Prophesy Book III

by A. E. Via

  Adres hissed as Macauley’s beast clawed at the ward of evil surrounding his core that had been held captive for centuries. His lack of a soul had served him well in the field, his brutality becoming infamous amongst every species. But his fighting days were almost over, and he now felt the plague inside him for what it truly was.

  Macauley gripped him tight—his hold filled with worry and frustration— as if he was trying to not only penetrate Adres’s mind but his body as well.

  “Let. Me. In.” Macauley’s voice was grittier than before, and Adres ground his teeth at the pain searing his chest. He literally felt the claws shredding his insides.

  “It is not me,” Adres said around the agony. “It is a sorcerer’s magic. Not mine.”

  “I can feel more of you than you think. The curse inside of you is strong.” Macauley’s blunt fingertips dug into the sensitive flesh over his chest before his eyes flashed to his wolf’s, an Arctic blue so brilliant it illuminated the darkness around them. “But not strong enough.”

  Adres felt a hard snap that came from deep in his chest almost near his spine that sounded like a rib cracking as Macauley shot his power into him at full force. At least it felt like full strength. A guttural sound escaped the back of Adres’s throat at the shock of his beloved’s wolf in his core fighting the curse that was entangled with his soul.

  Another snap, then another, each more destructive than the last. Every time Macauley tore a ward down, he would cover the area with his essence, and it was that much more of his beloved he could feel.

  He’d underestimated the young wolf.

  Adres drove his hands into Macauley’s thick hair and pressed his cheek against his throat, thankful for the hint of hope he’d been given. It had felt so good having his beloved inside him, to have a reprieve from the isolation, that he barely suppressed his objection when Macauley eased out of him, leaving behind the sensation that he had just made passionate love to his soul.

  Adres didn’t think it would hurt to show Macauley the truth—believing he deserved that much—but he hadn’t expected him to take his predicament as a direct challenge. While Adres still couldn’t feel the full extent of their true mate bond, he felt a lot more than he did last week.

  “Who did this to you?” Macauley asked, rubbing Adres’s arms, watching him through less intimidating blue eyes, his voice and touch more tender.

  “A sorcerer who my brothers and I hunted down and killed generations ago. We assumed the spell would break when I took his head off.” Adres shook his head. “It did not.”

  “Have you tried seeing a—?”

  “I have traveled the world ten times over searching for a cure, trying to find a sorcerer who was even half as strong as him. But…”

  “But you did not try here.”

  Adres couldn’t deny that Macauley’s righteous wolf was strong enough to fight that kind of evil, but it had taken a lot of energy out of him, and the curse was still far from broken. But his cherished had punched a decent-sized hole through it. Macauley was quiet, his chin resting on top of Adres’s head as if he were pondering what he’d just experienced. He rubbed his lips across Macauley’s protruding Adam’s apple, his fangs tingling with elixir that he wanted to sink into his veins.

  “I need to speak to Taleb about this. He’ll know what to do… and if he doesn’t, he won’t stop until he figures it out. My brothers and sister will be able to help us.”

  Adres was willing to accept whatever relief Macauley could give him, but he was not about to let his entire family into his head. Not possible. “I will not allow anyone else inside of me like that. I do not care what other abilities your siblings possess.”

  Macauley smirked. “You’re very argumentative.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “Nothing.” Macauley’s possessive grin made him look like the virile alpha he was. “What I mean is my siblings can figure out an answer. Taleb’s wolf is the bringer of wisdom, and one of my brothers is part demigod. I’m sure we can all put our heads together and think of something.”

  “My soul is not—”

  Macauley placed his fingertips over his lips, already seeming to understand his objection, his hot gaze lingering on Adres’s mouth. “But none of them have the ability to penetrate a soul. Only my wolf can do that because it detects evil that lurks within.” Macauley began to button Adres’s clothes and right his shawl before he slowly returned his hood over his head. “No one will be inside you ever again… except me.”

