Fighting For Them

by Lia Davis

  “I’m an old man. If the pack is attacked, I fear I’m not powerful enough to protect it. You are the rightful heir and the future Alpha.” Dad lifted his green gaze to me. “I had no right to force you out without seeking the truth.”

  My first urge was to snap at him, but I couldn’t. If the tables were turned, I’d make the same decision. Being marked by a demon made the pack vulnerable. Salrus could have used the link to destroy them.

  Just like he did with Rose Lake Coven.

  “Dad, stand up. I can’t take the Alpha power until the demon is dealt with.” I glanced at Reese. She stared back with large blue eyes and nodded. “Plus, I’m part of a family.”

  I wondered if he’d understand the term Reese’s mom used to describe what we were. Trevor, Wyatt, Dimitri, Reese, and I were bound together. Soon, Wade would be. Even if I had to track him down and drag him back. He belonged with us.

  Dad glanced to Reese then over my shoulder to the other three who arrived moments ago. “I see.” He paused and scanned our surroundings, taking in the ruins of the coven. “Your female will run the coven with Dimitri?”

  It was expected since D’s parents ran it before. Reese was half witch and as D’s mate would rule at his side. As she would mine. “It’s complicated. But it’s also her choice.”

  Reese broke her silence and extended her hand to my dad. “Nice to meet you.” After they shook hands, she said, “We’re not sure of the future right now. I want to rebuild the coven. I also want Zane to be happy. Stepping into his Alpha position would do that.”

  “So would going anywhere you go,” Dad added. He turned his attention back to me. “You could ask Tory to co-rule with you. She’s already the Beta and handles the pack with both care and strength. Plus, you don’t have to step into the role for a few years.”

  I nodded, seeing that it could work. In a few years the coven could be up and running and I could start the transition into Alpha of Carter Moon Pack. “It’s not going to be a easy path to get where we want.”

  “The demon needs to be stopped,” Dad agreed.

  “Then the council needs to be stripped down and rebuilt.” Reese walked over to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. It still had a small amount of water in it. She conjured a small glass bowl and scooped up some water. Then she motioned us closer.

  The water began to swirl on its own. Out of reflex, I glanced at Dad. He didn’t trust magic. At least he didn’t use to. Tory said he’d changed. I could see it within him. He had opened up to possibilities.

  Dad stared into the bowl, his features remained emotionless and calm. Focusing back on Reese, I admired her as she weaved her magic.

  The other three men closed in. Dimitri sat on the edge of the fountain and held out his hands. Reese set the bowl in them, then waved a hand over the bowl. “Show us the council.”

  An image formed in the water. A man stood in front of an altar, carving symbols into a candle. Dimitri frowned. “That’s Harrison. What is he up to?”

  I wondered the same. Suspicion churned in my soul. “It looks like he’s preparing for a ritual.”

  Reese made a growl-like sound. “Lewis said Harrison was the one to push for all the changes and to destroy the half-breeds. I’m so sick of their two-faced, double standard asses.”

  She knocked the bowl of water out of D’s hand. It shattered on the ground. “Tell me again why we can’t just go to the council, summon Salrus and kill them all?”

  My wolf danced inside me. The beast wanted to help Reese with that plan. My dad nodded, then shook his head. His lips twitched as he spoke. “As much as I like that plan, the council has too much power over the para communities. We’re not sure how many of them support the council.”

  Right. I grabbed Reese and pulled her to me. She released a sigh and snuggled into me. I reminded her, “One thing at a time. We need to go organize. Rebuild the coven. Gain allies.”

  Dimitri stood and brushed a few strands of hair from my face. “The biggest threat right now is Salrus and the Sleeping Stone. Then we wait for the council to make their next move.”

  Dad watched us for a few moments. “So what’s the plan?”

  Chapter 10

  Reese

  The guys didn’t like the final plan. But I had David Carter—Zane’s dad—backing me. Although he didn’t like it either, he agreed it was the only way.

