Pure Blooded

by Amanda Carlson

  Marcy gasped, slapping her hands on the table. “That’s true! That might be it—the reason my old biddy of an aunt has disappeared.”

  “What?” Tyler asked.

  “Your father hit on something. My aunt is indisputably the most powerful witch in the world. The power of our Sect lies insider her, so logically, if the seat was open, it would go to her. But there’s bad blood between her and a witch who ascended to godhood. When the previous Mistress of the Covens, our leader, died around four hundred years ago, this witch figured the mantle of our Sect would shift to her, because she was both a witch and a goddess. When it didn’t—and it went to my aunt instead—she lashed out. Tally defeated her, three times to be exact, but she’s always carried a grudge. I can assure you she thinks that seat belongs to her.”

  “Who is it?” Danny asked. “Which goddess?”

  “Ceres,” Marcy answered.

  “Angie the Awful’s sister? The Goddess of Fertility?” I gasped. Angie was the irritating witch who gave us a scooter to escape the sorcerers, knowing it would leave us open and exposed. “I don’t really get it, though. Doesn’t being a goddess trump being a regular witch? Why didn’t the power of the Sect transfer to Ceres?”

  “The short answer is the witches never do anything the easy way,” Marcy said. “The long is godhood doesn’t equal total power when it comes to ruling a Sect. Godhood is about immortality, and think about it, once you attain it, you don’t really need a Sect any longer. Sects by definition are formed to make a species strong. Strength in numbers and all that.”

  I shook my head. The entire godhood thing was confusing at best. “How does anyone actually become a god or goddess?” I asked. “Do you know?”

  “I must confess,” Danny interjected, “I’ve never understood that part either. It seems very random and contrived, if you ask me. Why couldn’t I just declare myself the God of Thunder? Oh, wait, that title is already taken,” Danny snickered. “No matter, I’ll just become the God of Tundra instead. It makes no sense, and who needs immortality anyway? The wolves have never needed it. We regenerate just fine. If you manage not to die, it’s not an issue.”

  Marcy shook her head at Danny, smiling. “Very funny, God of Tundra. It’s humans. Humans are the ones who decide godhood.”

  “Humans?” I said. That’s the last thing I thought would come out of her mouth.

  Marcy arched a look at me. “Yes, humans. That’s why there hasn’t been a new god or goddess—at least that I know about—in centuries. Humans don’t pray to new gods anymore. I think it might be time for a supernatural intervention with you. We can call it Marcy’s Magical History Hour.”

  “Hilarious,” I said. “I’ve been a wolf for a total of five minutes in the scope of things. Wolves, from what I know”—I glanced at my father—“have kept themselves in the dark about supernatural things on purpose. Our motto has been ‘If it doesn’t concern us, we don’t bother.’ ”

  “That’s true,” my father said. “It’s never been our practice to concern ourselves with the outside world—but, in our defense, we’ve never had a need. We keep our heads down and fight our own battles. I believe it’s always been our way. But I can see those ways won’t work for us now. It’s time for a rebirth for us too.” He grinned. “The wolves, under my command, will become educated in all things supernatural. They will be aware of every possible threat so we can take care of them efficiently.”

  Marcy shook head and muttered, “Men. So typical.”

  James growled, his arms wrapping around his mate’s middle. “Men you must now have pity on. Enlighten us. Let’s have it, lass. Tell us about how gods are made.”

  She leaned over and planted a chaste kiss on James’s cheek. “You people are incorrigible. There’s not enough time to give you the full monty, so I’ll give you the abridged version. Gods and goddesses are worshipped, right?” We all nodded. “Well, they gain their power from the act of humans gathering to give them fealty, repeatedly. The power inside a supernatural is sizable, and we use it to wield our magic. Humans have power, too, but it’s nominal. But you get enough of them together and it acts like a power transfer straight to the god or goddess they pray to.” She leaned over and set her hand on my forearm. “Just like this.” She pushed a tiny bit of her power into me and it tingled up my arm. “Small zaps just like this, from millions of humans, equal one powerful supe. Over time, the gods or goddesses build up enough power that they’ll never die. They can mend even the gravest injury, thus securing their immortality and living forever.”

