by Morgan Fox
Jonah stripped her of her panties and bra, continuing to dry her off. “Jonah, I can do this myself. I’m okay now.”
Sebastian scowled, his brow creasing tight. “I’d feel better if you let him help you. I don’t think I can give you more energy right now, so you need to save yours.”
Brie frowned, but then nodded in agreement. Jonah slid a nightshirt over Brie’s head and propped her up on a few pillows to lean against. Megan entered the room. Her eyes drifted over Sebastian, who arched a brow, nudging his chin in Brie’s direction. He knew he looked like hell. He felt worse, but he needed the focus to be on Brie. Something was draining her, making her weak, and in turn she had feed on his life force. Grinding his teeth, Sebastian knew that if Brie had fed from anyone else, she would’ve killed them.
Kayla cried from her nursery, and Jonah immediately left the room to tend to their daughter. Sebastian stepped into the closet and put on a dry pair of jeans. Barefoot and shirtless, he moved back to sit beside Brie on the bed.
Megan shrugged. “How are you feeling, Brie?”
Brie smiled shyly. “I’m okay, just a little embarrassed.”
Sebastian squeezed her hand. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Everyone gets sick.” He kissed her knuckles and then turned his attention to Megan. “To make me feel better, could you run some labs on Brie? Check for anything that might appear out of the norm?”
“Of course,” Megan said, turning to grab her medical bag.
Tabitha came into the room, gasping as if completely out of breath. “Are you okay?” She darted around the bed and slid up alongside Brie. “I heard you passed out or something.”
Sebastian stared at Tabitha, Brie’s best friend. The room was starting to feel overpopulated. “She’s fine, Tabitha, and I’m glad you’re here.” Actually, he wasn’t. He needed to speak with Brie, but he didn’t want to upset her either. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he told Brie, standing. “You’ve got plenty of help right now, and I need to make a phone call.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips, lingering as the warmth of her touch poured into him. Her eyes fluttered open as their lips parted. “Will you be okay if I step out for a bit?”
She nodded. “Hurry back,” she told him, squeezing his hand, but letting go as he pulled away.
Grabbing a shirt, he exited the room and made his way into his office. Standing at his desk, he pressed his knuckles into the heavy wood. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Something was wrong with Brie, and if he didn’t figure it out soon, she could die or potentially kill an innocent.
“Oh, God, what if she’d been holding Kayla?” Sebastian asked aloud as an unsettling shiver raced down his spine.
He ran a stiff hand through his hair and sat in his chair. His office door opened, and Dominic, Sebastian’s second-in-command, popped his head inside.
“Got a moment?” Dominic asked.
Sebastian waved his hand forward, beckoning him in. Reyes and Jonah followed Dominic in as well. A warm jolt sprung to Sebastian’s chest as he saw Jonah carrying Kayla. He leaned on his elbows, folding his arms in front of him. Dominic propped himself on the edge of the desk, while both Reyes and Jonah sat in the office chairs.
“I take it you’re all concerned about Brie?” Sebastian asked, his eyes moving from one lycan to the next, resting on the sweet shifting pink bundle in Jonah’s arms.
“You could say that,” Dominic replied. “But more importantly, we’re worried about you and the pack.”
Easing back in his chair, Sebastian eyed Dominic and folded his arms over his chest. “How so?”
“I saw what she did to you,” Jonah answered. “I remember how she saved you after the virus attacked you. This was no different. She drew energy from you, Sebastian. She could’ve killed you.”
Sebastian gritted his teeth.
Dominic cleared his throat. “What would you have me do if something like that happened?” he asked, his dark eyes deadly serious. “Now is not the time for any of us to be weak. Lilly—”
“Don’t tell me about Lilly,” Sebastian bit out. “I’m very well aware of what that evil bitch can do.” He rose from his chair, the force enough to slam it against the wall behind him. “She fucking took my child from me.” The memory of his vulnerability had him clenching his jaw tight. A wave of dread sank into the pit of his stomach. He sighed, his fists digging into his hips. “She could’ve killed us all.”
“But she didn’t,” Jonah reminded them. “And we got Kayla back.”