  “You asked to be able to witness it for yourself, and I allowed it. You have seen inside me and what is not there. If we mate, it could be harmful to your wolf’s sanity if he can never reach my soul, Macauley. I won’t allow it.” Adres frowned. “You are actually considering keeping me as your mate?”

  A seductive gleam sparked in Macauley’s eyes. “You can try to run if you want. But I have your scent embedded deep now, mate. There’s nowhere on this earth that you can hide from me.”

  Futu-i. Adres knew Macauley was not lying.

  Macauley had to wait an agonizing three days for Taleb and his betas to return from his trip to the Kennedy pack in New Brunswick. He’d been there presenting the new school curriculum that all packs would be implementing. The world was evolving every day, and with humans finally recognizing species equality, Justice wanted the shifters to evolve with it.

  And so far, they were. Shifters had never thrived more under any other AZ than they had with Justice. When Wick had first arrived, they’d all been expecting some kind of revolt or uprising after his brother had mated with the vampire king, but it wasn’t as difficult for their kind to accept as they’d thought. The mating had opened up an abundance of resources that they never believed they’d have. Packs had new schools, with over-stocked libraries and modern technology equipment, money to pay for federal regulations to protect their land, grant money available for packs that needed help and far more.

  Macauley turned off his circular saw and yanked his brown leather apron over his head the moment he felt his baby brother’s presence on the compound. He checked the digital clock on the wall, noticing it was already after nine. It’s about damn time. He didn’t typically work so late, but with the curfew still in effect, there was little else for him to do. Macauley tossed his cut-resistant gloves onto the frame of the wheelbarrow race cart he was making for one of the pups. As if those guys weren’t spoiled enough. But to him, they were all like his nieces and nephews.

  Macauley closed and locked the door and started walking towards Justice’s house but ended up jogging the rest of the way, unable to get there fast enough. Adres had avoided him the last couple of days, claiming his lord duties had him consumed, but Macauley knew what he was doing. With two prisoners on the grounds, he was sure all of the guards had their hands full. An attack on the king or his mate, including his family, might have triggered the beginning of the new war. But Ramon sure found enough time in his busy schedule to visit with his sister, Farica… nightly.

  Macauley cringed. He didn’t want to think about that too hard. His point was, there was time.

  Adres could give him more of his if he had the desire, but obviously he was still choosing to fight their complicated bond. Because that was what Macauley had decided to call it. His mate was neither fractured, broken, diseased, or anything else he believed he was. Though they were true mates, they were going to have to work hard for it. Nothing good ever came easy. His concern was that the prophesy was now coming to pass just as predicted, which meant he needed to bond with his warrior… and soon.

  Macauley took the steps up Justice’s porch with one leap and barreled through the front door on a mission. He nodded to a few of the pack officers and Taleb’s betas who were standing in the foyer talking. His brother’s house was like a hotel lobby where people would congregate and socialize. It had a large dining room, a huge eat-in kitchen to accommodate his family, and a few wings attached that Macauley had built himself. Justice and Wick’s personal office and q
uarters were on the second floor, so no one ventured up there unless invited or summoned.

  He didn’t need to bother Justice with his dilemma right now. His brother had enough on his plate. Adres was his mate and his responsibility. He’d take care of him the best way he knew how, and that meant keeping his secret until they figured out how to set his soul free. There had been a light inside of Adres—he couldn’t feel it, but he knew it was there.

  Macauley was walking down the long hallway towards the library that doubled as Taleb’s office when he smelled the scent of garlic and fried chicken. His stomach growled as he detoured towards the kitchen. He knew just where to find his brother if Henry was cooking. He was still several feet away when he overheard his brother’s deep voice.

  “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too,” Henry answered softly.

  “I don’t have to leave again until next week.”

  Macauley turned the corner and saw his brother in a sharp, gray pinstriped suit, clutching Henry’s slim frame from behind while he absently stirred a large pot of red sauce on one of the burners. It smelled as if he’d made one of Taleb’s many favorites. Chicken parmesan. Macauley rolled his eyes. The spoiled little shit.

