“Why are we...” She heard the faint sound of a heartbeat, saw someone lying crumpled in the corner, chained to the wall. A man, bloody and pale, covered in gashes with his clothes half hanging off his body lay there. It took her a moment for her to realise who it was. “Malic!” she screamed but it came out as a whisper. “Oh, Mal!”
She moved through the mess, knelt by her brother’s broken body. “Did you do this to him?” she snarled, eyes flashing gold.
The guard backed off, held up his hands in surrender. “I just–”
Power flared in her hand, she threw it at his chest. The other shifter screamed as his body burst into flame then crumpled to ash. Christy stared at the remains, feeling a pang of guilt for a second but it soon faded. She didn’t care, she’d do anything to protect her brother.
“Mal? Mal, it’s me Christy.” She touched his shoulder. “I’m here now. Everything is going to be alright.” She took off her jacket, wrapped it around him. “I’m so sorry for not coming back sooner.”
Mal winced, blinked up at her. “Chris...”
“It’s okay. You’re safe now.” She rose, yanked at the chain, sparks flew off it, burning her fingers. Spelled, she guessed.
Christy raised her hand, tried to use her powers, but they wouldn’t work. Something powerful held her brother in this place. Something she suspected was stronger than Oren.
The chains had cut into his wrists and ankles. Malic’s body was covered in cuts and half-healed wounds. His left shoulder sat an odd angle.
Christy drew power to wrench his shoulder back in place. Mal didn’t move despite the pain it must’ve caused him. At least my medical training came in good for something. She couldn’t break him out, yet she could at least help ease his suffering. She sent energy into his body to soothe and heal him. “How do you feel now?”
Mal blinked up at her. “Chris – you shouldn’t be here,” he murmured. “Why did you come back?”
Christy frowned at him. “What do you mean? You called me. You needed me so I came.” She reached out and squeezed his grubby hand.
Mal shook his head. “I shouldn’t have done that, forgive me. I wanted you to stay safe.”
The look he gave her made her well up with tears. “Why did they keep you alive? I thought they killed you when they murdered Papa.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Mal winced as he tried to move. “They were going to use me as leverage to lure you back – looks like it worked. I wanted to die before they ever did that.”
Christy gripped his hand so tight he winced so she lessened her grip. “Don’t say that. You’re alive.” She smiled. “I promise I’ll–”
“Don’t.” Mal drew his hand away, curled back into a foetal position. “We both know I’m dying. No magic or shifting will change that.”
“Mal, stop saying that!” Her eyes flashed with anger, more magic bubbled to the surface but she kept hold of it.
“I mean it. You need to get away.” Mal scrambled up, chains clanking as he met her gaze. “Get back to Ronan. You’re safer together.”
“I’m not leaving here without you. If Alec thinks he can make me his mate, he’s wrong. Ronan and I are bound to each other now.” She stared at the chains again, trying to find something in Magda’s haze of memories that might break him free.
“Alec doesn’t want you as his mate. He’s just Oren’s puppet. All he wants–”
“I thought I’d find you down here, princess.” Oren stepped into the cellar. “Still alive, eh, Malic?”
Christy jumped to her feet. Damn, how does he keep sneaking up on me?
“Fuck off, you bastard!” Malic spat out blood. “You’ll never use my sister to get the power you want. She’s too strong for you.”
“What–” Christy started to ask.
Go, Christy, run! Mal used his foot to shove her away from him.
Oren raised a hand, the air glittered with light. She shoved the old man backwards so hard he hit the wall and fell over a barrel of ale.
I’ll be back, Mal! she promised.
Christy hurried back up to her room, bolted the door behind her. She let out a breath. She had to find a way to get her brother free before it was too late or god only knew what Oren would do to him to get her to comply with his wishes. If he could shift maybe it would be enough to save him.
“Where have you been?” asked a familiar voice.
Ronan lounged on her bed that was covered in white linens, waiting for her. With his tousled dark hair and bright blue eyes, her heart leapt at the sight of him.
“Ro?” She frowned in confusion. “How did you get here?”
“Nothing can keep us apart, Christy. Not now you’re mine.” He rose, pulled her into his embrace.
She blinked. That didn’t sound like something he would say. He’d scold her for running off, demand if she were alright.
He leaned down to kiss her, but she put her hand on his chest to stop him. “How did you get here?” she repeated. Something felt wrong somehow.
His lips curved into a smile. “I managed to get across the border. I missed you, little wolf.”
Christy shoved him away, sending him crashing to the floor. “You’re not my Ronan!”
Alec laughed as the glamour faded, scrambled to his feet. “I told Oren that wouldn’t fool you for long. Don’t worry, I won’t touch you – not until the full moon.”
“What happens then? You rape me and force me to become your mate?” she demanded, hands on hips. “It won’t happen. What Ronan and I have is stronger than any spell Oren can conjure up.”
Alec sneered at her. “Oh, you will be mine, little wolf. Together we’ll break the alpha’s curse and start a new clan more powerful than any other.”
Christy laughed. “You’re delusional. Ronan will come and I’ll have a real alpha to rule by my side,” she said, raising her chin. “It felt good when he was touching me, I doubt the same can be said for you.”
