Kelsey grips my throat tighter. Squeezing. Cutting off my oxygen. I bring my hands up to wrap them around her wrist. I try to pull her hand away from my throat, but she is scary strong. I try to use my nails and dig them in her arm, trying to scratch her. Kelsey doesn’t even notice.
“Do. Not. Mess. With. Me. You will do as I say, or next time I won’t be so nice. Do you understand me?” The edges of my vision going black before she lets go and I slump to the floor. Taking in big gulps of air. “Look right where you people belong. Kneeling at my feet.”
Kelsey turns and walks out of the locker room. I stay where I am and start to cry. My throat hurting in the process. After I few minutes, I get up enough courage to look in the mirror. I see the red marks from her hand and the indents of her nails across my neck. The boys are going to flip when they see this. Shit, so will my father.
Chapter 24
The Boys- Graydon
I can sense the discomfort radiating from Callyn the moment she enters the room. She clears her throat and holds her head high as she walks toward her seat. I can see the marks on her neck before she fully makes her way over. I narrow my eyes, barely restraining the growl in my throat. Someone dared to lay a hand on my mate, left marks on her. This time it wasn’t her father. This time I can do something about it. The others stiffen around me and I know that I’m not the only one who has seen the marks. I wait until she sits down, shifting slightly to take in the scents on her skin.
Kelsey.
This time the growl does escape me.
“Callyn. Explain,” my voice deeper than normal.
She sighs. “Kelsey cornered me in the girls’ gym locker room. At first, she grabbed me and pushed me into the locker. When I went to go around her she pinned me, wrapping her hand around my throat. She told me to back off you guys. That you’re too good for me. That one way or another one of you is going to the dance with her and I was supposed to help make that happen. That one of you is going to end up with her.”
“That doesn’t explain the marks Callie,” Zeke states.
“I might have talked back, and told her no I wouldn’t do what she says. I called her pathetic and she started to choke me, digging in her nails. She threatened me. This is the first time she has physically touched me. I’m chalking it up to the fact we, or me, pissed her off at lunch.”
“That doesn’t make it right for her to accost you,” Lucian says.
“I know. But what else am I going to do? I’ve had enough from her. She knows that I’m weaker than her. That’s why she keeps doing what she is.” Callyn shrugs her shoulders.
“You’re going to back away from us, aren’t you?” I growl. Callyn snorts and looks at me.
“Like any of you would let me, remember last week. The only thing is, is I don’t know how to deal with Kelsey. I feel like she’s only going to escalate. Then what am I going to do? You can’t be in the locker room with me. Today, she waited for everyone to leave before she confronted me.”
Callie has a point. We can’t be in the locker room with her, but maybe we can find a girl in her gym class who would be willing to keep an eye out on her, for us. It’ll be hard without telling the female why we need her to watch Callie, but Callie was right Kelsey isn’t going to stop. We need to go and see the Elders today. See if they are any closer in finding out about Callyn. This needs to stop. Now.
We need answers, and the sooner the better. The need to protect her, claim her, is riding me strong. I know if it’s affecting me this way, it must be affecting the others the same way. I can’t wait to get out of here. I need to shift and clear my mind. We decided after the last time Callie came to school with bruises, we would take turns going to Callie’s home and checking in on her. We may not be able to tell her exactly who we are to her, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be near. She has a nice set of woods behind her house.
We go for an hour or two just listening. When we think she’ll be okay for the night we leave. I’ve seen her staring out of her bedroom, searching. She can feel someone out there, watching, lurking. She’s drawn to us, but she doesn’t know why. I can feel it. No way this is one-sided. I’m getting impatient.
“You know we don’t want nothing to do with her, right?” Max says. The need to reassure his mate.
“I know, it’s just sometimes hard to believe. I’m not special. Kelsey is beautiful and strong. Everything I’m not.”
If the Elders would just let us tell Callie that she’s our mate, then she wouldn’t need to doubt herself. She would know we don’t want no other. This is bullshit. I’m almost convinced that the Elders know what’s going on and they don’t want to say anything. I’m done waiting. One way or another I will find the answers.
Lucian
“No, you are everything she wishes she could be.”
Could she use a little more self-confidence? Sure. But she can’t get that if people keep bringing her down. Until we can figure out this situation she’s going to keep doubting herself. Callyn looks at me. Trying to read my expression. I hope she can see in my eyes what I say is true, because once she knows she’s my mate… our mate, we will make sure not a day goes by that she doesn’t know how much we want her.
She sighs. “I want to believe you and maybe one day I’ll get there, it’s just not going to be today. Now, I have to somehow hide this from my father.”
“Shit,” Graydon exclaims. “I didn’t even think about that.”
His eyes meeting each of ours. We can see the concern. All this stops when we claim her. When we announce that she’s our mate. The Elders have had almost two and a half months to find answers. I want to know to what is taking them so long? Looks like I need to have a talk with my grandfather. The bell rings and we all quietly shuffle our way into the hallway. We hit everyone’s lockers and file into Max’s car. The ride to Callyn’s is quiet. When we pull up, Callyn practically jumps out of the car and races toward her house.