  “So, what did you have in mind?” Henry teased, his sweet tone laced with lust. The pheromones emanating from them were overpowering the delicious scent of the food. Henry leaned into Taleb’s arms, the back of his head resting on his shoulder, his throat bared.

  A stab of jealousy hit him square in the chest that his little brother could get a vampire to bare his throat to him and they weren’t even mates.

  “When are you going to let me sink my teeth into you, hmmm?” his brother growled before he sucked hard on the pale skin of Henry’s neck.

  Okay, shit, ugh. He’d heard enough. It wasn’t cool to see that Taleb was suaver than him. He cleared his throat loud enough to disturb them and walked into the kitchen. Henry blushed when he noticed him and went about busying himself with his tomato sauce. Macauley laughed, but Taleb looked pissed at being interrupted.

  He didn’t feel all that bad as he went to one of the two stainless steel refrigerators and grabbed a bottle of water.

  “Will you be joining Taleb for dinner, Alpha?” Henry asked, still not quite meeting his eyes.

  “No. He’s not.” Taleb grabbed Henry possessively. “I already said I have plans to be alone with you.”

  Macauley hated to be a killjoy, but he felt his issue was a bit more pressing. “This is important, Taleb. I need to speak to you now.”

  The moment Taleb realized he was serious, Henry prepared them both a heaping plate of the delicious Italian dish and served them both. Before Macauley could excuse himself, Taleb insisted that he join them. “Sit down, sweetheart. We’re going to be mated soon, there will be no secrets between us.”

  Wow. His brother was dead serious about making Henry his mate. Sometimes he wished he had half the confidence Taleb did. He never questioned himself on if he was doing the right thing. He just knew.

  That must be nice.

  Macauley was starving, and the pasta looked to be cooked to perfection, but he did little more than push the noodles around on his plate, his concern for Adres overriding his own needs. Instead of beating around the bush, Macauley decided to come right out with it.

  “Adres Cavalerie is my mate… my true mate.”

  Taleb dropped his fork, and Henry was frozen with his wineglass of ruby-red liquid halfway to his lips.

  Needing to get some answers, Macauley launched right into everything he’d experienced from the time Adres had stepped foot onto their territory. He’d told his brother what he’d felt when he entered Adres’s core—careful not to expose the secret of his multiple shields—and the light he could feel that’d been extinguished by a now-dead sorcerer. When he finished telling them every detail, he then swore them both to secrecy. Taleb appeared uncomfortable with the request, and Henry appeared downright sick.

  “It is a crime punishable by death to withhold information from my king.”

  Macauley took a deep breath so he didn’t snap at Henry. “Anything you guys do seems to be punishable by death, for fuck’s sake. Wick will not know you have a secret, Henry, unless you go and confess to it.” Macauley pushed his full plate away. “All I’m asking is for a little time to get some answers. Can you tell me how to break the curse, Taleb? Please.”

  He wasn’t above begging at this point. He missed Adres’s strong presence, and he needed his mate at his side. Though their bond was not even close to solid, he still felt him like a phantom love that’d once been there. He’d been in his core, felt his mate’s goodness, which was not only sealed off from himself but blocked from his beloved. Macauley wouldn’t rest until he fixed this.

  “I don’t know of a way to break a centuries-old curse, Mac, especially one as strong as you described.” Macauley deflated for a second before his brother added, “But I think I know someone who does. I will have to travel far to get to her world and then beyond.”

  “Where?” Macauley almost shouted. “How long?”

  “A couple of days to get to the island of the Monstrous Reef, then I’ll have to send word.”

  “What the hell is beyond the Monstrous Reef but deserted islands?” he asked.

  “It is where the last of the fairies live.” Henry smiled wistfully.

  “Yes.” Taleb reached over and took Henry’s hand. “I will have another fascinating story to tell you when I return.”

