“We need to move quickly,” I tell her, “and I need your help.”
19
Sable
Archer’s house is quaint and comfortable. It feels like a home, more so than my uncle’s farmhouse ever felt. But I’m so on edge that I want to tear all four walls down and scream at the sky.
I pace back and forth between the couch and the front door, my hands twisting into knots in front of me. It’s been a few hours since Trystan and Ridge left, so I know they’ve probably only just arrived at their respective packs, but I’m ready for them to come back. Now. I know what they’re doing will take time. Logically, I know I need to be patient because that means they’re being safer, being cautious.
But I hate being away from them. I hate not knowing what’s happening out there in the wilderness, both with Cleo and the coven’s plans, and with my mates. I hate just sitting here. Waiting.
It’s not like there aren’t things we should be doing here to prepare, as well. Archer cut out not long after Trystan and Ridge left to meet with his father and his council of elders. Dare’s been sprawled on the couch ever since, a blanket tossed over his hips and his eyes wide open as he gazes at the ceiling. We’re both supposed to be sleeping, resting up for the battle ahead, but I’m too antsy and Dare’s too broody.
I spent some time going over the book Gwen gave me. Though I attempted a couple spells inside the house, Dare’s constant cringing at the sight of the black smoke sent me into the backyard. Luckily, Archer’s house is at the far end of the village, and his backyard isn't really visible from the neighboring houses.
But after practicing sigils for over an hour, I started to lose my concentration and gave up before I made a mistake and lit the house on fire or something.
“You need to rest,” Dare says in a gruff voice. That’s been his refrain for the past thirty minutes, every time he gets tired of me passing by the couch as I wear a trail into the hardwood.
“You’re not resting,” I shoot back irritably.
“I’ve been a wolf a hell of a lot longer than you,” he replies. “Bark at me all you want, moonlight. You need to rest.”
We’re interrupted by the front door opening, and I whirl around, my shoulders relaxing a fraction as Archer trudges into the house. I won’t relax any more until Trystan and Ridge return, but for now, I rush across the living room to wrap Archer in a hug.
“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” he says into my hair.
“Dammit.” I grimace, although he can’t see it with my face pressed against the soft material of his shirt. “You’re just as bad as Dare.”
The man in question chuckles behind me, and when I look up, I see the two of them exchanging amused glances.
“She hasn’t sat down since you left,” Dare informs him. Traitor.
Archer frowns at me. “Sable, that was two hours ago. Maybe more.”
“More,” I say with a shrug.
He slides his arm around my shoulders and leads me down the hall. “We just had a crazy intense few days,” he says gently. “That amount of travel, of running at full speed, would tax any ordinary shifter. Plus, you used magic multiple times, and that takes energy too.” He reaches past me and turns on the bedroom light, ushering me inside. “You need to sleep to be able to fight when the witches come. Don’t you want to be able to fight?”
“More than anything.”
The viciousness of my voice surprises me a little, but Archer just grins, laughing softly as he releases his grip on my shoulder and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear.
“That’s my girl,” he murmurs, kissing the tip of my nose. “But there’s nothing to fight yet. So we need to gather our strength while we can, okay?”
Wrapping one arm around me, he backs me up until my legs hit the edge of the mattress. Dare appears in the doorway behind Archer, still naked from his shift back to human form earlier. He’s abandoned the blanket on the couch though, leaving nothing but hard planes of muscle on display.
I can’t help the bolt of heat that streaks through me as I glance at him, and Archer must guess what I’m looking at, because his grin widens.
“Would it help convince you to go to bed if we get in with you?” he asks, his eyes dancing with amusement.
I nod, the motion immediate and automatic.
Dare laughs, stepping into the room to join us. We get ready for bed quickly, and I don’t even bother to grab a pair of shorts and a tank top to sleep in. Instead, I shuck my clothes and crawl onto the mattress naked.
Archer cocks an eyebrow at me before doing the same, and he turns out the light before he and Dare climb into bed on either side of me, sandwiching me between them. The warmth of their bodies immediately begins to soak into mine, making some of the tension drain from my muscles. Nothing in the world feels quite as good as being skin-to-skin with my mates, so I pull them both a little closer, trying to let their presence relax me enough to sleep.
Moonlight streams through the windows, and after a while, my eyes start to adjust to the dim light. I find myself staring up at the ceiling, counting my breaths and trying not to fidget.
It’s hard not to. Even though I’m lying still, my mind is still running sprints inside my head. I shift a little, brushing my hand over Dare’s thigh.
I feel his body react to my touch, stiffening a little. I like that, so I do it again, gliding my hand up his leg more deliberately this time. My other hand moves in the opposite direction, reaching over to trail across Archer’s hip.
“Sable.” Archer’s voice is low. “You’re supposed to