“At what cost?” Sebastian muttered. “What if this was all a trap and Lilly managed to do something to Brie?” His voice shook. “What if what’s happening to Brie now is all Lilly’s doing?”
“I’m sure it is,” Reyes added.
Sebastian’s heart pounded. It was one thing for Reyes to think it, but another for his trusted advisor to agree with such certainty. He licked his dry lips. “What makes you say that, Reyes?”
Reyes leaned his elbow on the armrest of the chair and scratched at his black goatee, his crystal-blue eyes glancing down before returning to Sebastian. “Call it an educated guess.”
Sebastian didn’t like guessing. He preferred facts. He shook his head. “That’s not good enough.”
“Let’s think about this. Lilly takes the baby right after the bond between mother and child was severed.” His eyes flickered with interest. “A most critical time for both mother and child…and somehow we end up getting Kayla back so easily.”
“Ryder was the one who got the child for us,” Jonah reminded everyone.
“Sure, but was that all part of the plan?” Dominic added. “According to Ryder, Bianca handed the child over without a fight.” Dominic shook his head. “Does that sound anything like what Lilly would do?”
Sebastian’s heart beat heavily in his chest, the muscles in his jaw and cheeks tight. “Are you trying to say that Lilly did something to Kayla? The doctors said she was perfectly fine. There is not a damn thing wrong with my daughter.”
“Exactly, but there is with Brie.” Reyes’s eyes narrowed. “I think—”
Sebastian’s door flew open. Megan stood in the opening, her eyes wide with fear. “Sebastian, come quick.”
Sebastian was out of his office and up the stairs before anyone else. He rushed into the room and found Brie as pale and feverish as when he first discovered her. He stripped off his shirt, but before he could climb into the bed with her Jonah gripped his arm tight.
“No, Sebastian. You’ve already given her so much.”
Sebastian’s body shook. “I must. She’ll die without my energy.”
Jonah shook his head. “No. She’s my mate, too, and it’s my turn to help her.” Jonah turned to hand Kayla to Tabitha.
Sebastian knew his brother was right, and he stepped back as Jonah removed his shirt and slipped into the bed alongside Brie. Jonah pulled her up against him, turning her face to press a tender kiss to her lips. Instantly, Sebastian could see the exchange of power between them. Once he was sure Brie had enough, he separated them, yanking Brie up from the bed. Jonah rolled onto his side. Megan checked his vitals. He wasn’t as strong as Sebastian, and the energy Brie needed might leave Jonah weak and more disoriented.
“Rest, Jonah. I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes,” Megan muttered.
Sebastian placed Brie on her side of the bed, free from touching Jonah. “Keep an eye on them, Megan. Any changes…”
Megan nodded.
The moment Sebastian stepped from the room, Dominic and Reyes met him. “I think we need backup,” Reyes finished. “I think we need to call upon Brie’s kin.” He placed his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder in a comforting, brotherly gesture. “Maybe the fey witches can do something to care for her.”
Sebastian already knew what Reyes was going to suggest before the words parted from his lips, and Sebastian had already made the decision to reach out to them. He turned back around and went to Brie’s side, kneeling on the floor beside her bed. He kis
sed her hand.
As he stared into her tearful blue gaze, his world shattered. The desperation in her labored breaths shredded his insides. Her body felt freezing cold as he held her open palm to his cheek.
“I’m dying, Sebastian.”
Stunned by the truth in her words, Sebastian snapped, “No! Don’t say that. Please don’t say that.”
Brie tried to smile, but the effort seemed too much. “I won’t be able to use you or Jonah for energy much longer. My body wasn’t meant for this type of magical exchange.” She swallowed hard and winced as though the action brought great pain to her. “I need to speak with my father.”
“I’ve already contacted him,” Reyes said from over Sebastian’s shoulder. “He was already on his way.”
Brie’s smile pushed through the fatigue, and her eyes flickered with emotions Sebastian couldn’t decipher. “Good. He’ll need to get here soon. I’m not sure how much longer I have left.”
