by Quinn Loftis
“Amen,” the three other girls said at the same time.
“I’m going to take a cold shower,” Anna said. “Then we’re having a girl’s night.”
Nick started to object, but Kara put a hand over his mouth. “If one of us doesn’t get loving, then none of us do. It’s a gypsy healer rule.”
“Since when?” Nick asked.
“Since you males decided to be all respectable.”
“So we get punished for making sure to keep your honor intact?” Kale asked.
“Pretty much,” Heather said.
The males growled, and all four of the girls laughed.
“Did you all know that men have to eja—” Jewel began, but Dalton wrapped his hand around her mouth and pulled her back against him.
“What my mate meant to say was, Anna go take your shower and the rest of them will meet you outside. We males will set you gals up a campfire for your girls night.”
Anna laughed as she winked at Jewel. “You can fill us in on what you were really going to say later.”
Chapter 19
“I’m happy my packmate has found his mate. And I’m happy others have as well. It makes all Canis lupus stronger. But I’d be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t just a wee bit jealous. I cannot help but wonder. Is my own mate out there somewhere? Is she close by? Or halfway around ‘da world? Will I find her before ‘da darkness overtakes me? Every day that passes without her, I travel a little further down that dark road. ~Bannan
“You don’t have to play, only watch,” said the In-Between vision of Adam. A bed appeared and two beautiful women lay naked within. Adam turned his back on her and joined them, doing things that made Crina want to vomit. Her blood boiled. She wanted to tear the two women apart for touching her man.
“It’s not real. It’s not real,” she said walking past the bed. She almost made it…until she heard Adam speaking softly to the women.
“It’s so good to finally be with a fae again. You don’t know what it’s like for me, having to be with that … that … beast of a woman.”
“It must have been terrible,” purred one of the women.
“Ew, she doesn’t go all furry when you’re in bed together, does she? I’d hate for her to scratch this perfect body.” The woman stuck out a long pink tongue and ran it down Adam’s naked torso.
Crina leapt upon the bed, intent on tearing the women limb from limb. Adam threw out a hand and blasted her backward with a bolt of power. There was a look of pure hatred on his face. “Get away from me,” he said. “I never wanted to be mated to a werewolf.” She fell backward on her rear end.
Crina heard her name being called. All of a sudden, a pair of strong hands held her in place. “It’s not real,” someone said loudly. She shook her head and her vision cleared. She was staring into Lucian’s face. “Ignore whatever you’re seeing,” he said.
Her eyes went wide. She looked around and saw Aimo, Antonio, and Bannan staring at her openmouthed. Her eyes glanced over to where Adam had lay naked in the bed. He was gone and so were the two women. Even the bed had disappeared.
“It was real,” she said.
“What was real?” asked Bannan.
“I saw…” she began. “Never mind.”
“Why did you fall?” asked Aimo.
“What do you mean?” asked Crina, seeming to only just now notice she was sitting.
“You fell down for no reason. It looked as if someone shoved you,” said Antonio.
“It was Adam. He knocked me down. I felt it.” She placed a hand on her chest. “I’m telling you, Lucian. This wasn’t a vision. I actually felt him knock me down.”
Lucian’s face went grave. “I guess we know how Volcan’s magic has affected the In-Between. It appears the visions are even more dangerous now if they can physically affect our bodies as well as mentally torment us. We must proceed all the more cautiously. Do not engage with your visions, whatever you do. I still believe we will make it across safely if we simply ignore what we see in our minds. Look at one another,” he commanded. “Remember these faces. These are the only things real within this realm. Nothing else you see is the truth. When you see a vision, call out to the rest of us. We will help one another.”
