Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 63 **

Patricia

The wind is dancing with me as I evade another lightning strike. Riley is laughing and shooting fire from her feet, twirling and spinning as debris fall from the ceiling. Electricity is zapping from her fingertips, and the ground is shaking with every step that she takes.

'She will destroy the entire building!' Finn shouts. 'We need to end her before that happens!'

Dior growls. 'I know that, but I can't close enough to jab at her! She isn't even aiming but projecting her magic everywhere! I can't read her movements or figure out her next attack.'

My eye travels to the white wolf. 'Can't you open up a portal?'

'There isn't enough time for that,' Dior grunts when he gets hit by a rock and shakes dirt from his white fur. When he lifts his head, his eyes are filled with anger. 'Fuck! Keep Riley busy for three minutes—I need to gather the shadows from the forest!'

Finn laughs nervously. 'We will try!'

I lock my eyes on Riley and howl up at the ceiling, gathering every ounce of power to send a hurricane blasting her way.

"Oh, that won't work on me!" Riley lifts an earth barricade and laughs when the winds prove useless. No matter how many I send, I can't touch the hybrid. "What is your plan—blow me to death?"

A snarl leaves my mouth. 'I hate to admit it, but Riley is correct, Finn. If we wish to win, then we need to use the water element!'

'I don't know how to make the water element yield to my voice! The wind is coming easily because that element is energetic like me, but water is different!'

'Then let me try."

I close my eye and let the panic from the past spiral within me. I've heard the water element is associated with fear, which suits me fine. Months ago, I was scared to enter the classroom, worried that my classmates would have another trick up their sleeve.

Dior and I were enemies, and-... No, I'm not scared of him anymore. Shit, this isn't going as I intended! Instead of fear, love is bubbling within me and making my skin crawl.

Surprisingly enough, that's when I feel it—warm emotions gushing in my veins, waiting to be freed.

I take a deep breath, open my eye and summon water. Riley lifts her barricades of the earth again, but this time she won't get away. With the help from the wind element, I send the water flying upward to rain over Riley in the form of icicles.

"GAH!" Riley screams, and her anger fills the room. "You will regret destroying my best dress!"

Fire and lightning head my way but are stopped at the last minute by snickering shadows. They absorb the magic and then crawl across the floor for Riley, who panics.

"No, what creatures are these fucking things?" Riley kicks one shadow in the head, which makes the little guy laugh in glee.

With my eye caught on the scene, I notice both William and Alice walking over to me with their attention locked on the shadows. Alice seems horrified, but I think the weird creatures are cute.

I change back into a human, and Finn whistles from behind me. "Wow, what a horrifying way to die."

Alice sobs and hides her face in William's chest. "I can't watch."

William hugs his mate, kissing the top of her head. "It will soon be over."

Finn nervously laughs and gives me a sheepish grin. "Hey, why are the shadows looking at us like we are next?"

I turn around my head, gasping, when I see Dior breathing heavily in his human form. His blue eyes are entirely red, and I realize it must be a strain on his body to control the shadows.

Without thinking twice about it, I stand up. Riley is screaming as she gets devoured by the monsters, and I walk over to my mate. A thin layer of sweat has broken over his skin, and I wrap my arms around his waist, pressing my head into his back.

"I'm here," I whisper and wrap my arms around Dior tighter. His muscles are tense, and he seems to be in pain. So, I keep murmuring to him, hoping my feelings will reach him. "Always and forever. Whatever you do, I will be right by your side because I love you, Lavigne."

Dior stops shaking, and the shadows turn around, locking their little red eyes on us. For a moment, I worry they will attack us, but Dior lifts his hand, making them all disappear.

"I love you too," He says in a tired, gentle voice. "Always have, always will."

Laughter pushes out through my lips when he spins around and grabs me around my waist. I'm lifted from the ground and wrap my legs around him before his lips crash over mine.

My hands are on his neck while attraction buzzes in the air, drowning my senses and making me experience butterflies. My toes curl, and Dior deepens the kiss to the sound of Finn whistling.

"Get a room!" Finn shouts at us. "I hate to break it to you, but not everyone wants to see the two of you make out!"

Dior dips away from me, glaring at the fairy. "Shut up, or I will knock you out with the flyswatter!"

Finn grimaces, and Dior turns back to me, and I'm tired of waiting—In mere seconds, my eyes are on his lips, asking for permission to seize them for a second time. Dior responds by leaning in, slower this time, and then I'm a goner.

I turn weightless in his arms, and I'm not afraid of holding him, tasting him, and admitting to myself how much I love him. I can't get enough of stupid Lavigne, and the bastard himself must agree with me because he deepens the kiss, making me see stars.

Whatever restraint I thought I had is blown away, and all hell breaks loose—the last wall crumbles, and the rest is history. I want Dior to give me everything and forget the world, but luckily, my mate seems to possess more control of himself.

"Easy there," Dior chuckles, eyeing me for a fleeting moment before kissing my neck. His lips are so soft and delicious. "Wait until we get home, princess."

I giggle and try to slip down from Dior, but he presses me to him, smirking when I lift an eyebrow. It seems he isn't ready to let go, and the brute carries me over to the others.

"Is everyone okay?" Dior asks.

"Yeah," William says, stroking his palm over his face and staring at the skeleton that belongs to Riley. He shudders. "Those shadow creatures show no mercy—they ate her flesh and every freaking organ."

Alice looks ready to throw up and avert her eyes. "So disgusting."

Finn nods an agreement and then spins around. "Hey, where did June disappear to?"

My eyes roam over the place, but I can't find June. "Maybe she also got eaten?"

William frowns. "But wouldn't the shadows leave her skeleton behind?"

Everyone is quiet, but once there are footsteps, my entire group of friends seems to be ready themselves for battle. Oddly enough, the person stepping out from the shadows is a woman we don't recognize.

"Is it finally over?" The woman asks, smiling faintly. She is wearing a gown, and her brown hair is cascading down her back in waves. "Oh, you must wonder who I am?"

"Yes..." Dior says in a chilly voice, seemingly not trusting the woman.

The woman holds her hands in surrender. "My name is Rebecca, and I'm one witch who worked with June until she betrayed us by murdering our leader, Jessica. And I get I might not be considered your friend, but I wish you no harm!"

Alice studies the other witch with her lips parting. "Wait, if you are a witch who worked with June, then... Do you know how to set Finn free?"

"Finn?" Rebecca questions and wrinkles her nose. "Who is Finn?"

Finn lifts his hand awkwardly. "Hello, I'm Finn."

Rebecca studies the fairy and then nods with a determined expression and a warm smile. "If you help me free the other witches from the basement, then we can come up with a spell for your friend. We have studied the orbs for so long that it shouldn't be too hard."

"We?" Alice asks.

Rebecca winks. "I'm a member of the council. I might not be one original—they are long gone, but I'm a descendant." Her eyes lock on mine, and a smile spreads over her lips. "Your mother was on the council too—the only werewolf among witches."

I gasp. "My mother?"

The witch nods. "Yes, but we can talk about this another time. Let's free the other witches and release your friend from his curse."