  How she explained it made sense. “So Ceres and Selene were worshipped by humans and gained massive power over time? But how did they become goddesses in the first place? Did they nominate themselves?” I pictured Selene campaigning for the job and stifled a laugh.

  Marcy shrugged. “That predates any knowledge I have. I’m not sure anyone knows for sure. But I do know you have to have a sponsor, another god or goddess in your corner, which I’m assuming is so humans can find out who you are. How else would millions be keyed in otherwise? But once the humans begin to pray, all bets are off.”

  “So what you’re really saying is, becoming a god or goddess is nearly impossible these days?” Tyler asked. “Humans would have to believe in a new god in large numbers, and that doesn’t happen anymore.”

  “I wouldn’t rule it out, but yes, I think it would be harder,” Marcy said. “Humans are eternal searchers of hope, however. In the old days, the gods and goddesses would actually perform ‘miracles.’ It kept them gorged on power. So, could it happen today? Maybe. Under the right circumstances.”

  “Tyler’s right,” I said. “Humans don’t pray to gods and goddesses much anymore. Maybe that’s what’s motivating Ceres to take a place on the Coalition? Her power can’t be what it used to be.”

  Marcy nodded. “That would be just like her. Needy and delusional.”

  My father interrupted. “Marcy, do you know where Ceres is located?”

  “Yes,” she said. “She’s in Italy.”

  9

  The sun had set by the time we’d finished up our discussions, and we were all exhausted. We’d tossed around rough plans about how to deal with the bokor. Defeating her was a must, but the question was how? My father was going to wait for more information before we moved forward with anything concrete tomorrow.

  “I’m not sleeping in one of these without you.” Rourke gestured to the hammock. “It would never hold the two of us together anyway.”

  I nodded. That thing wouldn’t even hold Rourke alone. “Maybe we can have Marcy spell it?” I said as I strapped the skinny knife my father had given me to use against the Made wolves in a holster on my upper arm.

  “Marcy and James already left for the other camp. Let’s go back to the first platform and sleep there,” he said. “Your father said wolves disappear during the night. I find it nearly impossible for werewolves to vanish without a trace, so there’s something big going on. I plan to stay awake, but I want you close.”

  “I don’t care where we lie down. I just need to get horizontal before I collapse. I’ll ask my dad if they have some extra blankets.”

  We were settled a short time later on the first platform we arrived at.

  Even though we’d slept on the island, not having had any rest in the Underworld still wore on me. Going head-to-head with the bokor was going to take strength, and I needed sleep. Rourke threw an arm around my waist and tugged me to him tightly. “Get some rest,” he whispered in my ear. “I can’t help thinking we should’ve headed back to real land tonight. This swamp is making my beast edgy.”

  The air did hold a heavy vibe. “I think it’s impossible to run from her at this point, unless we got completely out of Florida.” I turned in his arms and placed my hands on his face. “But I promise you, we’re going to defeat her. And once it’s done, I will never come back here. That’s going to be our new motto: Defeat the threat and move the hell on.”

  “I’m with you. It
would take a supernatural crowbar and about twenty trolls to drag me back here. But if this bokor is kidnapping wolves right out from under the Alpha’s nose, it’s serious business.”

  I snuggled into his side and sighed. “I wonder how she’s getting them out.”

  “I don’t want to know,” he grumbled. “She just better not try to mess with me or mine.”

  “You’re really not going to sleep a wink, are you?” I leaned up and kissed his cheek.

  “Hell no,” he retorted with a half laugh. “But I want you to sleep. You’re going to need your rest.”

  “Let’s face it—I’m probably not going to sleep either,” I said. “And kissing you sounds like a much better way to pass the time.”