  Macauley had heard the legends of enticing fairies who would visit packs and mate with alphas. It was said that they created the most lovely, magical omegas ever seen. Their beauty and scent were so appealing they could drive any unmated shifter to go crazy, some even doing terrible things to possess one. It had gotten so bad that the Mother took them away and hid them in a place where no beta or alpha could scent them and fall into a delirium. Therefore, no one had seen fairies since before their great grandfather’s reign.

  “When will you go?” Henry asked sadly with his eyes lowered.

  Taleb cupped Henry’s chin and lifted his head so his rich brown eyes met his. “I’ll have to postpone my trip to the Humboldt pack next week and leave for Vermont immediately. This matter takes precedence over anything else. It’s imperative that Mac’s wolf connects with Adres’s soul, and soon, or else they’ll never be able to fully bond. And it will eventually affect his mind until his wolf can barely function.”

  “I understand,” Henry whispered.

  Macauley felt like a voyeur watching their intimate exchange. His brother had intentions of making Henry his mate, possibly tonight, and he’d come and ruined it. Damn. He did feel bad now.

  “I’ll be right here waiting for you like always.”

  “I’ll bring you a water lily from one of their fountains of peace to place in our home. It is said it will never die and provide a fragrance that will make us never want to leave,” Taleb promised his future mate.

  “While you pack, I’ll map out some good restaurants for you and your betas to eat at on your way there,” Henry chided. “No fast food. I mean it. If I even smell a hint of french fries on any of you, you will get the worst of my fury, Alpha.”

  “Yes, sir,” Taleb chuckled fondly as he kissed each of Henry’s knuckles while he continued to run down his not-to-do list.

  “And I’ll contact a few alphas whose territory you will be crossing along the way in case any of you need to shift.”

  Wow. Henry was the perfect mate for his brother. He couldn’t help wondering why fate had not given him the true mate he deserved. The one he already loved.

  When Henry finished his lecture, he lifted his glass to his mouth before he thought of something and slammed it back down. “No wonder.”

  “What?” he and Taleb said in unison.

  “Adres has not come to the dining hall at all since he has arrived. Once, I treated him to the best we had, but it looked as if he could barely stomach it.” Henry’s eye
s were sad. “If he’s able to sense you at all—”

  “He can. Not all of me, but definitely some. Enough,” Macauley said, panic lacing his voice. “Why?”

  “He won’t be able to tolerate anyone else’s blood but yours. He will slowly starve to death if he doesn’t feed from you.” Henry lowered his head. “Starving is a horrible torture.”

  “I never said he couldn’t.” Macauley stood, ready to run and find Adres and shove his mouth to his throat. “I didn’t even know he was hungry. Damn him!” Macauley barked. “He’s blocking me again. I should be able to feel that.”

  Henry’s eyes got wider. “The king and Belleron are expecting Adres in the war room tonight to execute the prisoners if they still refuse to talk. It’s going to take more energy than I fear he has.”

  “Shit. I have to go to him now.”

  “Wait.” Taleb grabbed his arm. “Be careful, brother. Don’t let him drink too much at once. Until you mate with him, your body won’t produce enough blood. Trust me… I’ve already experienced it. You can easily get lost in the sensation.”

  “And Adres is very old,” Henry added. “His elixir is probably intoxicating enough to put you in a trance.”

  Fear tried to grip him, but he fought it away. Macauley would take the risk with his life before he’d let Adres starve.

  Adres clutched his sword with both hands and closed his eyes as he repeated his chant. Once he felt the energy move through his palms and up his forearms, he stabbed the blade into the ground. His body jerked as the power exploded from the steel of his sword, creating an impenetrable forcefield surrounding the area. He wished he could cover more ground at once, but he could only extend the shield so far.

  It took a lot of strength out of him to produce so much power, but this was all he could give to his beloved. Protection. He would guard him with his life if that was all he was good for. He leapt onto Război’s back and nudged him farther up the mountain. He had been working nonstop for days, then coming back to the compound at the earliest hour to rest, in hopes that Macauley was still sound asleep in his own cabin.