Sebastian brushed her hair away from her face, letting his hand rest at her temples, cupping down to her cheek. “Hang on for me, baby.” His heart dropped into his stomach at the thought of losing the only woman he ever loved, the mother of his child. My mate. “I can’t lose you, Brie.” His eyes watered and his throat constricted. “I don’t know what I’ll do if…” He lowered his head to rest on her belly, her delicate fingers weaving through his hair.
“I’ll never be completely gone, my love. As long as you have Kayla, you’ll have a piece of me.”
Tears leaked from the corner of his eye and dripped over the bridge of his nose as he held himself against her. So many emotions raked through him, but he knew above anything else he couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.
“Jonah, Tabitha, and Tiffany will be here to help you with Kayla. They love her, and they won’t let you raise her alone.” Her voice shook as she asked, “Promise me you’ll find someone else to fill your heart. Don’t live your life alone.”
He shook his head, his face pressing against her body. How could he ever find someone else, when Brie was his everything and always would be? “I can’t think about this, Brie.” His heart weighed a ton, dropping in his chest. His gut churned with so many things he didn’t want to face. “Don’t make me do this.”
He looked up at her, shifting his other cheek to her belly, staring at her with disbelief. She gently traced her fingers through his hair. “I love you, Sebastian. You and Jonah have been the best thing that has ever happened to me, but we need to face reality. I’m weakening as we speak and I can’t keep draining you like this. I could kill you, and that would do nothing to protect our child.”
His head snapped up, his eyes locking onto her watery gaze. “What about your family? Can they do something…anything?” He brought her hand to his cheek and kissed her opened palm. “Surely, their power is strong enough to save you.”
“My alpha is always the optimist.” Brie smiled softly. “Where is Kayla?”
Tabitha stepped forward. “She’s right here, Brie.” Tabitha placed Kayla in Brie’s arms, and Sebastian helped support the baby.
Suddenly, Brie began to shudder, her body shaking as if she were freezing to death. Sebastian scowled as he watched the energy in Brie’s body leaving. Instantly he rose to his feet and pulled the baby from Brie’s arms. Her eyes widened at his actions.
“Tabitha, take the baby away,” he ordered briskly. “I need you to take her to your home with Ryken and Luken.” Sebastian’s heart raced, and his throat constricted.
“Sebastian, what are you doing?” Brie said, pain lacing her words.
He shook his head, afraid to reveal what his mind and heart were warring against. He didn’t want it to be true. It would kill Brie.
“Sebastian, talk to me,” she begged, tears welling in her eyes and trailing down her cheeks.
Jonah stirred beside her, rolling to his back, and stared over at them both. “What’s going on?”
Brie’s horrified expression never softened. “Sebastian?”
He shook his head, sucking in a sharp breath. “I think Kayla is doing this to you.”
Jonah sat up and leaned against the headboard. “What? That’s ridiculous,” he argued.
Sobbing, Brie studied her hands, twisting nervously. “I think you’re right,” she acknowledged. “I think Lilly did something to Kayla and in turn it’s killing me.”
“You’re almost right,” a voice from behind them said. All eyes shifted to see John Miles, Brie’s father enter the room, followed by Conrad Black, the leader of the Lupinari. John’s green gaze rested on his daughter as he moved to stand at the foot of the bed.
“What the hell is wrong with my mate?” Sebastian questioned, anguish biting at each word.
John’s expression was serious. “Lilly has placed a spell on Brie.”
“What kind of spell?” Sebastian asked sharply.
“A spell that can only be cast by another fey witch.”
Sebastian growled, pointed a trembling finger toward Brie. “One of you did this to her?”
“No,” Conrad replied. “Lilly is a fey witch. Only she had the power to cast a spell like this.”
Sebastian gritted his teeth. “I don’t understand. Lilly is a vampire, not a witch.”
“Lilly was a fey witch before she was turned. Once she was bitten, the vampire’s blood placed her magical abilities in a dormant state.” Conrad cleared his throat. “She’s somehow figured out a way to undo that.”
Sebastian stood, running a stiff hand through his disheveled hair. “How is this possible? How did you not know something like this could happen?”
