Charity lunged forward, feeling the force of the magic attempting to keep her at bay. It was stronger than anything she had ever encountered, and she feared for Dante’s life. He could not defend himself against such an enemy and beast.
Charity was more powerful than the evil, and as she penetrated its force field, she destroyed the barrier just as the lion sliced his claws through Dante’s chest.
The roar of pain echoed through the woods. Surely the others had to have heard his cry.
Charity roared as she jumped through the air, catching the were lion off guard He hadn’t expected the intensity of her assault. He jumped back, and she rolled with him, fighting and scratching in defense. Her thoughts were on Dante. He had to survive. She needed to help him.
The animal lay underneath her growling and fighting with all his strength. She continued to fight against him as Charity lunged her weight forward, absorbing his evilness and the spell he was trying to use on her. Behind her there was another deep growl before a claw made contact with her back.
Charity felt the blow to her ribs and neck, and then the power emerged within her. In a fit of rage to protect her mate and the animalistic desire to kill her prey, Charity tossed the were lions off her, they lay in shock on the ground while she rose up on two legs.
The sound of multiple roars filled the woods as Maximus and Luther emerged.
The were lion retreated, running through the woods to escape. The other lunged toward Dante, attempting to finish him off.
Charity changed forms, placing a barrier over Dante as well as Luther and Maximus. When the were lion hit the force field, he exploded, turning into dust.
* * * *
Maximus and Luther were by their brother’s side.
Charity attempted to move closer, but Maximus demanded she not come any closer.
“Who are you? What have you done to our brother? What are you, some kind of magical witch?”
Charity was shocked and heartbroken. Did Maximus actually believe that she was responsible?
“Maximus, you don’t understand.”
“I don’t want to hear it. We need to get him help.”
“She is not the one you should be angry with.”
The sound of Dravo’s voice interrupted the argument as he appeared instantly in physical form.
Both Luther and Maximus growled in defense.
Dravo didn’t falter. It was common knowledge that werewolves and vampires didn’t get along.
“Dravo, please! Now is not the time for this.” Charity moved toward Dante, only to be growled at by the brothers.
Delta, Latikus, and a group of other omega protectors emerged onto the scene. None of them would let her near Dante.
“Who are you, and what is a vampire doing here?”
“We don’t have time for this, Maximus. We need to get your brother back to the house so I can help him.”
“You’re not coming near him!” Luther exclaimed.
“Then he will die, and it will be the beginning of the end for the Venificus,” Dravo replied, crossing his arms in front of his chest with arrogance.
“I will kill you, blood letter!” Maximus proclaimed as he puffed out his chest and took a defensive stance.
“Go ahead and try, wolf. It will be your fault that your brother dies.”
“Stop it, Dravo. They are confused,” Charity stated, glancing at Dante and his pale coloring. He was barely breathing.
“You’re right we’re confused. First, you are a woman, then a lioness performing some kind of magic while our brother lies injured,” Luther stated.
“Who are you?” Maximus growled just as a number of other wolves came onto the scene.
“Maybe this is all her fault. She is part of Caliber. She set up this attack so her and her boss Val can take over Selcon and V-Con,” Latikus offered.
“Are you mad?” she asked, getting angry now instead of remaining calm. At this rate, her true identity would be revealed in anger and upset.
Celeste changed into human form. “Dante! What happened?” she asked, running to her son’s side.
“We should ask Charity, if that is even her real name,” Maximus stated.
Celeste looked at Charity for answers.
“Get him to the mansion or he will die,” Charity whispered as the tears filled her eyes.
Celeste looked at her son Dante then Maximus.
“Do as she says, Maximus. We need to get him home.”
* * * *
Celeste stood by Marcus, and the tears flowed as she sobbed for her dying son. She feared for her son’s life and for the future of Venificus. Others gathered around the bed, all trying to soothe Dante’s pain. There was a spell of some kind destroying their efforts.
Charity forced her way through the doors along with Dravo, and the wolves’ mumbled growls filled the room as Luther grabbed for Dravo.
Charity stopped him.
“Please! Stop this insanity.”
“You! Get out of here and take the vamp with you” Maximus was angry and scared. Charity understood that, but she was the only one who could save Dante’s life.
She looked to Celeste for help.
“Celeste, clear the room.”
Everyone looked at Charity as if she were crazy for ordering royalty around until Celeste began to direct everyone from the bedroom.
“Why are you doing what she is saying?” Luther asked. Celeste didn’t answer.
“She must be using some kind of magic of her own,” Luther added, eyeing her as if trying to see where the magic was coming from.
“Dravo, please stand guard by the door for us. I need to be certain no one is near.”
“Yes, Princess.” He stated and bowed his head.
Only Celeste, Dante, Luther, Maximus, and Marcus remained in the room.
“What do you need for us to do, Princess?” Marcus asked.
“Father, what is going on? Why are you calling her princess?” Luther pleaded for an answer.
“I will explain everything later. You must trust me now if we are to save your brother.” Charity stepped closer to the bed, and Maximus stopped her.
