by India Kells
“I said speak, witch, not evade my question. I want answers, and I want them now.”
His voice stung.
“If you’re to use you master-of-the-castle voice…”
“Yes, because that’s exactly who I am. I’m the master of this Sanctuary. I’m in charge of everyone here, of their well-being, of their security. In exchange, they bide by my will and by my rules. I won’t have someone here who can endanger them or this place. Now, for the last time, explain.”
Valeria turned around, and everyone averted their eyes. Not a good sign.
In a calm voice, being very factual, she explained what just happened, how she could help Maya by incorporating her disruptive magic inside her.
“As simple as that, you ingested it, and it’s over?”
Valeria hesitated. “The risk is mainly for the receptor. If I hadn’t been able to incorporate the magic within me, Maya might have received it back, or….”
Asher growled. “Or…?”
“The truth? It might have consumed me. For a moment, I feared it might have been the case. I felt like I was being burnt from the inside out.”
“You could have died.” A simple stated fact, when said like that.
“A possibility. But it didn’t happen.”
“Why did you risk it? You don’t know us. I was the one that brought you here against your will.”
She shrugged. This shooting match had taken a toll on her, and her energy levels were dropping fast.
Asher took a step toward her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her with force. Everyone else took a step back.
“Why? Answer me.”
“Fuck you!” Valeria wrenched herself free. “You kidnapped me, you forced me here, you locked me away! That doesn’t entitle you to know my motivations, wolf. But I’ll tell you this. Nobody should suffer for rules established by old mummies who died ages ago. No one, especially children. Why should Maya pay because someone said that a wizard was forbidden to have children with a fae? That’s stupid and unfair. Damn the rules, damn your locks and damn this sanctuary!”
She turned away, but her world kept spinning. Her hand tried to hold on to something, but there was nothing solid. Instead, someone grabbed her by the waist and held her upright.
Valeria’s eyesight focused again, and as she expected, Asher held her against him. She pushed him, but the man was a solid and unmovable wall of muscles.
“Get away from me! Do your trial or let me go, do you hear me? I’ve had enough of this.”
His hold didn’t tighten, but there was no possible way for her to get away.
“Everybody out!”
Valeria saw everyone scrambling out of the room in a quick retreat. They were now alone in the kitchen.
“Let me go, wolf.”
“Not yet, witch. I’m not nearly satisfied with your answers.”
“You won’t have any more answers from me.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. I know many ways to make you talk. But I hope you still have enough sense in your head not to make me angry enough to use them.”
Valeria tensed and debated. She couldn’t let it go, not now.
“I wonder. Even though I’m holding you prisoner, here and now, and you’re majorly pissed at me, you’re not using any of your spells to turn me into a toad. Don’t you find that strange, too?”
Valeria stopped moving. Asher continued.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. It occurred to me that I didn’t pick up a crazy witch in that soup kitchen. I picked up a witch on the run. One trying her best to hide and stay hidden from everyone. It was only your run of bad luck that made me come across your scent.”
Valeria closed her eyes, hoping he would let the subject go, or for the world to end right then so he couldn’t come to any possible conclusion.
“I see that I’m getting closer to the truth…”
He twisted her in his arms so he could see her face. Valeria was so weary from her body dealing with the magic transfer, and she was shaking from the effort.
“If I wasn’t so tired, you wouldn’t hold me that easily.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “You’re a very knowledgeable witch, both of magic and human ways. It’s not everyone who could have hidden in plain sight for so long and not used their powers. I suspect you’ve had excellent training, right? Not just any kind of witch, but one from the great families, from those snobs and uptight jerks, the same who tracked and killed my family, only because my pack was the only one strong enough to confront them. I will never forgive any of them. And if I get the chance, I will tear the throats out of the bastards. And the Lancasters will be first in line.”
It took every little bit of self-control for Valeria not to react to the name.
“Why the Lancasters? Why do you hate them so much?”
Asher’s sapphire eyes turned black with anger, his teeth elongating, gleaming with menace. “The Lancasters are the head of the Enforcers, and Lionel Lancaster ordered the hunt on my family. My father learned that Lionel had not only become a threat to many packs around here, but was abusing his powers. He was bribing and blackmailing families for his protection, piling up money and properties, forcing people to move away, losing everything they had. The Lancasters can play lords as much as they want in their own castle, but they have no right to take advantage of those they’re supposed to defend.”
Bile rose in Valeria’s throat. It was impossible. Her father was harsh and commanding, but he was a good man, he cared. When he launched a hunt, it was always for good reasons.
“No need to talk, you’ll defend him, you’re a witch after all. But that night two years ago, when we met in the woods, I didn’t know we were being hunted. My father had come with many others of my family to negotiate with Lancaster. But it was a trap. A trap that killed most of my blood.”
“A virus.”
Asher’s head lowered, his gaze assessing. “What did you say?”
“A virus. That was the reason given for the hunt, by…, by Lionel Lancaster. I was there when he told us.”
In a split second, his hand was on his throat. “I knew you were an Enforcer, from the first time I saw you.”
“I’m telling you the truth. We were to track down an infected pack. There was no other explanation.”
