Mind Mates (Pull of the Moon Book 2) (17 page)

“Oh dear,” Linda twittered as she disappeared her wand. “Goodwin, you appear to be right. It’s the prophecy again.”

Emma needed to go, but she couldn’t leave without knowing her journal wouldn’t turn into a chomping monster or worse. “What is this prophecy everyone keeps talking about?”

“Superstitious nonsense,” Gabriel said. “Not to be taken seriously.”

Linda shook her head. “Some people are taking it very seriously. Powerful people, willing to kill for it.”

Emma picked up her journal and held it tight. “Is the prophecy magic?”

“In a way.”

“Prophesy isn’t real,” Gabriel insisted.

“It’s as real as magic,” Goodwin said. “Magic collapses possibilities into one reality. But time does too—and that is prophecy in a nutshell.”

“Prophecy predicts whether time picks Yes or No from future Maybes?” Emma asked.

“Couldn’t have said it better, dear girl.”

Gabriel stubbornly shook his head. “Time collapses possibilities
randomly,
which makes long-range prophecy impossible.”

“Impossible?” Emma asked. “Or only difficult, like predicting long-range weather?”

“Exactly!” Linda bestowed a pleased look on Gabriel, mouthing “Keeper.”

“You’re a boy who wants facts,” Goodwin said. “If prophecy isn’t real, how have all the fabled predictions of the great wizard prince Jean-Dion d’Avignon come true? Not a few, not half, not most, but
all of them.
Including the Avignon Quatrain.” He recited:

“HEART beats for a wolf and a Blue

MIND is focused by Light

SOUL belongs to those who are True

The KEY unlocks the Night.”

“What does that mean?” Emma said.

“Who knows?” Gabriel rolled his eyes. “They’re all vague but portentous. And
pre
tentious too.”

“But what if it isn’t, dear?” Linda’s hands fluttered like butterflies, bracelets clacking. “What if the key is real?”

Emma’s heart thumped against the journal pressed to her chest. “The key to what?”

“Night,” Linda said.

“Magic itself,” Goodwin breathed.

“Or the shed out back.” Gabriel crossed arms. “We don’t
know.
”

“We know the heart piece is real,” Linda retorted. “It’s Noah’s wolf pendant, originally his father’s—charged with his mother’s and father’s love.”

“We think heart, mind, and soul are all talismans,” Goodwin said. “And that they combine to form the key.”

“A mysterious key that controls magic.” Skepticism rode Gabriel’s tone.

“That’s one idea,” Pan said. “It could be for if mundanes break magic. A way to keep doing it.”

“Or it’s a key to enhancing magic,” Goodwin said. “To make the holder the most powerful witch in the world. Which would explain why so many witches have been pursuing it.”

“Maybe this, maybe that.” Gabriel gave an irritated shrug. “Too many vague options. Essentially useless.”

Gabriel’s aunt reached across and patted his hand. “Whatever the key is, we know it’s important.”

Clutched to her chest, Emma’s journal seemed to warm. “And this prophecy is active? What does that mean?”

“Extra writing appears when something is about to happen,” Pan said. “A message, aimed at a person or persons directly involved in that event. It’s happened twice before, once when Gabriel’s cousin found the parchment containing the quatrain, and once when his sister identified the heart piece. This time it says—”

“I don’t care,” Gabriel said. “It’s all coincidence.”

“Coincidence ‘Beware the Hungry Ghost’ was scribbled immediately before your sister battled the power-hungry Burgot?” Pan’s black brow rose mockingly.

“Fine. You’re right,
again.
”

“You mean ‘as usual’.” Pan’s brow lowered into smugness.

“Keep it up, buddy.” Gabriel glared at the assistant manager. “Your favorite amulets ain’t gonna charge themselves.”

Emma watched the interplay between the two, getting the impression it was something they did often. The banter, the fact that Gabriel’s assistant manager had come along on the trip… She gaped at the black-haired man. “You’re not simply an assistant manager. You’re his
familiar.
”

“Panther.” That black brow cocked at
her.
“You’re just figuring that out?”

“Considering I learned he was a witch only a few hours ago, I’d say I caught on remarkably quick. So what does the extra writing say this time?”