“Who are you?” he demanded with clenched teeth.
Charity locked gazes with Maximus and laid her hand against his cheek. She smiled and sent calming sensations through to his heart.
“I am your protector, and I will never harm you. Please trust me, and I promise to reveal the truth.”
Maximus was hesitant, but he moved away from Charity and let her by.
Upon moving closer to the bed, Charity caught sight of Dante. Her emotions nearly got the best of her until suddenly she felt the tingling sensations within her. They started from her toes and slowly made their way through her entire body.
She sat down beside Dante and stared at him.
His gray complexion tore a hole through her heart. The crinkling of his eyebrows and soft, barely audible moans were heart wrenching.
But there was something else, something evil, surrounding his form. She sensed the feeling of foreboding as numerous pictures flashed through her mind. She saw smaller attacks being planned. She needed to contact her friends for help. The time was drawing near.
Without touching him, she laid the palms of her hands inches from the sheets on the bed. Closing her eyes, she envisioned his wounds and attempted to identify the evil spell.
* * * *
The lights in the room flickered on and off. There was a rumbling in the distance outside, and fear like Maximus never felt before surged through the room.
“What are you doing?” he yelled, stepping closer to Charity but fearing to touch her. A light glow formed around the frame of her body. He stepped back as his mother held his arm and pulled him away.
“Mother, who is she? What is she doing?”
“Maximus, I know you are afraid, but Charity is here to protect us. Trust her, Maximus. You must trust her for Dante to live.”
Maximus covered his face with his hands then removed
them to look at Luther.
Luther moved closer to the bed.
“What can I do to help you?” he asked Charity, and Maximus was shocked. Was he the only one who questioned this woman’s intentions?
Charity stood up from the bed, and Maximus watched the warm, gentle glow disappear. He stared at her and saw her sad expression, but also strength.
* * * *
“Someone has cast an evil spell over him. He has several life-threatening wounds.”
“Can you save him, Princess?” Celeste asked, wide-eyed and full of fear.
Charity gave the woman a small smile.
“I must call upon the spirits for help. Whatever they ask, you all must do.” She locked gazes with Maximus.
“Maximus, I know you are scared and confused. My true identity needs to remain a secret, so everything that happens or is stated in this room must remain in confidence. Do you understand?”
He stared at her, and she heard the questions. He wondered what she was going to reveal to him. He wanted to ask her what and who she really was? He felt so out of control, and she knew it.
Glancing around the Venificus family, she felt the love, the strength of all of them.
“I am Princess Charity Mossano of Milan. I am the Chosen One.”
Celeste, Marcus, and Luther immediately bowed their heads. Maximus seemed to absorb the information more slowly. She wondered if he were putting together family history and a fairy tale he had surely heard as a child.
“It is true, Maximus, and the gods have brought us together for a reason. This attack on your brother is the first of what I feel may be several attempts on each of your lives. As we speak, other attacks are being planned. Someone with great resources is making his presence known. There is evil preparing to overtake the Circle of Elders, the Venificus throne, and all superior Alpha wolves and magical creatures. Its cause has been ongoing for the last several years.”
Dante moaned, and Charity moved back to the bed.
Placing her hands over Dante’s body, she felt his pain and began the rhythmic chant to remove the spell and destroy his injuries.
Luther and Maximus moved beside her, and she felt their support, their belief in her, and their love for their brother.
“Take his left hand, Luther. Maximus, take his right hand,” Charity ordered, and both men did as the Princess commanded.
Charity stood between them, feeling the increase in strength of the bond between the triplets. It was missing something, something more which would truly break the spell.
Dante moaned louder in pain. It was too much for him to survive. She needed to save him.
Reaching for their hands, Dravo yelled out, “Princess, no!”
Not giving her move a second thought or concern for the consequences, Charity heard Dante’s quick intakes of breath like they were his last and grabbed both Luther and Maximus’s hands. With all four of them united, the power to break the spell emerged.
Charity glowed and a line of golden light appeared to extend from her stomach in a sheer line to Dante’s body. Each of his wounds moved through the field of gold light and into Charity.
She cried out in pain but held on, maintaining the circular link.
“Charity!” both Luther and Maximus yelled. Both were concerned for her safety.
Charity’s body’s shook, and the light exploded with the last remnants of evil leaving Dante’s body.
Dante’s eyelids began to flutter then open, locking gazes with Charity.
She collapsed with Maximus catching her before she hit the floor.
* * * *
Maximus sat in a chair beside the king-sized bed. His head was throbbing, his eyes dry and itching, but he couldn’t rest. Not while Charity lay unconscious and unresponsive.
She had saved Dante’s life. Absorbed his injuries, his pain to save him and protect the Venificus family. His initial reaction hours ago to her declaration of being the Chosen One was shameful and selfish. He had no right to be so cruel to her. The fear of losing his brother and the betrayal he felt from Charity deceiving him allowed his temper to react.
Watching her chest rise and fall with every breath she took, he felt helpless.
