Being Alpha

by Aileen Erin

  This was going to work because we all were in it to make it work. Not for ourselves but for everyone else. And the fact that every person on this new council had links across supernatural boundaries meant that it was going to unify us all.

  Beth was a good choice, and even if I was on the edge of my seat waiting for her answer, I was glad she was taking a second to think it through.

  “Um. I need…” Her voice sounded like she’d been crying. “I need a few minutes to think about it.”

  The line went dead.

  “Shit,” Shane said, echoing my own thought. “I told you! We shouldn’t have even—”

  “She’s texting,” Mr. Dawson said as he held out the phone. Sure enough those three little dots were blinking.

  The room went dead quiet as we waited. My heart was beating in my ears as I held my breath. We needed her. Like needed her-needed her. If she couldn’t—wouldn’t come, then we were so screwed.

  If she said no, the only other option was Raphael, but he said it himself—he didn’t have much magic and he was tied to Astaroth. I wasn’t sure how much of a detriment that would be to the spell seeing as how I was, too, but it couldn’t be—

  “She’s coming,” Mr. Dawson said. His words rolled like a sigh of relief, one that I was sure everyone was feeling. “She said she needs a minute to get herself together, but she’ll pack a bag and be here in the next couple of hours.”

  “Oh, thank God.” I rested my head on the table. The rush of relief was so strong I couldn’t even keep my head up.

  Thank God.

  Dastien ran a hand up and down my back. It’s going to work out. Step by step. We’ll be free of Astaroth.

  I turned my head so I could peek up at him. I hope so. Now that we had all the witches, and I was taking it on faith that Cosette would come through, that meant there was only one other element that we needed.

  Eli. He had to be our nuclear bomb-sized magical power to get this whole thing rolling.

  I sat up, and looked around the table. “Anyone know anything about making a deal with an archon? Because that’s the next thing on my to do list and I’d rather not sell what’s left of my soul down the shitter.” Blaze laughed, and I couldn’t help but smile even though I was filled with dread.

  I knew very limited things about Eli. He wasn’t a demon. He wasn’t an angel. He wasn’t good, but he wasn’t bad either.

  Everyone said that dealing with the fey was tricky, but dealing with an archon? No one knew what that was going to be like, and with the way my life had been going lately, I had a feeling it was going to be anything but easy.

  Twenty-One

  My teeth rattled as the car bottomed out for the millionth time. After a bit of discussion on the best practices when making a deal with an archon—which was short given that no one had actually done that before—Dastien and I decided to take a drive to our land. I’d call for him there, and hoped he’d show up. Just because Eli had helped us twice didn’t mean he’d keep saving our asses.

  Blaze said that all I had to do was go to a quiet place and meditate. Then I had to ask for him to appear, and if Eli deemed it worthy, he would.

  I guessed that’s why I failed so many times during my vision. He didn’t deem my death via a snapped neck from one of the Evil Trinity worthy enough.

  So what was worthy in Eli’s eyes? Why was last night different than all the other versions I’d seen in my visions? What rule had Astaroth broken that allowed Eli to take action?

  My teeth rattled as we went over another pothole. “We need to get this road cleared before we drive up here again.” I wasn’t even sure my car could make it all the way to the clearing. The undercarriage slammed into the ground with a painful crack. “Shit!” I said as my head slammed into the window. “Thank God I’m a werewolf. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure I’d have a concussion.” I blinked until my vision cleared.

  “We can walk from here. But yes, we’ll get it paved once things settle down.”

  “I don’t remember it being this bad.” I tightened my grip on the door handle as he slowed. “Is the road worse?”

  “Ouais.” Dastien put the car in park and turned off the engine. “There must’ve been some storms while we were gone. Fall is pretty rainy here.”

  I got down from the car, my feet squishing in the mud. “You’re not kidding.” Damn it. My favorite Uggs were going to be toast. We definitely needed to cut a road through to the land. I liked being able to come here, even if we were years away from breaking ground.

  “We’re not years away. We can get started whenever you want.”

  He came around the car and I linked his hand with mine. “I want. As soon as we get rid of Astaroth. I don’t want to wait for anything. Every moment we have here is a gift, and I want to make the most of it.”

  Are you okay?

  No. How could I be? There was so much on the line right now, and the pressure to somehow fix it was all consuming. I just want to get through tonight. And then I really want things to settle down. Do you think that there will ever be a time when some evil force isn’t trying to kill us?

  I can’t tell the future, but I hope so. And I think having a plan for something fun will help, so let’s make a plan. What do you think—brick? Stucco? Craftsman?

  I’m not sure what a craftsman house is. We should definitely watch some more home shows.

  He laughed as he tugged on my hand. Sounds like a date.

  It wasn’t long before I could see the break beyond the trees. Dastien had bought a giant plot of land, including a pond. The clearing was massive and completely hidden by the surrounding woods, which is why he bought it. We could run as humans or wolves without any neighbors peeking over a fence. I was going to figure out some wards to keep any intruders away. Not the horrible feeling ones like the compound used to have, but something gentler.

