Ceva's Chance

by Lilli Carlisle

  For the next thirty minutes, they flew along the face of the mountain looking for any opening. Ceva was sure her brother had hidden it well and she’d have to rely on her senses as a witch to find it. The different shades of granite blended together with the shadows, making the search even harder.

  Then she felt it, the slight change in the wind, almost unperceivable but it was there, below them. She circled the area before landing.

  “I feel a change in the flow of air in the area below us. The door must be close by.” She landed and began searching for the opening. She turned around to find her wolf was missing and her heart stopped. It couldn’t have been a spell; she was shielding him. “Lothar? Lothar?”

  “Here.” He appeared from between two jutting rocks. “I think I found it.”

  She joined him and began touching his body to make sure he was really there, because if he disappeared again, she didn’t know what she’d do.

  “I’m okay, Ceva.” He stopped her hands and pressed them to his chest. “I’m okay, beautiful.”

  “Don’t go disappearing on me again, or I’ll kill you myself,” she teased in an attempt to hide her fear.

  Lothar smiled and simply nodded. “Shall we go in?”

  “And if I told you I wanted you to wait here?”

  “Then I would say you’re crazy. You’re not going in there without me.”

  “Fine.” Ceva huffed and turned to lead the way to their possible deaths.

  Lothar followed Ceva into the dark recesses of Ramsha Mountain. The air was cold and damp, the walls covered in moss, and he couldn’t imagine this was how Penrod lived. The passageway was pitch black. He heard Ceva say a few words and an orb of light appeared directly in front of them. Lothar looked up to see nothing but rocks above them, and there was only enough room for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder through the tunnel.

  It was a good thing he wasn’t claustrophobic, or this would have been torture. He continued to follow Ceva. There was no way in hell she was going into this mountain alone. Witch or no witch, she was the woman he loved and he would die trying to protect her if necessary. They walked in silence, ever cautious of traps or ogres.

  The tunnel began to open up into a small cavern with two more tunnels leading off from it.

  “Which way?” Lothar asked. But before Ceva could answer, two misshapen ogres came limping into the cavern. One had short, stubby arms while the other’s dragged on the ground. Their legs bent the wrong way and one of them had only a single eye. It was as if they were put together wrong, but how could that be?

  Lothar shifted into his wolf as Ceva unsheathed her sword. He leapt at the closest ogre, the one with the stubby arms, and proceeded to rip its throat out as it tried to knock Lothar away. Next, he used his long, sharp claws to sever the head from the malformed beast. When he turned, he found Ceva cleaning her sword beside a now headless second ogre.

  “Welcoming committee?” Lothar asked after he shifted back to his human form.

  “Yes, but I would have expected more of them to attack and for them not to be so misshapen. It was as if they hadn’t been put together properly, there’s no other way to describe it.”

  “Could they be creating ogres for their army?”

  “Yes, but how? It’s as if they didn’t know how to make them properly.” Ceva sheathed her sword, and he shifted back into his wolf form. Everything was heightened in this form; his senses were on alert to any subtle changes.

  She took the tunnel to the right and Lothar followed. He knew she would be able to sense her brother’s presence. They walked for nearly ten more minutes before entering a large, lit chamber with flat granite floors gleaming in the firelight. On the far side of the cavern sat a two-story stone building that looked like it had been carved right out of the mountain. Cages sat empty along the walls, and his wolf recognized the scent of other wolves, but they were gone.

  Like some deranged fashion show, misshapen ogres began to walk, hobble, limp, and crawl into the chamber. There had to be at least ten of them. Some were missing body parts while others had them in the wrong places. It was a macabre display with the smell of rot wafting from their bodies.

  “Well look what we got, Wolfie, the leftovers. Looks like Penrod didn’t rate the first-string ogres from Mommy and Daddy.”

  With a crack of lightning, Penrod appeared in the center of his ogres. “They need them to attack more towns and destroy every last wolf pack,” Penrod answered.

