by Maggie Ryan
Cynthia looked to me, an eager ‘did you see that’ grin spreading across her face. The half-formed grin dropped from her face, her blue eyes widening in fear. Her gaze rose over my head, staring terrified behind me. A shaking hand lifted to point as she called, “Watch out!”
Before I could respond, I was blinded by pain, my world turning black. My stomach roiled at the sound of the tearing of the tendons of my right shoulder.
Aware that Dolly and Cynthia were engaged in their own fight, I attempted to gather myself, praying for my sight to clear. Panting, I limped to face my opponents. There were two officers floating before me, one with the blood of my body dripping from the reaper’s hook he held. A snarl rose from my gut, the fur lining my spine rising to meet the moon.
The injury stopped me from moving my right front paw forward. I could take on one demon; I could not take two. Shock clouded my mind. Would this be the end of my reign as Alpha? Were these the moments before I took my last breaths on this Earth?
An ear-piercing howl filled the air. It was not that of a wolf. Steadying my gaze in the direction it had come from, my vision fuzzy, I made out the outline of my warrior wife. Cassandra was by my side.
Dressed head to toe in black, the violet haze of her aura surrounded her, its brightness reflecting off the handles of the iridescent blades that glittered in the sash across her chest. The features of her face were aligned in a savage fury. The craving of vengeance flashed in her emerald eyes.
Where was Draco? I was losing blood quickly and becoming woozy. Perhaps the Cassandra I saw was a hallucination. Her voice rang clearly in the moonlit night, strong and sure. Not a vision then—no, she was very real. A deadly beauty.
“Take the one on the left,” she called, an edge of steel in her voice. Pulling a dagger from her bandolier and holding it out in her clenched fist, she narrowed her eyes, preparing for the kill. Arm raised and bent at a ninety-degree angle, she leapt toward her opponent. As she brought her arm down, aiming for the heart, the officer wrapped his hand around her outstretched arm. Despair trembled through me. It was now down to hand-to-hand combat, Cassandra’s greatest weakness in training. Where was Draco?
I could watch no longer; the hook was tearing toward me. Dodging the point of the weapon, I howled in pain as I put weight on my injured side. The demon, anticipating my weakness, came again, at my good side. I wanted to shift my weight, but I was unable to do so. I had to retreat. Limping backwards, I kept my eyes on my attacker.
From the corner of my eye, I could see that, though holding her ground, it was taking all of Cassandra’s energy to keep the fight evenly matched. Having twisted out of his grasp again, she tried to move back far enough to allow her to throw her blade, but the demon grabbed her, pulling her close to block her move.
I continued to slink backwards, weighing my options. The red eyes of the demon burned brightly as he continued forward, the silver of the hook glinting in the moonlight. Suddenly, my back haunches jolted as they bumped against a tree. Unable to move forward or continue my retreat, I was trapped.
There was nothing I could do. My eyes shot to my wife. My despair lifted, hope filling my chest as my wife filled with a strength she hadn’t known she possessed. Pressed chest to chest with the demon, his fingers wrapped tightly around her left wrist holding a dagger, I gazed in wonderment as she discreetly slipped the last dagger from the bottom of her bandolier with her right hand. Eyes locked on the demon’s burning red ones, she thrust the dagger into his lower abdomen, then shoved it up into his core with such a ferocity, I cringed. The demon arched in shock, screamed and fell as Cassandra shoved him away, her look one of triumph.
The demon with the scythe had momentarily been distracted, as had I, by the violet-hazed warrior princess. Her battle ended, my enemy turned his fury back to me. Even in the face of my death, a sense of peace flowed through me. Though I knew that my wife would mourn my passing, she would not be alone. While I had accepted the fact that Draco was my second, had never been more grateful to know that he truly loved our mate… would be there for her when I couldn’t be, when I heard her scream my name, I knew I was not yet ready to leave her. My only choice was to lunge, timing my move to miss the impending hook. The chances were slim that I could pull off such a feat. The only alternative was death.