“Glad you asked. It says—”

“Don’t care.” Gabriel sliced a hand through the air, cutting off the familiar. “Prophecy’s a bunch of one-size-fits-all futures.”

“Emma asked me, not you, Mr. Doubtfire,” Pan sniffed. “It says, ‘Give in to the rage…and then a word I don’t know. Daniel read it to me over the phone, and it sounded like PEH-tee-OH-ta.”

“The rage?” Emma’s stomach churned. That was too close to her nasty berserker talent for comfort. She forced herself to shrug. “Well, I have to go with Gabriel on this. Too vague to be helpful.”

“Ha.” Gabriel wet a finger and dashed a tally line in the air.

“Yeah?” Pan growled. “Maybe I’ll let you find the way to open your sister’s jail through hit-or-miss humping all over town.”

Emma’s face flamed. “Wait, what?”

Gabriel passed a hand over his forehead, a gesture Emma recognized from many encounters with Brant the Blundering. “I’ll explain later.” Dropping his hand, he nailed his familiar with his narrowest gaze. “Fine. We have an active prophecy, writing in an old journal that’s magically locked, my sister in jail, an Enforcer who hates me, and a possibly unrepeatable way to open a second portal out of said jail. And you think all of these things are related?”

“Quite the tangled ball of yarn.” Linda said.

“I couldn’t have put it better myself, Auntie. So what, wisdom creature, is our next step?”

“Untangle the ball.” Pan’s gold eyes seemed to scan the room as his brain worked. “Split our forces to cover more ground. Someone needs to keep an eye on the Enforcer, to let us know what he’s up to and give us warning if he gets a bead on our escapees here. Someone innocent.” He gazed straight at Linda. “Innocent-looking, I mean.”

She dimpled. “My pleasure. Let me get some props first.” She trotted off.

“Then there’s the tantalizing second portal you and Emma opened,” Pan continued. “Even if the technique only works from inside a jail, it does raise possibilities. Goodwin can research that in the library here.”

“And you?”

“When I talked with Noah’s beta, Mason, he said something strange was going on with Noah’s mating bond to Sophia. And surprise, Noah’s thinking about doing something stupid. I’ll follow up with Mason at the garage and help him and Noah’s familiar sit on Noah.”

“The garage. You mean…” Emma couldn’t help a big yawn. “Sorry. Blackwood Small Engine Repair?”

“You poor dear.” Linda returned, tucking yarn and crochet hook into her craft bag. “You two have been on the go since yesterday. Gabriel, dear boy, take Emma to your pocket universe.
Both
of you should get some bed rest.”

Emma was shivering with another yawn, but the way the little round witch beamed between Emma and Gabriel, she might have said
bed,
but there wasn’t any
resting
involved.

Emma stopped shuddering mid-yawn.

“Auntie, I’m not sleeping until I see Emma safely away from her brother.”

“Do you think that’s wise?” Goodwin raised one distinguished brow. “Whatever’s going on, we know her journal is part of it.”

“We don’t
know
that.” Gabriel’s jaw set. Then he glanced at her. “But I do admit I’m worried. Emma?”

She yawned again. “A nap wouldn’t hurt. I don’t want to cause an accident driving.”

“Whatever.” Pan started for the door. “I’ll be at the garage. Once you’re done ‘resting’ see if you can figure out what that prophecy warning means.”

“Me?” Gabriel seemed surprised.

“Both of you.” He flicked a gold gaze over his shoulder. “The writing apparently appeared when we got into town. Since I’m not notably rage-filled, it’s probably meant for one of you two.”

“I’m off to research jail portals.” Goodwin slid a talisman from his pocket and intoned, “McResearch, McResearch, look for the golden arches.” An iris opened to rows and rows of tall bookshelves filled with thick, ancient-looking books. He stepped through. “Although if it becomes known that Enforcer jails are not impregnable, it would raise red flags with some seriously dangerous people. We must be careful.” The iris closed.

Emma’s spine iced, until Gabriel muttered, “Thanks for the snappy exit line.” Then he speared a hand through his hair. “ Auntie? Do you think Sophia’s okay? And the babies?”