  “Sure, whatever lets you sleep at night. Really? They wouldn’t have left you here alone with ten mangled ogres as protection against me, now would they? They didn’t even trust you with the prisoners who I believe are at our parents’ estate.”

  Penrod’s face turned red as he made a big show of flicking his hand at Lothar. He stood there confused for a moment before saying, “You’re shielding your lover from my magic, too bad. My ogres will just have to tear him apart instead.”

  “Typical Penrod, not wanting to get your own hands dirty. Great dark wizard that you are,” Ceva sneered at her brother and raised her sword.

  “You’ll pay for that! You’re nothing but a mistake that I’ll soon be rid of,” Penrod screamed.

  Ceva turned her head to look at Lothar. “I love you, Wolfie.” Considering he was still in his wolf form, he could only growl his response. She knew he loved her and would do anything to protect her.

  “Kill them,” Penrod screamed, and the ogres began moving forward as her brother stood back.

  If Ceva used her powers to stop the ogres, it would leave her slightly weakened to fight Penrod. So he went after the closest ogre, ripping and tearing until the creature was headless, then Lothar moved on to the next. Pain shot through his side as another ogre sliced him over his ribs. It was a flesh wound and would heal; it didn’t slow him down as he tore another head off. More ogres piled on as he fought with everything he had to give. He could hear Ceva’s sword slicing through the air and chanced a glance her way. She had four ogres on the ground as Lothar finished off his fifth. Only one remained, and Ceva was busy fending him off when Penrod appeared behind her, his sword pulled back, ready to strike.

  Lothar charged over and pushed Ceva out of the way. The pain was instantaneous as the sword pierced his heart. Penrod pulled out his sword and stood with a satisfied smile on his cruel face. The last ogre fell to the ground beside Lothar. He tried to get up, but his body wouldn’t respond. He’d been mortally wounded.

  Penrod popped away before Ceva had a chance to run him through with her sword.

  Ceva came to her knees beside Lothar. “Wolfie…”

  Lothar shifted and said, “Not enough time to heal me. Kill Penrod, I can wait.”

  Just then, Penrod appeared behind her, his sword held high.

  Ceva turned and brought up her sword to block Penrod’s blow and stood to face her brother. Not a word was said; there were none needed as blow after blow landed and Ceva was forced to go on the defensive until she could bring him to his knees. Lothar was down and wounded, Penrod had done that, and she would exact her revenge.

  She used the environment to her advantage as Penrod stumbled over rock after rock, leaving himself open to her quick jabs. She parried each of his attacks, easily turning the moves to her favor. This went on until Ceva sidestepped Penrod’s overextended blow and buried her sword through his neck, twisted, and sliced through, leaving him headless. She backed away from the smoking body as it ignited and burned into ash. She’d killed her brother. It felt almost anticlimactic.

  As the smoke cleared, Ceva ran to Lothar’s side and immediately knew that he’d lied—he couldn’t wait to be healed; he’d received a mortal wound. He lay unconscious, his life-giving blood flowing freely from his heart, hovering near death. He’d pushed her out of the way and saved her life. She had no choice, she had to bite him to make him immortal, but she would have to do so without his permission. This would tie them for all eternity and his entire world would change.

  If she
bit him, she would be taking that decision away from him, but if she didn’t bite him, he would surely die. His heartbeat began to slow; she was out of time. She extended her mating fangs, prayed she’d be forgiven, and bit him where his shoulder and neck met.

  Ceva shared her DNA with Lothar, her immortality and her powers. The guilt was suffocating.

  She’d taken away his choice.

  Chapter Six

  Lothar felt like he was flying. His body was weightless. He heard voices, familiar voices, all around him. He wondered why he couldn’t open his eyes. He was so tired, but he wasn’t in pain from his wound. How could he not be in pain after being stabbed in the chest? Am I dead? He began to struggle, trying to get his body to move, but nothing happened. Was he paralyzed?