  Of course, dear ol’ Dad would know that I’d never willingly give myself up.

  The one thing I didn’t like was David insisted on having soldier wolves posted in the woods around the old council house Salrus used. My heart ached at the thought of putting them in danger.

  “Soldiers are trained to put their lives in front of others, just like the Alpha is.” Zane spoke in my ear as he held my back against his front.

  We were outside the property staring at the gate. Trevor, Wyatt, and Dimitri flanked us, waiting for the word to go in.

  “Ready?” I tapped his hands and reluctantly he released me. We were all in this, now or never. Salrus had already used the stone on Wade. Intuition told me he used it on others in attempt to build an army.

  “Ready or not,” Trevor replied.

  One by one, my guys announced they were with me. I moved to the iron gate and willed the lock to pop open, a trick I’d been able to do since I was five.

  My powers were almost limitless due to the dual white and dark magic running in my blood. No wonder the council was afraid of me and others like me. If we banded together, there would be no need for them and their corrupt system.

  I pushed the gate open wide and led my guys inside. Once in the middle of the large yard, I called out to the demon. “Salrus, I summon you.”

  He materialized several feet from me. “What, no circle? I’m disappointed.”

  Narrowing my gaze and fisting my hands at my side, I let all the anger and pain he inflicted on me run wild in my veins. The rage was the darkness within me and I’d use it to defeat the monster. “I figured you need a fighting chance.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. The sound was a deep rumble with an evil ring. I suppressed a shiver, not allowing him to see how much he unnerved me.

  Suddenly, he stopped and glared at me. His lips curled as he lifted his arm, then snapped his fingers.

  About a dozen demons and humans rushed out of the house and from around the property to surround us.

  His minions? Most likely. My intuition was right. He did use the stone to create an army. I bet he had more hiding somewhere. “So, it begins,” I whispered the words so only my guys could hear me.

  Opening my senses and my mind, I let the mixture of magic flow freely and wildly within. There was no holding back. I needed to get to Salrus and get that stone from around his neck.

  Not happening until I got through his minion army.

  I raised my hands, then thrust them downward in opposite directions while pushing my power out. A wave of energy blasted out from me, hitting the tranced demons in front of me. Turning right, I repeated the act. The blast sent the humans back several feet. By that time the minions behind us moved in. My guys held them off.

  Zane was in half-shift, slicing at the demons with his clawed hand. He tried to not kill the humans. It was my request. I didn’t want innocents to suffer more than they had at the mercy of my father.

  Trevor and Wyatt were busy battling a few of their own—a mixture of human and demons.

  Dimitri used his magic and his strength to pave a path for me to get to Salrus.

  Determined, I charged at the bastard demon, my gaze on the stone hanging on the black leather rope around his neck. It tried to will it to me, as if I had telekinesis. Sadly, that was one power I didn’t possess.

  Salrus locked gazes with me as I pushed through the growing number of tranced beings. Where were they coming from?

  My worry for my guys was my weakness. Salrus knew this. I saw it in his gaze as I reached him. A flicker of victory sparked crimson in his black depths. His mouth lift
ed in a wicked, satisfying grin.

  He held up his hand. “Stop.”

  Everything and everyone around us stopped. Including me. No matter how much I fought his mental hold on me, I couldn’t break free.

  Then he curled his fingers at me and I walked toward him, unable to regain control over my own body. When I was within arm’s length, he grabbed my hair and jerked me to him.

  The smell of sulfur and ash burned my nose. I fought the urge to throw up. I hated him. He took my mom from me and my freedom.

  I wanted him dead.

  “Now, now, my vicious daughter. There will be no killing daddy today.”

  I jerked my arm, but he had a death grip on it. “You aren’t and never have been my daddy.”

  He let out a growl and turned me to stare at his army and my guys. They were staring back, unable to move. My heart hurt. I didn’t know what to do. Think, Reese.

  I made eye contact with Zane and tapped into the mating bond. Glee rose up within me when I touched his awareness. A flash of white rippled through his green eyes. His wolf. The animal was pacing, not liking the lack of control.

