Evander (Stratham Shifters Book 4)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “Maybe,” Cole seemed half distracted as he walked. “Or whatever is going on with your head is getting worse. I can't cure Enya, and it's harder to push magic when it's on Earth. He could have run out at the time or not been strong enough to push it properly. But most supernatural beings respond quite well to magic.”

  “Maybe I'm just tired,” she said, with a shrug, missing his meaning. “What are you showing me?”

  “Just something you left here last time,” Cole said, as he took her down a flight of stairs. He pushed open a door, and she gasped.

  Inside was a room packed to the rafters with treasure. There were gold, jewels, tiaras, and swords. This was clearly their treasury room. What baffled her the most was how there was no guards at the door.

  “It's spelled,” Cole said. “Only those of the throne's bloodline can get in here. If one of us breaks in and steals things, that's on us. But otherwise, no one else can so much as set foot in here without one of us.”

  “This is so much,” she spun around, looking at the hordes of treasure. “You really are a prince.”

  “In case you doubted the palace setting,” he said, as he went to a chest. He opened it, and she watched as he pulled out a small, white box. Turning back to her, he placed it in her hands.

  “What's this?” she asked. He smiled, crossing his arms.

  “If I told you, that would be cheating,” he replied. “Go ahead. Open it.”

  Katianna cracked open the box with curiosity to find a plain gold band staring back at her. There was nothing special about it that she could see. It wasn't extravagant or particularly large. It had no jewels, no markings. It looked as if it were bought at any generic jewelry shop on Earth.

  That thought hit her like a smack on the face.

  “Is this mine?” she looked up to Cole. “This is a wedding ring. Is this my wedding ring?”

  “What do you think?” he asked, leaning against a pillar.

  “Why would I leave it here?” she asked. “Was it an accident?”

  His yellow eyes flashed as he shifted positions. He looked so handsome standing there, watching her.

  For one moment, Katianna saw what she thought was the past. Cole, standing in the hallway, his arms open as she flew to him.

  She took off the wedding ring, pushed it to him, and shook her head.

  “Did you give me this?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

  “Did I?” he asked, his voice also low. “Or did someone else?”

  “Did Spencer…” she put a hand to her mouth. “Did we…?”

  “You always said your connection to Spencer was the reason you believed him,” Cole replied, standing up straighter now. “What about your connection to me?”

  “I…” she trembled under the weight of the memory.

  “Do you feel nothing, Katianna?” he asked.

  “I came to love you,” she said. It slipped out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying.

  They stood in silence for a long moment. Her hand closed over the ring box, her knuckles white.

  “Did he know?”

  “He ran away with you right afterward,” Cole answered. “So, I have no idea what you told him. I am discreet in my affairs, but he's always been on guard about me.”

  “What happened?” she demanded “Cole, what happened in that lifetime? Ah!” Her headache came back with a vengeance, and she bent over, trying not to hit the floor.

  He didn't offer magic this time, flexing his hand as if the magic was flowing without consent.

  “You died,” he said simply. “The rest doesn't matter.”

  The silence this time was much longer. He waited until she straightened up again. She pushed the ring toward him.

  “I don't want this,” she said. “I don't want to know.”

  “You don't have to have it,” he replied. “But if your argument is based on the feelings you have inside, you should focus on more than Spencer's eyes,” he said. “Come on, I'll take you to your room.”

  “I think I can go by myself,” she said, trying not to cry. “Please don't tell him.”

  Cole shrugged. “The past is the past, Katianna. Nothing can change it.”

  She said nothing to that, turning on her heel.

  She barely got into her room before the hot tears spilled down her face. She pressed her hands against her face, trying not to completely dissolve.

  What had she done? What was happening?

  If Cole was lying, she couldn't find the reason behind it. And he was right about her feelings. Despite the fact that she had once found every word that came out of his mouth annoying, she couldn't deny what she was starting to feel for him.

  But she loved Spencer, didn't she? Hadn't she always loved him – been fated to love him?

  She couldn't think straight; she didn't know what was real and what was not.

  The pounding in her head didn't make things any easier. She curled up on the bed, trying to block out the sunlight. Life had been so easy a year ago. She had thought this new life was what she wanted: excitement, travel, and romance. But all she wanted was to be home in the hotel, in her own bed. A year ago, her biggest problems were that she had to go to class too early. Now, she was wondering if a previous incarnation of herself had done something unforgivable. Was she being punished for the sins of the past?

  She couldn't bring herself to face Spencer the rest of the day. She stayed in her room, napping and working on homework, trying not to cry. When he checked in on her, she claimed homework and skipped dinner, her chest aching.

  She loved him; she knew that. But she had loved Cole, too, she realized the more she thought about it. Had Cole loved her back? What had happened before this body of hers took an old soul?

  She closed her eyes as the sun set, searching her memory.

  She had done something terrible once, she knew that. But she wouldn't do it again, she vowed. She loved Spencer more than anything. She wanted to be with him in this life and any other. But to do that, she needed to be far away from Cole.

