Temptations (Alpha City Book 5)

by Bryce Evans

  “Everyone go home and get some rest. I don’t know how long this will last, and we all need to get some sleep. Meet back here in the morning, and then we’ll go off to do this.” Bast’s expression hardened as he looked at everyone in the room. “But before you all leave, I want to say that it’s been a pleasure to be a part of this group. Stay strong, and keep the faith.”

  All she wanted to do was to be with Nolan and their family. Nothing else mattered. She didn’t want to talk about any plans or how this was going to go. She wanted normalcy, for just a little while. Fisher had already said they were going to have a dinner tonight with just them, and she couldn’t wait for everyone to leave.

  Skylar hugged everyone, and when the door closed, Nolan grabbed her hand and pulled her into his bedroom, closing the door.

  “I just want to lay down for a while with you and hold you. Is that okay?” Nolan asked. Skylar could see that he needed the intimacy of her touch just as much as she did.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Claudia waited in her office for Calhoun Dessel to arrive. He was bringing all of his followers with him to fight for her. Once he heard that she wanted him on board, he jumped at the chance. She knew he would try to kill her after this was over, but he wouldn’t get a chance. He had no clue why she wanted the young girl she’d asked him to bring.

  The girl lived in France, and had been kept in hiding because she was a Seer. Not just a Seer, but also an innocent. Someone who saw the world in the light. It was different in Europe. They were fighting for territory, and only the strong prevailed. That’s why she needed Calhoun Dessel. He had a huge coven, which was the second largest in Europe. There was one other, but they believed in the light and would be no use to her.

  Calhoun and his followers were coming by boat to avoid attracting attention. They were due to arrive today with the girl, and once she got here she would open the book. Soon it will all be mine.

  Jamal sat on the couch, throwing another ball in the air as they waited.

  Knock, knock, knock. “Come in,” Claudia muttered.

  Calhoun and two members of his coven stepped through the door. “Claudia, Claudia, how long has it been?”

  “Too long, Calhoun. How have you been?”

  “Good.” Crying could be heard from a large burlap sack now sitting on the floor.

  “Ahh, yes she’s awake now.” Calhoun motioned for one of his workers to take the girl out of the bag. Jamal had stood up from the couch, gaining everyone’s attention. Like a snake, he slithered over and sat on the edge of her desk beside her. Calhoun and the others stepped back.

  “Did you bring me something?” Claudia asked as she rubbed her knuckles down Jamal’s cheek. Of course this was a big show. They were scared of the dragon, and she would use that to her advantage.

  “Uhh, yes.” Calhoun’s voice broke as he stared at the Dragon King. Once the bag was pulled away, Claudia and Jamal focused on their prize. Instead of a young girl there was a young lady with long black hair. Blood was splattered all over her.

  “I thought you said she was a young girl, not a young adult.”

  “We thought so too, but now she’s twenty-one years old,” Calhoun explained. “We can all feel her power, though, and she has been untouched.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because she was hidden in the convent. At least, that’s what we thought it was, until we found out that the sisters had sold the property to a company called Light of the Day. You ever heard of it?”

  “No, why?”

  “Because it is a very powerful coven. The place was only protected by a few coven members, but she’s tougher than we thought. We caught her off-guard and used the other members as leverage to get her to cooperate.” The young woman’s hands were tied behind her back, and her feet were tied together. Masking tape was plastered over her mouth so she couldn’t utter a spell.

  Why is she bleeding?” Claudia asked.

  “She put up a good fight, but she gave up when we threatened to kill all of her people.”

  “So she surrendered, just like that?” Jamal asked, walking around the girl. Her hair hung down, hiding her face. Calhoun and the other members backed up as Jamal came forward. “Hmm, well, let’s see what you look like.” Jamal pushed her hair away from her face, and when the girl looked up, Claudia gasped.