  It’s going to be amazing once we can live here. This is pretty much the perfect spot.

  Dastien grinned down at me. “I’m glad you think so. I was nervous when I first brought you here, but I guess I shouldn’t have been.”

  “Nah. We pretty much agree on most things.” We got about halfway to the pond and then I stopped. “If this goes bad—”

  “Nope,” he said before I could even finish the thought. “In it together all the way.”

  I knew that we did everything together—especially now—but I wasn’t sure what would happen if I somehow pissed off an archon. Eli seemed pretty okay, but I’d had exactly two conversations with him, and the second one was in the middle of a battle. “I just—”

  “That’s also a no. You don’t get to sacrifice yourself for me. We’re mates. Our souls are joined. Where you go, I follow.”

  “Right. Fine. But the same goes for you.”

  “Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Before I could ask the question, Dastien nodded. “Go ahead. I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”

  I blew out a breath, giving myself a second to let his words settle me and give me a little boost in confidence. If I was going to do make a deal with an archon, then at least I wasn’t alone.

  I closed my eyes and took four steady breaths in and out. When I felt calmer and at peace, I called out to him in my mind.

  Eli, I’m ready to make a deal.

  “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  I spun to find him standing right behind me. He was wearing a white button-down shirt, a pair of dark jeans, and no shoes. His shoulder-length white-blond hair was neatly tucked behind his ears. His blue eyes glittered with laughter. Although I couldn’t imagine why he found this situation funny. Even though he wasn’t hovering in the air, he was at least a foot taller than me.

  And holy shit. I couldn’t believe it’d worked. Eli was here. “Why didn’t you come all the other times?”

  “Other times? In your visions?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Because those weren’t real.” He tapped a finger on my nose, as if I were some cute toddler who had asked a super dumb qu
estion. “They were possibilities. I wasn’t going to waste my time until you’d found the right path.”

  Well, at least I was on the right path. Finally. Now I just needed to ask Eli my favor. “I’m hoping that means—”

  “I know what you’re going to ask. The answer is yes. I will be happy to back your spell with my power and seal the realm—”

  A too-enthusiastic “Thank God” slipped free before I slapped my hand over my mouth.

  “But there’ll be a price.”

  “There’s always a price.” This I was prepared for. Sort of.

  “The question becomes, what are you willing to give for my help?”

  Before Dastien and I left my parents’ house, we’d decided that the most important thing was to find out what Eli wanted from me exactly and define clear limits. But he was putting me on the spot. I didn’t know much—or anything really—about what Eli would want from me. It’d be straight up stupid to just start offering up terms. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be more specific. What do you want from me?”

  “Ah. That’s your father talking.”

  “Damned straight.” I’d heard so many stories about negotiations gone wrong from him. Hollywood was notorious for shitty deals and taking advantage of dumb people.

  I wasn’t an idiot and I wasn’t about to start being one now. So I waited, quietly. Trying to keep my mind blank.

  “I’m not going to take your first born or anything horrible like that. I think you’ll find that I’m pretty reasonable.”

  I doubted that.

  “That hurts,” he said, feigning shock.

  I laughed. I’d forgotten he could read my mind.

  “See, you’ll like me. I’m funny. We’re going to be friends.” He crossed his arms as he stared down at me.

  Friends seemed like a stretch. “I’m not going to be your slave.”

  “That’s what Astaroth wants and I’m not him.” All the joking was gone from him.

  Good. This was important, and I wanted him to take me seriously. “You saved my life last night and so far you haven’t asked me for anything.”

  “No. And I’m not going to. That jar was breaking the rules and the portal he made with it was an abomination. Healing you was good for me, too. It insured that you would be here today.”

  “What are the rules?”

  He shrugged. “This and that. They don’t matter. Except when they do.”

  “That is literally the most vague thing I’ve ever heard.” He stayed quiet, and I guessed that was the end of that topic. “I’m not going to let you use my power without my okay or drain it from me or anything else that I’m not aware of right now.” I left it open-ended. I didn’t know what else was possible, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to let any ignorance bite me in the ass later.

  “I’ve got enough power on my own, thank you very much. I don’t want or need yours.”

  I sighed. What am I missing? What does he want?

  I don’t know. Just ask him.

  He was right. If I wanted him to be clear, then I had to ask. “What do you want?”

  “A vial of your blood.”

  I was new to witchcraft, but I wasn’t that new. Blood could be used in too many ways—most of them not good. “Why do you want my blood?”

  “I’m going to tie you to me.”

  Dastien growled, but I waved him back. I didn’t like the sound of that either. “Why do you want to tie us together?”

  “You’re going to be the focal point for the spell, which means I’ll need your blood.”

  That didn’t make sense. “If you wanted it just for the spell, then I’d give it to you. But since you’re asking me for it separately, that makes me think it isn’t just for the spell. Is it?”

  “Very good.” He smiled down at me like he was proud I’d caught on. “No. The bond I want with you is something beyond what’s needed for your spell. It will be there forever.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that and neither did Dastien. He was thinking about ripping off Eli’s head off. Don’t. I’m pretty sure that fight won’t end well.