  His lips were on mine before the last words were out of my mouth. I ran my hands around his shoulders and wrapped them up in the back of his hair. “Mmm, you taste good,” I murmured into his mouth.

  He rolled me on top of him and grinned as he nipped my chin. “I like you like this. The way it should be. Safe in my arms.”

  I woke with a start.

  My heart was beating like a hummingbird’s. I felt it inside my rib cage, fluttering quickly against my breastbone. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep. The last thing I remembered was kissing my mate thoroughly, and then nothing.

  It was deathly quiet all around me. A thick blanket of fog had rolled in and I couldn’t see the tops of the trees in front of me.

  My best guess was it was an hour before dawn.

  Something brushed by my face.

  I reached out to swat it away and a voice whispered next to my ear. She’s gone. It slid in and out of earshot, making it sound eerie. You must find… her. Her was drawn out, ending on a shallow breath.

  I sat up, glancing over at my mate, who was out cold. “Rourke.” I shook his shoulder. “Wake up. Something’s here.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Oh my gods.” I jumped up, fully shaking off my sleepy haze, comprehension finally penetrating my brain.

  Something had knocked us all out cold.

  And in order to do that, it had to be heavy magic—black magic. But I couldn’t sense a spell. “Who’s gone?” I called desperately into the air. “Tell me!”

  No answer.

  “Dammit!” I shouted. “You’re the one who woke me up! You want me to know. Now tell me who’s gone.”

  Vampire. The breath was only inches from my ear and it was followed by crackling laughter. You must find her before it’s too late… The voice popped out of existence and the fog evaporated from the air into nothingness in front of me.

  Danny shouted and I started to run.

  No, not Naomi! I shouted in my mind. She’s already been through too much. Please, not her.

  “Jessica!” Rourke roared as he awoke behind me.

  The bokor took Naomi, I told him in my mind. We have to get her back.

  I nearly collided with Danny, who was sprinting toward me on the skinny planking. “She’s bloody gone!” he shouted, his face as angry as I’ve ever seen it. “I don’t know how it happened, but she was there one minute, then gone the next. The priestess snatched her right out of thin air. How can that even happen?”

  I grabbed his arm. It was vibrating, echoing the adrenaline racing through my own veins. “How do you know she’s been taken? Maybe she just went on a scouting mission?” I knew it wasn’t true, but I still felt hopeful that maybe the bokor was lying just to mess with our minds. “She could be doing a perimeter sweep for us. Vampires don’t sleep like we do.”

  “I know she’s gone because I found this in her hammock,” he said, thrusting a small ebony figurine into my hand.

  I grasped hold and the power inside of it almost brought me to my knees.

  It was churning with black magic.

  I uncurled my fingers and let it drop to the ground. It bounced a few times before coming to a stop right on the edge of the walkway.

  I bent over to catch my breath as Rourke rushed up behind me. “Oh my gods,” I breathed. “That thing looks like Naomi.” I gestured to the tiny carved face. Rourke reached down and I yelled, “Don’t touch it! It’s a black magic fetish and it packs a punch.” I eased up to a standing position.

  “I have to go after her.” Danny brushed past me and I immediately turned and started to jog after him. Rourke was right behind us. I snagged Danny’s arm before he could leap into one of the airboats.

  “Wait a minute,” I said, turning him around. “You can’t go like this. We all want to find her. It’s our top priority.” He tried to shake me off, but I braced my hand against his forearm. “Danny, listen to me. We’ll come up with a plan as soon as we can, and once we do, we’ll go together.” A moment later, my father, Tyler, and Ray showed up. Without taking my eyes off Danny, I said to Ray, “I want you to fly over the area. Naomi’s missing. See if you can detect anything, but don’t land anywhere. And if you start to feel anything strange, come back immediately.”

  Ray nodded once and shot into the air.

  I glanced over Danny’s shoulder at my father and brother, who both stood with pursed lips. “Can you give us a minute?” I asked. I was still Danny’s Alpha, and his emotions and confusion were racing through my veins at top speed. I needed to calm him down.