  “Easy, Wolfie. I’m here.” Ceva’s voice washed over him, immediately calming his fears. If she was there, he knew he was safe. But why couldn’t he move? Soon enough, his fears were forgotten as sleep overtook him.

  Sometime later he woke. This time he was able to move his arms. It felt like his body was slowly coming back to life. Lothar knew something was different, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He pried open his eyes and looked around the room. Ceva lay beside him on the bed, dark circles under her eyes, fast asleep. What worried him the most was the fact that the rest of his body remained unmovable no matter how much he tried to swing his legs over hers. The last thing he remembered was Penrod stabbing him in the chest.

  At least with his arms able to move he could reach out and stroke Ceva’s soft cheek. The instant he made contact, her eyes flew open.

  “Hi, beautiful,” he said.

  She smiled wide and her look of relief didn’t go unnoticed. He had been that close to death.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked before kissing his forehead.

  “I still can’t move the lower half of my body. Am I paralyzed?” It didn’t happen often due to the wolf’s healing abilities, but if the damage had been extensive, he may not have been able to heal.

  “No, you’re not paralyzed. Your body is going through a change of sorts.”

  “A change. What kind of change?”

  She sat up on the bed beside him. Her eyes were troubled, and he could feel the guilt pouring off her. He opened his arms wide and she laid herself down into his embrace. “It’s going to be okay. Now tell me what kind of change?”

  “I had no other choice, you were going to die.”

  “No other choice about what?”

  She sat up and looked him straight in the eyes. “I bit you.”

  “The mating bite?”

  “Yes, you were near death and it was the only way to save you. I’ve made you immortal by sharing my DNA with you.”

  “We’re mated?”

  “According to Wiccan law, yes. But until you bite me, you have the option of walking away. I, on the other hand, do not. I have chosen you as my mate.” Her head was held high, but her eyes were all about her worry. “I’m sorry I took any of the decision away from you.”

  Lothar took everything in. He was immortal now. “You saved my life. Had you given me the choice of spending eternity with the woman I love or dying inside Ramsha Mountain, the choice would have been simple. Yes, bite me.”

  “So you’re not upset with me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  Ceva let out the breath she’d been holding and cuddled back into his embrace.

  “How long will I be unable to move?”

  “You should complete the change by the end of the day. Your body is adjusting to the immortality and powers.”

  “Powers?” he asked.

  “Yes, you will share my powers with me. But you’ll need training before you go around blowing things up. It will take time for you to learn how to control your new powers, but I will be right by your side to help you.”

  “Thank you, beautiful.”

  “For what, Wolfie?”

  “For saving my life. If it weren’t for you, I would have died in that cave. And I intend to give you my mating bite as soon as I can move again.”

  “You don’t have to rush it if you’re not sure. I don’t want to pressure you.”

  “Listen to me, beautiful, this is my choice and I choose you. I always will. I want to be mated to you.” He meant every word he’d said. He could still sense that she felt guilty about biting him without his permission, but he’d been honest; he liked this turn of events and he loved Ceva.

  Other than the fact that he couldn’t move all that much, he felt good. He wasn’t in pain. His body felt alive and was being bombarded with different sights and sounds. As a wolf, his senses were already enhanced, but this surpassed those powers immeasurably.

  The fact that they were alive meant Penrod was dead. Lothar decided not to bring up such a sensitive topic just yet. He looked at his left arm, but it was blank; what happened to his mating tattoo?

  As if sensing his concern, Ceva said, “Once the mating is completed, we’ll both get our marks.”

  He looked back down at his blank arm. He’d never thought about mating before, but now that he had Ceva, he was one hundred percent on board with it. She meant the world to him, and he could no longer see his life without her in it.

  Ceva lay in Lothar’s arms as he fell back to sleep. His body would be weak for the next couple days as it adjusted to becoming an immortal wolf. After millennia of being alone, she now had a mate. What now? Did this change how he behaved around her? She hoped not. She loved him just the way he was and wanted to build a life with him.

