The Moon, the Madness, and the Magic
day, after she’d turned away from him, she had to force herself not to look back at either man. A frightening urge washed over her, and fear gripped her to the core. The sudden realization that Dane needed her, too, had been too staggering to contemplate with Rourke staring holes through her.
    Celeste turned and went inside, not actually surprised to see the visitor dressed in robes of white in her kitchen rummaging through her spice rack. “Celia, what happened to Scotland?”
    “I need coriander. Don’t you have a properly stocked spice rack?”
    “Celia? Scotland?”
    “The Keltars are handling it now, and anything else can wait. They’ve been imprisoned in fae this long, a few days more can’t hurt.”
    Her aunt had dismissed her assignment to return. Things here must be serious. Celeste decided to express her concern. “What if we’re mistaken? Maybe he is the wrong choice for leader.”
    Celia waited no more than a heartbeat before she responded. “No, I’ve seen it in the prophecy. He is the chosen leader of the Lore.”
    “And Dane? What of Dane?”
    Celia stopped searching the cabinets and turned, wide-eyed. “What of Dane?”
    “Oh, nothing. I just wondered what it is about him that…”
    “That what?”
    “Maybe he’s just a very strong-minded human, but I think he’s Other, too. Though I’m not sure why he’s lagging behind. I thought he was older than Rourke.”
    “Perhaps not. No one knows for sure. Maybe he’s the one. They are so alike.” Celia remained cautious with her responses.
    Celeste didn’t miss her wily ways. “Not really.” She flopped on her bed and said, “I don’t think my biggest problem will be persuading Rourke to take on his role as leader. He is exceedingly alpha, alpha enough to lead not only the pack but the entire Lore, but what I think the real problem will be is he won’t want me.”
    Celia said, “I know you’ve sensed his power, and so have all the Others when he’s around. As Council Seer, I can assure you I am not mistaken about your bond mate. And, Celeste, he wants you already.”
    “Really me ? Or me, the succubus?”
    “I believe he wants you, but you must remember, you are both. Only one with a trace of succubus can control an alpha strong enough to be Lore leader. That leaves just you available.”
    “These two men are notorious for their philandering ways. Neither brother is a likely candidate for a life-mate, Celia, let alone a bond-mate.”
    “Situations change. People change.”
    “Fine, if you say so. I can probably learn to accept his sexual affairs. If he insists on an open relationship, I can live with that. But the mating could change him. The bond could force monogamy on us both. Then what? He’ll hate me.”
    “Ah, yes. It might. He might.”
    He’d accept the challenge of leading. He always had. Her challenge would be convincing him to accept her as his mate, unless he decided it all on his own.
    “Rourke’s reputation with women has painted him as a scoundrel of sorts, bringing along his charming brother as his naughty sidekick. He won’t take kindly to having destiny decide his fate,” Celia said. “Somehow, you’ll have to make him think it’s his idea.”
    “I know. I suspect he never liked being told what to do, and now, he isn’t very likely to agree, in my case, on who to do.”
    “Hmm. Surely, that would be difficult for one of his nature, but is that your true concern?”
    “No. I’ve seen something different in him. Something I’ve never seen, something dark. Maybe unseelie, maybe something else. Could there be another beast inside him?”
    “Hmm, another. Really? Unseelie? Maybe.” The crooked smile on Celia’s face seemed strange. She didn’t sound as surprised as Celeste thought she should be at her announcement. “Well, my darling, use what resources are at hand.” Celia turned to Celeste and smiled benignly then disappeared without even a poof.
    “Bitch! What resources?” Celeste jumped

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