by Nicole Renee
“You work on finding Winny. I will go do something else. Anything to get me out of this room with you.”
Zahir told his men to stay at the entrance.
“Don’t let anything in or out. If you do not see me before sunrise, leave, and make sure Akachi knows what he needs to do.”
Not waiting for a response, Zahir strode into the cemetery, letting his dual nature come lead him to the correct location. Abir told him that he had the skills and tools necessary to defeat Davien, and he would start walking in that confidence. It was very rare that he let his full dual serpent out, as it was large and very intimidating. But for tonight, he would show Davien who he was dealing with. He felt his neck rib flare out, and his eyes turn the blackest hue. His skin shifted into scales and poison began to seep from his hands. His claws extended and his teeth sharpened to razors. He hissed as he walked further into the darkness, enjoying the warm air, and the slight tinge of danger. Standing still in total darkness he waited for Davien to appear. He didn’t have to wait long.
Up ahead Zahir saw a hulking creature moving through the graveyard. His wide body was slightly unbalanced and the muscles straining from his person looked unreal. His eyes were a dark yellow, almost green and his skin was stretched taut. The man-beast looked completely deranged, as it moved closer in his direction.
“I see you, serpent.”
Zahir hissed at him in challenge. “I take it you want to kill me here? Am I to assume that you already have a grave buried for me?”
Davien growled, foam appearing at the corners of his mouth. “You will die tonight by my hand and I will become king.”
Zahir spat on the ground beside him, watching the acid melt through the grass. “You will never be king. And I will bury you in the very grave you dug for me,” Zahir declared.
It was fast and unplanned, but Davien lunged for Zahir’s throat. The serpent king moved back quickly before flashing around him and clawing at his back. Davien could feel the poison on his skin and it caused him to roar. He knew he wouldn’t be affected by it, and the moment Raven killed the woman, he would have all of his power and so much more.
But first. He needed Zahir to kneel before him.
Winny watched in terror as the demon moved around the room. With the flick of his fingers, the room was set ablaze with more light. The sudden illumination reached the dark shadowy corners that had been hidden from her gaze. The brightness revealed two very large dogs snarling at her. They looked to be muscled demonic versions of Dobermans. They were held back by thick heavy chains, yet they kept inching closer to the rock she was tied to.
She saw the demon, known as Raven, create a fire in the center of the room, attaching chains above it. She was about to scream when she heard a voice in her head.
I’m here, Winny. Use me.
Her head snapped to the right, but she saw nothing. She tried again to struggle and that voice appeared again.
Winny. I am here.
Suddenly it all came back to her. The dream, Nova, and what she must do. The last steps she needed to free her dual self. Nova’s words rang in her head. She would be forced to trust in her dual self and when the time came, she would be ready.
It was time to believe in herself.
Closing her eyes, she spoke in her mind. Release me from these ropes.
Winny’s eyes snapped open as she watched the ropes. She saw nothing for a moment and was about to cry out helplessly when she saw the ropes at the bottom of her feet begin to loosen. Her heart was racing, but now with excitement, as she watched the ropes around her wrists loosen as well.
Keep them tied. I want to catch Raven by surprise.
The ropes were completely slack but appeared as if they hadn’t been bothered with. She was happy that her dual self knew what to do.
Her eyes shone with a new light, and she was determined to get out of wherever she was being held captive and back to Zahir. She heard Raven approaching and began to mewl as if she were in pain.
He appeared at her side instantly causing her to gasp. “There, there, my child. Everything will be over soon. Now that Zahir is dead-”
Winny’s head jerked as if she’d been slapped. “You lie,” she spat out, hate clear in her eyes.
Raven pulled back, surprised to see such a hateful look come from a woman such as Winter.
He tsked before waving his diseased finger in front of her. “Yes, I do lie, but not about this. The great serpent king, Zahir Slade, is dying as we speak. And you are my prize for offering him to Davien.”
Her body tensed with rage as she stared at the smug creature. It was still new, the bond between Zahir and her, but she knew he was alive. She could feel it in her being. It was as if she knew, without having to be there that he was alive, and would come for her.
And just like that, her dual snapped to life.
“Do not move,” she said with authority.
Raven’s eyes suddenly became hard, and the moment he tried to lunge for her, he found himself frozen in place, unable to move. His eyes moved about wildly, and the dogs began to bark in earnest. Winny snatched off the rope before standing off the marble.
She broke her gaze with him and focused on the dogs. “Be quiet,” she said.
The dogs instantly lowered themselves to the ground and closed their eyes.
When she turned back to Raven she found that he’d gone. “Crap.”
When your concentration breaks from a command, the enemy can be released from your compulsion.
She thanked her dual side before looking around the building. She thought she saw an exit sign, but gasped when a hand reached out and grabbed her by the throat.
He is trying to muzzle your voice. Do not let him!
Thinking fast she kicked at his body, before digging her hands into an open wound on his chest. He dropped her instantly. Winny shouted as she fell. When she hit the ground, she turned and crawled over to the weapons lying in the center of the room. Just as she grabbed for the knife, her body was dragged back towards him. Winny kicked at his hand, causing him to swear under his breath. Reacting swiftly, Raven dug his claws into her leg.
