Page 33 of Winter Unleashed
“She’s awake, Asti,” he said, cupping my cheek in his free hand. “How do you feel?”
I leaned into his touch. “My head hurts a little. Holy fuckballs, that hurt like a mother. I don’t even want to know what would have happened without the potion.”
Astrid chuckled. “You’d still have passed out, but the pain beforehand would have been much worse.”
“I’m glad I drank it then. How long was I out?”
Astrid moved up behind Liam. “It’s been three and a half hours.”
My eyes widened. “Wow, okay. Well, did it work?”
They both shook their heads, but Astrid spoke. “No, and I still don’t know what Celeste did or how she did it. Only the creator of the Vinura should be able to break the mate bond. Whatever she did should have killed you. She probably did such a horrendous job of things to make sure you didn’t die. It’s the messiest work I’ve ever seen.”
“That explains a lot. Except why she wanted me to think she’s my aunt, and why the hell she taught me how to manipulate my power.”
“She probably felt it was the best way to get you to trust her. She’s a sociopath, so she can’t befriend someone the same way most of us can. Instead, she uses trickery and deceit. She hung around you to ensure her spell stuck.” Astrid shrugged. “And to make sure you didn’t remember the bond, Liam, or that you are the Vinura.”
“The nightmares,” I whispered. “She wanted to turn me against Liam.” I glanced at him. “It almost worked.”
“Yes,” Astrid replied. “They were also a way to see if you’d recognize him, another way to make sure her spell took. Though, why she helped you with your Alpha power is beyond me.”
“Because she’s arrogant and thought she’d outsmart us all. She figured she could keep Ember from believing her friends. And she wants to make sure Ember is ready when it’s time to strike,” Liam said as he looked at me. “Celeste was training you.”
I scrunched up my face. “Why would she put effort into training me without knowing if I’d agree to help her?”
“Because the way she sees it, you’ll either agree to help her or she’ll force you,” Liam said with a frown.
“What makes you so sure?” I asked.
“I knew her well when I was younger, and I know how she works, how she thinks.” His frown deepened and the skin around his jaw clenched. “I should have helped you with your power. I should have taught you how to control it.”
“It’s okay. She really didn’t show me much. Besides, if everything Stella and Isaac has told me is true, we had a lot of other shit to worry about.” I pushed myself to sit up, swinging my legs to the side of the bed. “Well, your potion didn’t work… Now what?”
“You must sleep with Liam,” Astrid said so nonchalantly it took me a few seconds to respond.
“You can’t be serious?” I rose to stand. Liam’s hand kept me steady when I wobbled. “You say you remember me as Liam’s mate, but I don’t. At the moment, all I know of him is what my best friends assured me is true. It’s because of them I’ve trusted him so far. You can’t just expect me to jump into bed with him after a day.”
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “If you’re going to get pissy, I’m going to be brutally forward… You, young lady, have jumped into the beds of plenty of men whose names you didn’t know. Liam should be no problem.”
“Wow.” When my anger spiked, I clenched my hands into fists to keep my energy from lashing out. “Listen, I know you’re supposed to be a powerful fairy who could rip the bones from my flesh in the blink of an eye but fuck you.”
Without even seeing him move, Liam was in front of me, and I was staring at his back. “Asti, she’s confused and upset.”
“Liam let her be. I won’t hurt her.”
He released his hold on me and I stepped out from behind him. “Liam, I know you meant well, but please don’t ever do that again. I don’t hide from my fights.”
He glared down at me. The heat in his eyes made me take a step back. “I’m aware of that, but you don’t know the Fae. Or what they’re capable of. Speaking to a fairy that way is the most dangerous thing you could do.”
Astrid’s laugh filled the room. “Oh Liam, you worry too much. And as for you Ember, it’s not me you should fuck, it’s him.”
A small laugh escaped me. “Good one, but only I decide when to fuck someone. You may have created me, but you don’t get a say in it. No matter how powerful you are.”
“Fair enough, but I know you, you’ll decide to sleep with him. And I suggest you do it soon. Celeste isn’t known for her patience.”
I narrowed my eyes at her but couldn’t stop the smile that played on my lips. “I’ll think about it.”
“Ember, my child, I’m certainly glad Celeste’s shoddy work didn’t cause you to lose your feisty spirit. It’s my favorite thing about you.” She opened her arms, and I stepped into her embrace. When her arms closed around me, it was like a blanket of comfort enveloped me. “Now off with you. Back to your world. I’ll be in touch.”