Bloodfire (Blood Destiny)

by Harper, Helen

  I had no weapon left, and had to avoid falling on the ground, so I stayed light on my feet and clenched my fists. Smacking into the side of her face, I managed to send her reeling but she recovered quickly and answered with a blow of her own. I felt unsteady on my feet, both from her swipes, the continued blood loss and the ispolin’s attack, but the heat inside me wouldn’t allow my brain to register it properly. I kicked her stomach, thanking the heavens that I was wearing my boots instead of my soft soled trainers, and was rewarded with a pained gasp from her. She shot up into the air, body circling upwards like an arrow. I span around, trying to spot where she was and where she’d land next. Unfortunately, I wasn’t versed enough in the fighting tactics of flying demi-goddesses, and, before I knew what was happening, she was behind me, her slender fingers wrapping themselves round my throat and her nails curving into my skin.

  Iabartu’s fingers tightened and she leaned over to my ear. I could almost taste the smell of death from her, it was so strong. This made the unpleasant odour of the cloth pale into weak comparison. “I could use my nails to end this now,” she breathed. “Rip into your windpipe and have you bleed out in half a pathetic human heartbeat.” One fingernail scraped across my skin and I felt it draw blood. Shit. “But that wouldn’t achieve what I really want.” Her hands squeezed my neck further until I started to gulp for air. Black dots appeared in front of my eyes and my lungs burned. The flames inside me shrieked and raged and I tried to kick back and knock her away, but it was a feeble effort. “Instead all I need to do is to take away your breath for a mere minute. I’ll starve your mind of oxygen. You’ll be technically brain dead, but I won’t let your body die.” She laughed coldly in my ear. “I’ll keep you alive for as long as I need. You’ll be a little dragon vegetable, growing all the blood I’ll ever need, just for me.” My head was exploding with pain and I could barely hear her words. I needed to breathe but it wasn’t going to happen. Even through the haze of oncoming oblivion, all I could think was that I’d failed. Failed John, failed Julia, failed the pack. Even as a supposedly all powerful Draco Wyr with fiery blood, I had still failed. I closed my eyes and tried to accept the inevitable. A tiny rational corner of me hoped that whatever Iabartu was planning to do with my blood wouldn’t cause any more harm to anyone shifter or human, whilst my hands clawed desperately at her fingers, trying uselessly to pry them away from my throat.

  Dimly, I heard a roar and a thunder of steps. Before I could pinpoint what the noise was, I was on the ground, gulping and gasping at air and trying to fill my burning lungs. I didn’t even notice the grass this time. My head felt ridiculously heavy, and it took a vast amount of effort, but I lifted my eyes up to see a huge bear on its haunches extend a clawed paw out to Iabartu’s shape, preventing her from taking off into the air and slamming her into the ground. Seemingly from out of nowhere a sleek black panther pounced on top of her, massive paws digging into her shoulders. It snarled venomously and raised its head for just a brief second to look directly at me. And then it ripped out her throat.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  I staggered to my feet, hot angry tears burning my eyes, lungs still screaming in agony, blood leaking from a thousand cuts all over my body, and blood at near boiling. The panther sat atop Iabartu’s still body, looking incredibly self- satisfied. I staggered over and slapped it. In theory, I’d flung all my power behind that one blow, but there was little left inside me to offer. The panther reeled back ever so slightly and growled, rising up.

  The Lord Alpha began to change. His fangs retracted first, although the traces of Iabartu’s blood remained on his white teeth. His muzzle and whiskers twisted into human features, and skin and muscles ripped through the fur. His bare feet straddled her body and he glared at me. “You fucking idiot.”

  I gasped, trying to get the words out, but my voice felt lost. “She...” I croaked, “She was mine to kill.”

  Corrigan placed his hands on his tanned bare hips and suddenly looked amused. “And you were doing such a great job of that, kitten, weren’t you?”

  The sound of more ripping fur and shifting came from my left and Anton sauntered over, lip curling. “My Lord, she attacked you. The Way…”

  “Under the circumstances, I’ll overlook it,” Corrigan said calmly, not looking at Anton.

