Blood Oath (#8, the Mystic Wolves)

by Belinda Boring

  “I miss Elynor,” I confessed. It was the truth.

  Studying me, Verity tilted her head to the side. “I do, too. Are you sure there isn’t something else?” She placed her hand over her chest. “I can feel it . . . here. You don’t seem like . . . you.”

  I let out a weary sigh. “I promise, I’m okay.” It was a lie, but the only thing I could say. “Well, perhaps a little tired. I couldn’t sleep much last night.”

  Her hands now rested over my chest. “Then let’s perform the ritual so I can take care of you.”

  Vivien still stood by the graveside wearing a solemn expression. She’d been quiet throughout the funeral, lost in her thoughts. Now as we neared her, she looked up with a smile. “I am so sorry, Devlin.”

  “This wasn’t your fault,” I repeated, a sentiment we’d often exchanged since Elynor’s death. We played the blame game—alternating between who could’ve foreseen and prevented my sister’s downfall—becoming entangled with Julian.

  “Yet I feel that it is. I was her high priestess . . . her closest confidante. I was fooled by Julian’s illusions and lies. I should have seen through his disguise and protected her.” Because I knew Vivien . . . had come to know her better with the passing of time . . . I saw the rage lurking beneath her pain. She took Elynor’s death personally and her need for vengeance would soon fuel her own oath to help me.

  “Let us say our farewells,” I answered, kindly. There would be plenty of time for us to discuss and argue over who was more culpable.

  With just three of us, we slowly encircled Elynor’s final resting place—Vivien on one side, me on the other, with Verity standing at the foot. The sun was already beginning to dip in the sky as though it also joined us. The graveyard was still, leaving us alone.

  “What do you need us to do, Aunt?” Verity asked.

  “Take hold of my hands and join your own.” She stretched out her arms and we obeyed. “I will perform the ritual and, whatever happens, don’t let go.”

  Staring down at the ground, I finally noticed the candle pillars positioned at our feet. With a whispered command, they flared to life. Tiny balls of light danced above the flames before swirling up into the air about us.

  Summoning her beloved Goddess, Vivien began to chant . . .

  Goddess Danu, blessed mother,

  We come to thee, hear our plea.

  We commend into thy sweet keeping our sister.

  Take her into they love that has no end

  Set her soul free.

  Hold her in thy constant light

  To live in thy sight so pure

  A chosen daughter in thy eyes,

  Her steps on thy path forever sure.

  Keep her safe, grant her joy

  Away from pain and sorrow

  Bless the sacrifices freely given

  Grant her the promise of a new tomorrow.

  All these things we reverently ask

  Thy favor we fervently yearn.

  Grant us peace in the midst of grief

  Thy lessons we seek to learn.

  We are thy humble servants

  Until from this world we are free

  Watch over and guide us.

  So mote it be.

  Blessed be.

  Heat burst between us, starting in the palms of my hands before spreading outward. The flickering flames of the candles surged higher and the floating lights grew bigger as ocean scents filled the air. For a moment, I thought I could hear the distinct sound of seagulls crying.

  That wasn’t what caused me to gasp. I should have remembered, but what happened next caught me by surprise with its simplicity and beauty.

  The ground beneath my feet began to shift. Just a slight tremor, as if the mound of dirt was ready to open and purge it’s contents. My gaze fell to where Elynor lay . . . knowing, within the next breath, I would catch that first glimpse of magic . . . of the divine love the Goddess held for my sister.

  It started slowly and I feared I would miss it if I blinked. From what first appeared as a soft, glowing golden wash of light, my sister’s breathtakingly beautiful spirit emerged. While her body remained buried, her remains returning back to the earth she worshiped, her spirit was destined for some greater place.