“Lilly is older than me, Sebastian. I’ve only read about this occurring one other time in our history.”
“And what happened?” Jonah asked as he slid his body closer to Brie.
John lowered his gaze, pain etched on his face. “The Lupinara did not survive.”
“That’s fucking great,” Sebastian bit out angrily. His wolf was so close to surfacing that both John and Conrad took a step back.
Holding his hand up toward Sebastian, Conrad added, “Just because that was the outcome then, does not mean it will be the outcome now.”
Sebastian felt Brie’s fingers lace with his. He glanced down to see their joined hands, emotions choking him. Damn them and their magical bullshit. His mind was so clouded by fear and anger, he was thankful when her touch began to calm him.
“It’s okay, baby,” Brie muttered.
He shook his head and knelt at her side. “No, Brie, it’s not okay. I can’t lose you. Not like this. Old age was to take us, not some fucking vampire hell-bent on tearing us apart.”
She smiled. “Tiffany’s here,” she breathed. “She will give me the energy I need to fight a little longer. But once my energy fades…”
Sebastian lowered his gaze, fighting for the strength to contain his emotions. He had to be strong for Brie, for his mate.
“Oh, God,” cried a feminine voice. Tiffany had arrived and Brie had felt it. “What’s happened to my sister,” Tiffany called out to anyone who would answer her.
“Lilly placed a spell on Kayla and Brie,” John said plainly.
“What kind of spell?” Tiffany asked, moving closer to Brie.
“She’s using Kayla as a vessel to drain Brie’s energy. Lilly is assuming Brie’s magic,” John muttered.
“Stealing it, in other words,” Sebastian added.
“That damn leach,” Tiffany snapped as Zane came up behind her.
“How do we break the connection?” Sebastian asked, his eyes fixed on Brie’s.
“You kill the vampire queen,” Conrad said coldly. “It’s the only way to break the spell.”
“What can we do in the mean time?” Zane asked.
John moved to take Tiffany’s hand in his, pulling her closer to Brie. “As a chosen one of the Lupinari, Tiffany can keep Brie alive.” His gaze locked onto his youngest daughter. “You must remain with your sister at all times. Without you, she will die.”
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Tiffany nodded, her bottom lip quivering as realization consumed her.
“How can I be sure not to take too much energy from Tiffany? I can’t risk killing her, or anyone for that matter.”
“Tiffany will know how much to give you,” their father said.
Tiffany shrugged, meeting Brie’s gaze. “I guess it comes with the job description of being the chosen one.”
Brie smiled.
Sebastian leaned forward and kissed Brie. “Don’t die on me,” he whispered against her warm mouth. “I’m going to save you.”
Brie blinked back the tears in her eyes. “I know you are,” she murmured so only he could hear her.
He kissed her once more and stood, moving to stand in front of Tiffany and Zane. “I’m leaving her in your hands. Keep her alive for as long as you can.” He hugged Tiffany. “Thank you.”
Tiffany nodded. “Of course.”
Jonah scooted off the bed and came around to Brie’s side, kissing her and whispering something in her ear. She smiled and Sebastian’s heart knotted, seeing the love they shared. His brother loved her as he did, and together he and Jonah would travel to the ends of the earth to save their mate.
Sebastian cleared his throat, swallowing the lump that nearly choked him. He met John and Conrad’s gaze. “Follow me. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”
Chapter 4
Bianca’s lungs screamed as she raced up the mountainside. Her claws dug into the rocky earth beneath her feet. Perspiration coated her body.
Since the first night she arrived at her secret cabin, she let her panther run free. Each and every night, the calling of her beast screamed for an ounce of freedom, a chance to escape from the confines of human captivity. It was the only peace Bianca found since being banished from her pack and forced to separate from her mate.
Alone in the wild was how she’d lived her life until she’d finally conjured up the courage to track down Ryder and reemerge into society. At a distance, she observed him, keeping herself hidden in the shadows.
Unable to reveal herself to him and her pack, she watched Mason Levi and Lilly use the were-virus, devastating her pack and hurting those she cared most about.