  “I needed to kill her,” I whispered hoarsely again.

  Corrigan’s eyes flashed. “And you presumed to think that you would do it single-handedly? That I didn’t have a plan to sort all this out in the first place?” Anger shimmered across the taut muscles of his face.

  Okay, so he was pissed off, but it had still been my fight not the fucking Brethren’s. I opened my mouth again to say so but the pain of drawing breath was too much and I found I couldn’t speak.

  “At last, silence reigns. With any luck your vocal chords will be permanently damaged and then you’ll be forced to keep that sweet mouth shut for good.”

  I snarled at him and took a step forward.

  You forget yourself, human. Anton’s Voice slammed into my mind. I stared at him aghast, with a horrible sense of deja vu. Anton’s Voice meant that Julia…

  An articulate noise sprang from my throat, grating against my already wounded windpipe. I gasped for breath and pitched forward, caught by Corrigan’s hard arms just in time. He looked down at me expressionlessly and cleared his throat.

  “She’s not dead,” he said softly. “But her wounds are such that she no longer hast the physical ability to manage your pack. Anton’s Voice emerged several hours ago and Mother Nature is doing its job.” He paused for a second, appearing to consider his next words. “Funny, I thought it would be you.” He said this last quietly, so quiet that I doubted that Anton heard him. Probably just as well; I doubted the bear would take too kindly to hearing the insinuation that a human would make a better alpha than he would. I supposed that on the bright side, it meant that Corrigan still wasn’t aware of my true nature. This thought was then suddenly followed by the slamming realization that it had been far too long since I’d used the lotion to mask my human smell. Unconsciously I took a step backward. Shit.

  Corrigan’s face closed off. “We need to leave. The other portal will not remain open for much longer.”

  I swallowed, trying to edge closer to Iabartu’s body, praying that the stench of death emanating from her would mask me. “Uh….other portal?”

  Anton looked at me as if I was stupid. “How do you think they got through to attack the keep? The beach portal was already sealed by your friend,” he spat the last out. “There was obviously another gateway.”

  Oh yeah. I’d been so caught up in my grief and horror, not to mention absorbed by the revelations of my ancestry, that I hadn’t even considered where the nasties had come from that had maimed Julia. Duh. I was clearly off my game. My lack of sensible brain activity then wasn’t stopping me now from picturing just how much danger I was putting the whole pack in right now. I stared at Anton, willing him to initiate another conversation so I could remind him about what would happen if Corrigan decided to inhale past Iabartu’s covering scent.

  It was Corrigan, however, who looked at me impatiently. “There’ll be time to analyse later. You need to shift so all those cuts will start healing and we need to return. I don’t want to spend more time around this plane than necessary.”

  I squeaked and continued to try to implore Anton with my eyes.

  “For fuck’s sake,” exclaimed Corrigan. “She’s dead, your alpha’s death is avenged, you can shift. We don’t have time for this.”

  “Right,” I said, swallowing hard. “Okay, time to shift. Yes, can’t wait to finally shift again, if I go too long I get that itch, you know? So it’s good, that I can now actually shift.” I was clearly babbling.

  Corrigan raised his eyebrows. Anton, damn him, looked amused – and slightly hungry. I wondered whether he still wanted to taste my blood and whether I could use that to make him let me still stay with the pack. Well, I was fucked if I’
d let him get even slightly close after this. He continually seemed to forget that my lack of shapeshifterness put the whole pack at risk, not just me. Without his help I went down the only avenue left to avoid trying to meet Corrigan’s obviously impossible expectations. I rolled my eyes back into my head and fainted.

  I tried not open my eyes immediately in surprise when Corrigan caught my body before it landed back onto the sharp grass. He cursed and picked me up, holding me against his chest. I fought very hard not to tense up as he did so.

  Anton laughed sardonically in my head. Nicely played, human.

