The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate-Chapter 152: Every Mage In The Cave Stood Up

Serena woke to the cool sensation of water. When she opened her eyes, pink light danced across the cave ceiling.

It took a moment to orient herself, finding she was in a glowing lake, lying on her back in Fin’s arms.

He was speaking with someone, but his voice was muffled.

"Fin?" she whispered, brows furrowed.

"Thank gods," Fin said immediately, pulling her up and kissing her on the lips before she had time to process what was happening.

He kissed like a man confirming a hostage was alive. Aggressive relief.

Everyone else was in the lake too. Half of them were drinking the water. Gavriel was drinking it like a man at an open bar who just found out the tab was closing.

"Is anyone going to question why the healing water is pink?" he asked to no one. "Or are we all just fine with that."

Elara’s training suit was halfway down and she was in her sports bra. Serena realized she was the same way.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Still in the Void-Glass Dunes," Aeron answered. "You tried to make a portal and passed out. Drained yourself."

"Did you know you were part fae?" Archibald asked. He was sitting in the water a few feet away, letting it heal his bruised ribs and wounds.

That might’ve been the most aggressive icebreaker Serena had ever received.

"When I called for gold, pink came instead. Right before I entered the throne room. I have no idea how I fabricated with it so easily."

"Fear or adrenaline. It’s emotion-powered, and you strike me as someone who thrives on keeping calm."

Serena was surprised by his directness. She actually appreciated it. Usually he was overly respectful towards her, and it was nice just having a conversation.

She’d been treated like a glass figurine for weeks. And he spoke to her like she had a spine. Revolutionary.

"Thank you. That is a high compliment coming from you, Archibald."

Archibald blinked like a man who’d been expecting a slap and received a handshake.

"I’ve never heard of someone wielding dual magic archetypes," Elara commented.

He nodded. "It’s exceptionally rare. There’s usually a dominant."

"In Frostborne, it’s more common for wolves to wield magic. Correct?" Aeron asked.

"Yes, our races intermixed more easily," Elara answered. "I have mage in my family. My great grandmother."

Aeron and Archibald both studied Elara with great interest. Neither bothering to hide it. Like she was a specimen they needed to figure out.

Elara noticed.

"I can feel you both cataloguing me. Blink, please."

Serena giggled and Fin started to crack up with her. "She’s going to kill one of them before we leave this cave," he whispered in her ear.

"Serena’s is more interesting than mine," Elara said.

"I don’t have any in my family."

"Oh? What about your mother?"

"My mother’s wolf was white. But I don’t think that puts her in the magical category."

Fin stiffened.

Archibald sat up abruptly. "She was what?"

He said it like she’d handed them a puzzle piece without knowing what the picture looked like, and they recognized it before she did.

Elara started laughing. "If that is what surprises them, then gods, I know nothing."

"The bar for shocking mages is apparently lower than I thought," Serena muttered.

"Care to share with the class?" Gavriel called. He’d been floating on his back for the last five minutes like a man who’d made peace with the universe and found it lacking. "I’ve heard way too many laughs. Considering I was forced through a volatile pink portal by a fae lookalike who possesses no magical talent."

Serena rolled her eyes and grinned.

Elara splashed him. "Considering she saved your ass."

"What?" He held up his hands.

"We were talking about how Elara is part mage," Serena answered. "And the fact that I have no fae or mages in my family."

Elara gave a wicked grin. "She’s leaving out one key detail."

"And that detail would be?" Gav asked.

"About her wolf."

"I haven’t shifted, remember?"

Serena then noticed Fin’s torso looked much better than it had. She reached to touch where a stab wound had been. The scar was fading faster in the water.

He grinned, entirely too pleased she was looking at his chest and torso and touching him. A grin that could have powered a small village.

From across the water, Gav whispered to Elara very loudly, "She touched his abs"

She pulled her hand away quickly and looked down, her cheeks heating.

He laughed and shook his head. "And that makes you blush."

She was feeling shy. Irrational? Probably. Considering he’d been holding her this entire time.

He must have sensed something from her because he immediately pulled her back up so her back was fully pressed against his chest, not caring who was watching, and kissed her head.

The others were either too preoccupied to notice or pretended not to see.

"I felt your blush through our matebond," he said in her ear, then kissed it. "I’m shirtless and healing in pink water and you’re worried about being appropriate. Read the room, Serena."

Serena laughed at that reluctantly. She could feel his amusement bleeding through their matebond like a warm current, and she wanted to elbow him for it.

His chest on her back was distracting. His scent was as well. Was he aroused?

Yes. He was definitely hard behind her.

"The portal you made landed by this cave. Have you dreamed of this place?" Aeron asked. "Fae portals are different than mage."

"She’s been having some issues with her dreams," Gav answered. "Manifest-physically-and-stab-you-with-a-fire-poker issues."

The silence that followed could have curdled milk.

Gav closed his mouth immediately. Then, sincerely, without humor or deflection he added, "Gods. I’m an idiot. I’m sorry, Serena."

To his credit, he looked like he wanted to drown himself in the very water that was healing him.

Fin’s brows furrowed. Through their matebond, he felt a spike of emotions that took him by surprise and a few seconds to untangle. Fear. Anxiety. Shame. Self-directed frustration.

He pressed his mouth to the top of her head, deciding not to ask because they were in front of an audience and that was clearly part of the angst. But he would be asking her about it as soon as they were in private because that was not normal for her.

Serena swallowed, eyes burning for no reason. "It’s alright, Gav."

She wasn’t mad at him. He had no idea how difficult it’d been, especially since Dex left.

Hyran who was silent up until now cut in the conversation. He spoke in Sylvarae. To her knowledge, no one else spoke it in this group. Which she greatly appreciated.

"What is he referring to?"

She looked up at him, her eyes slightly red, and some silent communication passed between them. Mentor to mentee. He’d been the person she wanted to turn to with this to begin with. Even with his dry sarcasm, Hyran was the smartest person she knew and she trusted him fully.

But she struggled to find the words. What came out was, "I met your colleague Maelor Vantheos. Nice man."

Hyran laughed darkly. "Alaric is the only person close to Maelor outside of myself in Drakenfell. So something happened medically related to your magic, I assume."

"You assume correct."

"And?"

Serena opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Fin’s arms tightened around her, and she realized he could probably feel her through their matebond. Every spike of panic she tried to swallow was pouring through to him unchecked.

She forced herself calm, answering in Sylvarae.

"I’ve been having terrible dreams that I can’t remember. And I kept seeing the High Emperor of Orosia. One night, I woke up and he was sitting at the foot of my bed. I thought I was losing my mind and went to the library to try to find a solution. He knocked a book from my hand and stabbed Gav with a fire poker."

The words tumbled out. "Alaric contacted Maelor. Maelor said I am shadow tethered to the High Emperor."

His reaction was not what she expected. He was sitting when she started, and when she looked up again, he was standing, looking highly alarmed. No composure whatsoever.

Aeron also stood, as did Archibald.

Three mages standing meant the conversation had crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.