Fate's Embrace

by Tracey H. Kitts

  “You are here because of a blood covenant,” Aleric said.

  I wondered how long they had been talking because they seemed to be very deep in conversation.

  “With whom?” Michael asked.

  “With her.” Aleric pointed to where I stood in the doorway and smiled. When he beckoned me forward, I moved to stand at his side.

  “I already said there wasn’t any magic in Michael’s bloodline.”

  “Being a werewolf is sort of magical,” Percy said, winding his way up the table leg.

  “Try explaining that to a werewolf,” Michael drawled.

  Aleric laughed as he put his arm around me. “Somewhere in his family, someone made a blood covenant with your family. This binds you together as well. It’s the reason you are so drawn to each other.”

  I pulled back to look at him. “I thought you didn’t know why he was supposed to be a part of my life.”

  “I just figured it out. This afternoon before I completed the spell of warding, I decided to do a little divination.”

  Michael leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “And you saw this covenant?”

  “Yes.”

  I couldn’t pay much attention on an empty stomach, so while Aleric explained, I cooked steak and eggs. Michael seemed even more impressed with the fact that I kept red meat in my fridge. “It’s like you were expecting me,” he teased.

  “She was,” Aleric said.

  He was right. I prefer fish and chicken. However, the night before when Aleric and I were lying in bed talking, I’d mentioned wanting some steak. He must have picked it up while he was out all day, because I hadn’t bought steak on my last trip to the grocery store. I guess you could say we were both expecting Michael.

  I took Michael’s steak up first and handed him the plate. The steak was so rare that blood ran onto the edges of the dish. How did I know that’s what a werewolf would want? I’d read it in the database and hoped it was true. When he didn’t object, but thanked me and looked for a knife, I knew my grandmother’s research was correct. I also knew that the only reason a werewolf would use a knife or a fork was for the benefit of those around him.

  Michael pulled back from the utensil drawer like it had shocked him. “You actually use silver?”

  “Oh, sorry. Here, this one’s made in China.”

  He laughed as he accepted the knife and turned back to Aleric. “You were saying?”

  “Somewhere down the line, one of your ancestors took an oath to protect her family. The pact was sealed in blood. This covenant would have been re-activated when you had sex.”

  I knew that Aleric knew what was going on, but having him state so bluntly that he knew I was also sleeping with Michael made me choke on a bite of egg.

  While Michael patted me on the back, Aleric continued with a smile. “It is the very deepest level of covenant. Whether or not you knew it, you were always meant to be a part of each other’s lives.”

  “Our ancestors were exposed to each other’s blood? Wouldn’t that have turned my ancestor into a werewolf too?” I asked.

  Aleric shrugged. “Not necessarily. There are spells to prevent such a transformation, or their blood might have been combined in a cauldron and not with a handshake.”

  Before I could recover enough to make a comment Michael asked, “Were you really a statue?”

  “A naked one.” Aleric told his story from start to finish, filling in a few parts that even I hadn’t known. Like the fact that he was the leader of the coven, and a wizard of the highest order.

  “From what I sensed with the divination, your covenant was begun not long after I was turned to stone.”

  “How do you know?” Michael asked.

  “I could feel that it was very old. I don’t know how to explain it better than that. The agreement may have even been with the same ancestor who was part of my coven, the one who had a vision of you,” Aleric said, directing the last part to me.

  “Why would Gram leave something like this out of her database? She must have known.”

  “Not necessarily. People don’t always keep records of such things. Or she may have wanted you to figure it out for yourself.”

  “What was the name of the one who has apparently saved my life and my soul?”

  “I’m sorry,” Aleric said. “I thought I told you. Varic was his name.”

  That name rang a bell. “I’ve seen his name in the database. He was the most powerful wizard in our family history.” I paused for a moment, wondering what Varic must have been like. “What did he give up in order to perform the spell on you?”

  “He gave up his ability to see the future, even by means of someone else’s spellwork.”

  This moved me deeply, because I immediately understood what my ancestor had sacrificed. “So he could never know for sure if the measures you had taken would work.”

  Aleric nodded. “That’s right. It’s entirely possible that he entered into this agreement with the wolves for extra protection. Varic and I were close and I can tell you from experience it sounds like something he would do.”

  This was a lot to take in and it took me a minute to think of a way to word my next question. “If this covenant is what has been pulling me toward Michael, then what is pushing me away? There is obviously more than one kind of magic at work here.”

  Aleric took a bite of steak before he replied, “I think there is more than one sorcerer close by, but I’m not sure how to prove my suspicions.”

  “Good thing you’ve got me around,” Michael said. His comment lightened the mood and when I laughed he added, “You know, in case one gets past Aleric.”

  We finished our late supper and while Aleric did the dishes, I made us all a drink. Considering the subject matter, I felt like we could use one. Aleric and I had a glass of red wine, but Michael had a cola and rum.

  We ended up in Aleric’s room by the fire. This included Percy, so the setting wasn’t overly intimate, but definitely more cozy than I’d expected this soon. Given the way the two men had first reacted to each other I couldn’t seem to get over my shock at how well they were getting on now.

