“It’s okay,” Rowen said before I could speak. “I’ll teach you the simple spell, but I don’t know if we’re ready for a stronger one if we need it.”
“How about I station one of my enforcers here?” I asked.
Rowen nodded, studying me as Sage frowned. “Why would you do that?”
“You know why,” I growled, my voice low.
Her cheeks pinked, and she nodded. “I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me.”
“You’re going to learn how to use your powers. But you can’t do it overnight. My people protect this town, and you are part of it now. I’ll station someone here, you’ll learn the simple spell, and eventually, you’ll learn the harder ones. Give yourself some time. I’m sorry we didn’t think of doing this ahead of time.”
“If I’m not allowed to kick myself, you’re not allowed to do it either,” Sage added dryly.
“Fine,” I grumbled.
“What did this Faith look like?” Rowen asked, and I brought myself back to the present rather than worrying about what I couldn’t fix for the future.
“She was about your height, Rowen. Long, blond hair, straight. But I don’t know if she straightened it or if she has natural waves. She had bright blue eyes and plump lips, but her eyes turned red at one point. I thought I was seeing things.”
I growled again, and Sage narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m not growling at you, only at the situation. I’m a bear. You’re going to have to deal with the growling.”
“He’s right. I would growl too if I could,” Rowen put in. “The red eyes mean she’s gone full dark magic. She’s a low-power necromancer.”
“She also has an affinity for water,” Sage put in.
Rowen gave a tight nod. “She used a water blade to cut you. At least, from what I can tell.”
“I didn’t know that was possible,” Sage said.
I cleared my throat. “I thought only powerful witches could do that.”
Rowen sighed. “Yes, but the darkness she uses to feed her soul helps to boost whatever powers she has naturally. It’s why those of us who don’t feed the darkness need to train as hard as we do. Sage, the water on the floor, was that her or you?”
Sage blushed. “That was mostly me. I don’t know how to control things yet, but I did push her back, at least. I fought. I need to learn more. I don’t want to stand here and let everybody take care of me.”
“We’ll fix this,” I said. Even as I said it, my bear preened at the thought of her strength. She’d tried to protect herself, doing what she could. She was strong and would make a good alpha’s mate.
Sage shook her head. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt trying to protect me.”
“Everybody fights to protect each other and themselves. You need the tools, and we’ll get them for you,” Rowen said tightly. “I’m going to check on Laurel and the others. You should get cleaned up. Rome?” she asked, and I nodded.
I looked down at my mate. “Come on, Sage, let me clean you up and call your aunt to make sure she doesn’t hear this secondhand.”
“I’m glad she and Sabrina weren’t here,” Sage said softly. “They have even less power than I do.”
My bear prowled. “See? You’re trying to take care of others even as you’re annoyed that people want to help you.”
Sage frowned. “I don’t know if I like you throwing my words back in my face.”
I smiled. “I can’t help it. I’m a bear. Come on, I’ll take care of you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Do you think my bear will allow anything else to happen right now? I’m on the edge, Sage. Hanging on by a thread. You might not understand what that means, but others in this room do. So, let my bear and me help you. Clean your wounds before I go find Faith for daring to touch you and rip her limb from limb with every ounce of power I have.” My voice got lower, more of a growl with each word. Sage met my gaze. There didn’t need to be any words in that moment.
“We’re going to use magic to clean up your place,” Rowen said. “Don’t worry, everything that you put into this, your blood, sweat, and tears, won’t have been for nothing.”
“I just…thank you. I’m going to make sure Rome doesn’t go full bear, and then I’ll be back to help you clean up.”
I growled again even as Rowen’s lips twitched.
“We’ll see that that happens,” she said softly. Laurel, Jaxton, and Trace walked in at that moment, and they all looked around the place, at us, before they started cleaning up, too.
I tugged on Sage’s arm. “Come on. Let’s clean up that wound so it doesn’t continue to bleed.”
Or before my bear got any other ideas.
It was a short walk to my car, and I stuffed her inside before anybody could come out and ask what was going on. Rowen would deal with that. She was this town’s leader. I was only the leader of the bears. I would explain to the pack what’d happened soon, but I needed to get Sage into my home and cared for before I lost it.
“You should call your aunt.” Sage looked up at me and pulled out her phone. As she spoke, her voice was calm, too calm, as she explained to her aunt what’d happened. I was surprised at how well they were taking this, but Sage tried not to worry her aunt and vice versa. Soon, the reality of the situation would hit them both, and we’d all have to deal with the consequences.
“You’re taking me to your place?” she asked softly.
“You’re not settled into your home yet. You likely don’t have your things unpacked, and some of your stuff is still with your aunt. I assumed you didn’t want anybody in there until it was fully yours. Plus, I’m a bear. I want you in my place. Sue me.” I winked as I said it, a small smile playing on my lips.
When her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled, I knew I had said the right thing. “It’s so weird that I did everything online and over the phone without seeing it first. It didn’t even occur to me that that wasn’t normal until I was here.”
“That’s Ravenwood for you. The magic rubs off on people, even when we don’t realize it.”
“That doesn’t seem nefarious at all.” I ignored the sarcasm in her tone.
“It isn’t,” I said as I helped her out of the car.
I walked her into the kitchen and pulled out my large first-aid kit.
“That’s a huge first-aid kit for the kitchen.”
I shrugged at her words. “I have a larger one in my bedroom and another in my bathroom. And our pack healer has an entire infirmary for wounds like this.”
“Wounds from a necromancer witch who used a water blade to slice into my skin?” Her tone was dry as if she still didn’t quite believe what had happened. Sadly, it happened often enough that we knew how to heal things like this. She’d learn soon.
“You’re already healing—witches heal faster than humans. But as to your question, yes, our pack healer has dealt with a lot of things. She’s older than my parents.”
Her eyes widened. “There’s a lot to take in with that statement.”