A muscle in Alec’s jaw clenched. “I’ll see you in two days. The guard will bring you food and refreshment. Don’t try to harm any of my people or Malic will suffer for it.”
Her smile faded. He’d find out she’d already killed one of his guards soon enough. “Let him go.” To her amazement, she grabbed his hand as he turned to leave.
Alec’s eyes widened in shock then narrowed. “Why would I?”
“Because he’s dying. He won’t last much longer. Let him go, I’ll stay. You don’t need to use him as leverage anymore.” She hated hearing the desperation in her voice, but she’d do anything to save her brother.
His lips twitched as he pulled his arm away. “Nice try, little wolf. Anything you do to annoy me your brother will be punished for.”
Her inner wolf growled, demanding to be let out of her cage inside her mind, to rip his throat out. Christy raised her hand, her claws came out, she slashed him across the face.
Alec yelped, stared down at the blood. “You–”
“Get out before I rip you apart. Oren can’t protect you forever.” She shoved him out, bolted the door shut and muttered a spell to keep it locked. She slumped onto her bed, letting the tears fall. She had to find a way to get Mal free before Oren used him to get whatever it was he wanted.
Christy?
Christy jumped at the sound of Ronan’s voice inside her mind. She sniffed, feeling waves of anger coming from him. Ro, I’m sorry for running out on you.
I’m not angry about that – well, I am but it doesn’t matter. Are you alright? he asked, anger turning to concern. Has Alec done anything?
Alec won’t hurt me. He’ll hurt Mal instead. She wiped her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. Damn it, Ronan, I should have known he was still alive.
How is he?
He’s – bad, she admitted. I tried to heal him but... We have to get him out of here.
We will, but we have only two days until the full moon, he said. Listen there’s something…
You can’t still fight Alec.
> I know. I’m not the only alpha on this island – you are too.
Christy flinched. She had never imagined herself as the alpha. All she had wanted was a normal life. I know. The idea didn’t bother her as much as it once had. After everything Alec and Oren had done to her clan and her people, she knew something needed to be done. She couldn’t and wouldn’t walk away from the problem.
Chris, Magda told me something about why Oren needs you. It’s not to mate with Alec – well, maybe that was his plan at first but that’s changed now we’re mated, Ronan said. There’s something beneath the island. Some kind of power source that only an alpha and witch can access it during a blue moon – there’s going to be a blue moon two days from now. Magda says Oren is going to try and use the power of the island to do whatever it is he has planned, but she doesn’t know how or where the power source can be accessed.
She blinked, remembering the strange feeling she’d felt where she found her brother. I have an idea on its location. But Oren won’t let me back down there, she said. I think he’s using the power to hold Malic captive. Does Magda know a way to stop it?
No, only Oren knows that. He needs you to do it.
Then I can – she stopped. No, she wouldn’t be able to access it. Her power was joined with Ronan’s now. Ro, you need to get here. Find a way to get that ward down.
Okay, but be careful. I love you.
I love you too.
Chapter 4
Christy paced up and down her room. If Alec and Oren expected her to just sit around and do nothing they were more stupid than she thought. Coming back to find Malic hadn’t been her only reason. She knew being at the centre of things would allow her to see and find out more about what they were planning. What did it have to do with the two hundred-year-old curse that had weakened shifters for centuries?
The haze of memories Magda had provided only jumbled information. Nothing made sense.
Christy peered out of her window which looked out onto the grounds below. With its manicured lawn and neat rows of blue and white flowers, everything looked just as it had two weeks ago when she’d come home. Her father had still been alive.
Funny how so much could have changed in such a short space of time.
Four guards patrolled the grounds. She knew she wouldn’t be able to outrun all of them, even if she managed to break Mal free. Looking closer, she used her enhanced vision to zoom in on one of the figures.
Jerome. One of her father’s men. At first she thought he was a prisoner too, but no prisoner would walk around like that.
Christy opened her bedroom door, her eyes flashing amber as she glared at the guard. She hurried downstairs, giving two other guards the evil eye as she marched out into the garden.
“Hello, Jerome.” She folded her arms as she approached him.
Jerome fell to one knee when he saw her. “Princess.” With his slicked back dark hair and blue suit, he didn’t look like a prisoner either. Prisoners wouldn’t be so well treated.
“I’m not a princess anymore.” Her eyes burned deep amber.
He stared up at her. “How – how are you the alpha?” he gasped.
“I was his daughter and I’m mated to another potential alpha – Ronan, not Alec,” she snapped. “I can see where your loyalty lies now.”
“Princess…”
She glared at him.
“I mean, my lady. I had no choice. It was either that or death.”
Christy ignored him, feeling a tingle across her senses. She felt the presence of shifters over the island, not just the Imperious clan or the outsiders, but her own Stargaza people. “Where’s my clan?” she demanded. “I know they didn’t all swear loyalty to Alec.”
“Imperious guards dragged them away,” Jerome answered as he rose to his feet. “I don’t know where they took them.”
“Nice to know I don’t have allies here.” She turned to leave.
