by Bryce Evans
“How many losses?” Brody asked.
“Don’t know yet.” That was the only word they heard before Sage gasped, flinging her hands up.
“Don’t even think about it, unless you want to see your friends here die, including the baby.” Locke walked out of the clearing with some men carrying Thea. Carina was following with something in her arms.
“Thea!” Nolan held Skylar back before she could run to her friend. They froze as the baby in Carina’s arms cried out, wanting its mother. Thea lay motionless on the ground where they dropped her.
Carina walked forward and stood beside Thea’s body. “She’s still alive,” Nolan whispered.
“But where is Xavier?” That’s when Skylar dropped to her knees. She was filled with so much adrenaline that she hadn’t felt the break of the mating bond from one of her people. Xavier was dead; she couldn’t feel his link inside of her anymore. Ransom walked over and stood behind her. Nolan nodded as Ransom wrapped his arms around Skylar. Dag and Cry all kneeled down beside their Alpha and put their hands on her for support.
“What do you want, Locke?” Judd demanded.
“It’s not what he wants, it’s what I want.” Locke looked shocked when Claudia and her coven walked out from the trees. He had to look again when he saw that some way, somehow, she had freed Metilda from the prison. Jackson’s eyes sparked as he watched the smiling witch walk out from behind her mother.
Nolan had to look up, because Claudia was actually floating a foot off the ground. She was horrific-looking; her face had altered into something that he couldn’t even describe. Something slithered around her, as if it was attached to her in some way. She held the book in her hands and smiled across at them.
“What the hell is that?” Ryder whispered.
“Demons,” Me-Len answered quietly.
“I’m glad to see you’re all still alive. It looks like I’ll need some new friends, since you killed all of mine. Not that I needed any of them.”
Locke had the good sense to know when to back away from the witch. Evil had been released, and now it was part of Claudia.
Bast and his men had moved over and pulled Carina and the baby behind him. Thea still lay on the ground, unconscious, as the witch continued smiling.
“I have the book, and I have all the power, Elf.” Claudia’s voice boomed over the meadow. The shifters and vampires who had helped them came out of the woods like they had no choice to come out from their hiding places. They could feel the intense pressure pushing them down. “Yes, yes—come out and kneel down to your new queen.”
Nolan could feel the tingling around his neck. The medallion was growing hotter. He tried pulling it away from his skin, but it wouldn’t move.
Holding the baby in her arms, Carina cried out, “Only pieces of the Stone with a new heart can bring the sleeper awake.”
Ryder and the others all turned around and stared at Carina and the baby that she held close to her chest.
“That’s it. She’s talking about Thoth.” Me-Len moved through the crowd and put her hand on Carina and the baby. Nolan lifted Skylar up, and they both laid their hands on Sin as well. The rest of the Order followed their example.
“Kneel before me, or else!” Claudia screamed. “You will all be my stepping stones so your people can see who is really the queen. I want your power, Elf King. I want all of it. Or else.” Claudia was so busy giving out orders that she didn’t see that the Order had grouped together, all linking themselves with each other and with the baby.
“Wake up, Thoth, and take back what is yours.” They all turned as a woman walked out of the woods. Her eyes blazed as she stalked toward them. “Wake up, Thoth. The beating heart of the innocent has called you forth.”
Claudia screamed out, pointing at the woman. “You have no power here, witch!” The crowd parted as the witch with the long black hair stalked toward them.
“The innocent,” Me-Len mumbled.
It wasn’t until the woman put her hand on the baby that they all got it. She was bringing forth Thoth.
“Wake up, Thoth, and avenge your blood.”
The coming dawn was now blocked as a storm brewed in the sky. Clouds covered the sun, and the ground shook and started to split open. Screams could be heard as the shifters, vampires, and hybrids all ran and sheltered behind the Order. Something big was about to happen, and they knew what side they were all on.
“Hold on tight!” The woman yelled out over the wind. Nolan wanted to grab his mate and run, but they all held on to each other and the baby. Up from the ground came a light that blasted through the earth in front of Claudia.
“Who dares read from my book?” The voice was so loud that they had no choice but to release their hands and cover their ears.
Thoth rose from the ground. His body glowed so brightly that they could barely look at him. Stunned, they all kneeled as the God Thoth looked around.
“Who wakes me from my sleep?” Claudia feverishly opened the book and started chanting a spell, but nothing happened. “Who?” Thoth bellowed.
“It is me, Thoth. Your blood runs through me.”
“What is your name witch?”
“They call me Areli.”
“Why have you summoned me?”
Areli pointed at Claudia. “The witch has your book, and is using your spells.” Thoth turned. His eyes bored into Claudia as she continued to frantically flip pages and stammer out spells, still with no result.
“Mine.” His voice was that of the brewing storm as the Book of Thoth flew out of Claudia’s hands and into his.
“No!” Claudia screamed out. The sickening sound of her screams silenced everyone in the meadow as the black smoke that had slithered around her body, protecting her, now began to attack her.
Nolan and the others all watched as the serpent’s smoke lashed out with its tail, hitting Claudia’s skin and breaking it open. Whatever it was now, it was ruthless, making ribbons of her skin. The cracking of her bones echoed as she howled in pain.
