gone after her when she turned tail and ran. I let her slip through my fingers.”
“You did the right thing by not going after her,Cassie.” Julian said patiently. “If she knew your name then she was there for you. To try and lure you away.”
For a second I tensed in his arms. And when I spoke my lips brushed against the side of his chest. “I think I hesitated because-“ I faltered. How could I put this into words? Without sounding like a nut case?
“I could see her Cassie.” Julian said quietly. “With my own two eyes. I saw her. This wasn’t your imagination and your weren’t going crazy. She was trying to take you away from me.”
For several long minutes we just held each other. Our hearts beating in sync and our breaths low and shallow and it felt amazing to be held like this. To feel safe.
To feel seen.
“Did you know her?” His low voice broke the silence.
I shook my head. “No.” I said quickly and then hesitated. “I don’t think so but she felt familiar even if her face wasn’t. Such a strange feeling.” I shuddered.
“What did she look like?”
Hoisting myself up onto my elbow I screwed up my face. “I don’t know.”
“You saw her though right?” His eyebrow quirked towards.
I nodded. “Yeah I looked right at her.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember. “I saw her face. I know I did. But- I can’t picture it . I can’t describe it.” Opening my eyes I stared at him beseechingly. “You probably think I’m losing my mind.” I whispered and my heart cracked.
What the hell was wrong with me? She had been right in front of me , I had seen her clearly but anytime I tried to picture her I couldn’t.
Julian shifted his weight . Forcing me onto my back and into the pillows. His hands came down on either side of my shoulders.
“I saw her as well, Cassie. So if you're going crazy then so am I. She was there and trying to separate us. I don’t believe in coincidences anymore. People or things keep trying to part us. And then there are the others.” He shook his head, his eyes looking at me but not really because they were too deep in thought.
“Julian?”
He blinked the thoughts away. “The ones who have gone missing.” He said simply. “I think this woman might be related. Something sinister is at work here and-“
Reaching up I wrapped my arms around his neck and dragged him down so I could capture his lips with mine.
“We should go and talk to the others.” I said finally.
“We probably should but your skin is still icy.” As if to prove his point his hands slipped under the covers and across my skin. Which suddenly was feverish instead of cold.
“So I think you need to spend a little longer in bed.”
I frowned up at him. “I’m not sick. I’m-“
“Maybe I spoke wrong. We should spend some time in bed.” He chuckled. “In the morning I’m moving us down the mountain to the safety of the pack house.” His grin grew. “But until then I want my mate all to myself for a while. Just one evening where we can pretend we are a normal couple.”
“And not a king and his queen?” I asked.
“You will always be my queen Cassie.” He retorted. “But I was thinking more not the most hunted couple in the world.”
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