Queen Alpha (NYC Mecca #2)(65)

I heard a crackling noise. Behind me, the rest of our group was traveling in. Monica, Blaine, Victor, and Nikoli appeared, striding straight across to join us.

Baladar assessed the group, stopping on my huge familiar. “Yes, I heard she was taken. I fear you’re not prepared for the unique and dangerous things you will encounter in the fae lands.”

Why was he speaking ominously and staring at my familiar?

I tried to draw his attention back to me. “I’m not a queen or shifter, who would ever leave a friend behind. Violet is my best friend. The fae took what’s mine and I will be getting her back.”

“She’s been spending way too much time with the bear king,” I heard Monica whisper behind us, followed by a few chuckles. They weren’t wrong. I was getting all bear-possessive like him.

Baladar nodded. “Yes, Violet is a special soul. I hope you can get her back.”

Kade was still growling when he said, “We can and we will.”

Baladar looked from me to Kade and back, tilting his head slightly as he examined us. “I was wondering when you two would realize.”

And we were back to the riddles. “Realize what?”

Baladar grinned. “Come on, you haven’t recognized it yet?”

I fought the urge to punch him, my wolf rising up, prepared to strike. We had no time for this, we had to move out of here and get this journey started.

Before I could say anything, Kade stepped into him, his voice flat as he said: “Just tell us, Baladar. We have no time for your mysteriousness.”

Baladar leaned over, bringing his head closer to us as he lowered his voice: “You’re bonded mates. Like the original shifters. You can speak into each other’s minds, feel the other’s emotions, sense when the other is in danger, no matter how far away. Haven’t you felt it? I can see it.”

I understood his explanation, but I wasn’t sure I believed what he was saying. Modern wolves didn’t have bonded mates. It was like an old tale from the origin of shifters, and no one knew if it was actually true or just made up.

Turning to Kade, I reached out a hand, feeling for that spark of energy that was always between us. The closer I got, the stronger the pull. Had this changed since we’d made love? For the first time I tried to speak to him using the same path I did with Finn – a bonded mental connection. As my energy expended, I realized my heart was hammering. I both feared the truth, and hurt at the thought that it might not be possible.

Kade? I focused the question, not sure if Finn would hear too.

Kade’s arms went around me and he lifted me up into his body. How is this possible? His deep voice rumbled through my mind, and right then, as our thoughts mingled in our consciousnesses, our energy let out a deep gonging sound, like a bell had been struck. My body sank into his as mecca danced around the room. Both of us glowed purple, and some of the space inside, from where Selene had stolen my energy, was filled.

“I can feel you,” I said out loud, still not used to speaking with him in my mind. “Your energy, your strength.” My voice dropped to barely a whisper. “I can feel you.”

Kade kissed me then, long and hard, the purple of our skin brightening. I could see it beneath my closed lids. Using our bond, he said to me: I can feel you too. Everything. Your kindness, your heart, your loyalty and love for all your people. Your love for me. I am not sure I’m worthy, but I will never take this for granted. You are my bonded mate. My true one.

My true one, I echoed back, losing myself in his embrace.

Eventually we had to stop kissing, but Kade kept me close to his side. He turned to Baladar, and I could feel the happiness and confusion within him. “It is true. We’re bonded mates. But how is this possible? I thought bonded mates were a fairy tale? No bears have ever bonded in such a way. There are stories, but no evidence of it.”

So it wasn’t just the wolves.

Baladar shook his head. “They were very common back in my day, when wolves and bears inter-mated. You see, the combination is only possible with the opposite race. It’s how things were meant to be. Yin and Yang. Balance. The reason bears have male heirs and wolves have females. The leaders have always been meant to be together.”

Holy shifter babies. We had intentionally separated the races, and by doing so kept everyone from meeting their bonded mate. It left an awful pit in my stomach. Not to mention … how freaking old was Baladar? Wolves and bears had not been together for hundreds of years, clearly since the time of the original shifters.

I could see that all of our people were affected by this revelation, by the knowledge which had been lost, knowledge which would have helped to strengthen our people. When did this all start, the division between us?

Nikoli cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but we must hurry if we’re to make the changing of the guard.”

Kade and I separated ourselves then, the purple mecca fading from our skin. Never separated now, love, he said, before a mental barrier fell between our minds. I could feel him there, but the thoughts weren’t actively flowing between us. He’d done that, separated our thoughts, and I was grateful. It was going to take me some time to figure out how to isolate Finn and Kade in my mind, and how to only project the thought I wanted each to know. It wouldn’t be long, though. All my years meditating and using the bonded connection to Finn had been good training.

Baladar led us across to the far side of his bear party area, and pointed toward a door that was discreetly hidden in a small alcove. “Use this exit. It’ll drop you very close to the royal residence. Selene hasn’t had time yet to incorporate too many new security measures, but she is actively keeping an eye out for you. Especially after Calista’s letter.”