Thoth pointed at Claudia. “Be gone, serpents, and take with you the witch who brought you up.”
Alone now, Claudia reached out for her daughter, gasping for help. Nobody was going to help her now. The magic was killing her. Thoth watched her as she slowly disappeared into the ground, along with the demons she had brought forth from Hell.
Nolan couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed. This was beyond any magic he had ever seen. This was why nobody should ever have the book.
Everyone sank to the ground when the God turned and stomped toward them. Before Thoth got to Areli, the High Master pulled her toward him, shielding her from the God.
“Release her, vampire.” The High Master’s hands opened without his consent, and Areli’s body moved forward. Thoth didn’t say a word; he simply placed his hand on top of her head, then disappeared.
Areli fell forward, but High Master Privet caught her before she hit the ground. They all looked around and realized that Claudia and Thoth were both gone. All that was left was Claudia’s coven, Locke and his guards, and Metilda.
Me-Len grabbed ahold of London and Sage. They both stood up and started chanting. The Tree of Life and the Sister Stone both glowed brightly as their magic swarmed the coven members. They looked so confused as they collapsed, knocked out by the spell.
Now all that stood was Locke and one guard. This was the end, and Judd had waited patiently for the right time to get the retribution he deserved. The shifters and vampires all moved forward and formed a circle, and Judd and Maggie walked to the center of it. “I knew that this day would come. That I would stand before you and finally avenge my mother.”
“I’m a master of the Vampire Council. You can’t do this. Only they can carry out my punishment.”
Judd just smiled. “You’re on shifter land, and you betrayed your own people. You gave the Book of Thoth to the dragon king. I doubt they will care, but just so nobody can say I was unfair, I will ask.” Judd held up his hands toward the va
mpires, including the High Master and Mick. “Who will come forward and ask for this traitor’s life to be spared?” The meadow was silent. Not even a bird or cricket could be heard. “Is there anybody who believes that this vampire should be turned over to the Council?”
When nobody spoke up for Locke, Judd turned back around with a smile on his face. He could scent the vampire’s fear as he circled around him.
“Hank,” Locke said, worried.
The vampire came forward and joined Locke.
“Doesn’t look like a fair fight to me.” Maggie said, stepping up next to her mate.
“You think you can beat me, woman?” Hank crowed.
“I don’t think, I know,” Maggie said. Judd watched as his mate teased the big vampire. He had no doubt she would kill him fast, knowing Judd wouldn’t be able to concentrate if she was fighting.
Maggie had taught him a lot about fighting as a vampire. The most important skill he’d learned was knowing when your opponent was going to strike. Hank might be strong, but his tells were showing. As he ran at his Maggie, Judd could already see what she was going to do. Jumping over him, she grabbed his head. Using her momentum, she dug her claws into Hank’s neck and pulled until his head ripped off. Maggie slung his head down on the ground in front of Locke, who was now shaking like a leaf.
“I want you to feel what my mother felt as she sacrificed herself for the life of her son. I want you to feel the pain as you ripped out her neck.” Judd moved so fast that Locke never had the chance to blink before Judd was behind him, claws digging into his neck. “Do you remember this?” Judd whispered, and ripped his throat out. Judd held the vampire, who was still alive as blood gushed out of his throat. Finally, Judd pushed his claws into Locke’s back and jerked until his spine was ripped out.
Yes, it was horrific and grossly inhumane, but they were shifters, and when a life was taken from them this was what you got.
Maggie rushed toward her mate and hugged him to her. She held on tight until he exhaled all the memories of the past, washing them away so Judd could finally rest.
Metilda lay on the ground, staring at where her mother once stood. Nothing was left of Claudia that could help her. Jackson stood beside her and helped her up, and then two men took her away, back to prison. Forever, this time—nobody would come and get her again.
Nolan held Skylar as Baby Sin babbled, getting everyone’s attention. “Thea!” Skylar rushed over and felt for a pulse. “Thank God.”
“I had no choice but to put her out. She couldn’t take it when she saw Xavier was dead.” Carina handed the baby to Skylar. “Baby Sin is okay. I made sure nothing would touch him. Thoth told me that he was special, and to watch over him.”
“Are you hurt, Carina?” Bast asked, kneeling down in front of her and checking her arms and face.
“No, but I’m ready to go home.”
Bast lowered his head and smiled. “Okay, let’s get you home.” He motioned to one of his guards and whispered something in his ear. “Carina, go with Seth. He’ll watch over you until we get there.” Carina grabbed Seth’s hand and walked back through the woods.
Nolan shielded his eyes as the sun rose high in the sky. Fall was already here, so the weather was cool as they checked each and every person who lay in the meadow. As he made his way back over to the others, Ryder spoke up first. “I know that this isn’t probably the right time to say this, but I just about shit my pants when I saw you change into a dragon but you still had your big tiger head.”
Nolan smiled. He knew he would never hear the end of this.
“I thought you looked great, and I was sure happy to see you when you did,” Sage said with a smile.