Gathering my energy to attempt the move I feared I’d not be able to complete, I sensed a presence by my side. My nose twitched in the air, detecting the scent of a human male. Andrew. My heart sank and soared that he had come to my rescue. Could it have been anyone other than the pup I had chastised for lunching with my wife, then ridiculed in the courtyard with my overeager sparring? Would he come to my aid, or watch as I was hacked to bits?
Unable to take my eyes from my opponent lest he make an abrupt move, I stood, waiting.
A branch waved in front of me, threatening the demon. Inwardly, I groaned. Not the fucking branch again.
The demon had a look of amusement mixed with disgust on his face. I couldn’t blame him. It had been a novice move—defending against a razor-sharp scythe with a stick of wood.
“Here, here,” Andrew called, stepping in front of me, waving his ridiculous weapon.
The officer slashed at the wood with his blade.
We had misjudged Andrew—the pup had a plan. He was using the branch as a ruse, anticipating the officer’s move. As the demon brought the hook downwards, Andrew quickly threw the branch to the side. Though the target was gone, momentum kept the weapon on its trajectory, the force causing the blade to bury itself into the soft earth.
The demon’s face crumpled in frustration. The moment of confusion Andrew had created with his trick was brief, but proved long enough for Andrew to finish out his plan. The young man came in with a roundhouse kick, much like the one I had used on him in the courtyard. Andrew’s booted foot struck the jaw of the bewildered demon. A loud crack could be heard echoing through the night.
Taking two limping steps toward the fallen officer, I sank my teeth into his neck, tearing through the flesh and the tendons. Finished, I turned away from the bloodied body.
No longer able to stand, I lay in place. My sight was leaving me, the pain blinding me again. With tired motions, I attempted to use my teeth to free my belt, but gave a yip of pain at the stretch required.
“Let me,” Andrew said quietly, his fingers working my buckle to unclasp it. My eyes closed as the familiar red cloud surrounded me.
When I came to and the smoke had cleared, I saw Andrew kneeling by my side. His golden hair was in a disarray, there was a streak of blood on his face: his or mine, I wasn’t sure.
“You okay, dog?” he asked, a youthful grin on his face, his blue eyes gleaming from the thrill of the fight.
“Been better,” I said, holding in a groan as I leaned up onto my elbow.
“That was awesome seeing you rip into his neck like that. I’ve never seen an animal fight before. It was fascinating,” he said excitedly.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I said.
A gleam of pride flashed in Andrew’s eyes.
“Thank you, by the way,” I muttered. “Beautiful move.”
“I learned it from you, in the courtyard. So, technically you saved your own life,” he said generously.
“I owe you my life,” I said. “You could have watched me die.” I looked over his earnest face, his bright blue eyes. “You did not hesitate.”
“How could I hurt Cassandra like that? Hmm? She is my friend. Even with her guardian, she’d be lost without you.”
His words told me that all knew about the bond that connected the three of us and I was fine with that. There should be no secrets among a pack. “You have my eternal gratitude.” I gave him a nod and the look that passed between us, though brief, communicated the tie that now bound us.
Giving a gentle smile, Andrew rose from my side as a cry reached us both.
Through a haze of pain, I saw Cassandra. Unharmed, not a spot of blood on her, my wife ran towa
rd me, panic on her face to see me lying on the ground.
Draco trotted beside her until she was kneeling by my side. Cassandra stroked my hair. “Deo, you’re hurt,” she breathed. Her beautiful face was smudged with dirt, her hair mussed, hanging loosely around her face. Her green eyes stared warmly into mine.
“Not as hurt as I should be. Your friend Andrew,” I spoke, my voice raspy, addressing him by his name for the first time, “he saved my life. The damn kid.” I chuckled.
Throwing a grateful look to Andrew, Cassandra focused her attention back to me.
