United. (Book 5 of the Lupus Antiqua Series)

"What happens now?" Endymion questioned. They hadn't really talked about what happened and now evening had fallen. They lay in her bed together.

She was cradled in his arms, her head resting on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair. It was soothing and she definitely needed soothing.

No matter what angle she considered it from she didn't understand how she could be a war witch. As powerful as she was she couldn't use her gifts to take out armies. Could she?

How much of what she'd been taught was actually the truth? Had the Matron kept history and knowledge from her in every aspect? Did she even really know what it was to be a True Witch? Her whole world had been rocked in the span of one conversation and she wasn't sure what to do with that.

"Well, The High Witch said to give her some time, so we do that. It's no small thing to go after a Matron, which I assume she is doing.

Explanations will be required. The Matron will face the High Council."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but why would she face the High Council for keeping you secret?"

"If what the High Witch said was true, that I'm a War Witch, then it was treason to hide me. I should have been turned over to the war college at age ten to train with the Prolium Coven.

There I would have been assigned to a Prolium unit within the greater coven, and with my sister witches I would have been doing my duties and protecting our kind. To keep a War Witch hidden is to deny the entirety of True Witch kind protection and safety.

I don't understand why in the world the Matron would do this. It makes no sense."

"I do not know either. Perhaps she wanted to keep your power under her own control." He murmured.

"The only reason to do that would be to try to take on the High Witch. It's suicide." She murmured.

"You would be surprised what people will do for power and position. Do you not recall what happened in my Pack?" He asked gently.

"You have a point. Still, none of it really makes any sense to me." She said. He chuckled and kissed her long and slow, making her feel warm inside. It was the same feeling as curling up in a fluffy blanket by the fire with hot chocolate on a winter's night. Warm, safe, and cozy. She relaxed into it without reservation.

She loved this. She never wanted this to end. In such a short time she'd gone from completely alone to unable to imagine life without him in it.

There was no way she would ever agree to be rid of him. Not at the word of her Matron. Not even at the order of her High Witch.

"Is it normal to be this attached, Endymion?" She whispered. He kissed her again.

"It depends on the people involved. But I feel the same way. I never want to be without you, Abby. You have come into my life and brought warmth and light and life with you.

You have seen me and accepted me, even after everything. I'm going nowhere unless you send me away." His voice was firm with sincerity and conviction. It brought tears to her eyes and she grinned up at him.

"Well thank God for that because I don't want anyone else, and I don't want to go back to life without you." She admitted. "So, if I must move to the War College, will you come?"

"Would it be permitted?" He wondered.

"Many of the War Witches are married, so I don't see why not. Would you be okay with that?" She asked, curious. After all, he'd gone from leading an entire race of beings to being exiled. Maybe he wouldn't want to be at the War College as her plus one.

"Yes." He murmured. "I have no issue with that. I can see why you would ask, and it is kind of you to take my pride into consideration, but no way in hell will I ruin my own life for the sake of fragile ego and pride. Not again. I've learned my lesson. I'm staying with you, whether you want to remain here, go somewhere else, or go to the War College. I'm with you, Abby. All the way." She grinned and snuggled closer, kissing him with abandon.

By the time she stopped for air they were both breathing hard and her body was on fire. He rested his forehead against hers.

"I think we need to talk about what marking is, and what it entails." He growled.

"Oh?" She asked, breathlessly.

"I want you, Abby. And I can scent you want me too. I will wait however long you require, but it seems like it is time to inform you. Not everyone enjoys being bitten." He said. There was something dark and predatory in his voice and an answering dark little thrill went up her spin in response.

"You're going to bite me?" She asked shyly, biting her lip a little.

"Yes." He growled, eyes darkening. She grinned.

"Do I need to be focused for this conversation?" She asked.

"Probably." He chuckled, moving off of her reluctantly.

"Okay, well I'm going to go to the bathroom real quick to calm down. Then we'll talk, okay?" She said shyly. He chuckled.

"Go. I will wait for you here. Then we will talk."

Abby went into the bathroom and did a silent excited dance before taking a few deep breaths and splashing some cold water on her face.

She needed to cool her libido down or she wouldn't be able to pay attention to what Endymion was saying, and beneath the haze she was currently experiencing she definitely wanted her consent to be informed, and she was thrilled that he did too.

He cared for and respected her enough to wait to fulfill their mutual desires until she knew exactly what she was in for. She grinned at her reflection in the mirror, more sure than ever that she was walking the right path. It was all coming together.

She took another deep breath and froze. Something wasn't right. She knew it as surely as she knew her own name. There was a cold edge of danger in the air, and something in the air tasted sweet and wrong, like fruit that is starting to go bad.

The taste of poison in the air meant only one thing. Anguis. She ran out of the bathroom as fast as possible and careened to the bedroom. Endymion was nowhere to be found.

Nothing looked disturbed, nothing was broken, the windows were still closed. She ran to the front door and it was hanging wide open.

Endymion was gone.