From The Ashes

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Three days later 

I was mindlessly wandering around my room, throwing whatever my hands touched into the large duffle bag sitting on top of the bed.

Valen and I were packing for the stakeout that was to begin tomorrow. Von would join us in the morning, but we were heading out early to get everything set up.  

I sighed when I realized I had thrown a pair of fuzzy slippers into the bag.

There's no way I'd be needing those for the next few days, but my mind was too preoccupied with our current situation to think straight.

I pulled the slippers out and sighed again in frustration when I realized I'd packed a bunch of useless junk. 

I sat on the bed and put my head in my hands. Celia and Seraphine had been questioned endlessly over the last few days, together and alone.

Neither one of them had cracked yet and we had no new information about what Moonlight was planning or where Artemis was. On top of that, the idea of completing the mating ritual had been weighing heavily on my mind. 

Sienna had taken to giving me the silent treatment at my refusal to finish the bond, and I was tired of waiting.

I wanted Valen, that much was clear. Every time we were alone together, our stolen kisses and gentle touches would quickly become more. I could tell he was struggling to hold himself back. 

To be honest, I didn't think I wanted him to anymore. I was being torn in two.

One part of me was desperate to get it over with; to finally feel that comfort that came with knowing that our souls would be paired forever.

But the other part of me was still terrified. This was uncharted territory for me. Aunt Maddie had never found her mate, and what I now knew of my mother and father had tainted the magic of it all. 

I shook my head in frustration again and dumped out the duffel bag to repack. I grabbed more suitable clothing for the both of us, along with hiking boots, emergency kits, a fire starter, and extra canteens.

We were only supposed to be there for a few days, but you could never be too careful. I pulled open a drawer and grazed my hands over the clothes Artemis had brought from home for me until my hands landed on a pair of lacy red undergarments. 

I cocked my eyebrow. I didn't recognize this.

I lifted them out of the drawer to inspect and my cheeks instantly flamed.

 In my hands was a lacy red bralette and a matching red pair of boy shorts. Both left little to the imagination, as I could see right through them.

I dropped the set as if it had burned my hands and glanced around the room to make sure I was alone. 

I checked the tag to confirm it was my size and smiled to myself.

Artemis must have gotten this for me. She must have had a lot of confidence that I would find my mate that night.

If only things hadn't gone so wrong. 

I straightened my shoulders, determination flowing through my veins. I grabbed a discreet bag and threw them in before stuffing them in the bottom of the duffel bag.