Our eyes locked. “Cassandra, you were amazing. So… fearless.” Ignoring my compliment, her thoughts only of my injury, her worried eyes gazed down at me. Looking up to the dragon, she said, “Draco, we need to get Deo to the hospital.”
Draco had just finished shifting from wolf to man. Shaking his head, he laid his hand on her shoulder. “We just need to get him to Margaret.”
Kneeling beside Cassandra, Artem inspected my wound. “I thought I taught you how to duck and weave better than that,” he said, his words teasing, yet his eyes portraying his thankfulness that I was alive. But what truly touched me was the fact that he turned to Cassandra and said, “Take a lesson from your mate, not a scratch on her.” Cassandra’s smile broadened when he reached out to touch her arm and added, “I couldn’t be prouder of you, child. You took on that demon to protect your mate without giving a single thought to your own safety. Ready to sacrifice yourself for the ones you love—that is the way of the pack.”
“Thank you,” she said softly, allowing him to help her to stand as Alekos took her place, kneeling beside me. A low whistle left my brother’s lips. “Deo, Auntie Maggie is going to be pissed at you. Blood in her kitchen.”
Draco squatted beside me. “Let me carry you, Deo.”
“Yes, let us carry our king to the witch,” Baal joked as he moved to the other side of me, preparing to help lift me. “If the demons didn’t kill him, Margaret might. You know how she hates anyone but Alekos in her kitchen.”
“Stand back, Cassie,” Draco commanded softly.
Throwing an unsure look my way, Cassandra took a hesitant step backwards, but both Dolly and Cynthia were there to support her. Artem wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
“I have him, Baal,” Draco grunted as he heaved my weight from the ground. Clenching my teeth, I tightened my jaw, groaning, trying to keep from crying out in pain as he lifted me.
“Where were you, Draco? You were not by Cassandra’s side. Our mate took on a demon all by herself,” I hissed between my teeth, my eyes squeezing shut. With every step Draco took, a searing pain ripped through my shoulder.
The dragon had the nerve to give a chuckle. “And how did she fare, Deo?”
“Well. Too well,” I admitted. “But that is not the point. You should have been by her side. Where were you?”
“I was close by, I promise. I had the opportunity to take two down at once, and I took it. You know why?”
“Because you wanted to show off?” I jested.
His shoulders rose with another chuckle. I had to stop amusing him; each laugh was causing me more pain. “No. Because she can fight, Deo. I knew she could win in hand-to-hand combat, but Cassandra did not. She could only discover her strength when tested. She was protecting her mate. It was her battle to win. Not mine.”
“Deo?” my wife’s voice called out from over Draco’s shoulder.
My last vision before blackness descended was the troubled tears in Cassandra’s worried eyes.
* * *
I woke to a string of Greek curse words, a rough hand slapping my cheek. “Wake up, boy. You aren’t going to lie here worrying your mate half to death and bleeding out over my table and not hear what I have to say about it.” Margaret’s words were finished off by another long string of curses.
Opening my eyes, I saw Cassandra standing within Draco’s embrace, the two smiling as I regained consciousness. “Welcome back,” Draco said, giving me a huge grin. I was lying on my stomach, head resting on my hands. The table, a family heirloom she kept in the breakfast nook of the kitchen—where she liked to smoke her cigars—had been turned into an operating table. Margaret hovered over me, the electricity from her fingertips tugging at my shredded skin.
“Deo, Aunt Margaret is… it’s like magic!” Cassandra said, eyes huge as Margaret muttered something beneath her breath about ‘the princess being easily impressed’, as she busily moved around me, stitching my wound with only the zigzagging motion of the tip of her finger. Sliding back and forth over my wound, her magic quickly closed the gash, healing the wound.
I chuckled at the sight of the tiny old woman working busily, her brows creased.
“Shut up, you,” she muttered, throwing me a quick glance. The love she felt for me was revealed in that single look. Margaret’s tense shoulders had visibly relaxed when she heard my laugh.
Draco released Cassandra who came to my good side, bending down and taking my face in her hands. “I was so worried. We all were.”