***
Lucian felt as if they’d walked for miles. He had no idea how long they’d been in the In-Between, but he knew he couldn’t go much farther. He’d seen Peri defiled so many times now, he knew he’d never get the memories out of his head even if he lived a thousand more years. He’d seen his beloved raped, murdered, tortured, and … perhaps most painful of all, give herself willingly to other men. Most of them he knew personally. So many times he’d been on the verge of phasing and acting on the visions. But each time, he’d called out to the others. If no one answered, he knew they were wrestling their own nightmares. It was then he knew he was needed most. He would wait for their call. When he heard it, the sound would give him the strength to turn away from the terrible things in front of him and go help his friends. He couldn’t see what they faced, but he knew it was completely real in their minds.
They walked along through the darkness, the heat of fires below sometimes spurting up through cracks and fissures to reach them. Just when Lucian thought he couldn’t take another step, just when he thought he couldn’t handle another horrendous vision, the path upon which they walked widened into a large chamber. Candles lined the walls, casting shadowy light across the large cavern. A large stone door stood opposite them. “Finally,” he muttered. “Stay together, everyone. Let’s join hands. I wouldn’t be surprised if this place had one more trick to play.” He put out a hand and Crina took it. Aimo took his other. He looked over and saw Antonio grab Aimo’s free hand. Bannan was just about to take Crina’s hand when the wolf’s head turned too quickly to one side in response to a voice only he could hear.
“Bannan,” Lucian yelled. The wolf didn’t respond. He took a step away from the group, seeming to stare off into nothingness. Then they all began shouting his name. Crina reached out and grabbed his arm, but he shrugged her off. He started running across the chasm. In an instant, Bannan phased and there was a huge brown wolf leaping away from them.
Bannan heard her voice. It was his mate. He ran to her. Soon, he saw her standing beside a flowing brook, her long blonde hair blowing in the wind. The sunrays seemed to break through the clouds, putting a spotlight on her alone. He took a step toward her, calling her name—Lavinia. He wasn’t sure how he knew it. He just knew that was it. She didn’t seem to hear him. The woman took a step away from him. He ran toward her but never seemed to gain any ground. Finally, he came around a large tree and saw her standing in the arms of another man. It was a wolf he knew—Kale.
“Get the hell away from her,” he yelled. “She’s my mate.”
Kale shook his head. “I don’t think so, brother.”
“You have a mate,” said Bannan.
“Who? That little blind chick? Nah, that’s just a hobby. Lavinia is my true mate.”
Bannan made a guttural sound in his throat. Why was Kale acting like this? He loved Heather. “Step away from her now, Kale,” said Bannan past canines that were growing longer.
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll kill you for touching my mate.”
The girl laughed, and the sound was vicious and haughty. “You?” she asked. “You’re just a Third. I could never be with someone so weak.”
Bannan didn’t think. He just reacted. He leaped upon Kale, phasing as he flew through the air. Kale responded in kind. The two wolves met with a thud, each going for the other’s throat. They snapped and snarled, lunging at one another again and again. The fight went on for what seemed to Bannan like hours. He’d scored a few hits on Kale, but he’d taken more damage himself. He was bleeding from a dozen different bite marks and his back left paw was hanging on by nothing but a piece of sinew. It had always been this way. Kale had always been more powerful; he’d always been the Alpha’s favor
ite. Bannan never got the spoils. Only the dregs. The thought enraged him. He gathered his strength for one final leap at his opponent. Given that he was fighting on three legs, it wasn’t powerful.
Kale seemed to sense what Bannan was thinking, and he anticipated the move. As soon as Bannan jumped, Kale rolled to the side and sprang on to the other wolf’s back, sinking his teeth into the back of Bannan’s neck. Bannan roared and tried to shake Kale free. The wolf held fast. Bannan felt the strength leaving his body. He collapsed, the weight of Kale’s body driving him to the floor. Bannan’s vision swam and then went dark. He thought he heard someone calling his name … several people … his friends. Aimo, Antonio, Crina, and Lucian. Bannan tried to respond but he couldn’t speak. The last thing he saw in his mind’s eye was sweet Lavinia. She was coming to him, placing her hands on either side of his face, kissing him softly. Then Bannan knew no more.
