“Everything okay?”
“Oh, Sebastian, you frightened me,” Jade said, placing her hand over her chest. Grant had given Sebastian access to her lab, and he came and went as he pleased (which wrecked her productivity, since he always found ways to distract her). He’d been spending more and more time at Fenrir, helping them with their security strategies and preparing them in case of another attack. The Alpha was happy they now had a new ally in the fight against the mages and took full advantage of Sebastian’s expertise and resources. According to Sebastian, he and Nick were trying to find ways Creed’s security team could help them in the future without exposing their secret.
“Sorry, darlin’,” he said, moving closer to her. “It’s lunchtime, did you forget?”
Her stomach gurgled loudly, despite the two burritos she had scarfed down an hour ago. This baby was going to eat her out of house and home.
“Well, someone’s hungry,” he chuckled, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go then.”
“Jade! Sebastian!” Meredith burst into the inner lab. “You have to come to the basement, now!”
Sebastian’s body went rigid. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Daric!”
“Who?” Sebastian asked.
“Fuck, they haven’t told you about the warlock!” Meredith slapped her palm on her forehead.
“We’ll explain later,” Jade said. “Mer, what’s going on? Is it the bracelet?”
“We don’t know, but he’s going crazy! At first I thought he was just trying to get some attention, but he wouldn’t stop screaming and then he started trashing his cell! He won’t calm down and he keeps shouting he wants to see you and Sebastian!”
“Us? Why? He doesn’t even know Sebastian.”
“I know! But he called him by name! Everyone’s on their way. Let’s go now!”
Sebastian and Jade followed Meredith all the way to the basement levels. As they approached Daric’s cell, they could hear the shouting. The pained screams made Jade’s skin crawl and, as they drew closer, her she-wolf began to stir, digging her claws into her middle as if to warn her.
Grant, Nick, Alynna, and Alex were standing outside the door, their heads together in hushed conversation. When they got closer, all four of them stopped talking and swung their heads toward Jade and Sebastian.
“Do you know what he wants with you?” Grant asked.
Jade shook her head. “No, Primul, I don’t.”
“And you don’t know anyone named Daric?” he asked Sebastian.
“No, never heard of him. But, then again, I should probably check him out,” Sebastian said. “I’ve dealt with a lot of people in my job. He might be using an alias.”
“All right, but we should be careful.”
“Is the bracelet holding?” Jade asked.
“He hasn’t tried to escape or hurt anyone yet,” Alynna reported.
“Let’s go see what he wants,” Grant said, nodding to Alex.
Alex punched in the code to the room and the moment it opened, Daric’s shouts stopped. They filed in slowly, one by one.
Daric was in the middle of the room, the chain that connected him to the wall stretched to its limit. The sheets were ripped up into shreds, the strips of fabric scattered all over the floor. Two chairs were turned on their sides, and one of them had its legs smashed completely. The single table in the corner had been turned over. The warlock was on his knees, his head hung low.
“We’re all here, Daric,” Grant said. “You have our attention. Now, what do you want?”
Slowly, his head lifted. “Alpha. I wish to make a bargain.”
“A bargain?” Grant asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “All right. I’m listening. What do you want?”
“If you let me go, I will ensure no harm comes to Dr. Cross.” His piercing gaze bore into Jade. Then he turned his gaze to Sebastian. “Or your monster.”
Jade felt Sebastian stiffen beside her and she grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“And what makes you think we can’t protect them?”
The warlock let out a sardonic laugh. “Stefan will use all his power and might to go after them. He will burn the world to get his hands on your monster and use him to enslave both Lycan and human kind.”
“How do you know about me?” Sebastian asked. “Do you know the man who did this to me?”
Daric shook his head. “No, Creed, I do not know him. I only see what the visions tell me. I have seen the destruction you will bring should Stefan get you under his control.”
“Fuck Stefan and all the mages,” Sebastian spat. “I’ll kill myself before I let him control me!”
