Forged in Fire (Forgotten Series, #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three: Part Two

I set the water bottle by my legs before laying back on the blanket, staring at the sky. The clouds were gathering a bit more and I could almost smell rain in the air. I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh. It was silent except for the occasional shifting from Lily and Ainsley. I tried to focus my hearing, with my wolf as weak as she was, it was difficult but if I muted my other senses I could make the one I was focusing on a bit sharper. Not a lot but a bit.

I relaxed under the warmth of the sun and listened to the noises around me. I could hear the breeze moving through the limbs of the trees and the chirping from birds. It was soothing to listen to the various sounds around me as I lay on the blanket. It was nice to not be stressed about anything.

My bond with Luka was a huge source of stress for me. I was constantly testing the limits of what I could handle with him and I was trying my hardest to listen to the bond that would snake its slightly icy fingers up my spine when I thought about shoving it away. The evolved bond was something that both irritated and intimidated me. Irritation because I could never feel what it desired or wanted and intimidation because I knew that if the bond wanted me to do something it was more than capable of forcing it on me. As per the incident with Ian where I let everyone know I was mated to Luka.

However it seemed content to linger in the back of my being for the most part, only rearing its head to send my brain compulsions that I didn't realize were there until they were half way done. Small reminders of what actually had the power. It grated on me, raising my hackles, to be forced to do things but they were soothed by the fact I had already decided to try with Luka before the bond showed how it had evolved.

"What are we doing here?" Lily's voice wavered and I opened my eyes, the blue sky was slowly getting more and more covered with clouds and I frowned.

"We just had a picnic, Lily. Did you finish your sandwich?" I sat up a little to look at her as she blinked in confusion.

"Sandwich? Oh! That one!" She picked up the sandwich she had put down gave a rather sheepish smile. "There is still some left but I'm full." She held out the quarter of a sandwich and I smiled at her softly.

"That's okay, Lily." I sat up completely and took the last bit of the sandwich from her before wrapping it in the plastic left over from my own sandwich.

"Oh! It's the temple. I haven't been here in a long time. Richard and I got mated in there. It was such a lovely ceremony, Mene watched the entire thing, it was perfect." She was looking at the big stone building and I looked up at the sky. The scent of rain had grown thicker and the clouds were rolling in quicker than I would have liked. I silently cursed at myself when I realized my plan to go out and then come back without anyone noticing was currently fucked.

"Let's go inside, Lily. Pray to Mene maybe?" I looked at her and she frowned before nodding, a slow smile crossing her face. I stood up and Ainsley started to pack away everything into the basket.

"That would be nice." She looked up at me and I held out my hands for her to take. She took them warily and stared at me, her grey eyes dark with slight concern. "Who are you?" I helped her to her feet, her knees wobbled for a moment but held.

"My name is Shey. I'm Luka's mate." The response was pretty much automatic for me now and she squeezed my hands tightly.

"Really? Oh that is wonderful!" Her grey eyes were sparkling with delight and her lined face was brightened by her smile and I wrap my arm around her waist as I slowly lead her towards the temple. Luka would straight up murder me if I let her get caught in the rain that I knew was coming. I already knew he was going to rail at me for taking her out of the safety of the house but if she were to be found soaking wet and out in the rain. I had no illusions that he wouldn't kill me.