  Suddenly pain burst inside my head and Salrus slapped me so hard I fell to the ground. “Bitch. You dare try to break them out of my hold? Well, have fun trying to break them from the Sleeping Stone trance.”

  No!

  He gripped the stone in his hand, jerked it from his neck and held it up. “I command you to kill Reese Summers.”

  No. No. This was not happening.

  Wiping the blood from swollen lip, I watched my guys turn to me and advance. “Zane.” I tried to connect with him telepathically. It was no use. The power of the stone was too strong for me to break.

  So, I focused on someone else I could connect with.

  Salrus.

  I pushed to my feet and stumbled toward Salrus. With a fierce growl, he lifted his hand, pointing at me. Immediately, I connected with his mind through the demon mark he gave me when I was ten.

  “Not today, Dad.”

  I lunged, my fingers grasping the stone as someone slammed into me. At the same time a blast of power went off between Salrus and me. Dizziness filled my head. The world around me shifted and dissolved away. When I materialized, my back hit the ground. Fear froze my insides and I fought whoever was on me.

  “Reese, stop.” Wade’s voice made me still. My mind cleared and I met his grey depths.

  “What? How?” He eased off me so I could stand. Scanning the area, I frowned. “The Inbetween? He’ll follow us here.”

  “I blasted him with a knock-out potion. But it won’t hold him for long. The Inbetween was the first place I thought of.” He pulled me into a hug, burying his nose into my neck. “You smell good. You have no idea what’s it’s like to smell and feel again.”

  That reminded me he was an undead. I drew back and studied his perfect features. He still looked seventeen—the age he was when he died—but I knew he was twenty-eight. The same as his twin. “Why aren’t you affected by the stone?”

  He chuckled. “The stone only works on the living. I’m undead. Neither alive or dead.” He frowned and drew his brows together. “I mean…I’m alive. Kind of.”

  I threw my arms around him. “You’re alive enough for me.”

  He shook all over. “I’ll have to find a way to feed. I refuse to hurt you. Or turn you.”

  I was sure he couldn’t turn me since I was half demon. Nothing was certain at the moment. “We’ll figure it out. I have to get back and get that stone from Salrus.”

  Wade stepped back and held out the stone, dangling from its leather cord. “This one?”

  Relief flooded me. I kissed him and grabbed the stone, but he didn’t let go. “Don’t destroy it yet. You could use it. Put it on and claim the energy as your own then turn the demons against Salrus. Set the humans and the guys free from the trance.”

  Could I do that? “How?”

  Wade placed the stone around my neck, tying it off to secure it. “Once on, the stone will merge with your energy. Be careful not to let your demon take hold of it. Use your witch side to direct the power.”

  Hmm. “I’m not sure I like this plan.”

  He tsked at me. “You are the strongest witch I know. Well known in all my research. Your soul is pure and despite the mixed power inside you, the good side shines the brightest.”

  He was right. I’d always been able to push the darkness away. I could fight it now. Or maybe use it to win the battle with Salrus.

  Linking hands with Wade, I said, “Let’s free our guys and kill the demon.”

  Wade smiled, showing a hint of fang. “After you, my love.”

  My heart swelled. “I love you, too.”

  I dematerialized before he had a chance to reply. When I took form back at the old council house, everyone turned toward me, waiting. Salrus snarled and advanced forward. I stood my ground. With a calm tone, I said, “I release Zane, Dimitri, Trevor, Wyatt, and all the humans from the stone’s trance. I command the demons to kill Salrus.”

  My father’s face paled three shades lighter, then he glanced at the demons charging at him. With a roar, he flung his hand out. Too fast for me to react or even think, a blast of demonic energy hit me just above my heart.

  I stumbled back a few steps, my vision blurring and darkening. The sounds around faded and I barely heard Salrus say, “I’m not going alone.”

  Then everything went black.