“And that’s why you killed my sister.”
Although he wasn’t hurting her, Valeria circled his wrist holding her neck. “I’m telling you the truth. Yes, I was an Enforcer. But that night, I didn’t follow the group on the hunt right away. I sensed something in the woods behind Lancaster Manor. Then I saw you. You bared your teeth, and I reacted, throwing you back against the tree. Then, as I was about to go to you, someone hit me hard on the head. When I woke up, I was home, my father had found me unconscious in the woods. He told me I was alone, he didn’t see you or my attacker. From that moment on, something had changed me… I…”
Voicing the words was harder than she thought, but there was a small part of her that was desperate to say it out loud, to tell her story to another person after two years of keeping silent. Asher’s hold had gentled, now more cradling her head than clasping her neck.
“I couldn’t control my powers from that moment on. My world was crumbling down around me. My fiancé was killed in the hunt, and I couldn’t forgive myself for not being by his side. My mother tried to help me the best she could, but one night, I don’t know what happened, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I found out I had killed my mother. My powers had done it without my consent, without my knowledge.”
Her voice was shaking as hard as her body, but she had to finish. “My father was desperate to protect me from the Enforcers, so he asked me to run, and to never come back. I’ve been running ever since.”
Asher’s focus was still solely on her, but he didn’t say a thing. “When I say that I don’t know if I killed your sister, it’s the truth. What if after the knock on the head, something happened, a power surge, and I killed her? That’s
why I need to know too. But even if I didn’t, I don’t have much of a life, wolf. When you kidnapped me, I thought it was because you recognized me from some warrant. Then, when you threatened me to kill me, it was my only wish. To depart this life, to be less of a burden for my father, to join my mother. To be free again.”
Asher let go of her but stayed where he was, staring at her with the same scrutinizing and enigmatic gaze. It took a long moment but when he spoke, his voice was softer but still unyielding.
“I will ask, one last time. Did you kill my sister?”
Tears fell to her cheeks when she opened her mouth to answer, but a booming sound shook the house violently, silencing her.
Asher moved faster than a blink and yelled. “We’re under attack!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Asher knew the sound. It was a calling card of the Enforcers. Bastards. They liked to make an entrance. Too bad for them. This was Sanctuary land. And here, he could do as he pleased.
He had followed protocol to start with, but that was over. He turned to the witch.
“Go upstairs and stay there with the others. Protect them the best you can.”
She shook her head, her golden eyes wide. “What? Didn’t you hear what I just told you?”
He certainly had, but right now, he didn’t have any other choice. With Enforcers surrounding them, he needed all possible sentinels and sanctuary volunteers to keep the place safe.
Ignoring her, Asher howled. It took only a second to hear the house tremble from every corner. Beasts began running down the stairs, heading to the kitchen.
The house would protect its occupants, but when under siege, he knew that attack was the best defense. Asher moved closer to the windows and saw three men coming out of the woods. He could smell their magic and threat from a distance. Werewolves and shifters were very resistant to magic attacks, and their strength and speed made them very dangerous. Wizards knew that too.
“We’re here to see Asher Stonelake. We will only talk to the master of this sanctuary.”
“It’s a trap.” The witch was standing at the back of the kitchen, leaning against the wall. “There are more in the woods. I feel them all around the house.”
Asher nodded, as he could feel them too, coming closer and closer.
“Asher Stonelake. We’re Enforcers sent by the High Council. You’re harboring a dangerous fugitive. A witch killer. You must give her to us. We know we have no power inside Sanctuary. We only want to share information about this witch. You will agree it would be better to hand her over to us.”
The beasts in the kitchen barely contained themselves. Asher only needed to give them the sign, and they would defend their territory until blood soaked the ground. Theirs or the enemy’s. On the other hand, he couldn’t chase the Enforcers without a good reason. A diplomatic chat might do the trick to uncover what they were up to, and maybe gain some more information about the witch in his kitchen.
He turned, looking for his uncle, but couldn’t see him. He assumed that Robert had gone to protect the others inside the house. Beside the witch, he saw the black wolf form of Ian, waiting. With all that happened, he hadn’t had the time to put him in a cell, and now was definitely not the right time. It seemed he could trust the rogue wolf, as he wasn’t trying to kill the woman.
“Ian, stay with the witch. All others, wait for my command.”
“Asher…” He ignored the plea in the witch’s voice, his instinct taking over.
When he opened the door leading to the courtyard, three warlocks faced him. The one in the middle bowed slightly, but it seemed more like a forced gesture than a courtesy.
“Sanctuary Master. We’re here on order of the High Council to find a fugitive witch who has disappeared and escaped our vigilance for the last two years. It’s essential that you hand her over as quickly as possible. She’s dangerous and volatile and a definite risk to your sanctuary.”
The two other men took a step sideways, closing in. Not a good sign.
“Why haven’t the High Council sent emissaries to get her?”
“As I’ve said, she’s dangerous. Emissaries would be a liability.”
Another step.
The man in front of him approached slowly. “This is your last warning, Master. Give us the witch.”
“Enforcers have no power on sanctuary grounds.”
