Page 67 of Wolves Always Bite

“Teague!Helpme.Please,”Ishouted asIran toward the door we’d stormed a few minutes earlier.

Ihad to find the death mage.Thestink of smoke and unwashed bodies clogged my nostrils, making it impossible to use my nose to track him.Ifinally found him by the door with a fire extinguisher, dousing the fireAshhad started at the beginning of the raid.Irushed toward him.He’dhelpJeremy; that’s what he did.Hecould…Idon’t know… dosomething.

Teaguedropped the fire extinguisher. “Gethim out of here and into the fresh air and put him down soIcan examine him.”

Iran a handful of steps until the air was fresher before falling on my knees soIcould gently placeJeremyon the asphalt.Teagueimmediately got to work.Heswept his hands overJeremy’sbody, concentrating mostly on his torso where the strange ribbon of light was rooted in his chest.

“Whathappened?”Teagueasked.

Idid my best to explain whatIsaw and felt in the moments leading to this, but honestly, none of it made sense.Thisdidn’t seem like anythingBabettehad done.Notspecifically.Thelight emanated fromJeremyhimself, but how was that possible?Hewas human.Iknew that.Everyoneknew that.

“Sohe reacted to a threat to you?”Teagueasked.

“Toall of us…”

AshandDillonwere out here now too.Thehellhound huggedAshtightly, andIwishedIcould hugJeremylike that right now too.

“Yes.Babettewaved around a gun and talked about a bomb and…”Ash’swords tumbled to a shaky stop as emotion choked him.Herubbed at his chest with a frantic motion as if he could scrub away his worry.

“Therewas a click,”Isaid, continuing from whereAshstopped. “Itmight have been the timer on the bomb.Thegoblin said it was close.And, at that exact moment, there was a boom and light enveloped him.”

“Ishe a seventh son?”Teagueasked, as he liftedJeremy’seyelids to see his pupils.

“Yes,”AshandIsaid at the same time.

Teaguesat back on his heels. “Thereis nothingIcan do—”

“No…Therehas to be something…”Isaid in a strangled whisper, asIgatheredJeremyin my arms again and rocked him back and forth.

“Stop,Adrian.”Teaguegrabbed my hand. “Idon’t mean he’s dying.Imean his magic is doing what it is supposed to.Ican’t do anything because there is nothing to do.”

“Buthe’s unconscious.He’s…”Istared down at the beautiful human, who apparently wasn’t quite as human as we’d all thought. “He’s…”

Thedeath mage’s soothing magic brushed over me like a gentle wave. “Ifhe is the seventh son of a seventh son,”Teaguesaid quietly, “this is likely his magic manifesting.Itmight never have happened if he hadn’t met you,Adrian.”

“Buthe’s human.”

“Yes, but this is one of the few ways humans can be gifted powers and magic.I’veonly heard of one other seventh son with magic, but he was a powerful healer.”

“Inever sensed anything before,”Ashsaid, moving to sit beside me on the ground.Hetook one ofJeremy’slimp hands in his.Theglowing light ofJeremy’smagic rippled aroundAsh’stouch but didn’t seem bothered by it.Hismagic obviously recognizedAshas an ally and a friend.

“Isuspect spending time with his mate triggered it, and then the magic manifested fully to protectAdrianwhen he was threatened.”

Isucked in a sharp breath. “Mate?”

Teaguesmiled softly. “Yes.Jeremyis your fated mate.IthoughtIfelt the wisp of a new connection between you whenIhealed him the other day.Istarted to say something, but thenGagereturned andIforgot.Thatsame connection has grown since then.Nowit’s vibrant and strong.Ididn’t feel any magic in him then, butIcan now.Something’schanged, and that has to be because of you,Adrian.”

“Howcan you feel it?Howdo you know?”Ineeded to be sure.

Teagueglanced atAshandDillon, then back at me.Hebit his bottom lip.

“Youdon’t have to say…”Iwanted to demand answers, but one of the cardinal rules of belonging toGage’steam was that no one was obliged to share any of their secrets.Ourpasts and our magic were ours to share only if we wanted. “Ican’t deny thatIwant to know more, butIwon’t press you if you don’t want to share.”

“I…”Teaguecleared his throat. “AsaDeathMage,Ihave a special relationship with both life and death forces.WhenIaccess my magic,Ican see how both of those work within a person.Ican see his life force is starting to merge with yours in a mate bond.”

Istared at him.Thatwas…Ididn’t know what to think about that.Ishould have known his powers could do more than heal us and summon ghosts.

“I’venever heard of such a thing except in fairy tales,”Ashwhispered.Heglanced at his mate, then back toTeague. “Canyou tell us more?Wehave so many questions about mate bonds.”