On a Razor's Edge (Darkness #3)(21)

“Then we understand each other. I’ll leave you to it. Stefan, you might say your goodbyes.”

Stefan stared at Tim as Dominicous walked away toward Toa, wanting to verbalize his own threats, but refrained, knowing he’d only sound redundant. Instead, for his mate, he said, “Sasha thinks she fails constantly, which brings her down. I’d be grateful…” Stefan refused to let his jaw clench. “…if you would play positive around her. Keep her spirits up. She is truly a remarkable female, but she doesn’t know it.”

“In return, I hope you’ll keep Esmine comfortable. She is heavily pregnant.”

“We cherish pregnant females. She will be well looked after.”

Tim stared for a beat before saying, “I know about what happened with your parents. It is a different pack now than it was then. We do not abide by such absolute cowardice. I want you to know that.”

Rage welled up in Stefan, barely in check. Sasha looked over in surprise, meeting his eyes with a question. She felt his sudden turmoil and, like the dear heart she was, would leave everyone waiting to come over and check. Dear heart, but terrible leader. Trusting he could work his way out of situations was something she still had to learn.

For the moment, though, he was thankful—not that he could admit it, obviously. Especially in front of a sack of farts like this pack of critters in front of him.

Stefan calmed his mind so his mental trash-talking didn’t turn verbal and end the agreement right here. He nodded once, and then strode away.

Chapter 6

I stopped loading the few meager possessions I owned into the car and stuffed my hands in my pockets. I’d never really had a home, which was true. Living with a foster family didn’t allow me to get too comfortable putting down roots. Then my small apartment, the first space that became mine, had been something like a handout from the city for my parentless status. I paid the rent and didn’t get any breaks on rent after a year, but still, I hadn’t exactly earned it.

But now, as the door was opened by a solid man with wild eyes, I felt a clump of lead form in my chest. If ever I had a home, this was it. I had my own area in a secret spot, with a standing invitation to treat Stefan’s rooms as my own. I had been given leave to decorate as I wished, hang pictures if I wanted, and otherwise have the run of the place. He had invited me in permanently; to share his space, make it mine.

On the cusp of deciding I would like that very much, I was being packed up again and sent on my way. Sure, it wasn’t for that long, and yes, I needed to get trained away from spectators, but still, a girl could whine a little.

“Sasha.” The voice tingled down my spine and lit me up.

Stefan stood behind me, his eyes intent but soft, his face something from a magazine cover. “This is farewell. I will see you soon. Take care of yourself and come back to me safe, okay? Don’t do anything foolish and make sure to stay close to Toa, Charles, or Jonas at all times.”

I slid my arms around his neck, letting him hug me close. He backed off enough to kiss me, his lips and manner indulgent, giving me something familiar and solid to hang on to. He didn’t rush me or hurry me along for the sake of his gruff leadership role. Instead, his tongue played, chasing mine, intertwining as his hands roamed my body, as if he were feeling and remembering each curve to have something to hold on to when we had to endure our nights away from each other.

“Okay,” I said into his chest when my body started to heat up uncomfortably. It wasn’t the time for a quickie. “I’ll come back ready to lead an army.”

He smiled down on me. “I love you.”

I took a big breath and wiped a tear. “You’d think I never spent any time alone.”

He rested his palm lightly on my cheek. “It feels like we’ve been together all our lives. Keep your link open and I’ll feel you. It’ll lessen the distance.”

I got a pang of longing as he stepped away. His face smoothed over into his familiar mask of steel as a burly man with a pronounced five o’clock shadow padded up with silent footsteps. He moved like a robust dancer, powerful but sleek. His brown eyes flicked at Stefan before landing on me.

“Sasha,” his graveled voice rumbled out of his chest, “My name is Tim. I am the alpha, which means all decisions go through me. We’ll have an easy time of it, don’t you worry.” He stood at the door, silently asking me to get in and get on our way.

I took one last look at Stefan, before I turned toward the car, and right into a staring, blue-eyed creeper. “Gah! Toa! Je-sus! Warn a girl when you plan to sneak up behind her.”

“You should be sensing for others with your magic. I should not be able to sneak,” Toa replied with silky patience.

I shook my head and climbed into the car.

“Your lessons have officially begun,” Toa said before the car had even started moving. “First we shall go over the principles of magic, starting with the elements. Now…”

My thoughts drifted sideways, Toa’s musical voice droning on as the city flashed by. I was interested to learn more about the Mata, wondering if they lined up with what I’d heard in stories, or if they, too, had a different twist on reality. I assumed they probably did, knowing Stefan wouldn’t have entrusted me to savage werewolves that bite anything they see and spread their werewolf ways through their bite.

Some thirty minutes or more after leaving the city, and when Toa had just started on the water element, the cars all turned into a pull-out, with the woods reaching out to us in the darkness.