Blood & Wine

26 | Eden

"They accepted the Mating Bond," Fynley said, pouring himself a glass of bourbon. "So even if we wanted to hide it, we can't."

I stared at him in confusion. "Why would you want to hide it? Why can't you hide it?"

"We can't hide it because, when two people accept a Mating Bond—"

"How do you accept a Mating Bond?" I interrupted.

"It's when you both acknowledge it's there, whether it's a conscious admittance or not," he responded. "It's both of you knowing something is there and not fighting it. So even if you have no idea what Mating is, you can still accept it. Accept them."

"Did you want to Mate with Iris?"

Fynley shrugged. "I love her, yes. I'm also attracted to her. Do I want to Mate with her? No. She's fun and interesting, but she doesn't make me alive."

I pressed my lips together to stop my smile. "I didn't know you were such a romantic."

"Laugh, Eden."

I giggled despite myself, my teeth flashing as I made this horribly inhaling/chuckling noise. It wasn't funny, but with everything that happened, I needed to release some steam, some of the stress coming our way.

Fynley waited until my giggles died down to continue. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly, a little smile on his face like he thought I was cute or something. "I didn't want to be Iris's Mate because that meant she'd be stuck with me even more than she is now. Again, we love each other, but there's nothing romantic about it," he explained to me.

I nodded my head. "Okay, you can answer the other questions now." I hadn't seen them together enough to make a judgement about it. The two times I had, I hadn't wanted to look at either of them, and she was all over his lap the second time, and butt ass naked against a tree with him behind her the second time. It didn't give me time to form an opinion on them.

"Thank you for your permission, little witch." He took a sip of his bourbon before continuing, though. "When two people accept a Mating Bond, they are actually Marked so that people who aren't werewolves know. Werewolves can smell when someone has a Mate—their scents are all over each other—but this is for non-werewolves."

Their scents are all over each other.

You smell like Fynley.

I didn't want to entertain the thought further. It didn't make sense. Also, I wasn't a werewolf, and I had no werewolf blood in me. Therefore, I was in the clear. It was just this itch that needed scratching that was throwing me off my game.

"We would want to hide it because it is literally a death wish for her if she dies," he responded. "From birth, Iris's prophecy and purpose was to be with the Leader of the Werewolves—me. It doesn't matter if she Mates with Dasher, as long as she belongs to me in the eyes of werewolves, it will cause a problem."

I frowned. "Just say you don't want her."

"Not that easy. My father, the big, evil, wants to rule the world werewolf would not allow it. He believes in prophecies like most people believe in religion," he told me. "If he thought we weren't getting married, he would kill her because that's her prophecy. He's also invested a lot of money in the two of us—moving her down here when she was young, getting her dad a position on the Supernatural American Council, and buying the house we live at now. He would literally kill her."

"Then Dasher, when he finds out," I reasoned. "Also because Dasher is his brother's son, the one meant to kill his father."

He nodded. "Exactly. However, we can't hide it. My father will be visiting Friday, and, he wants to catch up with Iris."

"Where he will see her Mating Bond mark, but it won't be on you," I said with a sigh. "The King of Werewolves is coming Friday?"

"Yes."

"Shit. We're hosting a massive ass party Friday at Club Sin," I told him. "All the witches want to meet my newly-Mated cousin, which they won't know until then. But, and keep this quiet, because no one will know, but I plan on unveiling the new Coven then."

Fynley's eyes flashed with interest. "New Coven?"

"I'll explain tomorrow when I think it through. I need a name and stuff like that," I explained. "Split-second decision."

A grin spread from ear to ear. "A new Coven? I'm proud of you, Eden." He breathed out, grin falling. "This makes things difficult then. My father will want to stop by, and Dasher will be there with the Mark. The only way to save them is to out Dasher's true parentage."

Nope. No way. Not if they were already trying to kill him. "No."

"It'll let them off the hook."

"But it'll give your dad free rein to kill Dasher, if he believes so heavily in prophecies," I mused.

"Not without revealing Kris. My dad wouldn't get his hands dirty with the Council. He'd lose his position and respect," he explained. "Also, he doesn't want anyone to know Kris exists yet, so that would buy us time."

I didn't like it—any of that. I also would have to tell Dasher his true parentage. As well as plan a new Coven, induct Calla the day before, and see if Dasher still wanted to be in it. "Then how do we prove Dasher is Leader of the Werewolves?"

"Everyone knows the Rogues are the other werewolves," he replied. "Everyone can feel Dasher's power, too. They know we're always at it. They won't recognize him as Alpha because they're loyal to me, but... it would make sense."

My brows furrowed. "I still don't like it."

"We're out of options."

He was right, and I was too tired to even think of other things. "Your right."

"Hearing that turns me on."

I thought about throwing my shoe at him but settled for the empty water bottle. "Goddess, you're terrible! Your Intended hasn't been Mated for more than a few hours, and you're already flirting."

"I flirted before that, too."

"You dog."

"Only with you, Eden." He sighed, finishing off his drink. "Well, as fun as this has been, I think it's time for you to go. I'm drunk and horny, and my Intended has a Mate, so I won't ask her to fuck me. So unless you plan on helping me out—"

"I don't." I stood up immediately. "I'll see you tomorrow. Call me before you come over."

He made a noise of agreement as I walked toward the door. "Eden?"

I paused. "Yeah?"

"If you ever feel like helping me—"

"Fynley!"

This time, with a grin on my face, I threw my damn shoe at him.