  The real reason Aleric wanted Percy to come along was because of his age. He was the closest thing to Aleric in magical knowledge. When asked directly he opened up and told the wizard he was one hundred and five years old.

  “You’re a hundred and five! How come you never told me?” I asked.

  “Because you never asked my age.”

  “How is that possible since your curse only lasts a hundred years?”

  He slid down the pillow and stretched out beside me at the foot of the bed. “I was twenty-five when I was cursed. I’ve served eighty years.”

  I noticed the way he made it sound like a prison sentence. Couldn’t say I blamed him.

  “I feel more like a snake than a human being these days. I’ve been a serpent over three times as long as I was a man.”

  I knew then why he never talked about it, because it hurt. I could feel it in his words. Percy was so full of shit and sarcasm I sometimes forgot he had feelings just like everyone else.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Don’t be. When my curse is over, I’ll go back to being twenty-five. That’s not so bad if I can keep from sticking my tongue out at people when I ssspeak.”

  Once again I almost asked why he was cursed. I even had my mouth open, but the words wouldn’t come. Now was not the time.

  Aleric was sitting in an armchair he had moved in front of the fireplace. Michael pulled up a straight-backed chair and sat facing the wizard. His clothes were probably dry by this time but I wasn’t going to tell him. If he wanted to keep wearing a towel, that was fine with me.

  “Have you talked to any strangers lately?” Aleric asked.

  Michael and I were both confused by the question. “Why?” he asked.

  “Answer the question first.” His expression was soft and thoughtful even though his comment seemed a bit stern. Aleric studied the other
man as he took a sip of wine. It was in that moment I understood he really was okay with me being with both of them. I know that’s what he’d said. But do you know how many men will say one thing and mean another? The realization made me a little dizzy.

  Michael sighed and stared into the fire. “Not more than a passing ‘hello’ to a few people in town. They weren’t total strangers, just people I don’t know well, but I’ve seen them around before. If you’re asking about someone totally out of place, then no, I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone like that.”

  “You’re certain?”

  “Absolutely. Why is it so important?”

  “Because someone is trying to steal Raina’s soul and I believe they’re using you to do it.”

  “What?!”

  Aleric explained his theory about a dark sorcerer. He’d left that part out of his story before. He’d told Michael he had a vision of me being in danger and needing his help. He even told him he knew from this vision that he would love me. He just neglected to mention someone wanting to steal my soul, until now. Couldn’t say I blamed him. But if we were in this together, Michael needed to know everything.

  “So that’s why you wanted to know if I’d talked to any strangers.”

  “Yes. I believe whoever is responsible for so many people forgetting what they felt for you is after Raina.”

  I scooted forward, hanging my feet off the side of the bed. “I still don’t understand what they want with me. Why am I so special?”

  I moved to stand by the fire and Aleric pulled me onto his lap. “Because of your ties to him,” he said, pointing at Michael. “Through your blood covenant you are directly linked to the wolf pack. That’s probably why Michael plans to challenge the leader for power, because the sorcerer wants him to.”

  Michael shook his head. “I’m not going to challenge Jack.”

  “You said you were going to challenge the leader,” I said. “You told me so in town when you said you wanted me as your mate.”

  “I did? Holy shit.” He turned to Aleric. “Is someone making me say these things? I have no intention of taking on Jack. It’s totally unnecessary.”

  It finally occurred to me what he’d said. “Jack? You mean Officer Jack? He’s the pack leader?” I couldn’t believe it. How had I not known that before?

  “Yes, he’s also about to be my uncle.”

  Ah ha! Things were finally starting to fit together! “That’s why your aunt wanted the love spell. I guess she had no trouble following the directions then.”

  Michael laughed and took a sip of his drink. “Daisy came to you for a love spell?”

  “Yeah, a few days ago. She didn’t say who it was for and I didn’t ask. I had no idea she was into Jack.” I paused and took a sip of Aleric’s wine because I’d left mine beside the bed and didn’t feel like getting up. While I did this the wizard ran his hand through my hair, winding one long, strawberry-blonde strand around his finger.

  “I also had no idea Jack was a werewolf. How is that possible? I can usually sense the difference.”

  Michael shrugged and the way his muscles flexed made me weak. Maybe he should put on clothes if we were going to discuss something serious. I was having a hard time concentrating.

  “Jack is powerful. He can cover up what he is if he needs to. So can I, I just choose not to hide. But in his line of work, it’s understandable. I suppose people wouldn’t feel that safe with a werewolf cop around.”

  “Actually, I feel safer just knowing it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  A few minutes later we’d finished our drinks, but the conversation was still about the wolf pack. I’d moved to the floor to sit on the rug between their chairs. Percy was stretched in front of the fire near my feet.

  “You’re already going to inherit the wolf pack?” Aleric asked. “When?”

  “Fairly soon. Jack wants to retire.”

  “I didn’t think werewolves retired,” I said.