  My father nodded once. “When you’re finished, meet me at the main table.”

  “We’re going to need Marcy back here,” I called to his retreating back. “She told us she can brew spells that can aid us against the bokor. Send word to James.”

  “Will do.”

  Rourke sensed the need to give us space, even without me asking. He followed my father but stopped about twenty feet away, resting his back against a tree. That’s all I was going to get.

  Once they were gone, I peered into Danny’s face. It was full of anguish. I ran my hand along his arm. “We’re going to get her back. I need you to believe that. The odds will be better if we gather all the wolves and come up with a good tactic. We can’t go barreling back in there unarmed with no plan. It won’t help anyone.”

  Danny tipped his head down and whispered, “She’s my mate.”

  The news wasn’t as shocking as it could’ve been, because I’d suspected as much. Their chemistry was palpable, and had been from the start. The fact that the two of them had managed to avoid the inevitable pull up until now had been nothing short of incredible. I’d only denied Rourke for a single day, and it had cost me. “When did you find out?”

  “The very first time I set eyes on her.” There was a deep sadness in his voice. “But I’ve been in rabid denial—that, and she won’t willingly talk to me in private so we’ve never been able to sort it out. I’ve refused to believe what was in front of me. I’d like to think it was out of fear, but I believe it was my own cowardice. Now I’ve gone and messed it up before it could even start.”

  “It’s not all your fault. Naomi is a very private person,” I reassured him. “She is likely grappling with the same feelings you are. You’re both very similar and very different at the same time. You complement each other well, but a vampire and a wolf together? I’ve never heard of a match like that before in our world.”

  “You’re telling me.” Danny ran a hand along the back of his neck. “Up until right this minute I’ve been cursing Fate for playing such a cruel joke on us. But now that Naomi’s been taken from me, my wolf has gone crazy with need. Jessica, you have to understand, I can’t stay here. I must go after her. I have to make this right.” His voice held panic. “There is no other choice for me—for us.”

  I nodded. Nothing kept Rourke from following me to the Underworld, and I would’ve done the same if he had been taken. “Danny, you have to listen. Naomi is going to make you a perfect partner, when we get her back. Our best chance of freeing her is to do it together.”

  Danny stepped toward the boats and I let go of his arm. “I can’t wait. I can’t think straight knowing she’s in harm’s way. Jessica, please. By the time you’re ready, and
agree on a plan, it may be too late. My wolf won’t rest until I make her completely mine. And I’m not bringing her back here, into danger, until we’ve forged our bond together, whatever it takes. Please don’t make me ask you for permission.” His face was masked in the kind of sorrow that burrows deep and holds on.

  I was his Alpha and he was asking for my acceptance, even if he wasn’t asking for my permission.

  “Danny, my Alpha instinct is to keep you here and protect you until we come up with a plan, but my heart understands. Nothing would keep me from going after Rourke. I’m not sure you’re going to find her, but you have my blessing to try. We’ll be right behind you as fast as we possibly can.”

  He drew me into a quick embrace. “You being my Alpha feels right,” he whispered in my ear, “and as we move forward, you have my fealty, as well as Naomi’s. I won’t make another troth to your father now, so you’re stuck with me, for better or worse.”

  I pulled back. “I appreciate that, Danny. Our bond is strong and I’m thankful to have you behind me. I’ll let my father know. I don’t think there will be an issue.”

  “I’m taking a boat.” He moved to the closest one. “I’ll head back to where we went into the priestess’s lands the first time. I hope like hell she will let me in. If anything, I will try to delay whatever she has planned by wreaking havoc where I can.”

  “Promise me you’ll keep your wits about you, even if you see Naomi in pain. That’s the most important part.” I remembered clearly how I felt when I found Rourke in Selene’s cave. “I know you’re wily, but you need to keep your emotions in check for this. If you lose control, you’ll be vulnerable.”