  Chapter 10

  “What are we drinking to?” Spencer asked as they retired to the library after dinner. Most of the women had retired, and they were more relaxed after an intense day of discussions. Only Ariel remained with the men, which included the werewolf king, Evan, sitting at Alexander's side like a protective guard. “This seems a generous sample.”

  “The fact that our father has yet to appear and wreck this palace again,” Nicholas said with a grin as he threw back a shot. “Nothing new, Cole?”

  “I mean, it depends how you want to look at it,” Cole said. “Either the evidence is faked, he was highly organized, or he's back. Equal arguments for all, which is very dragon.”

  “We can't spend the rest of our lives like this,” Peter said. “Wondering if father is returning. Wondering if he's right around the corner. I want answers, and I want them soon.”

  “Aye aye,” Cole answered. “But I thought we were relaxing for another hour or two. Spencer, another drink?”

  “One more,” Spencer replied, holding out his glass. “I should check on Katianna. She's been getting headaches that are debilitating.”

  “Any idea what it could be?” Evan spoke up sympathetically. He wasn't quite aware of the dynamics of the situation, so he spoke out of kindness. Cole exchanged a look with Alexander, but said nothing.

  “No,” Spencer said. “But I do worry. Katianna has always left me because of some issue with her head or her neck.”

  “You can't think like that,” Alexander said, leaning forward. “It's like Peter said, living your life in fear will get you nowhere.”

  It was only after a few more rounds of drinks that Ariel spoke up. Spencer mentioned checking on her a second time, and Ariel snapped.

  “If she's in that much pain all the time, why don't you just reboot?”

  “I'm sorry?” Spencer asked, unbelieving.

  “You heard me,” the fiery redhead said. “Why don't you do away with thi
s body, which is weak, and start over? You don't want her to be in pain, do you? Cole said your magic wasn't always working on her. We could try to heal her here, or you could restart.”

  Spencer sputtered in shock.

  “I…”

  “Why?” Ariel challenged him.

  “Because I'm not sure her lives are unlimited,” Spencer finally replied.

  “No, you're not sure this is real,” Ariel blurted out. Alexander put a hand on her arm, but she brushed him off. “The rest of us have sat silent while you've preyed on a girl that I'm not even sure could drink at her own wedding. If you are sure this is her, you should have no issues giving her a stronger body.”

  Spencer rose, his eyes on fire.

  “And who are you, carapace, to speak to me that way?”

  “I was your queen,” Ariel snapped. “But regardless of that, I am a carapace, you are right. Reincarnation would require magic. She has none. I've stood next to her for months, there is nothing to drain, nothing to change.”

  “How dare you–”

  “Because you are preying on her, manipulating her,” Ariel snapped. “Don't you think that if reincarnation was real we would find a way to help my dying husband, your prince?”

  “You are the one killing your lover!” he screamed at her.

  “As you kill yours, multiple times over!” she screamed back at him.

  Silence befell them all at those words. Ariel was trembling, and Spencer saw as much pain in her eyes as he had carried for years.

  “Gentlemen,” he put down his glass. “I take my leave of you.”

  Spencer left the room before anyone could stop him. All eyes turned from his exit to Ariel, who was still standing in the middle of the room. Her fists were clenched, and her hands were white.

  “Ariel,” Alexander said softly, “I am not immortal, regardless of your presence. Come.”

  She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “I'm just sick of this back and forth,” she said. “How dare he prance around like there is hope?”

  “I felt her today,” Cole said, and everyone's head turned toward him. “She had a headache, and I pushed magic into her.”

  “And?” Evan spoke up, trying to diffuse the situation.

  “I've pushed magic into Katianna before,” Cole answered. “The first time she was here. You know how magic feels when you give it to someone. This was not the same thing. It felt radically different from anyone I've ever pushed magic into, except…” he paused. “It felt like Enya. A pure human. That's the only time I've done that.”

  “You see?” Ariel went to sit at Alexander's side again. “Cole agrees with me.”

  There was suddenly a crash from the dining room. Their heads whipped toward the left, ears cocked.

  “What the hell?” Peter stood up. “If that was a servant…”

  There was another crash, and then another. Suddenly, a scream came, followed by a growl. Evan snapped to his feet, moving quickly. He didn't say a word, but he didn't need to. The others followed swiftly, tense.

  Pushing open the door between the dining room and the library, they were met with blood everywhere.

  Two of the butlers lay on the ground, their blood pooling out from under them. Ariel nearly gagged when she saw one of them was missing half of his face.

  “What the?” Nicholas' eyes searched the room until he found the cause. It only took half a second to lay eyes on three wolves in the corner. They were giant werewolves, and they were clearly angry.

  To his right, he was startled by Evan's knees weakening. The werewolf king fell to his knees, his head bowed.

  “Evan?” he asked, startled.

  “Majesty,” Evan managed to growl as his head was forced downward. “One of them in invoking majesty.”

  “Argh.” Ariel tried to push the magic out of the room, but there was far too much going on. Four princes and three wolves were too much for even the queen carapace. The best she could do was put an arm across Alexander, protecting him from any magic that would be thrown at him. But Alexander was trying to move, already backing up.