  I wasn’t sure if I could agree to that. It all depended on what kind of tie Eli wanted. If it was going to be something as thin as the ties I had to a Were from another pack, ones that could be easily broken and reformed, then fine. But if it was more like my mate bond—strong and unbreakable—then I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know Eli well enough to agree to that. “What kind of bond do you want with me specifically?”

  “One that will let me find you any time and check in on you when I see fit.”

  Check in on me? I wasn’t sure I liked that, but I needed more information. “What else?”

  “You’ll need to be more specific,” he said, throwing my word back at me.

  That was more difficult, because if I failed to ask the right question, then I could get myself into a shit deal. I didn’t know what all the possibilities were, which was a problem when negotiating.

  Go with something simple, Dastien said.

  Okay. “Will I be able to say no to you?” That was non-negotiable. Free will wasn’t something I was about to give up.

  “Of course.”

  “Will I be forced to do favors or acts of any kind?” Because I wouldn’t be forced.

  “No. I’ll do no forcing, but I reserve the right to convince you.”

  “Because of the blood?” Compelling me was also a hard pass.

  “No. I’ll be able to convince you with words like any ordinary human. Just sound reasoning.”

  Which probably meant that he could deliver threats. His grin widened and I knew I’d hit the nail on the head. He definitely wasn’t an angel. “Does the blood let you hold sway over my decisions?”

  “No.”

  That was a relief. At least I could say no and argue my point if I didn’t like whatever he was asking me for. “So, what? It’s just magical low jack? Tell me specifically, because I’m a little ignorant here.” When he said, nothing, I started to get pissed. “Don’t be an asshole. Just tell me. Why do you want to be tied to me?”

  Dastien geared up for a fight the second the word “asshole” slipped from my lips, but Eli only laughed.

  “Fair enough. I enjoy honesty. It’s why I like you so much. So, I’ll give you a dose of honesty back.”

  Finally we were getting somewhere.

  “I can’t act without a tie. There are rules I can’t break, and before you ask again—no. I can’t tell you what they are. That’s one of the rules. Let’s just say that I’m bored and want in on the fun.”

  I almost laughed. “You’re calling this fun?”

  “I enjoy a good fight, and there are more fights coming. Little ones. Big ones. And I want to play. The tie with you will not only give me that ability, but it will also allow me to get you to play in some battles you wouldn’t previously have been aware of.”

  Now that was laughable. “You decimated a field of demons without spending much effort. What on Earth would you need my help with?”

  “The tie will allow me to bend the rules, but there will still be rules for me. And I can hear the question starting again, so one more time—no. I’m not telling you the rules.”

  “If I knew what the rules were, I might understand what you’re asking of me.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?”

  Eli had some messed up sense of what fun meant.

  “The bond will be less than what you have with Dastien, but more than what you have with your fellow pack members. Let’s just say it’s insurance. I want to know where you are and make sure you’re alive. I’m not here to harm you or hold you back. It’s to my best interest to keep you alive. Because the second you die, the balance in this world is thrown off again. I don’t like that. I want this world to stay settled. I helped build it, and if it gets destroyed? Well, then my life will get even more boring.”

  I glanced at Dastien before looking back at Eli. He was handsome and seemed likable and he’d saved my lif
e once already, so I wanted to trust him. But I also wanted to be clear. “If I do this, your goal is to keep me alive?”

  “Yes.”

  I didn’t have a problem with that. Having someone as powerful as him motivated to keep me alive was a good thing. “And the people I care about? They’ll stay alive to?”

  “Sometimes. I’m not God and I cannot predict the future.”

  I growled in frustration. “What about Dastien? He stays alive.”

  His dark eyebrows rose. “You’re a bit of a package deal. That goes without saying.”

  “So you might be asking me for a favor or you might be saving my butt?”

  “Yes. This is pretty much the best deal that I’ve ever offered. You should take it.”

  I’d bet it was. The deal sounded reasonable, but we had a common goal right now. What happened if that changed? What do you think?

  I don’t know. You’re asking all the right things though.

  I thought for a second. “I won’t do anything that would harm good people. I won’t do anything evil. I won’t meddle in any kind of dark magic.”

  Eli shrugged. “I agree to the first two, but the last one—maybe we’ll call it gray magic? I wouldn’t want to limit what you can use in a fight.”

  “Fair enough. But I reserve to the right to have a hard pass on anything you ask, and you can’t blackmail or coerce me to do it.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of blackmailing or coercing. I’m not a demon.”

  What do you think? I asked Dastien. Be honest. Should we take the deal?

  I don’t know, but we’re in a tough spot. We need his help and he knows it. That’s never a good position to be in.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the only power that’s helping to stop the end from coming. This is a good deal.”

  “So I agree to this and you’ll be popping in my life whenever it suits you?”

  He grinned. “Pretty much. You’ll owe me, and I’ll be able to ask you for endless favors. Which you will be able to turn down or not as you will.”

  “Endless?” No. Not a chance.

  “Fine.” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Shall we set a number?”