  “She has one blue eye and one green.” Claudia knew that this witch was unique. There was talk of the ones who had eyes like her. They could do great magic. “Calhoun, go and get something to eat. I’ll be with you in a few.”

  “But…but...”

  “Now!” Jamal hissed, still looking at the woman Calhoun and the others jerked back and all but ran out of the room.

  “You scare them, my love.”

  “Couldn’t care less.” Claudia watched as Jamal stared at the witch. She couldn’t tell why he was acting so strange, but the woman’s eyes were focused on him as well.

  “Look away from him,” Claudia demanded, pushing the witch to the ground. Looking over at her guards, Claudia yelled, “Take her to where the book is, and make sure she’s tied up in a nice little bow.”

  Jamal shook his head and watched as they picked the witch up and carried her out. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

  Claudia barked out a harsh laugh, walked over and slammed Jamal against the wall he was leaning against.

  “What the fuck are you doing?”

  “She put a spell on you, and you didn’t even know it. Tell me, Jamal did you want to pull her binds off of her?”

  “I thought she… Witches can’t do a spell if their mouth is covered!”

  “There are only a few of us who can, and you’ve met one today. Don’t look her in the eyes again. She uses her gaze to compel you.

  “Come on, let’s get this over with. Early in the morning, we end this.” Claudia smiled, then turned around and walked out of the room. Tomorrow would be a different day for her. She would soon rule the shifters and the vampires, and the humans would soon fall to their knees in front of her as well.

  London sat at the table with her mate, drinking coffee. It tasted like crap. It was the same brand of coffee she drank every day and usually liked; the only thing different was how she was feeling. War was coming tomorrow, and the people she loved might die. Worse than that, she might lose Ryder. He was the single most important person to her. Last night had been a magical moment. It felt like they touched each other’s souls as they made love, perhaps for the last time. She shook her head. She had to stop thinking such morbid thoughts. They were going to make it.

  She sat looking out the window at Kayden and Zoey’s house, when her thoughts were shattered by a high-pitched scream from Me-Len’s bedroom. Ryder held his hand up, halting London from going any further. He shifted and quietly made his way down the hallway and into Me-Len’s room.

  London couldn’t wait any longer. She needed to check on Me-Len. Dammit, she wouldn’t lose another loved one. She crept down the hallway and looked inside the bedroom. Ryder was helping Meryl, her grandmother’s mate, hold her down.

  “Wake up baby. It’s just a dream,” Meryl pleaded.

  London grabbed the Tree of Life and moved to the side of the bed. Words that she’d never heard before began spilling from her own mouth. Me-Len’s eyes opened, as she sucked in a deep breath and started coughing.

  “Me-Len, you’re safe. It’s me, Meryl. It’s me.” Me-Len focused on her mate and hugged him to her.

  Ryder got up slowly and turned to London. “What spell was that?”

  She shook her head, unable to answer him. She’d never heard it before either. “I don’t know. I asked the Tree of Life to help, and that just came out.”

  London sat down beside her grandmother. “Me-Len, what scared you?”

  Whatever it was had frightened Me-Len so bad she was shaking all over as she hugged Meryl. She hiccupped as she tried to talk. “The book is open. She got the book open.”

  London
just sat and stared at her in disbelief. “No, she couldn’t have. We got to Carina before she did it.”

  “She found another innocent. How do we fight her now?” For the first time, Me-Len sounded defeated as she cried on her mate’s shoulder.

  “She may have that flipping book open, but don’t you ever let me hear you say those words again.”

  “London!” Ryder admonished.

  London grabbed Me-Len’s shoulder and jerked her around. “Do you hear me, Me-Len? Everyone is hanging on by a thread, and if they hear you say that they’ll give up. Don’t tell me there’s nothing we can do. We might not know what it is yet, but we will figure it out. The Tree of Life and the Sister Stone will give us something. So dry your eyes and get ready for the day. We will tell everyone what you saw, but don’t ever say that again.”