  God, finally. You idiot, I hissed back at him. I’ve not used the lotion for over a day now. Once we get away from the rotting stench of the bitch, he’ll know I’m human.

  And I should care about that why?

  Welcome to the new Cornish alpha, ladies and gentlemen. Because, you wanker, once the Brethren know what I am, you will all be in danger. You are the alpha, it’s your job to protect everyone.

  I could almost feel the cogs whirling in his head. Corrigan muttered something to him and took off smoothly towards what I supposed was the other end of the valley. If Anton didn’t get with the programme soon, this was not going to turn out well. I couldn’t pretend to be unconscious indefinitely. Not only that but Corrigan had a fast gait and it wouldn’t be too long before the only thing he’d be able to smell would be me.

  Yes, it IS my job to protect everyone he finally answered. So I’ll do this and help you. And you will leave Cornwall forever.

  WHAT?

  I am the alpha, his Voice stated simply. Your presence puts the pack in danger. Therefore I want you gone from Cornwall as soon as we return.

  As much as I knew that Anton was relishing this moment with every fibre of his being, he was right. I did put the pack in danger by staying with them. Especially now. All this had happened because of me, and whilst I could acknowledge that I hadn’t asked for any of it and couldn’t have changed the molecular biology of my blood even if I’d known about it, I knew that I was still guilty. Leaving was the safest option. It was almost a relief to finally have someone demand my absence – perhaps it would help assuage my guilt.

  Done.

  Give me your word.

  I almost growled aloud. You just had it. Now fucking deal with this.

  “My Lord, I will take her,” said Anton somewhere to the left of Corrigan.

  Corrigan was silent for a heart-stopping moment. Oh come on. He finally replied, “It’s fine. She weighs nothing.”

  “I am her alpha. It is my responsibility – she is my responsibility. We have not always been on the best of terms but perhaps this way I can demonstrate to her that she can trust me.”

  Nicely played, I thought. Now when I ran off, I’d be the ungrateful bint who couldn’t acknowledge that ’Lord’ Anton had rescued me. Bastard. Corrigan halted and passed me over to Anton’s arms. Instead of cradling me against his chest as the Lord Alpha had done however, he slung me over his shoulder in an incredibly undignified fireman’s lift. I was painfully aware of my bottom waving around in the air from above his shoulder.

  “The others will be anxious for news, my Lord,” Anton continued. “I do not wish to move too quickly as clearly Mackenzie has many small wounds from which there is a considerable amount of blood. I have no objection if you wish to move ahead and let everyone know what has happened.”

  I wondered if Corrigan would let himself be manipulated quite so easily. I sincerely hoped so.

  Anton continued. “Perhaps then you can alert the doctor to move to the portal to help her as quickly as possible. Mackenzie is usually more hard-headed than this. I am concerned that she has fainted and not yet re-awakened.”

  I tried very hard not to slap his back for his so-called ‘concern’. Nonetheless it seemed to work as, without a word, I sensed Corrigan begin to move away. After he appeared to go a few feet however, he called back, “You are very demanding when you want to be, Anton. I hope that the Way has chosen a true alpha for Cornwall. I would hate to spend more time down here babysitting you.”

  Hah! Take that bear-man!

  Take care, kitten, sounded Corrigan’s Voice in my head. I was startled by the unexpected gentleness of the sentiment. At least with my face stuck in Anton’s naked back, my surprise didn’t show. And with that he was gone.

  Anton jostled me forward for a few more uncomfortable moments. I guessed that he was waiting until the Lord Alpha was definitely out of sight. Eventually, however, he put me down, feet first, and gazed at me stonily.

  “You will not renege on this, human,” his eyes spat malevolent sparks.

  I felt the familiar spark of heated irritation inside me and sighed tiredly, “I gave you my word, tosser. I’ll do this.” Truth be told, although my fainting had be feigned, I was starting to feel rather woozy anyway. I hoped I’d be strong enough to get out of Cornwall first. Talking also still hurt an incredible amount. “I just need to get cleaned up and talk to Julia and the others, and then I’ll be gone.”