  A soft knock came from their bedroom door, and reluctantly Ceva got up and opened it. Karli was waiting for her in the hallway.

  “Excuse me, Ceva, I don’t wish to interrupt, but the team asked me to check in on their captain. They’re worried.”

  “He’s doing well. He woke up a little while ago. I’ll come down and explain what happened. Do you mind watching over my wolf while I’m gone?”

  “Of course I don’t mind. It would be an honor to watch over your mate.”

  “Thank you, Karli.”

  Ceva walked down the stairs and into the living room where the team had gathered. All conversations ceased when she walked in, and everyone turned to face her.

  “How is he?” Joseph asked on behalf of the group.

  “He was awake not long ago and is growing stronger,” she explained. “He should be up and around by tonight.”

  Cheers rose up around the room as the team celebrated their captain’s recovery, and Ceva took the opportunity to step outside and into the sunlight. The weather had returned to normal after Penrod’s death. She’d killed her brother. She should feel guilty, horrified she’d killed her sibling, her twin. But if she was upset, it was with herself for not feeling any remorse. It didn’t matter that he was evil and would have killed them both if given a chance; she should feel something other than relief, right?

  She knew her parents would have felt the loss almost immediately, but they left him without proper protection. They didn’t care about either of their children, and Ceva knew if she entered their estate again, she would have to kill or be killed by her parents.

  On top of all of that familial baggage, go figure she’d screw up her one and only mating. Matings were supposed to be passion-fueled events, not save-your-life bites in a dank cave cut into a cursed mountainside. Never mind, Lothar hadn’t bitten her yet. Even though he had said he wanted her for a mate, that could change. Now she had to wait until he regained his strength and his body to find out if she would be mated to a man who didn’t want her that way.

  “Would you like some company?” Dedric asked as he joined her at the picnic table.

  “Sure, but I don’t think I’d be very good company right now.”

  “I need to thank you. My pack arrived in Black Ridge and have all been settled in by your pack.”

  “Alpha Aldric is a good man. You’ll have to thank him when and if we make it back there.”

  “If? I prefe
r when we make it back.”

  “Ah, but you’ve never gone up against my parents. They’re powerful and cruel dark beings who have no qualms about ending someone’s life.”

  “We will make it back to Black Ridge when this is all over.”

  “I hope you’re right, old friend.”

  “Congratulations on your mating, Ceva.”

  “Thank you, but it’s not completed yet.”

  “That’s all a matter of time, and a formality. Once he’s well, you won’t be able to stop him. Wolves are very one track when they want something.”

  “What if he doesn’t want me?” She knew she was being a bit of a drama queen, but she couldn’t help it. Worry was getting the best of her.

  “Are you insane? That man is head over heels for you.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at her friend. They’d been through some pretty scary situations in their time where she had been ferocious in combat. Now she was whining and pining over a man. Oh how the mighty have fallen. But he wasn’t just any man. This was Lothar, which was what made all the difference.

  “So tell me, Dedric, you’re an eligible Alpha. Why haven’t you stolen some Omega’s heart?”

  “I believe the Omegas I have met preferred larger packs than my own. And now with my pack house burnt to the ground, I can’t even offer a place for her to live.” Dedric lowered his head in defeat.

  “You have a lot to offer any Omega. You’re a strong Alpha with a pack that loves you. The house can be rebuilt in no time.”

  “Ever the optimist, Ceva. Perhaps you should look at yourself in a kinder light. You’re a powerful white witch. You’re kind and you help people every day, not to mention you’re kinda cute.”

  “Kinda cute?”

  “I don’t want Lothar to beat the shit out of me for calling you beautiful. Anyway, my point is this, you’re a catch for any man, and Lothar knows it. Of course he’s in love with you. Stop doubting yourself.”

  Ceva sat and thought about it for a moment. “Thanks, Dedric, I think with everything going on, I needed a kick in the ass.”