  Me-Len wiped her eyes and put her hand on London’s arm. “You make a great Alpha, sweet girl. Thank you for that.”

  London hugged her and whispered, “I have to know it’s going to be okay, Me-Len. I have to believe that. Especially coming from you, my rock.” Tears fell from her eyes, and she could feel Ryder’s hands on her shoulders, comforting her. They had to be okay.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Claudia walked around the witch as the woman stared straight ahead. “Such a beautiful young lady. I would hate for the dragon’s tail to mess up that pretty little face. I’ll let you live, witch, on one condition. And I never break my word.” Claudia looked the witch in the eyes. “Your magic doesn’t work on those like you and stronger. I may have a use for you later, but only if you’re a good little girl and open the book.”

  Claudia watched as the witch glanced over at the book sitting on the table in front of her. Then she closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, they were glowing.

  “What are you?” Jamal asked.

  When the witch looked at him, Claudia yelled, “Look away!”

  It wasn’t until Claudia moved in front of the witch that Jamal blinked and turned around. Gasping for air, he asked, “What is she? Something is different about her.”

  “She’s trying to bewitch you, lover. Stop staring at her eyes or you’ll find yourself under her spell and begging like a dog at her feet,” Claudia sneered. Turning around, she grabbed the witch by her hair and jerked her head back. “I want that book open, and I want it open now.” Claudia unbound the witch’s hands. “Now tell the book to open.”

  The witch’s hands shook as she rubbed her hands over the cover. Claudia watched her carefully and stood close enough to hit her if she tried anything funny.

  “I’m going to remove this, but remember I will kill you if you utter one spell.”

  Claudia ripped the tape off, and the young woman grabbed her mouth in pain. “Do it now. Now!” Claudia screamed.

  She watched as the woman smoothed her hands over the book and closed her eyes. “Open, Book of Thoth. Awaken from your sleep.” Claudia could hear the clasp of the book unlock and open. Before the witch could say anything else, Claudia slung her hand around and knocked the witch backwards. The motion bounced her skull against the floor, knocking her out.

  Claudia grabbed the book and hugged it to her chest. “You’re finally mine. All mine.”

  “And mine,” Jamal said.

  Claudia flinched as she spun around. “Ah, of course, my lover. Of course.” She had no intention of ever letting him have anything.

  “Now let’s see what’s in here.” Claudia turned a page and started reading. The spells and language were unknown to her, but she was able to sound out the words. When she finished the last word, smoke billowed out from the book, flowing like a snake between her legs and up her body.

  “What the hell is that?” Jamal hissed, backing up.

  “Power!” Claudia’s voice boomed.

  Nolan watched as London held Me-Len’s hand while the Order gathered around his table. Bast looked worried as he and the others eyed Me-Len.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Bast asked.

  Me-Len took in a deep breath. “Claudia found an innocent and unlocked the Book of Thoth.”

  Nolan like the others all stood in shocked silence at the words that would condemn them all.

  “Nothing changes. Like Me-Len said before, all that power isn’t meant for her, or any of us. It will eat her alive.” London said, standing up.

  “Mick, is there anything you can remember about the book that may help us?” Bast asked.

  Everyone looked over at Mick. “I would like to introduce everyone to High Master Privet. He has lived a lot longer than me and has more knowledge. Master.”

  The leader of the Vampire Council was sitting off in the corner. Nobody but Mick sat near him. They could feel his power even as he sat silently staring at the floor. When he finally glanced up, Nolan could see the power dancing behind his eyes. There were some people in the world with what they liked to call ‘Old Magic,’ and the High Master was one of those people.