***
“Don’t phase!” yelled Lucian to Crina, Aimo, and Antonio. “It won’t help Bannan. We need to be able to speak to him, convince him what he’s seeing isn’t real.” Lucian ran after the raging wolf. Bannan was thrashing all over the cavern, slavering and biting. Lucian tried to jump on the wolf’s back but was thrown back by an invisible force. He tried again with the same result.
“What’s happening?” asked Crina.
“It’s this accursed cavern,” said Lucian. “Volcan must have cast a spell upon it. I can’t touch Bannan.
“Bannan, stop,” roared Lucian. The wolf either didn’t hear him or didn’t care that Lucian was calling and the alpha power he’d put in the command seem to have no effect. He just kept on fighting against whatever or whomever it was that only he could see.
Crina screamed. All of a sudden, a huge gash appeared on Bannan’s side and blood began to pour from it.
“We’ve got to stop him,” said Lucian. All four of them ran at Bannan but were thrown back. They stood at the invisible barrier and called to him, pleading. He gave them no heed. He only fought. Soon more cuts and gashes appeared. Seconds later, Bannan let out a sickening yelp as one his rear paws was almost ripped completely off.
“Stop him, Lucian!” yelled Crina.
Lucian just shook his head. “There’s nothing we can do. He has to beat this demon on his own.”
The four wolves continued to pound on the invisible barrier with no effect. Crina gasped when Bannan fell flat on his belly. He was struggling to rise, but something unseen was holding him down. Blood poured from his neck. “Bannan! Bannan,” they yelled over and over again. Bannan gave one last twitch and went still. Crina and the three men stumbled forward as the invisible barrier dissipated. They ran to Bannan and knelt by his side. Crina placed her hand on his back. The wolf was completely still. Slowly, the hairy beast became a naked man lying on the floor. A large pool of blood began to form beneath him.
“He’s dead,” said Crina.
Lucian snatched up the body and threw it over his shoulder. “Join hands again,” he said extending his free hand. Crina took it, and the four wolves formed a chain with Lucian at their lead. He ran across the chamber, careful to keep his eyes focused straight ahead on the door, and the others followed. He began to hear a voice calling out to him. It was Peri. “Lucian! Lucian! Help,” it screamed.
“Ignore the voices!” Lucian yelled back at the others. He gripped Crina’s hand with all his strength. She couldn’t have broken free if she wanted to. They reached the door and Lucian threw himself against it. Bannan’s naked body flopped around on his shoulder. The door didn’t budge. Lucian swore. Peri’s voice grew louder, beckoning him from across the chamber. He didn’t dare look back.
He sat Bannan’s body on the ground. “Push,” he commanded. All four wolves strained against the door. Still, it didn’t move.
“What was that?” said Antonio as he took a step away from the door, cocking his head as if listening to something only he could hear.
“No!” Lucian grabbed him and threw him against the door.
“Wait,” said Crina. “Thadrick said five wolves must make it across. Touch the door.” Aimo, Lucian, and Antonio all touched the door. Crina knelt down and took Bannan’s hand. She pressed it against the door along with her own. Instantly, the stone door swung outward. Lucian picked Bannan up again, and they all stumbled out into the human world, landing at the entrance to the draheim veil. With a snap, the door shut behind them. Antonio rose on shaky legs and went to the shimmering veil. He stuck his hand through it.
“It worked,” he said. “The veil is open.”
“Come and get us,” said Lucian to Peri through their bond. “And you’d better bring Kale with you.”