Winny screamed out in sheer agony. Almost immediately the wound began to bleed profusely. She whimpered, nausea rising in the back of her throat.
Come on Winny, you can do it.
Winny held out her hand and called the knife to her. It flew into her hand the exact same moment Raven flipped her onto her back, hovering over her.
Acting on instinct, she wedged the sharp, jagged knife into his body and twisted it into his guts. He roared in shock and pain while Winny spoke damning words. They flowed through her, and she had no control over them.
“You will return to the hell you came from. You are marked as an eternal lost soul. You shall never see the light of day and will suffer all of your days.” Suddenly Raven cried out in alarm, begging Winny to take back her words. But that was something she would never do.
She dragged Raven with all of her might to the fire he created and made sure his body rested over it. She had trouble moving it over the fire, but she felt herself smiling through her tears as she felt another set of hands around her giving her strength.
Winny watched Raven scream and cry for mercy as his body was consumed by the flames until he was nothing. When his body was no more the flames ceased as well. She leaned against the same table she was tied to moments earlier. Suddenly the dogs in the corner snapped their heads up, broke their chains, and ran out of the warehouse. Winny wondered where they were headed, but was too tired to care.
Zahir. Please come find me. I need your help.
“Just give up already, Zahir. She’s dead, and you will no longer be king.”
Zahir was scratched up. Davien’s claws were laced with some chemical that was weakening him. The more Davien successfully sliced into his flesh, the slower he became.
Zahir was on his hands and knees, blood coming from various wounds, but he would never give up. Simply because Winny needed him. An
d he would never give up on her.
It took all of his might, but Zahir stood and faced Davien. Through his haze he was pleased to see the swollen and infected cuts that littered the werewolf’s body. The fact that the man also lost an eye due to his poison was also satisfying.
“You’ll be dead before sunrise.” Davien smirked about to end Zahir’s life when he suddenly felt his strength leave him. His body shrunk, and he returned to his normal size. He fell to his knees and cried out in alarm when he felt burning around his chest. He also heard a thundering noise and barking in the distance.
No, it can’t be. Winny isn’t dead?
Zahir wondered why the man looked so forlorn, but no longer cared. He struck, flashing over Davien’s body and biting him on the neck. It was one of the most lethal areas for his kind to bite. The first bite would result in paralysis, the second one would cause death.
But Zahir needed some information first, and he knew he had three minutes tops before the poison fully entered his system.
“Where is Winny?” he hissed.
Davien’s eyes looked from left to right and he swallowed before gripping at Zahir’s shirt.
“I beg of you. I will tell you where she is but only if you agree to kill me. You have to do it as soon as I tell you,” he pleaded, all of his bluster gone.
Zahir frowned wondering why Davien wanted to die by his hand all of a sudden.
The beasts of hell.
It was then that Zahir realized what Davien was asking. He made a deal with Raven. But Davien didn’t fulfill his part of the bargain. And Raven was ready to collect.
“I promise,” Zahir said.
Davien swallowed before nodding. “She’s in a warehouse behind Magazine Street. It’s within a building, on the top floor. It’s the one in all red,” he confessed.
Zahir thanked him before standing. Davien’s eyes widened in alarm when Zahir took a step back. He couldn’t move and was completely helpless.
“What are you doing? I told you! Kill me now!”
Zahir chuckled at his screaming. “Why would I grant you leniency when you almost took what I love the most from me?”
“Zahir please I’m sorry.”
“I know you are. Have a nice eternity with Raven.”
And just as those words left Zahir’s mouth, two monstrous dogs came barreling in their direction. Their steps sure and their gaze direct.
They were coming for Davien. When they each grabbed a leg, Davien hollered as he was dragged through the cemetery.
Zahir waited until he heard nothing at all before clutching his side, and stumbling through the graveyard to where his men were waiting. He saw the sun peeking over the horizon at the same time he saw the entrance to the graveyard. Clayton appeared at his side instantly.
“She’s over-”
“We know. Amara called and said the spell was lifted over her.”
“Good. Take me to her.”
“Tove. Davien was killed. He couldn’t defeat Zahir. And Apparently Winter killed Raven.”
She snorted. “Of course he couldn’t. I had to practically gift wrap Winny for Davien. But I am surprised about Raven.”
“She has gained all of her powers.”
Tove’s eyes widened in alarm at the recent events. She already had a bag packed in case of this type of emergency. She had no qualms about starting over somewhere new, which was exactly what she planned on doing.
“I’m leaving the country. Are you coming or going?”
“I’m going.”
She smirked at her lover/bodyguard and nodded. “Well let’s go then. We’ll find a way to gain power again. An opportunity will present itself.”
“Yes ma’am.”
25
“That was the last one, Javi.”