“We were getting our asses kicked until they all heard that roar. Then their eyes about fell out of their heads when they saw that big dragon-tiger coming after them. Hell, I almost ran too.” Kayden kept the teasing going.
“Okay guys, I get it. You can stop,” Nolan said, hugging Skylar.
“Nolan, thank you. If you hadn’t come when you did, I don’t know if all of us would still be standing here,” Me-Len told him. They all nodded, and patted him on the back as they walked off. His mate stood staring off in the woods.
“Thea will need us when she wakes up,” Nolan whispered.
Skylar nodded. “It still hurts.”
“I know, but we will be with Thea and Sin to get them through this.” Nolan backed up and shifted into his dragon, and stared at his mate.
“You have the face of your tiger, but the body of your dragon. If I hadn’t known you before, I wouldn’t have known what to think when I saw you coming. I knew then that we would defeat Jamal.”
“Do you feel any remorse for him?”
Shaking her head, Skylar said, “No. Only regret for what he could have been, but that wasn’t to be.”
Nolan cradled his mate in his claws and jumped into the air.
Chapter Twenty
Nolan and the Order had gathered around the table for the last time. All the bodies had been accounted for. The Order had lost seventy-two people, including Xavier. Carina had released Thea from her sleep, only to have her wake up screaming. Ransom was there to take the pain away so she could grieve for her mate. They would all be there, to help her go on with her life and help raise the special one named Sin, who had been blessed by Thoth.
“I bring this meeting to order, hopefully for the last time. We lost a lot of good people, and their names will be remembered. A wall will be built in the square with all the fallen’s names carved in stone.
“I understand there will be a lot of changes here in Alpha City. Brody has informed me that the Alpha Council has voted to allow Mick and the High Master to bring their clans to some land beside the city. I think that is a wise idea. Surrounding your borders with friends is a wise choice: the Vampires to the south and the Toland clan to the north.”
Bast stood up and nodded to Areli. “I think I speak for all of us here in saying that we can’t thank you enough for coming when you did and helping us out. The Order understands that when Locke kidnapped you, all of your guards were killed. I have already been contacted by your people, the Light of the Day. They want you to return, but the Alphas have all agreed that they would like for you to stay here in the city. They would provide you with some of their personal guards for your safety. That is, if you want to stay.”
The all watched as the witch lowered the hood on her robe and looked up at the King of Elves. “I think I would like that very much.”
They could all see that the High Master couldn’t take his eyes off the witch. Nobody knew much about her, but they knew she came to help them all. That was good enough until they could find out more.
Bast bowed his head for a few seconds. They could all see something was bothering him. He glanced over at Carina with troubled eyes. “Toady will be my last day here until it’s time for me to come back.” Carina looked away, the hurt evident on her face. “My mate needs to grow up, and she can’t do that with me here. The portal will be closed until that time, but I’m always here with you all in spirit.” Bast covered his heart.
“Until then, the Order shall be put to rest. All in favor, say ‘aye.’”
“Aye,” was echoed throughout the room. Nolan watched as everyone hugged Bast, then got up to leave. They had a lot to do, with building new homes that had been burned and burying their dead. A ceremony would occur tomorrow for everyone to bury their loved ones together.
Nolan watched as Bast kneeled down in front of Carina, who wouldn’t look at him. Her hands were crossed as she stared into the woods. He could tell it was killing Bast to leave, but Carina needed to grow up like a normal kid until she was of age. Carina shifted into her panther and ran off into the woods. Her older brother Titan was nearby, and shifted to go after her. Kayden and Zoey spoke to Bast before he disappeared into the woods.
A cry pierced the house, and Nolan smiled. Sin had woken from his nap and was hungry. “Where are you going?” Skylar aske
d with a smile.
“To feed my buddy.” The kid needs to know who his Alpha is, Nolan thought as he kissed his mate on the cheek and headed toward the nursery.
“Just remember, you’re not the only Alpha in this house, big kitty!” Skylar yelled out. She leaned against the door as her new friends waved good-bye. Everything would change now. Thea would grieve and raise her son, but she wouldn’t do it alone. Sin would have wolves, cubs, panthers, jaguars, and a big kitty to help him go through life. She remembered what her father always told her when she was down and out. ‘Nothing stays the same, but time heals all wounds.’
The End
Stay tuned for more stories in the Alpha City Series
Also by Bryce Evans
The Ashland Pack
The Trinity
Big Bad Alpha
The Love of a Shifter
Once Forgotten: Twice Loved
Healing Their Mate
Destiny of Three
Destiny of Blood
Alpha City
Obsessions
Cravings
Choices
Seductions
Temptations
Royal Guard
Guarded Hearts
Dixon Pack
Bewitched by the Alpha
Beta’s Delight
Keep up with all of Bryce Evan’s new releases via her website:
http://www.bryceevansauthor.com
About the Author
Bryce Evans is a mother, wife, and author who loves to escape to the world she has built in the Ashland Pack and other stories. She burst onto the publishing scene with a hit in The Trinity. As an active police officer, Bryce needed another outlet from the pains of others. Writing filled that void.