The diplomatic mask of the man fell to reveal a wicked grin. “Don’t worry about that, rules don’t apply to us. We’re not Enforcers.”
With that, the wizard blasted Asher with a spell that punched into his chest violently. sending him flying. As he flew, he called to his power, and his body changed into his wolf form. As a man, he was dangerous, but as a wolf, he was lethal. As soon as he hit the ground, Asher jumped and attacked the man closest to him, knocking him over before he could cast a protection spell, and tore his throat out.
Blood dripping from his jaw, Asher faced the two men and howled for his pack to attack. Beasts flew into the courtyard instantly, but not before the messenger had the time to send a message. As Patricia, one of his werebear sentinels, came to his side, the remaining warlocks fled, but not before chanting a spell. Twigs levitated all around him and turned into steel spikes. Asher barked a warning to his pack, but couldn’t escape the attack. Two flying spikes embedded into his shoulder and leg, the damn things burning his flesh as they penetrated his body. The beasts swarmed all around him, some of them running into the forest, pursuing the unknown attackers.
Adrenaline kept him standing for a moment, but soon his body collapsed to the ground. In a haze of pain, he saw Patricia turning into her human form again, her naked body marred with blood, and taking him into her arms before running back inside the house.
Asher couldn’t say a word in wolf form. The witch was still in the kitchen. Damn her, not even able to follow a simple order to protect herself. Patricia gently put him on the kitchen table.
Patricia turned to his captive. “Witch, you have to do something. Heal him, quick.”
“I can’t…”
Asher heard the pain in her voice. He couldn’t tell Patricia the reason why she wouldn’t help. Nobody would understand. The pack grew restless and angry.
“You helped Maya! You have to help him too.”
As Ian, back in human form, was facing her, beasts swarmed back inside, some with blood on their fur, others back into their naked human forms with various wounds. Asher saw Patricia turn back to him.
“Asher, there are more out there than it seems, you need to call a retreat. Call them back into the house!”
Torn, Asher knew he didn’t have a choice, and with all the energy he could muster, he howled for everyone to return to the house.
The effect was immediate. With uncanny speed, all remaining sentinels ran inside.
Asher saw that some of them were missing and tried to rise.
“Stay put, Asher, each time you move, you’re losing more blood. The motherfuckers must have added a spell to slow down the healing.”
Ian turned to the witch again, but before he could say a word, the house shook. At a distance, he heard Maya screaming.
It was as if the house was in the grips of an earthquake. Outside, he heard laughter.
“He huffed and puffed and destroyed the little brick house. Isn’t it right, wolf? After all, you should know, it’s your own history.”
The witch came beside him, examining his wounds as Ian and Patricia hovered nearby.
“You’re the witch who helped Maya … now would be a good time to help him too.” The bear woman almost spat the words in disgust.
Asher was falling even deeper into a thick fog of pain, but he saw the witch hesitate before turning to Ian.
“I need your help. I need your energy, now. Just don’t fight it.”
Ian blinked at her words. “What?”
Without a word, the witch grabbed the dark-haired man’s head and kissed him.
A growl came from deep inside Asher. Unsure why, he d
idn’t like seeing the witch kissing the naked wolf. But there was nothing he could do about it. His body felt like lead, and staying conscious was an exercise in pain.
After close observation, Ian didn’t seem to enjoy the contact so much. On the contrary, he struggled to get away before falling to his knees. The witch followed him and just as he appeared to faint, she ended the kiss. The woman who straightened was different. He always found the witch fascinating, although sick and pale, but at that moment, she glowed. There was something in her eyes, an energy he hadn’t seen before. The powerful witch he always suspected hidden deep inside her, the one he had encountered those years ago in the forest, was back.
The house shook again, and this time, the whole structure cringed. Cracks started to run up the walls and windows broke.
The witch turned to the table and stood beside Patricia. The bear growled, but she ignored her, running her fingers through his fur. Asher whimpered at the contact. That simple pleasure made it even harder to bear the pain. Then, as they were under attack, she closed her golden eyes and murmured what resembled a song. Soft and rhythmical. Asher braced for more pain, but instead, a refreshing breeze started coursing through him. The heat receded and, at some point, he heard the metallic sound of the two spikes dropping to the floor, turning back into wood. Although he wasn’t quite himself yet, he could feel his strength rising, and one glimpse showed him that his wounds were closed, although not yet completely healed.
The house shook another time, and the witch opened her eyes. “You’re stable. I’m going to take care of our attackers now. It will only take a minute.”
Asher got to his feet to tell her to stay put, but he couldn’t talk to her in his primal body. As he was about to change, he saw a faint mist swirling around her body as her clothing changed. The oversized sweatpants and white shirt transformed into a form-fitting black leather pants and jacket. She was no longer barefoot, wearing tall leather boots. Her appearance was astonishing, making her look like a modern warrior goddess. Was it her Enforcer’s outfit?
The beasts parted as she walked out of the house. With all the windows broken, he had a clear view of the courtyard, and could see eight wizards waiting for her. What could he do? So many of his pack were wounded, he couldn’t risk another one, and he wasn’t strong enough yet to help. All he could do was wait and see.