“I’m here, babygirl. I’m here,” I said, wincing a bit. The healing might be magical, but damn, it burned.
“Cassie, come,” Draco said, gently pulling her away, tucking her into his side. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he said, “Rest, Deo. Our mate is safe.”
I smiled, knowing she was, that though Cassandra had yet to formally speak her acceptance, the bond between the three of us had been formed. I lay my head back, closing my eyes, feeling the tingling sensation of Margaret’s work washing over me and did exactly as my second suggested.
Epilogue
Deo
“It’s nice to be home.” Cassandra gave a satisfied sigh. Wearing her favorite sweatshirt from her law school days, she relaxed against our midnight blue velvet sofa, obviously happy to be back in our home.
Gazing over at my contented wife, regret tugged at me. I had hoped to have more time before I had to tell her—a few hours, maybe an evening? It was naive of me, knowing how quickly my mate’s mind worked, never resting. It was time to reveal more sordid details of our strange family.
I looked around at the empty Chinese takeout containers and half full bottle of Dom Perignon that sat on the glass top of our coffee table. “It is,” I agreed, but knew my next words would interrupt our restful evening. “We must enjoy it while we can. Until we discover if there is a way to break the curse, I’m afraid our battles have just begun.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that,” she said with a sigh, moving to sit up, giving me her full attention. “I know you said your family has been trying for years to find the answer. What makes you even think we have a chance?”
“All we can do is continue to research, to try to find the answer. My family has kept records over time. Baal and I have been reviewing them. Though the curse never ends, the attacks seem to diminish over time. The longest period after a vow was broken that we were vulnerable was a decade. And through our research, we are certain we have some time now. They take time to regroup, reform, gathering as they go. There may be weeks, months even, before they return.”
“What triggers the next arrival?”
“We have yet to find the answer. There is no rhyme or reason to the timing of the attacks and every era is different. We have made just a small dent in our research but enough to reassure us we could leave the castle for at least a month. But there are still eons of accounts to review.”
“All over words I didn’t even mean.” Her forlorn voice was tiny.
“I don’t think the significance of the breach was the catalyst,” I said softly, reaching out to stroke her hair. “I think it was more to do with the magnitude of the vow.”
Her worried eyes turned to meet mine. Guilt furrowed her brow.
“Still, this is all because of me,” she said, throwing her lovely face into her hands in despair.
My hand continued to caress her in an attempt to comfort. “No, baby, it’s not. If you had married i
nto a normal family… Hell, if you’d married a human…” The word choked me as my own sense of responsibility lay on my shoulders.
Cassandra sat up quickly, her eyes whipping up to meet my gaze.
“Don’t you ever let me hear you say that, Deo Ambrosia. You are more human and a better man than most of the male population, powers or not. Wolf or not. I would choose you again and again.” She spoke with passion, her words adamant.
“But would you choose this life for yourself?” I asked quietly, tucking an auburn tendril behind her ear.
Momentarily lost in thought, Cassandra’s gaze traveled to the fire burning in our hearth. “It’s strange,” she mused. “Most say I was born for the courtroom. But the past few weeks, I’ve never felt more like myself.” A light came into her eyes as she turned to me and said, “During the battle, when my blade hit the demon, I could feel that feeling you talked about—you know when my mind synched with my body?”
“When your body and mind become one,” I answered.
It was how my wife felt when she quieted her mind, allowing her instincts to control her moves. I felt the same when I transformed into my spirit animal. Later, Draco had given me a full account of Cassandra’s every move during the battle. Draco told me the purple haze had surrounded her for almost the entire duration of our fight. I had no doubt my wife had experienced a prolonged stay in this state.
“It was euphoric. You know me, my mind never stops whirring.” Cassandra fell silent for a moment. Slowly she looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine. “I think I was made for this life,” she whispered. “I was made for you, for Draco… for our family, our pack. It’s the most important vow you can make, isn’t it?” she mused. “Promising your life to another?”