“You should try to get some sleep. Dravo said she will be fine,” Luther whispered from the other side of the bed where Dante and Charity lay side by side. Maximus, too, was sitting in a chair with his feet up and resting on the bed. Their mother had brought them blankets when they refused to leave and sleep in their own rooms.
Maximus sneered at Luther. How was he supposed to believe some blood letter? It didn’t sit easy with any werewolf in the house that a blood letter was allowed access. They were supposed to keep Charity’s identity a secret, yet here they were inviting a vamp into their home and the upper floor where only family resided. That move would surely cause enough gossip and chatter to make their guests run to their own conclusions.
Shit!
Maximus rubbed his eyes.
“Too many thoughts are going through my head, brother.”
Luther sighed then shifted in his seat.
“I understand, but remember, you cannot bombard her with questions when she awakes. She is our mate, and we are to protect her and care for her whether she needs us or not.”
“How can she need us? She has the powers and abilities we have only read or heard stories about. She is the Chosen One. Why would she need three werewolves? No, brother. I am afraid we will merely be her servants. We will be at her command.”
“Maximus! I can’t believe you are being so self-centered and power hungry. Don’t you realize what an honor it is to be the mate of the Chosen One, Princess Mossano of Milan? The knowledge of her existence alone will bring battles of all kinds to our doorsteps. We are warriors with the blood of centuries of fighters before us. The spirits have chosen us to protect her and be her mates.” Luther glanced at Charity. “I am honored to be chosen by her, by the spirits. Our connection is strong and getting stronger by the moment. She is so beautiful, Maximus. She is ours,” he whispered.
“Will you two shut up so I can get some sleep? I was nearly mauled to death, you know.” Dante spoke then cleared his throat. Both Luther and Maximus stood up from their chairs.
Dante rolled his head to the side and nearly knocked into Charity He smiled then snuggled closer.
“Ahhh, now this is more like it.”
Maximus growled low in his throat. “Let her rest, you moron.”
“You’re just jealous because you’re out there and I’m in bed with our goddess,” Dante snuggled closer to Charity.
The sound of the door creaking open sent the brothers on guard. Luther and Maximus stood prepared to attack.
Dravo entered the room.
* * * *
Dravo was very concerned for his princess. He heard the whole conversation between the Venificus brothers. Maximus would be the most difficult to deal with. Despite his mother’s assurance that Dravo was on their side, the largest brother was untrusting. Charity would have her hands full with him.
Eyeing each brother, he walked closer to the bed, hardly acknowledging their fierce, low growls.
“I am not the enemy. You will be dealing with plenty very soon.”
Dravo walked beside the bed and watched as Dante held Charity more snugly. His one arm lay protectively over her stomach.
He glared at Dravo, obviously distrusting him around his mate. Dravo could tell the weres were having difficulty allowing a vampire in their home, never mind this close to their mate.
Perhaps these weres will be worthy of their positions.
“She is doing better. I can feel her power increasing. She has much healing to do.” Dravo raised his eyebrows at Dante. “He didn’t ask to be attacked,” Luther stated.
“No, however, he should be dead. My princess risked too much to save you.”
Dravo placed his hand against Charity’s cheek.
“Why do you keep referring to her as your princess?” Dante asked, soundi
ng possessive of Charity.
Dravo moved away from the bed and stood at the end of it where he could watch all three brothers.
“Charity is the Princess of all realms and all those human, magical, and beast. The Venificus have been chosen to lead this realm and fight against those who want to destroy the Circle. Brutas is aware that the Princess is here with you. However, he does not know that the three of you are her chosen mates. It is quite shocking that the spirits have done this.”
“Why is that?” Luther asked.
“The evil that is preparing to destroy the Circle and take over the power of the realms must be of the darkest kind. Charity alone cannot defeat it. She must need the power of your combined efforts as one.”
“You mean the power we felt when we all held hands with Dante?” Maximus asked.
“Not quite. She risked death for Dante. Fighting the powers of fate and bringing a dead man back to life has its consequences.”
“How so?” Luther asked.
“What consequences?” Dante asked, holding Charity with a look of shear concern.
“It is difficult to say for sure. She may stay asleep like this for quite some time, she may show the scars of your injuries on her body, or perhaps she may have more power and magic within her than even the spirits of fate are aware of. All we can do is wait and see.”
“My god. Why didn’t she just let me die?” Dante asked.
Dravo chuckled.
“The Princess is privy to information and events no others would ever know of. I can tell you that she is very strong in her will to protect the Venificus family. She has been in hiding for a very long time. We had discussed the risks, but she was compelled to be here for the three of you and your family. She had little to go by except that an attack on the Venificus family was growing near.”
“She came out of hiding? Who was she hiding from?” Maximus asked.
“It is not for me to say. That is up to the Princess. But I can tell you that she has saved many lives. In the last few years she has fought hard to wipe out numerous attempts at destroying your race as well as other races.”
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Were Love Conquers All [Were Trilogy 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 13