“But that is why he wants your mate.” His eyes looked back at Jade, specifically, her stomach. “And the child she is carrying.”
The room went silent. Sebastian slowly pivoted towards Jade, his eyes burning gold. “Jade?”
Jade let out a sharp cry and she grabbed onto Sebastian’s forearms. “Sebastian, I meant to tell you! I just…I couldn’t! Can we please talk about this later? When we’re alone.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to protest, but when he everyone was staring at them, he clamped it shut. He turned back to the warlock. “Well, what the fuck do you want?”
“I want my freedom. Let me go and I will finish Stefan himself.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Alynna said. “Let you go back to your master? Why would we do that?”
“Because…” Daric hesitated. “I will tell you everything. How Stefan acquired his powers, how he’s been controlling the humans. I will give you all the information I have. But I need to go now.”
“And what exactly will you do once you leave here?” Nick asked.
“I will kill Stefan.”
His words hung in the air, heavy like a thick curtain. Finally, Grant spoke. “We should keep you locked up in here. You’re switching sides now? You’re either crazy or you think we’re stupid. Why should we believe you?”
“Because he has my mother!” Daric screamed. “He’s had her from the beginning, and is using her to control me! I never wanted any part of this, but he forced me to do his bidding!”
The Lycans all looked at each other, trying to absorb the information. Alynna, Alex, and Nick seemed at a loss. Meredith stood there, her body tight as a bowstring. Jade stood next to Sebastian, but it was like she wasn’t even there at all. He didn’t acknowledge her, keeping his eyes on Daric. It was like he put up a giant wall between them, keeping her out.
Grant sighed. “I think you’re going to have to start from the beginning.”
Daric’s shoulders sagged. “I grew up in a small village built on the shores of a fjord in Norway,” he began. “Our coven was isolated and we survived by fishing, hunting, and trading, but mostly we kept to ourselves. We didn’t mingle with other covens and few knew of our existence. It was better this way because our clan had several blessed witches and warlocks.” He paused, as if the memories were too much for him. “One day, a man came to our village. I was twelve. He was tall and pale, and brought his followers with him. They were all armed with weapons, both human and magical. He said his name was Stefan and he demanded we bring out our blessed witches and warlocks. Our coven could not fight him, so we had no choice. There were five of us and he made us line up and kneel in front of him.”
“What happened?” Grant asked.
“First, he killed Ulric. Ulric could heal himself and others. Next, he killed Mona, a woman who knew the secrets of fire. Then, there were three left. My father, my mother and myself.” Daric’s breath hitched, but he continued. “He killed my father, Jonas. He had the power of transmogrification.”
“The power of what?” Alynna asked.
“The power to transform matter,” Jade answered for Daric. “Why was he killing the blessed witches?”
“So he could absorb their power.” Daric stated. “Stefan was a warlock with no special gift himself. He barely registered any magic of his own. He h
ated that he was so mediocre and wanted more power. Somehow he discovered the secret of how to absorb other witch’s and warlock’s powers by becoming a mage. And once he did that, he scoured the world, looking for blessed witches and warlocks so he could take their magic.”
“Why did he let you and your mother live?” Nick asked.
“Well, for one thing, I had the same power as my father, he didn’t need mine. And my mother…well she was a seer. She had visions of the future, and Stefan was smart enough to know that was one power he didn’t want. Seeing the future is a curse, to watch helplessly, knowing you cannot change it. Many seers go mad and kill themselves. That was one reason we remained isolated in the village. I should know, for I share her talent too. So, Stefan took us, instead. He locked up my mother and he trained me to be his right hand man, dangling her life in front of me, threatening her if I did not obey.”
Alynna let out a gasp. “So, what changed?”
“My mother and I share a link. Stefan has been using this to communicate with me. That’s how he found me the first time he attacked Fenrir and killed Marcus.”
“But the bracelet should stop your powers!” Jade exclaimed.