None of us stop her. We know she needs to do what she needs to, so she can hide from her father for the night. Max doesn’t drive off.
“One of us needs to stay. I can’t leave her alone right now. Her father is too unpredictable. What if he sees those marks? There’s no telling what he would do to her,” Max says.
“I’ll stay,” Zeke says.
“The rest of us need to go and see the Elders,” Graydon states.
“I want to talk to my grandfather alone, maybe he can tell me something. Something he wouldn’t in front of the others.” They look at me.
“Do you think he would?” Max questions.
“I need to tell him about Kelsey, maybe that will persuade him,” I say with a shrug. “Either way, we need answers. I don’t like being kept in the dark. Not with more threats. We need to protect her, and the Elders are keeping us from doing that. I want to know why.”
∞∞∞
We left Zeke back at Callyn’s. He went into the woods behind her house, and shifted. Contrary to the books that humans read about shifters, we can shift fully clothed. It’s part of the magic that lets us shift to begin with. If anyone comes through the woods Zeke would smell them and vice versa, if it were a fellow shifter. The rest of us are waiting for the Elder Council. A half an hour later we’re escorted in the council chambers.
“Lucian, Graydon, Maximus. What brings you here to see the Council today? Where is Zeke?” Elder Caine questions. Graydon steps forward and bows.
“Elder Caine, we left Zeke to guard our mate. The reason we have come today is too see if there have been any developments regarding Callyn Silvers?”
“We have our researchers digging through the archives. That will take time. As of now, we have nothing new to report. Why does your so-called mate need guarding?” I can see Graydon tense. The Elders are not happy with the idea that a human is the destined mate to a shifter. Let alone that she is the mate too four and the best families at that. Max steps forward. He takes over before Graydon can lose his temper.
“Elder Caine, besides the
continued threat of her father at home, she is now getting threats at school. We left Zeke to guard her long enough to know that no harm will come to her this night.”
“Every well. Once we find something, we will summon you here. Until then try not to get too attached to the human.” Elder Caine stands and exits through the door behind the council’s desk. Elders Greaves, Sanders, and Hastings make a quick exit. Elder Greaves has the same look of distain on his face as Elder Caine. Elders Sanders and Hastings look back quickly with sympathetic looks on their faces.
I step forward and look to my grandfather, the last elder remaining. “Elder Harris.”
Maximus
“Come now Lucian. No need for such formalities. There are no other Elders in the room.”
“Yes grandfather.”
“Now, I want to know who at school is targeting your mate.”
“Kelsey Taylor. We have told Kelsey repeatedly that we are not interested, but she will not take no for an answer. She has taken to speaking degrading things to my… our mate when we are not around. Today Kelsey physically accosted Callyn. Leaving marks on her throat.”
“I see.”
“No, grandfather, I don’t think you do. Sorry. I feel like if we were to say that Callyn is our mate Kelsey would back down. I feel this will only escalate if left alone for too long.”
“That may be the case, but who’s to say things wouldn’t be worse if Kelsey knew? What if she tried to challenge Callyn? We do not fully understand what Callyn being here is supposed to mean. We are trying to keep this quiet for as long as possible. We want to find the answers make sure we are fully prepared for any eventuality.”
“Yes, grandfather. Is there anything you can tell us?”
Lucian grandfather lowers his voice. “What I tell you, cannot leave this room. Well, tell Zeke but make sure no one else is round.” We all nod. “We have find a mention of her mother’s maiden surname. Just one. We are trying to find the right scrolls to trace her lineage. There is a possibility she may be a descendant from a shifter family. Her blood may be too diluted to have any shifter qualities. Until we find those scrolls we have no way of knowing.
There is one other thing. We found a book of prophecies, one the council did not know about. In that book, it was foretold that a single female would be born. She would mate with the four strongest families. Combining the families making a true alpha pairing. This alpha pairing would then bring about change. Some people will not be happy about this change. It will bring a war upon us. This is a critical time. Be mindful.” With that Elder Harris whisk from the room.
I look to Graydon and Lucian. Both shocked by what was just revealed. Graydon shakes his head.
“Not here.”
We pile into my car and head to my house. On the way I texted Zeke and told him to meet us there as soon as possible. Zeke is already waiting by the time we get there.
“Everything okay with Callyn?” I ask.
“Yeah, her father still isn’t home. It might be one of the days he stays out late. What is so urgent? I feel the anxiety coming from all of you.”
“Let’s go inside first.” Everyone shuffles in behind me. I do a quick search of the house and no one else is home. “Well, we went to see the Elders. Elders Caine and Greaves don’t care what happens to Callyn. Not like we didn’t already know that. Elder Caine told us not to get to attached. He also claimed that there was nothing new to report. But Lucian’s grandfather straggled behind. He made a good point about why not telling everyone just yet about Callyn was a good idea. We forgot that once we announce people can challenge Callyn for her position.”
“But we are destined. Everyone hopes to find their one. Do you think that someone would really challenge a destined mate?” Zeke inquiries.
“Yes, especially after the second bit of information that was passed along.”