Chapter 20
I don’t want to do this anymore. ~Peri
The morning dawned bright and clear. Seven wolves, five healers, a djinn, a pixie, and two fae stood in Peri’s kitchen. No one talked. Everything that needed to be said had been spoken already. Peri had made sure Bannan’s body was safe until they returned to lay him to rest. That had been the last thing that had need to be taken care of before they went to face their enemy. With no discernible signal, they all walked out and began marching toward a small clearing a quarter mile away from Peri’s house that she had consecrated and prepared for the spell. At some point, Jezebel, Thadrick, Elle, Sorin, and Adam peeled off to find a spot to wait. Peri had given them an order to stay away. After what the Great Luna had told her, she didn’t want anything to interfere with the spell. The more people involved, the more likely something would go wrong.
Dew glistened on the grass. Heather saw it through her mate’s eyes. Though he kept his bond open to her, she was closed to him. She tried to commit everything she saw through his eyes to memory and tried not to mourn the loss of her sight. At least now she’d better understand the things she felt. She’d have the memories of her vision.
Kara thought only of Nick. She squeezed his hand tightly as they walked and looked forward to the day when they would complete the Blood Rites so that they would be able to speak through their bond. And despite the fact that they would never have children together, they would have one another. They would have a future together and with the pack that she would join with him. She would never be alone again. He would be there. All her life, she’d needed someone to just be there. And now she had that.
Stella and Ciro walked arm in arm.
“I want you to know that I support whatever decision you have come to,” said Ciro.
“You mean the sacrifice?” She asked.
He nodded. “And I thank you now, for making the sacrifice.”
“You would do the same,” Stella said. “Whatever you needed to give up to protect those you love and those weaker than you, you would do it.”
“I hope that I would. I hope that I would be as brave and gracious as you and the other healers have been through all of this and are continuing to be.
“Just know that I love you. I realize that we are still new to one another but I do love you and I am so very proud of you. Your brother would be as well.”
A lump formed in Stella’s throat as she thought of Derrick. She clamped down on the thought before it could travel to Ciro. Still, he must have felt something in her spirit.
“Be strong, my queen. No matter what happens, we will survive it.”
“Your queen?” She asked with a smile.
He bowed his head and on anyone else it might have looked silly, but Ciro had an old world charm about him. “You are every bit a queen in my eyes. You rule my heart and you own my soul.”
Stella was breathless as she felt the truth of his words to her marrow. She could see how much he meant the words in his eyes and feel it through their bond. “Thank you, Ciro. That means more to me than you know.”
Anna shivered as she walked. It was if two voices warred continually within her mind. One, a voice of darkness, of power, and hatred. The other, a voice of unyielding love and acceptance. Each pulled at her with an undeniable f
orce. Since she and Gustavo had completed the Blood Rites, the link to Volcan felt a tad weaker but she could still feel it trying to woo her. She was happy they were about to perform the spell, regardless of what happened. She couldn’t bear being pulled in two directions any longer. She needed Volcan out of her mind one way or the other. It was going to happen now if she had to dig her own brain out with a plastic spoon.
“I’m here, Criña,” said Gustavo through the bond. “And I’m not going anywhere, no matter what happens. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Thank you.” It was all she could say. She had no more words, no more strength. She’d been fighting Volcan’s influence for so long. Without Gustavo, she’d long ago succumbed. Now, she could only say thank you.
“When this is all over, I’ll take you to the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. After you, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“I look forward to it,” she replied.
Jewel said nothing as she and Dalton walked hand in hand. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Dalton, always a wolf of few words, followed her lead. He just stroked her fingers with his thumb as they walked. Thank you, Great Luna for giving me Dalton. I would be worse than dead without him. Please protect him through all of this.
The wolves, healers, and Perizada reached the clearing. Five points were marked, evenly spaced around a circle. The mated pairs moved to their appointed spaces. The healers each separated from their mates and stepped to the side a few spaces and stopped.
Peri waived her arms and uttered a few words. Muttered cursing came from the males in the group.
“Peri, why do you bind us?” asked Ciro.
“Just a precaution, Alpha. Once we begin, the spell cannot be interrupted. We must all stay perfectly still. We only get one shot at this.”