“My active powers, yes,” Daric replied. “But the link to my mother, something we have as seers, is an innate power. So, I’m afraid, dear doctor, your bracelet isn’t as powerful as you think.”
“Why the change of heart?” Grant asked.
“Stefan has grown desperate. I…I inadvertently sent him visions of Creed the other night. He wants the monster. With him on the mage’s side, he won’t need puppet masters or human slaves. So, he gave me an ultimatum. Deliver Creed and Dr. Cross or he will kill my mother.”
“Then why didn’t you just do that?” Grant countered.
Daric grew quiet, then drew up to his full height. His turquoise eyes blazed in fury. “Because I am done with Stefan. This is the last straw. He has threatened me and my mother for the last time. Let me go and I will kill him. This, I vow to you, Grant Anderson, Alpha of New York. On my father’s grave and my mother’s life, I pledge myself to your clan to keep yours safe from now until my last breath.”
“Daric,” Grant warned. “Do you know what you’re saying? What you’re invoking?”
“The pledge to a Lycan clan. Yes, I know,” Daric answered. “You must see how desperate I am. I want to save my mother and time is running out.”
“If you do this, if I accept you as part of the New York clan, you know what that means, right?”
He nodded. “I will be forever in your service, Alpha.”
“Grant,” Nick warned. “Don’t trust him.”
“This vow is sacred,” Grant said. “You cannot break it.”
“Accept my pledge or kill me now,” Daric said. “Because I will die if I have to, in order to save my mother’s life.”
Grant let out a sigh. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he ran his fingers through his hair. “I accept your pledge and your vow.”
“Then it is done. Release me.”
“Oh no,” Grant shook his head. “It’s not done.” Daric’s eyes flashed in anger. “As part of my clan, you also have my protection. Stefan will be defeated once and for all, but we will defeat him together.” He turned to Nick, Alynna, and Alex. “Gather up our forces and call Vivianne. I have a plan to end this tonight.”
“You tricked me!” Daric raged. “You fool! You don’t know what you’re doing!”
Grant tsked. “Daric, you should show more respect for your Alpha.”
“Why do this, Grant?” Daric asked. “Just let me kill him! I will destroy him!”
“And die along with him?”
“If that’s what it takes!”
“Sorry, Daric,” Grant said. “Pledge or not, I cannot let you go, knowing you would die.”
“But why?”
“Because you do not deserve it. You don’t deserve any of this,” Grant reasoned. “You were a mere boy when you taken, forced to do unspeakable things by an evil man. Stefan may have started this, but we will end it.”
***
Sebastian’s mind was reeling. His brain was trying to process too much information at the same time. His head buzzed, trying to make sense of it all, but he kept circling back over and over again to the same thing. Jade was pregnant with his child. And apparently, she’d known, but never told him.
The Lycans and their warlock continued to talk. Or fight. Or negotiate. He wasn’t sure what the fuck was going on. What he did know was he needed to get out of here. His chest was constricting, and he couldn’t breathe. The Beast suddenly became restless, scratching at him for attention. He had to get out of there or he didn’t know what would happen.
Sebastian stormed out, not caring if the others saw him. The hallway outside Daric’s cell was familiar, and he realized that this was where he had been detained. His old cell was three doors down from Daric’s, and he strode into the room, breathing in relief as he was finally alone.
“Sebastian.”
He didn’t move, and kept his gaze on the white walls, the same one he had gazed at for hours, worrying about Jade.
“Please, Sebastian.” He felt Jade move closer to him. “Talk to me.”
Time stretched on and on as she waited for him to talk, and even then, Sebastian could only muster two words. “You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
“Since San Francisco,” she admitted. “Please, don’t be mad! I was waiting for the right time!”
“When?” Sebastian’s voice rose and the tension in the air grew thick. He whipped around, gray eyes shifting into blazing gold. “Why would you hide this from me?”
“I was afraid!”
