A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Eden

*I’m Cedar. Azriel sent me.”

The high–fae’s voice is calm, but powerful. Almost too calm for someone who just obliterated half a battalion of

Mara’s soldiers with a literal wall of ocean water.

Axel coughs, and my attention travels back to my Beta. His breaths are labored, and the snow is red around him.

“Can you help him?” I whisper at the high–fae, brushing the matted fur from Axel’s face. He tries to lick my fingers, but I shoot him a glare.

‘You’re injured. Stop tending to me.‘

My Beta whines at my Alpha voice, then looks at Cedar, who crouches down. His cloak billows softly as if it’s caught

in some underwater current we can’t see. He extends his hand and presses it to Axel’s massive side. A faint glow

hums from his palm, cyan blue like moonlit waves. The air smells of salt and healing magic.

Axel twitches. ‘Feels weird.‘

My eyes narrow. “Don’t you dare move.‘

Axel whines, but doesn’t move away. He recognizes Cedar as not a threat, or at least he trusts me enough to

believe it.

“He’s stubborn,” Cedar says with a small smile. “You’ve picked a great Beta. He would have healed on his own, but

this will speed it up.”

“So he won’t die?” I ask.

“Not today.”

I exhale a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My hands shake as I rest them on Axel’s fur again.

Behind us, Elvira shifts back into human form, still breathing heavily. She’s scraped up, blood streaking down one

arm, but otherwise unharmed. She eyes Cedar suspiciously, arms crossing beneath her chest.

“Who the hell are you, Waterboy?”

Cedar turns his head toward her, calm as ever. “Your mate.”

Dead silence.

Elvira blinks. Then blinks again. Even though I can’t feel their mate bond since, well, it is their bond, I can tell that it is passing between them like instant lightning.

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Chapter 72

…fucking shit, you’re right. You’re my mate.”

Cedar rises, brushing some snow from his knees. Then he walks toward her slowly, gaze locked on hers. He is taller than her and although Elvira isn’t ugly, Cedar doesn’t look too impressed with his mate.

“So my fated mate is a dog.”

Elvira freezes completely. Her body goes rigid until she finally registers the insult, “I’m not a dog!”

“A werewolf,” Cedar corrects. “But it’s honestly all the same shit to me.”

She stumbles back, blinking like she’s been slapped. “There’s a big difference between dogs and wolves, and I’m a werewolf. You should be honored to-‘

“The mate bond isn’t something I want,” Cedar interrupts her flatly.

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She recoils. “Okay, wow. That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. Do you use that line often?”

“Fairies only have one mate, so I can’t say I have.”

Her eyes flare. “Smartass.”

Cedar smirks. “You walked straight into that one, dog–girl.”

“So rude!” Elvira snorts. “Well, it doesn’t matter that you’re an uncivilized fairy because I don’t want this either,

fish–stick. Go back to your little underwater palace or wherever it is you came from.”

“I’m only here for Eden. Because Azriel asked me to teach her how to use her magic. That’s all.”

Elvira stares at him, wounded confusion passing over her face before she masks it with anger. “Then stay out of my

way.”

Cedar doesn’t respond. His eyes briefly drop to the seashell around his neck, glowing faintly.

Axel lets out a low, wolfish laugh despite the pain. I glance down. His breathing is still ragged, but steadier. His

wounds are quickly closing.

Cedar’s eyes land on mine. “Mara wishes to eat you, but Azriel thinks you might be able to defend yourself against his crazy sister if I help you. You’re a fox, and you need someone to teach you magic. That’s why I’m here.”

I look at him. “You owe Azriel?”

“More than anyone. He gave me this. He touches the shell around his neck. “It allows me to shape–shift into anything. To walk on land. My people…we don’t have this kind of magic. We are fairies cursed by Mara to be stuck as merfolk.”

ཁ འ

I stare at the seashell. “Why does it glow?”

“Because it’s infused with Azriel’s magic.”

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Chapter 72

“You’re only helping me because he made it possible for you to walk on land?”

He lifts his chin slightly. “Yes.”

I narrow my eyes. “And I’m surprised to trust you?”

“Azriel does.”

“Doesn’t mean I will.”

To my surprise, he huffs a soft laugh. “Fair enough.”

We help Axel to his feet after he has shape–shifted into a human. He grunts but manages to stand tall, brushing off

Cedar’s help with a growl.

“Thanks,” he mutters grudgingly. “I’d say I owe you one, but I don’t dare, seeing you’re only here to repay some

stupid favor. Not because you care.”

“How charming,” Cedar deadpans.

“But I’m right,” Axel says.

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