  In the space of mere seconds, Elynor broke free from the restraints of her flesh and now hovered silently above the grave—just as lovely as she was when she was alive. Gone were the lines of worry that had taken up residence before her death. Her eyes were closed like she was sleeping and my heart whispered they, too, would be freed from pain and torment—the very things Julian had filled them with. Floating above the simple flower arrangements, I imagined the relief she must be experiencing now she was no longer bound to the weight of her mistakes and the abuse she’d endured.

  Elynor was free and at peace.

  It was all a brother could ask for.

  Verity squeezed my hand, drawing me back from my thoughts. She wanted me to remember this, knowing it would offer solace in the days to come. Little did she know I had already memorized every minute detail.

  “She is here,” Vivien’s awestruck whisper drew my attention. “The Goddess . . . she has come to take Elynor home.”

  Tears streamed down her and Verity’s faces.

  I’d had a long time to dwell on this memory. I’d always wished I felt some semblance of the comfort Her presence there offered the two women. While I was brought up in the Christian faith, I’d supported my sister’s beliefs and often wondered if I could find a place within them for myself. Once I became a vampire, however, the very idea of approaching the Goddess . . . any deity . . . felt like I might debase them with the merest thought.

  So, I did the only thing I knew how . . . my own way of honoring those I loved and the uncertainty I felt—I sang.

  I let the melody in my heart speak for me.

  As the tendrils of a Celtic ballad swelled between our small group, my tears finally fell, and I let Elynor go for all eternity.

  Be at peace, sweet sister. I won’t forget you or my oath.

  On and on I sang, lifting my voice to the heavens with the hopes she would hear my heart and know how deeply she was loved.

  Her spirit seemed to glow brighter with each note, giving me the courage to bear my soul further. Standing there in our solemn gathering, I laid myself bare, completely vulnerable.

  Verity gasped—a quick inhale—and my voice faltered momentarily as Elynor’s essence began to dissipate and float up into the ether. Chills skated over my skin, leaving goose bumps behind as I realized what had drawn her attention.

  Where my sister’s golden aura once hovered lay a solitary piece of amber. It seemed to twinkle beneath my stare as if to invite me to claim it.

  Mine, the word echoed in my mind.

  For you, a soft voice followed . . . a voice I didn’t recognize but knew held truth.

  “The Goddess has blessed you, Devlin, and left you a gift.” Vivien bent to retrieve the item but stopped right before picking it up. Her fingers curled and she gestured for me to do the honors.

  I was speechless.

  The Goddess knew who I was?

  Cupping the precious stone in the palm of my hand, I could feel a comforting energy radiating out from the gem.

  “What do I do with it?” I asked out loud. “Is this part of Elynor’s ritual?” I was curious, this was definitely out of my league. For a fraction of a second, my mouth popped open to ask my sister what to do, realizing in the next instant that she was gone.

  Glancing at Vivien, I realized her eyes were closed as she quietly sought guidance from her Goddess. When she finally made eye contact with me, it was with a new expression of wonder.

  “Amber is one of the holy stones of Danu, our blessed Mother. The gift is meant for you and you alone. Why, I do not know, but trust that the reason will become apparent when the time is right. All I can tell you is it is meant to offer guidance for your journey ahead.” Her brow crinkled with her new thought. “Wherever that may
lead.”

  “Your blood oath,” Verity whispered, also in awe. “She blesses it.”

  I was at a loss. If I seemed amazed by the gesture, the acknowledgement, it was wholly true. I was surprised because this was, again, something new. Long ago there had been no token given.

  Danu had remained silent.

  And now she wasn’t.

  Klothos, I thought, hoping the young Fate would hear. What is happening?

  I’d taken a strange sense of comfort in knowing that I’d at least be forewarned while reliving this part of my life. What I’d once survived held no new mysteries . . . until it did.

  Wrapping my fist around the piece of amber, I didn’t know whether to be grateful or terrified.

  Or both.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Klothos

  The rules forbade me from revealing my hiding spot beneath the small grove of trees, a short distance from where Devlin and his family stood.

