Page 100 of Cryptic Dreams
Things with Wraith really are wonderful, and while I was only thinking about his relationship with Declan, it took a weird turn.
Between the near panic attacks he’s had when we’ve made love and how his overprotective tendency has hit a new high—henceshoppingin a store my mate had shut down to the public for a few hours just so I could be here without any issues—I’m starting to worry more about the things Wraith won’t include me in.
Not discussing everything about the Species War and the months surrounding it isn’t strange, not really. Most people, whether vampire or human, don’t like to bring up past trauma and go back to hard times. But that’s not what it is for my mate.
I’m pretty sure Wraithcan’texperience something and have trauma from it, and he’s been incredibly forthcoming about most things that led to his many many issues with his father. He’s even talked about specific battles and some of the awful things he did, methods and strategies used to try to give himself the upper hand, but again, that’s not what this is. Wraith is purposely avoiding certain people, key players from our history as well as his life, and that bothers me more than I’ll ever let on.
I can’t be upset with him over it, though. Not after hiding my gift from him for so long. And honestly, something tells me that Wraith feels like he’s protecting me bynottalking about those people, but he will when he thinks the time is right.
The more I think about it, the more I know that’s what it is, and it all goes back to Atticus.
The less I know, the harder it is for his father to use anything against me—or me against Wraith.
Which I can appreciate.
I just wish my mate would include me in everything, no matter how dangerous or scary it could be.
“Wow…” Orion whistles low and shakes his head. “Aries wasn’t kidding; you are super out of it tonight.”
“Why did Wraith ask you to take me out?”
Aries stops pulling his actual clothes on as my cousin tenses beside me. “What… what do you mean? He wanted you to get a new dress for dinner—”
“No.” I shake my head and sit up, turning my body to face him. “I know that’s what he said, but that’s not the entire reason for this high end torture.”
“Z, don’t be silly. You know Wraith—”
“Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t brush me off or sugarcoat things for me. You’ve always done that, and even though I understand why and can appreciate the way you’ve tried to protect me from everything my entire life, not knowing things at this point is dangerous.”
Orion slumps against the couch and shakes his head. “Zephyr, it’s not that simple. You don’t understand how incredibly fucked up all of this is. Wraith has been working for centuries to put his plans into play and Atticusknowsit. He knows your mate is the biggest threat to him and not just because he’s going to take over one day.” My cousin blows out a breath and scrubs a hand over his hair. “Wraith has kept things very quiet, very subtle, and when he set them in motion at the nest a few months ago it was because tension was brewing. There was some kind of shift in the coven and he felt it was time, and while that definitely started to draw unwanted attention—”
“Finding his mate after hundreds and hundreds of years did as well.”
“Z, I didn’t mean…”
I sigh as Aries sits down on the other side of Orion. “I know. I know that’s not what you meant but it’s true. I’m a liability to Wraith, possibly even collateral, and that’s no good for the big picture. The thing is though, I’m involved one way or another, and I think being educated is a better option than being ignorant.” Giving both of them a small smile, I tilt my head and look between them. “Knowledge is power, after all.”
Orion rolls his eyes as Aries chuckles. “She has a point, babe. You can’t argue with her there.”
“No, I guess I can’t.”
“And since I need to filter through a ton more of Atticus’s thoughts, maybe we can ditch this awful shopping spree, head to Clean Drip for a coffee and snack, and you can tell me why my mate wanted me distracted before I tell you about how tiny the High Elder’s dick is.”
Both of them gasp then start to laugh before Aries nose scrunches in disgust. “You saw that?”
I get to my feet with a nod. “Unfortunately. Things play backwards, starting at the most recent memory and go in reverse toward the oldest. And even though Ineverwanted to see Hans going down on Atticus, it’s a little gratifying to know that male isn’t nearly as gifted as he thinks he is.”
“Really?” Aries asks as he starts collecting our bags. “That’s surprising. All vampirese’s born with a dick are generally well endowed, and I always assumed Descendants were even more so.”
“Whyare we talking about that bastard at all let alone the size of his thing?” Orion groans as we tug him off the couch and start for the door. “I just want him to die, and I’m pretty sure the size of his penis won’t have anything to do with that.”
“Pure gossip, babe.” His mate grins as he hooks his arm through my cousin’s and I giggle a bit, grateful to shift my energy elsewhere while still figuring out the answers to the nagging question in the back of my mind.
I don’t want to talk about Atticus’sthingbut if I tell them something about what I saw when he touched me, Orion and Aries might feel better about telling me what Wraith is up to. And not just right now.
My mate has shared his plan with me, a basickill my parents and lead the vampire race to glorykind of thing, but he never mentioned a shift in the coven, just like he didn’t tell me why he wanted me out of the house all night.
That changes now though, and after it does, my wicked prince and I will be having a chat.