“Afraid of what? That I wouldn’t be a good dad? That I would turn out like my father—”
“No, Sebastian, please!” she sobbed. She tugged at his shirt. “I can’t…I can’t.”
“Can’t what?”
She stood there, her mouth pressed together. “Sebastian, believe me, I wanted to tell you. There was so much going on and then you came to San Francisco and we were so happy!”
“And you didn’t think this news would make me happy? Why?”
“Because you don’t love me!” she cried. “I didn’t want you to stay with me just because we were having a baby! I couldn’t do that to you.”
“Dr. Cross, Creed,” Nick Vrost came into room. “We need you now. Both of you. There’s no time to waste. Are you all right, Dr. Cross?”
Jade wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded at Nick. “I’m fine.” She left the room, her head hung low.
“Creed,” Nick pinned him with his gaze. “We have a plan in place, but we need you and Dr. Cross to go along with it. I told Grant you probably wouldn’t agree, especially if it put your True Mate in harm’s way, but don’t worry, she’s practically indestructible now. I should know, Cady survived getting stabbed.”
“My…what? What the fuck are you talking about? And who stabbed your wife?”
“Her mother,” Nick said matter-of-factly. “Christ, you really didn’t know, did you?”
“Someone’s gonna have to bring me up to speed, because I can’t fucking stand feeling my way through this whole shit show like some goddamned teenage boy fumbling with his first bra.”
“You have a charming way with words, Creed.”
“Yeah? Fuck you too, Vrost.” Sebastian strode past him, walking back towards Daric’s cell.
Chapter Thirty-One
Jade was as still as a rock as she sat in the back seat of the town car. Her hands were tied up, as were her feet, though loosely enough so she could still walk. Daric was in the front, his eyes steady on the road as he drove them down the New Jersey turnpike.
The Lycans had come up with a plan to kill Stefan once and for all. Grant didn’t mince his words—he wanted Stefan stopped, dead or alive. They took the entire Lycan security force, plus Alynna, Alex, Meredith, Sebastian, and Nick. Vivianne came as well, and
brought along various defensive and offensive potions they could use against the mages. Liam and Lara were on their way, but they would not make it on time. They would follow as soon as they landed in New York.
Daric told them the reason he decided to strike the bargain was that Stefan gave him an ultimatum. The master mage was able to tap into the link between Daric and his mother to send him a message—use any means necessary to escape the Lycans and bring him Sebastian and Jade. The master mage had grown impatient and was tired of waiting for his protégé to escape.
So, the Lycans crafted a plan to trick Stefan. They made it look like Daric had kidnapped Jade while she was examining the bracelet and used her as a hostage to escape Fenrir. He “stole” one of the company cars and was now driving to southern New Jersey. Daric had sent a message through the link, telling Stefan to meet him at a specific location. The Lycans had picked a spot that was isolated, to reduce the risk of being seen by humans.
“Has Stefan answered back?” Jade asked from the back seat.
“No,” Daric answered. “Will you not remove the bracelet?”
Jade shook her head. “Alpha’s orders. Even if I wanted to, I can’t. I don’t have the right equipment with me.”
“That is unfortunate,” Daric said.
“What if he doesn’t show?” Jade asked.
“He will,” Daric assured her. “If he wants your mate bad enough, he will.”
“What is he?” Jade finally asked the burning question in her mind. “Can he even shift?”
The warlock shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
Cold fear gripped her. No, Sebastian couldn’t be a monster, could he? Anyway, it didn’t matter. Stefan would never succeed. Changing subjects, she decided to make the most of her time. “So, how does it work? How are the mages controlling the humans?”
“Curious little scientist,” Daric commented. “Since I may not live past tonight, I supposed I can reveal this secret, in case I do not kill Stefan. You were very close, you know, when you asked me about the source. I’m quite impressed you got that far. Stefan himself took years to gather the information, even with my father’s powers.”
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