  Chapter 11

  Wade

  I haven’t left her side any longer than necessary since we got back to D’s house in the Rose Lake Coven. Worry ate at my soul and drove me mad. I wanted to bring Salrus back to life so I could kill him myself. Rip the bastard apart, limb by limb.

  But the demon was dead. Killed by the blast he tried to kill Reese with.

  “Wade, when was the last time you fed?” My twin entered Reese’s bedroom and placed a hand on my shoulder.

  I shrugged. “When you made me the night we got here. Two days ago.”

  Dimitri had a whole set of paranormal encyclopedias. There were five volumes on demons and the undead. Relief flooded me when I read the words that I hoped for. I didn’t have to feed off humans. Although their blood was stronger and provided more of the life essences I needed, I could hunt animals.

  My bite wouldn’t turn humans or paras. Meaning, I didn’t have to worry about harming Reese.

  A sigh slipped from me. “I’m okay. I don’t need to feed every day.”

  Why wasn’t she waking up? Dimitri and Zane said she was alive and wasn’t in pain. D would know because he’s a witch and knows a great deal about healing witches. Zane would know from his bond to her.

  A bond I didn’t have. Not yet. But I would. When she woke and was at a hundred percent again, I’d claim her as my mate and her fifth mate.

  I wouldn’t share her with anyone else besides my best friends, my brothers in everything that counted.

  We were a family and Reese was our queen.

  Wyatt

  “Are you sure she’s okay?” I asked Zane for the millionth time in the last two days as I entered the living room. “Why has she been sleeping this long?”

  Sleeping bags littered the floor. We all slept there, none of us able to sleep in our own rooms because we needed to be as close to Reese as we could while giving her space to heal.

  “Even though the demon energy bolt didn’t hit her heart, it still shocked her system. She is healing and recharging. It takes time.” Zane’s voice shook and growled at the same time. That told me he wasn’t holding it together as much as he wanted us to think.

  My own emotions were a cyclone of worry, relief, fear, and anger. My brother was back and alive—sort of. I didn’t care that he was undead or a vampire. He was here. Reese would wake soon. I had to believe that.

  And we were family. The six of us. Together. Ready to take on whatever Harrison had to throw at us.

  “Wyatt, come sit.” Trevor, my first love, patted the couch cushion beside
him.

  I sat and Trevor pulled me into his arms. “Reese will be fine. Wade is…well, Wade.”

  I couldn’t stop the smile that formed on my lips. Wade had loved to tease Trevor. Hell, Wade teased everyone he loved. Especially when my brother was stressed. He joked and teased to cover up his anxiety.

  “I know.”

  Trevor kissed my temple. “Then stop worrying.”

  I brought Trevor’s hand to my lips. He was saying the words for both our benefit. “The same goes for you.”

  A chuckle rumbled from him. “Together we worry. But together, all six of us, survived the demon who marked us. We’re free.”

  “We’re family,” Dimitri added.

  Zane nodded. “We’re pack.”

  Yes, and Reese was the center of our world.

  Chapter 12

  Reese

  I woke up on a gasp, sitting straight up. My heart pounded like a jackhammer.

  “Reese, you’re safe.”

  Trevor? I shook my head, clearing the fog of sleep. Glancing around, I noted where I was. My room. I was home. My guys were with me.

  “Move over, pretty boy, it’s my turn to have her.” Wade snuggled close to me.

  I glanced at Trevor, who smiled. “Wade’s back.”

  Wyatt laughed. “Yeah and for once we don’t look alike anymore.”

  The tease in his voice brought a smile of my own to my lips. Wade flipped his twin the bird. “I can grow a beard…I think. If not, I can buy a fake one.”

  “I’ll make you an illusion spell,” Dimitri said from the foot of the bed.

  I sat up and Zane stuffed pillows behind my back. “How are you feeling?”

  “Confused. My head aches a little.” I searched their faces. An uneasy silence filled the room. “You five should know better than to withhold information from me.”

  Zane was the one to explain. “You were out for three days. It scared us. We’re just making sure you’re all right.”