  He laughed shortly. “I don’t think so. As soon as we get back through the portal, you are gone.”

  I began to protest but he interrupted me. “I don’t need to give the Brethren any more opportunity than necessary to find out what you are. I’ll inform the others what has happened once they have gone. Your friends,” he injected disdain into the last word, “are leaving for London anyway.”

  Tom and Betsy. I cursed inwardly. I’d been hoping that they would change their minds but considering the alternative, being stuck here with Anton as alpha for the next several decades, I couldn’t exactly blame them anymore. Joining the Brethren, though? My body shook with distaste.

  Anton eyed me. “How bad are your injuries?”

  I didn’t kid myself that he was asking out of concern. He just wanted to make sure that I’d get out of his demesne before I caused any more trouble. “I’ll live,” I answered shortly, squaring my shoulders. I was bleeding from a thousand different cuts and it was still painful to breathe, but there was no way I was going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much I hurt. “What about my things?” I asked him. The thought of leaving my little treasure chest behind was almost as much of a wrench as leaving behind the pack. Almost.

  “I’ll arrange for them to be sent to you once you are settled somewhere else,” he said dismissively, then moved away wrinkling his nose. “We need to hurry. The Lord Alpha will be sending the doctor to the portal as we speak. We need to get through before he manages to return. And for god’s sake stay at least a few feet away from me. Your stench is getting unbearable.”

  I scowled at him, angrily. Even though he was getting everything he’d ever wanted, he still couldn’t resist sticking the knife in. “What? Don’t fancy licking my blood any more?” I hissed at him.

  “Oh, believe me, I still want it. And I’d have it if I was so inclined.” I looked at him, warily before he continued. “But now I’m alpha I need to rise above such base desires. Keep your funny blood, ape. It’s about all you have left after all.” And with that he turned and started striding away.

  My eyes shot daggers after him, but I followed regardless. I wondered if Anton’s attitude would change if he knew the truth about my blood. I shrugged. It didn’t matter now. I put my head down and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, ignoring the dots of bleeding pain from around my body.

  It seemed to take an age to get anywhere. The landscape remained entirely uniform throughout – emerald green blades of cutting grass, brilliant blue sky and the walls of the valley. There was absolutely nothing else to be seen anywhere. It was a blessed relief when the purple shimmers of the second portal finally came into sight. Anton turned back towards me briefly, raising his eyebrows with an extraordinarily annoying look of anticipation. Screw him. I wasn’t leaving for him or because of his demands – it was for the good of the pack. My friends and my family. I felt unbidden tears rise up and blinked them furiously away. I had to stop
thinking of myself though, and start thinking of the others. It occurred to me that I now possessed absolutely nothing. All my weapons were lost, and my ‘fainting fit’ had meant that I couldn’t even retrieve my trusty backpack. I had no money and nowhere to go. And with Iabartu’s death, not even at my hands, I now had absolutely no purpose. I felt utterly bereft. I watched Anton disappear through the gateway, taking a moment to compose myself. I was damned if I’d let him see how upset I was.

  Digging deep inside myself, I searched for the flare of bloodfire. Once I had it, I let it swirl around me, and I let its waves of heat curl around me my body. I pictured John, and Julia, and everything I was leaving behind. I even reflected on Iabartu’s corpse and how I hadn’t even managed to kill her myself. At least as long as I was angry, I wasn’t going to weep in front of Anton; I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

  I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and stepped through the portal.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  The sensation of passing through the gateway made me feel oddly nauseous. I pushed it away, however, blinking, and realised that this second gateway was close to the clearing where John had shown me the wichtlein’s stone. It made sense now, after all we were some distance from the beach and it had never quite tallied that Iabartu had travelled so far away from there instead of going straight to the keep. It seemed a lifetime ago now since I’d been here last. I closed my eyes for a brief second, imagining John in front of me, before composing myself, opening my eyes and looking coldly at Anton. “What will happen to the portal?”

  “It’s none of your concern,” he muttered.