  “They usually don’t, but Jack doesn’t want the hassle of leadership anymore. Since he doesn’t have any children and he and Daisy can’t start a family, I’ve been named his heir. Out of respect for my father and the fact that leadership has been our heritage for a long time, he chose me.” He paused and I wondered what he was thinking. Maybe Daisy was sensitive about not being able to have kids. Women who became werewolves were usually barren. That’s why a lot of wolves waited until after they had kids to turn their mate. “He did this even before he started dating my aunt. Now, what’s this crap about challenging Jack?”

  “That’s what you said to me in town,” I repeated.

  “When I told you I wanted you for my mate?”

  I nodded.

  “That part I remember, but I don’t remember saying anything about the pack at all.”

  “Because he didn’t want you to.”

  “Who?” Michael and I asked.

  “Whoever the hell is doing this.”

  Michael moved to stand in front of Aleric’s chair. The wizard gazed up at him, looking almost uninterested at the challenge in the werewolf’s eyes.

  “Can you stop him? Can you keep him out of my head? You have no idea how terrifying it is to know someone is controlling me like a fucking meat-puppet.”

  I cringed at his choice of words, even though the description was pretty accurate. I imagined it was about as scary as knowing someone intended to steal your soul.

  “You’d be surprised what I know,” Aleric said. “And yes, I think I can. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Think?”

  This time Aleric’s eyes flashed blue, glowing bright in the darkly lit room. “It requires a certain amount of evil to fight back the darkness, no matter what the story books say. Do you have what it takes to help with this, because when I find him, I won’t hesitate to kill him?”

  Michael growled and when I moved so that I could see his face, his eyes were glowing too. “I’ll tear him apart.”

  “Good. I think I know how to find him.”

  “You both seem so convinced that a man is behind this. Couldn’t it be a woman?” I asked.

  “I know it’s a man,” Aleric said. “I just have no idea what he looks like.”

  A short while later we had cleared back the furniture and were sitting inside a sacred circle in Aleric’s room. Michael sat in the middle. Aleric, Percy and I were around the edges. We had all stripped naked. Clothing sometimes inhibits the flow of energy and that was the last thing we needed. For once Percy didn’t make a crack about skyclad rituals. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice how gorgeous the two men looked. However, now wasn’t the time to focus on it.

  Aleric was speaking softly to Michael, putting him into a deep state of trance. The words he spoke sounded like Latin and once again I had to rely on how they felt to understand. The feeling behind Aleric’s words couldn’t be mistaken.

  “Now,” he said, dropping the Latin once the spell was cast. “I want you to go back to a time before. Do you know what I’m saying?”

  “Yes. Before.”

  I assumed he meant before this sorcerer had interfered in our lives. The unconscious mind is great when it comes to instinctively knowing things. Apparently, Michael had no trouble following along.

  “I’m in the diner, the one on the end of town. It’s breakfast. I’ve ordered bacon, eggs and coffee.”

  Aleric smiled and I could hear his thoughts in my mind. Leave it to a werewolf to focus on his stomach.

  Hearing his thoughts was a little bit startling, but not overly strange under the circumstances.

  “What else?” he asked.

  “Someone else is there.”

  “Were you meeting someone for breakfast?”

  “No. I’m alone. At least, I was alone. This guy is just suddenly there. No one notices him.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “He’s wearing black. Everything about him is…black.”

  “Do you mean he’s black?” Aleric asked. “Are we lookin
g for an African American?”

  Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. There’s this sort of darkness around him. I can’t see past it.”

  Aleric removed the glowing sapphire amulet from around his neck and held it near Michael. It flared even brighter.

  “Come back to us, Michael. He may be able to sense what we’re doing.”

  Michael snapped out of the trance looking startled. “What do you mean he can sense us? I thought that what we did broke the spell,” he said, gesturing between him and me.

  “I thought so too,” Aleric said. “But I was wrong. Look.” He pressed the amulet against Michael’s bare chest and its light went almost completely out. It was good to know Michael wasn’t evil. Then he put the charm back around his neck. I watched as it grew brighter once more and wondered what Aleric had come in contact with, thanks to the blood mage he’d mentioned, to make him as dark as he was. What knowledge did he possess in order to win this fight with the darkness?

  “Only part of the spell was broken. People who were affected will remember you as they knew you before when the spell is mentioned directly to them. But not before. He could feel what we were doing a minute ago. He was working through you. That’s why the amulet lit up.”

  “How do we stop this?” Michael asked.

  “I know of only one way.” Aleric paused for a minute as if thinking over what he was about to say. “We must finish breaking the spell.”

  “Well, if part of it was broken when, um, I ssshould probably leave,” Percy said.

  Aleric turned to him and spoke solemnly, “You have already given your energy to the work, and for that I thank you.”

  Percy took that as his cue to leave and without so much as a smartass remark, he slithered from the room. The instant he left the circle, something changed. I turned to Aleric, noticing for the first time the way his body glistened in the candlelight. The fine sheen of sweat highlighted his every gorgeous curve.

  When Percy was in the room, it was different. Without his energy close by, I was very aware of the fact that I was a woman, alone with two naked men.