His own freedom, his very life in danger, and he was worried about his sister. Emma’s heart warmed. Caring for his sister and her babies…
baby.

The idea that had been flitting about the back of Emma’s mind hit her full blown.

A baby.

Bruiser couldn’t drag her off to Manistee’s sacred ground and claim her, even with a ceremony,
if she were already mated.
Since she wasn’t finding her mate in the next hour, the next best thing was
getting pregnant.

Her breath stopped at the idea. Although generally shifters didn’t have to worry about children until mated, they
could
get pregnant before then. It didn’t happen every day, but with the libido of a wolf, it did happen—and it was more
likely
to happen with another shifter, because a little extra magic didn’t hurt.

Gabriel has magic.
More than a little extra, at that.

Her breath came back, rasping and excited.

She’d no longer have to run from her brother or Bruiser. She could stay here, with Gabriel.

Well, not here, not with the Enforcer. But if they ran, they’d
both
have to run. Together.

I’d have a connection to Gabriel forever.

His aunt was saying, “Sophia is safe enough, dear, at least until the Council schedules her for trial.”

Pan tapped an impatient toe. “Whatever we do, we should do it quickly. Agreed?”

“Aye,” Linda said.

Emma said, “Aye.”

Gabriel reached for her hand. Grudgingly, he added his “Aye.”

“Good.” Pan glided to the door, Linda following.

“Lock up after us.” Just before she shut the door, she grinned. “Enjoy your bed rest.” She clicked the door shut.

Leaving Emma alone with Gabriel.

Chapter Fifteen

The store was suddenly far too quiet. The hush of expectancy settled heavily on Emma’s shoulders.

Enjoy your “rest”. Linda might as well have winked and added, “If you know what I mean.”

She had the right idea
, Emma’s wolf yipped.
Time to get pregnant.

But Emma stood there, her hand in Gabriel’s. He didn’t seem to realize he was holding hers. She was too embarrassed…too excited…to look directly at him, so she stared at his shoes.

Her plan was half-baked and flavored more than a little by her desire to go to bed with him. Maybe the plan was actually an excuse.

Stop thinking so much
, her wolf growled.
Do it.

In her periphery, she saw him pull something out of his pocket and finger it. It looked like a small silver medallion.

He probably hadn’t caught his aunt’s sly smile. Didn’t realize she’d left them alone together to have sex.

Sex.
With all luscious six-five of Gabriel. It made her quiver with need.

Bonus, if I could get pregnant by him…

Yes, a one-shot pregnancy, even with a he-witch, was extremely unlikely. Yes, even if she beat the odds, it would be a few days before the pregnancy took.

But, oh yes, she didn’t care about any of that. Because, well, sex. With Gabriel.

Finally she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “So, um…do you think we can get some
rest?
” She couldn’t help the hopeful little yip that emphasized the word.

He startled. Looked down at their joined hands. Started to release hers.

Disappointment speared her. She was reading too much into the situation. Handholding didn’t mean he wanted what she did: kissing, sex,
lifetime companionship…

Good heavens. I don’t want him to save me by making a baby. I want his baby…because I want a lifetime with him.

Then his fingers firmed, and he tugged her toward the beaded curtain in the back of the store. “Yes. I’ve been denying it too long.”

Denying what? Rest? Or
rest?
Lifetime aside, she’d take sex for now. She followed trippingly. Could he be on the same page as she was?

He dragged her through rattling beads into a homey kitchen.

“You’re hungry?” she panted.

“Starving.”

The blatant need in his voice made her shiver. But did he mean food, or something else?

He thumbed the medallion in his other hand. A portal opened midair.

“What is that?” she asked.

“A workout dimension. But there’s a bathroom with a shower. And, as Aunt Linda so helpfully pointed out—a bedroom.”

The words resonated in her head…and deep between her legs, pooling there, throbbing.
A bedroom.
Where they could sleep…or not.

If we’re on the same page…
Her nipples tightened greedily.

He stepped through the portal and gently helped her in after him.

She found herself in a large room, a rack of what looked like arcane weapons on one side. Half the floor was padded mat; one wall was a mirror. A door was on the other side.

As the iris closed behind her, he tugged on her hand, leading her toward the door.