Jerome grabbed her arm. “Wait, princess. I can help you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not stupid, Jerome. I know a lot more about the clans and the island now than when I first came back here.” Part of her wanted to strike him down for betraying their clan, or shift and tear him apart with her teeth, but she didn’t have time to give into anger.
“I’m on your side. You’re my true alpha.” He gave her a lame smile.
Christy glanced back at the guards watching them. Not here. Everything we say is being overheard.
Let me prove loyalty to you. I can you find the others, Jerome insisted.
How? She frowned. This place is crawling with spies.
Meet me on the east side of the kitchens. There are no guards near there.
She stared at him but didn’t smell any deception. The alpha in her only sensed truth. Fine, she told him. But if you betray me, my punishment will be much worse than theirs.
Jerome gripped her arm harder. “Sorry, princess. You can’t go any further.” He steered her back inside the mansion.
She waited ten minutes before blurring out around to the other side of the massive house. Christy heard no heartbeats around until someone approached. Jerome appeared. “Let’s go. I don’t know how long it will be before someone misses me. They don’t trust me as it is.”
“What a surprise,” she muttered.
Together they walked through the grounds, away from the mansion towards the woods. The smell of pine needles and the sound of birds singing reminded her of being in the outsiders’ camp, she felt a pang of longing to go back there. Strange how only being in a place for a couple of weeks could soon come to feel like home.
Christy felt her inner wolf itching to get out and run. She ignored it.
They moved in silence as she followed the feel of her clan. It felt like a magnetic pull, drawing her ever closer. Strange, these feelings had always been something that had frightened her. She’d always denied the shifter part herself, and never allowed her wolf out again. Coming back to the island and living with the outsiders has shown her what she was. She accepted it now and wouldn’t run away from herself or her destiny ever again.
More of Magda’s memories flashed through her mind, bits and pieces of how the clans and witches had lived.
“I’m sorry about your father,” Jerome broke the silence between them.
“Don’t. I know he thought he was doing the best by the clans but my father lost his way when my mother died,” Christy said. “The clans are falling apart, and it will take a strong alpha to bring them all together again.”
Jerome frowned and shook his head. “Princess, the clans have never liked each other. They have always fought for power.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” she muttered. She wasn’t about to discuss her plan for the clans with him, or anyone. Hell, she didn’t even know if they had a future. All that mattered was stopping whatever Oren had planned for the full moon.
As they moved down the steep track, the woods opened up into a narrow dirt road that led away from the mansion grounds. Christy felt energy crackle against her skin. Another ward. Interesting, she thought, turning to move in the opposite direction.
Up ahead she heard a howl and saw a dozen black, grey and cream wolves moving round a small fenced enclosure. Some were lying down, others sat staring off into space, while others scrounged for food. One grey wolf whined when it saw them.
“What is this?” Christy said, disgusted. Her senses must be wrong. This couldn’t be her clan. She blurred over to the fence, feeling the burn of magic when she tried to touch it. This was all that remained of the Stargaza. Twenty shifters. “How can this be?” she murmured.
The sun loomed high in the sky. The wolves stared back at her, some whining, some silent while others let out mournful howls.
Are you alright? she asked in thought, trying to peer closer to check on each of them. Is anyone hurt?
No one answered.
Say something! Christy cried, throwing her hands in the air.
Still nothing.
“As alpha I comma
nd you all to answer me,” she ordered. Then she realised they couldn’t. Magic hung around the pack like a heavy blanket, not just holding them in the pen but locking them in wolf form. They weren’t shifters anymore, they were just animals.
“Damn you, Oren,” she muttered an oath, fists clenching. “That bastard’s manipulated the curse.”
“How?” Jerome’s brow creased as he stared at the wolves in confusion. “Why?”
“He made them animals. They’re not shifters. They don’t know how to change and don’t remember who they are.” Her fingers gripped the fence, only to send her stumbling backwards as the ward jolted her away.
“We need to get them out,” Jerome said. “You have magic, don’t you?”
Christy’s head snapped up. “How do you know that?”
He shrugged. “I heard Oren and Alec talking. I know Olivia was a witch too. She never hid that from us, but your father forbade anyone from talking about her after her death.”
“My father did a pretty good job of hiding everything from me.” She stared at the wolves. None of Magda’s memories or magical knowledge gave her any answers on how to deal with this situation.
“The others thought you wouldn’t come back. After what happened the night of the party…” His voice trailed off, pain filling his eyes.
Before her father had been murdered that night, she’d screamed at him, telling him she wanted nothing to do with him or the clan. She’d wanted to become human.
Christy winced. “I’m sorry,” she said, hoping the others would understand. “I’m not the woman I was before I came back to the island. She died that night too.”
“Princess…” Jerome said.
“Please just call me Christy. I never was a real princess. I was just a girl who wanted to be normal. I lost a lot by not growing up here, but that’s changed now,” she insisted. “I won’t let this clan fall again. My father invited Alec in that night despite everyone’s warnings. It’s time Alec and Oren learnt how to deal with the real alpha.”
“What can we do to get them out?” Jerome raised his hands, staggering back as the ward repelled him too.
The Alpha's Curse: Shifter Clans Series Book 3 Page 2