The Spaniard grimaced at the pile of foul, multi-colored creatures laying in a heap near the swamps. With the help of his men and countless other duals, they were able to find all of the horrible beasts and kill them. The final way to send them back was to set them on fire. The duals had decided to set the bodies afire by the swamp. It wouldn’t bring alarm, and humans would just assume another voodoo ritual was taking place.
Oh, to be naive.
“Great. Set it on fire.” Javier stepped back as Rashad, the Alpha’s son, and future leader set the thing ablaze.
He didn’t know what it was with werewolves and fire, but once their eyes were on it, they wouldn’t look away until it had completely dissipated. Javier got an alert on his phone, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw the message from Akachi that Winny was safe. Zahir was on his way to her, and Davien was no more.
And all before six a.m. too, he quipped.
Good. Tell Zahir I will speak to him later. You as well. Get some rest. -J
Javier’s phone buzzed the moment he sent the message. “Yeah?”
“They are awake. Walker and Daisy. They are awake and wondering what happened.” Javier chuckled, imagining an enraged Walker and Daisy. Upset at having missed the shenanigans from the night prior.
“Alexei put Walker on the phone.”
“Alright. And sir. About Daisy-”
“It’s fine. Just tell me what you need from me and when. I’ll do what I can.”
“Thanks,” he said clearing his throat.
Javier rolled his eyes. “The phone to Walker please Alexei.”
“Oh, right.”
Seconds later, Walker’s voice boomed through the speaker. “What happened? I’m talking to my sister, next thing, I’m staked, and when I wake Alexei is here sitting beside Cassandra telling me everything’s been handled? And where is Zahir!”
Javier chuckled at the indignation in his voice.
“Get changed, and cleaned up. I’ll tell you over drinks.”
“Fine, but you’re buying. And I’m staying at a hotel. I don’t know what exactly is going on with Zahir, but I’m going to let him figure it out in his own house.”
Amara waited for Akachi to return back to the room.
He never did.
Even when she called to tell him that she knew where Winny was, he simply thanked her as if she were an employee, and hung up. She couldn’t blame him. It was her own fault. But still. She thought he would at least hear what she had to say.
Amara, you have lied to the guy for hundreds of years. Give him time.
With that in mind, she packed up her bag and quickly left the Slade estate. She needed time to regroup. Right now, everything was still too fresh. She was happy that Winny was found, and would see her later.
She left, unaware of Akachi who was watching her from the top of the stairs the entire time. When she left, he headed back to his room, waiting for his brother’s return. Hopefully, he could somewhat sort out what his life had come to by then.
As soon as the car stopped, Zahir ran to the building, using his dual speed and strength to get to Winny. He came to a tall wooden door that looked to be bolted shut at the end of the hall and ran through it full force. He looked into the dark room, and when he inhaled, he could smell Winny everywhere. Heart pounding, he sped from room to room not seeing her. Just as he growled in frustration, he heard a soft moan. It was in the wall, and then he remembered what Davien told him.
Throwing his body against the wall where her moan had come from, he burst through the old bricks and fell into the room. He stood slowly, stunned to see an even larger-looking warehouse. There was a fire pit in the center and to the right was a large slab of cut rock.
Winny was on top.
He ran over to her as quickly as he could, and gently slid his hand under her head.
“Winny?” he said softly. He kissed her forehead, and she blinked her eyes open.
She offered him a smile, and he never felt more relieved than at that moment. “Zahir,” she said softly. I knew you would come for me,” she whispered out.
He groaned before burying his face in her hair, luxuriating in her wonderful, unique scent. “I tried to get here as fast as I could,” he s
aid kissing all over her face. When he sat her up she winced, and it was then that he smelled blood. His eyes widened in horror at how her leg looked.
“It’s okay. I’m going to get you fixed up by our doctor. He will heal that as if it never happened.” And Zahir would kill the man if he could not. He let Winny rest atop the rock while he called Clayton. There was no way she could walk out of the warehouse with her injured leg.
“Bring the car on the other side of the street. And call the doctor. Have him waiting at the house for us.”
“Very well.”
When he hung up, Winny cupped his face before placing a kiss on his cheek. “I believed, Zahir. I believed, and my dual helped me. She saved me,” she said lightly, drifting back off into sleep.
In a rare show of emotion, Zahir’s eyes teared up before he kissed her cheek. “I knew she would, Winny. I knew the time would come and you would do wonders. I’m proud of you,” he said admiringly.
She smiled tiredly before clutching at his chest. “Don’t let me go.”
Zahir forced lightness into his voice, though he felt them to his core. “I’m never letting you out of my sight,” he muttered.
“Good. Oh and Zahir? I love you.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
“Thank you for shopping at Bayou Books! Please come again,” Winny smiled at the woman.
It was her last customer of the day, and she was beat. She was feeling more tired than usual, but chalked it up to having to do so much in so little time.
And what a time it was.
After the whole Raven and Davien fiasco, Zahir had announced that Winny was a Daughter of Sunrise, with her permission. Most of the dual community was stunned and in awe. Once the word spread, Zahir had more duals pledging their fealty to him than any other leader. Winny only wanted it known so that people knew they could no longer hurt her mate.