Her anticipation and hope amplified with each step, until her legs were weak and trembling. She was glad of his hand for support.

He opened the door to reveal a dark stairwell with a steep set of stairs.

“Come on.” He started up them, fast, towing her in his wake.

“Is this like our jail?” She was a bit breathless, not simply because his long legs were eating up the treads. Eagerness tingled all the way from her lungs to her dampening sex. “A pocket dimension where the Enforcer can’t see us?”

“Yes. Or hear us.” Reaching the top of the stairs, he turned to her, taking both her hands in his. In the dim light, his glasses seemed to glow, his eyes alight behind them. “We can climax as loud as we want.”

A thrill skewered her. Her breath came in excited rasps. He was definitely on the same page.

But instead of leading her immediately to the bedroom, he paused, and she thought he’d reconsidered. “Emma, I know we have things to discuss. If you’d rather—”

“No, I’m fine.”

He tipped his glasses onto his head and his beautiful blue-green eyes searched hers. “You’re not, not really. So if you want to delay, I’d understand.”

“Well…I do want to talk, but I’m good enough for now.”

“Good enough isn’t enough,” he said simply, and she melted a bit more for him. Most people, caught up in their own lives, only wanted to hear her, “I’m fine.”

Gabriel really cared if she was happy or not.

Whatever was or wasn’t between them, he truly was her friend. “That means the world to me.” She squeezed his hands as an underline. “But frankly, I have other
needs
first.” Both her wolf and her woman charged the word
with months of frustrated yearning and the sizzling knowledge of that magically charged orgasm.

“Oh yeah. Me too.” He turned and practically dragged her to the end of the corridor, where he opened one of two doors. Then he stopped again, and her belly dropped, fearing that, despite everything, he’d changed his mind.

“Um, there’s the bathroom.” He pointed behind her. “If you want to, um, freshen up. I’ll need it after you. I’d like to brush my teeth and wash my…and wash.”

Fierce satisfaction shook her. “I’ll be right out.”

Shutting herself in the small half-bath, she used her index finger to scrub toothpaste over her incisors, molars, and gums then gave herself an abbreviated wash. She was about to open the door when she thought, in for a penny, in for a couple of twenties.

She kicked off her shoes then stripped off her T-shirt and jeans. As she folded them, she checked out what was left. Linda’s magic had given her a pretty, matching bra and bikini set.
Okay.
She placed her clothes on the sink, settling her journal carefully on top.

Heart pounding, clad only in her underwear, she opened the door. He was leaning against the wall opposite.

At the click, his gaze lifted.

He straightened with a gratifying speed, his fly inflating like an airbag. His eyes dilated to huge pools of black, gaze roving over her body. She preened a bit at that.

He swallowed, hard. “I-I need to wash.”

“You can wash later. I want to get you really dirty first.” She lifted her breastbone, thrusting her tight nipples against the cloth of the bra, feeling the cool air rumple her cleavage.

He tried to swallow again, didn’t quite make it. “I want to go slower this time. Do it right.”

“You did it right last time.” She walked toward him. Her wolf knew how to raise its tail seductively, and she let that sexy saunter creep into her gait as she closed the gap.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he finally managed the swallow. “I thought slower would be better for you.”

“
Now
would be better for me.” She placed her palms against his chest. His pecs were as rock-hard as she remembered them. Even as an iota, she’d had her share of sex, but none of the wolves, lean to the point of stringy, had felt like this. This wizard prince’s muscles were made of chunks of granite. Huge heavy chunks. She let her hands rove over him, palms and fingers tasting their fill.

He grabbed her hands, stilling them. “Wait.”

She didn’t want to stop. But when he released her hands it was to grab the bottom of his sweater vest and tear it over his head.

He started fumbling open the buttons of his shirt. “I want your hands on my bare skin.”

Me too.
“Last time you poofed the clothes.”

“This time we’re going slower,” he insisted, wrestling off his shirt, his arm and chest muscles jouncing until she wanted, no
needed
, to lick every inch.

“You can try.” She stripped off her bra, wiggled out of her panties and posed nude for him, stretching herself out for his gaze.

His hands dropped to his sides and swung there like lead weights. He stood staring at her, eyes almost glazed with lust, nostrils flared with panting, fists clenched so hard his knuckles were white.