  “A long time ago, when I was just a boy, my grandfather told me about Thoth, known as the God of Wisdom. He said that when Ra the Sun God retired from the earth, he would appoint Thoth to rule. He said that Thoth would keep a register of all the other Gods and mete out just punishment to them when they were bad. So you see, he was actually the Punisher of the Undead. During that time, he created a book that held all the spells he knew. Now, Thoth was a jealous God, so he never planned for anyone to get their hands on that book. He wrote the book with his own hand, and whoever should read it would become the most powerful magician in the world.” Nolan watched as the women in the group groaned, feeling defeated by what the High Master was saying.

  High Master Privet got up and walked over to Me-Len, placing his hand on her shoulder in comfort. “You see, people are so seduced by the thought of having that much power that they wouldn’t pay attention to the fact that anyone who read the book would bring nothing but pain and tragedy to the world. There is always a price to pay for having that much power. That’s why the Gods chose to leave earth and never interfere again with humans, and others like us. They got tired of the greed and the power struggles. But the Book of Thoth was stolen, and found by my people in a cave. The book was supposed to have been burned and destroyed, but the person we placed in charge of that was Locke, whom you all can see sold his soul for the power that would be promised to him. And as with everyone else who makes such a deal, that power would never be given. When a person gets that much power, greed takes over, and, well…you see what happens. There should never be one person who controls everyone.”

  “Are you saying that the book will turn on her?” Nolan asked.

  “I don’t know what will happen, but she won’t be able to sustain that kind of power inside of her. No one can. But I just don’t know what it will do to her. Spells dealing with demons are in that book. If she conjures those up, she will have to fight for control, because demons will want to take it. That’s why it’s meant for a God and not a shifter, vampire, or human. We have to stick together and fight her until it attacks her. Her followers have no power without her. Like London said, I believe the power will turn on her and destroy her.”

  “Thank you, High Master,” Bast said, standing up as the leader nodded and sat back down. “This is our last day together until this is over. Everyone should be in their places at midnight. The moon will be full, and we still don’t know what time they will come. Get some rest and food in you, then everyone needs to be in place. We can’t do anything about the book. We can only hope that it will kill her.”

  Nolan glanced around the room at all the people who’d come to help them. Johnny Ringo and his Beta, Andrew Greg, had flown in from the Las Vegas Pack and brought forty pack members. Lt. Ren Jones, who had been Knox and Ransom’s commander, brought both of the Seal teams with them. They all had been assigned to teams and briefed on what to do.

  If they didn’t win this, then all shifters and humans would be doomed. Nolan pulled Skylar close to him, sticking his nose in
her hair inhaling her scent. She was home to him, and he couldn’t allow her to feel how scared he was for her and all of them. He followed everyone outside as they hugged each other and they got into their cars.

  “Thank you for allowing me into your home,” High Master Privet said with a smile.

  “My pleasure.” Nolan shook the vampire’s hand.

  “Have you ever met him before?” Nolan asked Skylar.

  “Only once. He and my father were in a meeting together in our home. He was different, even then. Well-mannered but very reclusive. My father said he had magic as well as being a vampire; old magic that came from his grandfather. It was passed down from generation to generation.”

  “You think he knows more than what he’s saying?” Nolan asked.

  “Yes, but he’s holding it close to his vest.”

  Nolan pushed his mate’s hair behind her ear. “Do you trust him?”

  Skylar hesitated for a few moments, then answered, “Yes, I do. I think he’s trying to help us, but he’s doing it his way.”

  “Does he have a mate?” Nolan asked, curious about the mysterious vampire.

  “No, never heard of him having one.”

  “Let’s go. I want to talk with Xavier and Thea about tonight.” They were going to have company. Carina had informed Bast that she was going to stay with Thea while everyone was gone. When he asked if she’d had any visions about staying with Thea, she simply replied no, and he let it go. He knew something terrible was coming, and right now all he could think about was being with his family.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Thea sat at the table eating Fruit Loops. Comfort food was what she needed, but the cereal didn’t comfort her one bit. Everyone was in their rooms, resting until they had to leave, but she was too nervous to sleep. All she could think about was what was going to happen to the people she loved.