  Not just the rules but also my sisters.

  Centuries of standing sentinels to Fate had hardened their hearts, shriveling what little compassion they had to the point where they could stand idly by, watching without feeling—without any connection whatsoever.

  If I were human, I would never worry about my obvious affection for mankind. Reason, however, demanded it was beneath my role as a Fate, therefore making me somewhat faulty and unable to fulfill my duties.

  I kept these things hidden—well, as hidden as I could without flaunting my weakness towards the frail and small species in my charge. My sisters didn’t understand and often mocked me for my abnormal interest. They would be furious at the thoughts running through my mind at the moment. They’d already lectured me about my involvement with the young wolf, Darcy, and her mate, Mason.

  I couldn’t help it. They fascinated me and, if I was truly honest with myself, there was a rebellious part of my heart that envied intensity of emotions they experienced in their lifetimes.

  I was a watcher . . . a keeper of destiny . . . a guardian of time.

  And I longed with every fiber of my being for a chance to sojourn on earth . . . on any world . . . and have a chance to live, love, and laugh.

  I found love, in all its many facets, was especially interesting. I wanted to learn, first hand, why it drove many to sacrifice everything for just a taste, why wars were waged in its name, and discover how it could also be twisted into jealousy and hate.

  It was messy. It was addictive. It was bright and passionate. It was everything my own existence wasn’t . . . sterile, monotonous, and boring.

  I wanted the thrill of the chase, the ecstasy of first kisses and touches, or the swoon of flirtation and feel the butterflies people talked about fluttering around in their stomachs.

  Any of these thoughts were grounds for my sisters to lock me away in solitude to ponder over my grievous sins. The Moirai were above such animalistic, lesser sentiments. We were made from divinity and that set us apart.

  Watching Devlin wrap his arm around the smaller brunette stirred familiar yearnings in my heart, reminding me that, regardless of how I felt, my own fate would never change. I had a duty to perform and would do so until the day I stopped existing.

  Until then, I would remain as always—lonely.

  This was why I began intervening in my charges lives. It was why I risked everything for those small, precious moments when I could pretend to be something—someone—else.

  If that meant I was a failure . . . so be it. I would take the chastisements for eternity if it meant that I could live vicariously through someone else.

  Feel what they feel.

  It’s what kept me from screaming into the endless night.

  “Klothos,” a soft voice whispered, magic stirring through the air. I felt her before I saw her.

  Danu.

  Gazing over at Devlin, I wondered what had drawn the Celtic Goddess here. Perhaps she also came to show her respect for the young witch they were burying.

  “Goddess,” I responded, her energy skittering over my skin as I felt her approach from behind me. Casting a glance over my shoulder, I was somewhat surprised to see she hadn’t taken human form—her female body one of great beauty and grace.

  A large white mare walked up beside me, her thick mane a golden color that glowed even under the fading sun. She stood tall—majestic and regal in the way she held her head high. Small flowers were threaded through her hair, thin braids woven throughout both her mane and tail.

  Danu enjoyed many forms, but this was by far one of my favorites.

  “Do your sisters know you linger here?” Her words filled my mind.

  I shook my head. “They wouldn’t understand or approve,” I admitted, my gaze returning to Devlin. He was currently staring down into his hand where a brilliant piece of amber lay. “Your gift is thoughtful.”

  Danu didn’t answer for a few moments, instead watching with me in silence. I didn’t quite know why she’d chosen to bestow the young man with such a token, but it wasn’t up to me to question a goddess. It tugged at my curiosity, however.

  “His journey is a hard one,” she finally said, releasing the softest of sighs after it. “Even before you and your sisters required this task of him.”

  “My sisters,” I quickly corrected. “He asked a great favor and so his price had to be equal to it . . . to be worthy of it.”