  “You are the king, Evan,” he said. “How could one of them be–”

  “This is an older king,” Evan said. “A greater King.”

  “That's not how that…” Cole started before he got an idea. He pushed Ariel forward, even as the others backed up. “Ariel, feel his magic. Is that Father? Dragons can invoke majesty on wolves.”

  The wolves were growling, but they recognized that they were outnumbered. Ariel closed her eyes for half a second before they flew opened. Her jaw fell opened.

  “That is…I think that's–”

  “Is it him?” Alexander demanded. “Is it Father?”

  “It's not the same,” she managed. “But it's similar.”

  “You have to go,” Alexander told her. “We can't fight this if you are keeping us in human form.”

  “Alexander,” Peter put his hand on his brother's shoulder, “go with her. Take Cole. Get to a safe place.”

  Nicholas raised his chin, his place as the protector of the realm in his heart. He would destroy these wolves who had managed to get into his room, threaten his family, and destroy his dining room. He didn't care whether it was his father returned from the dead or whether they were Evan's ancestors.

  Despite the fact that Nicholas now had a child, Cole was still considered the last heir, the last chance to save the dragon throne, should they all perish in this battle.

  “No,” Alexander started to protest. Ariel grabbed his wrist, backing up even as he protested.

  But to her surprise, her steps made an impact on the wolves. They backed up as well, and then turned tail and ran through the hallway.

  “After them!” Nicholas cried, and no one argued about who was following and who was staying.

  Wolves were fast – faster than anyone could imagine. They made it to the throne room, bolting in the side door.

  One of them turned just as they went into the door and looked at the throne. He wagged his tail, making Ariel stop, cocking her head as he turned back to her.

  “Who the hell you are?” she asked. In answer, the wolf moved swiftly again.

  They all felt the vortex in the antechamber activate. Half a second before they got there, the wolves were gone.

  Evan caught up to them, his body unlocked, panting as he skidded to a stop.

  “What the hell was that?” he asked, in confusion.

  “You don't know them?” Nicholas asked, hopefully.

  “Of course not,” Evan said. “I–”

  “Why would you? He looked at our throne,” Ariel said. “He invoked majesty over you. Only dragons can do that when you are the current king.”

  “You think that was Father?” Cole tried to confirm. Ariel put her hands to her head.

  “I don't know. You know this isn't an exact science. I have no idea what it was. It was like nothing else I’ve ever felt before. It felt like your Father, but not.”

  “But reincarnated in a wolf body?” Cole prompted.

  “I don't know!” she cried. “I have no idea what's going in this kingdom at any point anymore.”

  “Could it not have been a great wolf king, maybe the original, returned from the Other?” Peter suggested. “The original wolf king could invoke majesty over you, Evan, just as the original dragon king could invoke majesty over us. And the original wolf king would not know of the alliance that you and Alexander had created between our people.”

  “Either way, until we figure that out, we have to be on our guard,” Nicholas said. “I'll increase guard duty, especially around the antechamber We know the Other is open; who knows what else could come out of there?”

  “We also know that those who come back from the Other vanish again,” Ariel pointed out, avoiding Peter's gaze. “They could never return.”

  “Or they could,” Nicholas said. “For now, let's assume they will.”

  “Ariel,” Alexander caught her hand. “This is not on you to solve the is
sue. We will deal with whatever comes our way.”

  “Until we can't,” she said, and Alexander smiled, pulling her close.

  “There will always be a way,” he said. “We just haven't figured out some of them yet.”

  She accepted his hug, closing her eyes. But her brain was moving even if her body wasn't.

  What she told no one was that she hoped Spencer was right. She hoped with all her heart that death could be transcended because it would remove this pain she felt over Alexander's failing health. If Spencer wasn't right, she didn't know what she would do.

  Chapter 11

  Katianna awoke to a bump in her room. She sat up straight, her eyes adjusting to the lack of light as her heart rate rose.

  Spencer practically fell onto the bed beside her. She moved just quick enough to not get crushed by him.

  “What's the matter?” she asked, alarmed until she smelled his breath. Then, her concern turned to confusion. “Are you drunk?”

  They weren't married yet, so he had been firm on not coming to bed with her. His morals belonged to another age, despite the modern day they lived in. She had accepted that he would remain old fashioned and look forward to the day that they were married. The fact that he was crashing into bed beside her was a nod to just how inebriated he might be.

  “I forgot what drinking with a carapace is like,” he responded. His voice was half slurred, and she settled down beside him. “Lowers your inhibitions and gives you a human tolerance. Which, my dear, is not the same as a dragon tolerance.”

  “I didn't realize you were celebrating,” she answered.

  “We weren't,” he said. “We were arguing, actually. But it made me realize how much I love you.”

  “Uh…okay,” she smiled. “That's some nice logic.”

  “It's all right,” he reached out for her hand. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she said with certainty. She didn't realize how much she missed him until he touched her. “I'm sorry I was quiet today.”

  “My love,” he lay a kiss on her head, “you can do no wrong in my eyes.”

  Her heart sunk at that. If he only knew what she thought she did, maybe he wouldn't feel that way.