But not moving any other way. All that control.

Going up in flames if she had anything to say about it.

She put her hands under her breasts and plumped them.

A strangled sound emerged from his throat, but
he still just stood there.

So she used her thumbs to brush her erect nipples.
Flick, flick…
Still
nothing
. Did he need to hear it? She groaned from her soul,
“Gabriel. Fuck me before I rupture.”

He roared and swept her up in his arms. Her stomach tumbled as he whirled into a small bedroom with two twin cots. “Join,” he snarled, and the cots became one large bed. Good thing because he practically launched her onto her back in the middle of the mattress. She bounced, landing on her elbows with her legs spread.

His hot flesh instantly filled the gap, naked abs searing her pussy, pressing her into the yielding bedding, his mouth already seeking hers, lips questing. One hand cradled her head as his tongue drove into the depths of her. His belly rasped against her with his panted breaths. The corrugated rocks of his abs scrubbed her like a washboard.

She snaked her hands between them to work at the waistband of his slacks. He made a throttled noise, rolled off her an instant to lose the rest of his clothes, tossing his glasses on top, then was back between her legs where his cock filled and fattened against her. The erection pushed into the crook of her leg as it unfurled.

Oh heavens, yes.

If that fat monster felt good in her palms, she couldn’t wait to get it inside her. She twisted her hips until it slipped in her slick honey, popping in line with her slit.

Another jerk of her hips, and the engorged head locked into place.

He groaned. “No.”

“
Yes,
” she said. “Please.”

“Not yet,” he muttered against her lips. “So much more to taste first. To feel.”

“Later. You, inside.
Now.
” She arched and writhed, trying to slide him in. His hips retracted, head falling away. She moaned her disappointment.

Only to gasp a second later when his finger filled the gap.

“I can’t use magic.” He nibbled down her jaw, her throat, to her breast. Laved the nipple with his tongue.

“No?”

“Too dangerous.” He suckled while he thrust and rubbed her clit to hard attention. “My control is almost gone.”

“Almost?”
Not good enough.
She bore down with every internal muscle she had, clenching tight around his finger.

He gave a throttled groan. “Stars and moons. You’re so tight and wet. Searing hot.” He moved his finger in and out, his thumb vibrating on the nose of her engorged clit. She gasped as dazzling shocks crackled from her groin to all points.

“If that isn’t magic, you’re unfairly talented. Gimme.” She reached for his cock. When he ignored that to lick to her other breast, she nearly screamed. “Get your hips up here before I explode like a firecracker finale.”

“Are you?” he panted against her wet nipple.

“Am I what?” Quizzes when she was all swollen clit and slit and nipples?

“Ready to explode?”

At that she did scream. Using her wolf, she twisted out from under him, so fast he splatted on his belly like a tablecloth trick. She leaped onto his back, landing with her knees spread around his body, her pussy kissing the small of his back, her thighs clamped around the taut strength of his buttocks. “Yes, I’m ready to explode.”

He chuffed a laugh. “With frustration or with climax?”

“Frustration, climax, same thing with you. Roll over.”

“Slow.” He glanced over his muscular shoulder to give her a warm smile. “Right.”

“Wounded.” Growing a claw, she traced the line of his lats along his back. “Scarred.”

“Turning.” Chuffing another laugh, he rolled so fast he took her down with him.

Not under him, she was too quick for that, but they ended up side by side in a tangle of arms and legs.

She hooked her ankles behind his hips so he wouldn’t get any
slower
ideas, or at least wouldn’t get away with them.

He almost howled. “I wanted to—”

“I’m certain you have the most talented mouth on the planet. I know your hands are capable of making the most delicate machinery sing and dance. But right now I feel that thick monster playing against my leg, and I want him inside me.”

He sucked in a breath. “My dick…I’ve been told I’m big. You may not be ready—”

“Does this feel
not ready?
” She ground her pussy against his hips, catching the bottom of his cock in a wet, open tsunami of
ready.
“Gabriel, I am
aching
for you. If you don’t get inside me this instant, I may have to try to deep throat you. And I’m too excited for that. I know I’d choke.”