  “He is strong.” Danu shook her head, the golden strands of her mane almost twinkling like it contained tiny diamonds. “If you seek to watch him fail, you will be disappointed. I sense he won’t give up easily . . . no matter how dark his path becomes.”

  I couldn’t keep the question on the tip of my tongue from spilling out. “Is that why you gave him the piece of amber? For luck?” Amber was such a holy stone to Danu—one she’d no doubt imbued with a spark of her own divinity.

  “My reasons are my own. His sister was one of mine. It seemed a fitting tribute to grant her brother something to honor her service to me, as well as give him hope for what’s to come. Even though he knows, having survived it already, should his courage falter . . .” Her words trailed off as we continued to study him from afar.

  “My sisters don’t know I am here,” I confessed, somehow feeling it was safe to share my secret with the goddess. “I watch and silently pray for his success . . . from a distance.”

  My comments surprised her as the mare whinnied gently. “You are more . . . human than I imagined a Fate to be.”

  I shrugged. “I am who I am.”

  “Just as I am.” As she spoke the last words, runes surfaced across her body in a bright glowing gold, scrolling across her sides and down each leg. The white diamond on her head between her eyes lit up as well—revealing her true nature to those who could see it.

  “So, together we will watch and cheer for him.” It was more a statement than a question.

  “Bear witness.”

  Silence descended and then Danu was gone, the last of her energy wafting away on the cool breeze, the faded threads of her magic dancing through the air toward Devlin.

  As if he somehow sensed her presence, he glanced up and, for the briefest second, I thought he saw me. Our gazes locked and his head dipped in the slightest of nods.

  He knew he wasn’t alone.

  He had to know that not everyone wished for his failure.

  He would survive and be returned to his time having changed fate.

  And maybe, just maybe, I would one day change my own.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Are you sure it’s safe, son?” There was so much fear and hope wrapped up in that small question.

  Peering over at me as I held a precious bundle in my arms, my heart hurt for my mother. This should’ve been a joyous occasion for our family and yet it was weighed down with a heavy layer of grief.

  I tugged at the soft blanket that cocooned my sweet niece, completely enamored by the pinkness of her cute button nose and tiny fingers. Lucinda was a miracle, pure and simple.

 
She would help my parents process their daughter’s death—a silver lining to heartbreaking tragedy. They may not understand the initial precautions or why their granddaughter was kept from them until now, but that didn’t stop their faces from lighting up when I entered the room with her.

  “He won’t be back to claim her.” The ‘he’ I referred to was Julian, the bastard who terrorized Elynor’s every hour, awake or asleep, the memories of his abuse always fresh in her mind. “I’m confident he’s no longer interested in our sweet Lucinda, so she can return to her family where she belongs.”

  It had only been a day since the funeral, but for them it felt like a lifetime. With each passing moment, both my mother and father had asked about the baby, each query becoming more and more persistent. They wanted their granddaughter home—not with strangers.

  Having already lived long enough to know Julian was long gone and no longer posed a threat, I finally convinced Vivien she could rest easy. Of course, she bespelled the child with a powerful charm just in case, but that was to be expected.

  Julian was nefarious and had proven, time and time again, how truly devious he could be.

  I just didn’t have the heart to confess the magic he craved had been bestowed onto Darcy; Lucinda was useless in his plans for power and domination.

  Bending over, I pressed my lips against Lucy’s forehead, feathering a light kiss as I inhaled her unique baby smell. It may have been the first time for everyone else, but I had done this before.

  My arms literally ached whenever I recalled this memory. The Fates may consider this punishment—a hefty price to pay for the incredible favor I demanded of them—but I knew the worst was yet to come. I was grateful for these small moments . . . an elixir to my old and battered soul.

  Secrets I kept.

  Battles I waged.

  Honor I protected.

  All because of the love I held for my family . . . including Lucinda Lockhart, our newest addition.

  “Are you going to introduce us, Devlin?” my mother asked, and I could see her fight the urge to hold her arms out, uncertain.