Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,41

mate. My wife. My queen. I want you here … with me.” He growled.

Need and desire surged up within me, and I yanked Rage’s hand, pulling him down on top of me.

Perfect.

“If I’m your queen, does this mean I get a crown?” I breathed huskily into his ear.

Pulling back, he braced himself on his arms and looked down at me, his lips pulling up into a cocky grin. His gaze trailed down my face to my mouth, and then he captured my lips in a toe-curling kiss. He lowered his body until his weight settled on top of me, and I moaned when I felt his hardness line up with my center. There were so many running jokes about newly mated couples constantly wanting to have sex. I thought it was a joke.

It’s not.

I wanted him. Now, later, tomorrow, always. I reached down to pull my t-shirt over my head when a knock at the door made me flinch.

“Go away!” Rage and I both said at the same time.

“Nope.” Reyna’s clipped voice called through the thick oak door, and I cringed. She must’ve asked someone to open the portal door for her. Pounding her fist on the wood, she continued, “Not going to happen, Nai. Get out here, now.”

Crap.

Reyna wouldn’t come here unless it was serious.

“Rain check?” I asked Rage, wincing.

Rage sighed, leaning down and kissing my collarbone and up my neck, leaving a trail of fire behind. My mind fritzed again, but before I could kiss him back, he rolled off of me.

“This sucks,” he grumbled, staring up at the ceiling while I scooted off the bed.

There were so many things I could say to that. “Yes, but—”

“I know,” he said, and the rumple of fabric indicated he was not far behind me.

Pulling the door open, I found Reyna dressed in full battle gear with a black duffle bag by her side. Her dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and her tight expression made me feel like if I hadn’t pulled open the door, she would’ve come in and hauled me off.

Pointing at me, she shook her head. “Emergency High Mage Council meeting. All high mages and their first heirs must attend.”

I looked over my shoulder at Rage and smiled apologetically. “See you tomorrow? Four p.m.?”

He waved me off. “Yeah, yeah. You’d better go.”

Reyna scooped up the bag and took off down the hall at a sprint, leaving me to race after her.

“You can’t spend all this time on Shifter Island when you’re the future high mage of spirit!” she snapped, slowing her pace as we exited the castle. “You have responsibilities on High Mage Island.”

“I know, but—”

“No, you don’t. You don’t know shit.” She turned to face me with a wild look in her eye. “Listen, I think your grandfather said he had a few months, so he wouldn’t pressure you. But you don’t have months, okay? You have a hell of a lot to learn, and you have days, maybe weeks to do it, or all of his magic goes to Kian and the others. You need to focus.”

I wanted to snap back at her, but … I couldn’t. She was right. Dammit! She was right. I gave her a curt nod, and she shoved the duffle bag at me.

“When we get to the office, you need to change. You look like you were just interrupted while having sex.” She grinned.

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. “I just saved Justice’s life … but I understand what it looks like.” I shook the bag. “Thanks for bringing me clothes.”

She sighed and jerked her chin toward the Alpha Academy campus. “Sorry to bust your balls, but the council’s in a panic.”

I nodded. “My balls are fine. Let’s go.”

With two smirks, we ran the rest of the way to the library portal.

Time to face up to my responsibilities. Again. Because there was no way in hell I’d let Kian get one ounce of my grandfather’s magic.

Only after we crossed through the portal did I remember Honor. I’d just have to pick him up later. After this stupid meeting.

“The blood mages are back,” Kian announced, and then he paused dramatically to look at each of the four high mages.

The five of them were seated at a circular table in a private room off of the library, near the area grandpa had sent me to in my spirit trial. As soon as Reyna saw me duck in, she started chatting outside with the other shields. I