Lucian took over and recounted to Zeke about the prophecy. His face visibly pales.
“They think it’s Callyn, don’t they?”
“My grandfather did not say, but that is the route I would take. She is the only one who fits the bill. The four of us are her mates. Also, Callyn may have shifter blood after all. They found a mention of her mother’s maiden name. They don’t have all the details pertaining to that, but they suspect she is a descendant from a shifter family. It just may be diluted because of the breeding with humans. But we don’t know for sure.”
It makes since. Some of the Elders and some shifters would not be too happy if change was brought about. Some believe too much in their antiquated ways. But too many shifters are settling with a power pairing, instead of trying to find their destined mates. It has brought shifter numbers down. Less, less being born every year. The also hasn’t been a prophetess in many years. None that we know of. I know why that book was hidden. No one wants to know a war will ensue. If that prophecy is right, Callyn and us will bring about that change and lead us into war.
No pressure.
Zeke
This is not what I excepted to hear, when I got that text earlier. A true alpha pairing. The last known true pairing was about two centuries ago. When that alpha pairing died, turmoil ensued among shifters. The Elder Councils were formed to keep the peace. An alpha pairing when bring an end to the council, meaning that the alpha would once again rule over the shifters. Making decisions for the betterment of all.
There is a possibility that it could be us. Callyn and the four of us. No one can know about this. This could put Callyn in even more danger than she already is. No one knows what events took place that night. Didn’t they know the damage that one single act would cause? Magic dying. Less shifters born ever year. We are dying out.
How the hell are a bunch of almost eighteen-year olds supposed to lead a war and win? We need answers. We need to know for sure that it’s Callyn. How could it not be? All the signs are there. This explains why the Elders didn’t want to say anything. Who wants a war? But things must change. If we have any hope for a future, there needs to be a change.
The only thing that was said that was not a complete shock, was that Callie is our mate. I knew that the moment I scented her. The heady scent of vanilla and strawberries drawing me in like a moth to a flame. There aren’t too many destined pairings, but they said you would know the second you meet your destined mate. They were right.
I knew. We all knew. Now, we all had to prepare ourselves for a war. I run my hands down my face.
“What kind of proof are they looking for to prove Callyn is or isn’t a shifter?” I ask.
“The Elders find a mention of her mother’s maiden name. My guess is they are looking through old scrolls, at family trees, trying to trace back her lineage. Until, they find something, there is nothing we can do. I doubt Callie would know anything,” Lucian states.
“There has to be a way to find out. We need answers now. If she is…if we are the ones the prophecy is talking about, we need to start preparing.”
“No one knows what happened that night all those years ago. No one has been able to find any written records of the account. Why would someone start a war to change the course of shifter kind? The only plausible explanation is power. We do know that a true alpha pairing, holds and wields a lot of magic. Each member of the pairing bringing the best of all talents. Strength, agility, knowledge, etc. It is said that the female holds the magic. She helps enhance each of her mate’s ability and helps distribute the magic to all shifters. It’s a delicate balance of give and take.
You tip the scales in one direction to much, and the whole thing will crumble and fall. For the Alpha Queen and her mates to be overtaken, it would have taken time and planning. Hitting them at their most vulnerable. To this day no one knows what made them that weak. I believe if we can solve that riddle, the rest of our questions will be answered.”
“Magic.” They all look to me. “Someone would also have to be strong. They would have had to have a following. You can’t just barge in and try to take on an alpha pairing. That�
��s a suicide mission. Whoever did this knew when to attack, how to attack. How could someone gather more power? By using magic. But how do you gather more magic?”
Lucians eyes grow wide. “You siphon it,” he whispers.
“Shit,” Graydon growls.
“How do you siphon magic?” Max questions.
“The most common way is by a talisman. You spell it and it could gather small amounts of residual energy from around the wearer. Before the magic started to fade, it was said that it was everywhere. You could feel in the air, the trees, the earth. It’s what helped the healers long ago. They would be able to draw in that energy, to help heal people. The only way to create a talisman is by blood magic.”
“Fuuuck,” exhales Graydon.
My thoughts exactly. Blood magic is dark and evil. Once you make that choice, there is no coming back. Chances are that talisman is still out there somewhere. In someone’s hands.
Chapter 25
Callyn
Luckily, my father wasn’t home the day that Kelsey came at me. I wore scarves and turtlenecks all week, until the bruises started to fade. Thankfully, the weather has started to turn cold. Fall officially making its presence. I’m okay with that, it’s my favorite time of year. This weekend is homecoming and me and the guys made plans to hang out all day Saturday. I can’t wait. I stayed home this weekend. I’m always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I love being around my boys. I’m drawn to them, have been from the start. I hate being away from them. Whenever I’m around them I feel like I can breathe again. I feel safe. It’s a feeling I don’t want to ever let go of. The boys have refused to let me back away from them. I’ve even encouraged them to find dates for the dance, but they are adamant that if I wasn’t going they weren’t going. Honestly, I can’t say that I’m mad. The thought of them touching, or being with someone else feels like a knife in my heart.
Royals Page 14
