“When did you notice things had changed?” Mason asked cautiously. His care for me touched my heart. Even though he wanted to know the whole story, complete with all its gory details, he was still mindful of my feelings.
“The second I woke up from sleeping after Helena’s spell. The pressure was gone and Amber was there, gloating about how I’d been so easy to take over and all the kinds of fun she would have now that she was me. I must’ve tried everything I could think of to kick her out, but nothing. No amount of yelling or pushing budged her. I thought my wolf would be able to take control and alert you all to what had happened, but Helena had done something to her, as well. We were both trapped, helpless to do anything but scream.”
“That explains why you didn’t shift and kept hedging about it when I confronted you about it.” Understanding filled Mason’s voice. He could now see it wasn’t because I wouldn’t shift, but because I couldn’t.
“I don’t know what kind of magic Helena performed, but Amber bragged about how I’d been prepared ever since the failed tattoo incident in Salem. The Celtic knot and spell was never meant to bind my magic. Sure the design afforded protection, but the ink was created to open up my body to be possessed. Once it was complete, it was only a matter of time before something would happen to bring about my death. Destroying Julian, and it backfiring on my witch nature, gave Amber the chance she’d been waiting for.”
“So the whole plot was organized so she could become you and through you, get to Mason?” It was Devlin who asked now. Zane continued listening, an intrigued expression on his face as he quietly accepted everything I’d shared.
“No, I thought that at first, too, but she later bragged about how this was just temporary for her and that being with Mason was her reward once her task was done. She never stopped reminding me about how smart she was. That she’d managed to hook up with someone with power who could give her what she wanted. She’d never met the Master, but Helena had. It was the witch who originally approached Amber and made her the offer.”
Pausing to take a break, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to discuss. Even though I remembered the horror of realizing I’d become a prisoner in my body, it was as if I was now looking at it from afar—describing someone else’s life.
“You mentioned the Master . . . do you have any idea who he is?” Devlin leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees as he waited for my answer.
“He’s someone very powerful and even though Amber hadn’t met him, she was scared of him. Helena constantly talked about how patient he was and that his day of glory was fast approaching. Apparently he’d waited a very long time for his plans to come into fruition, adjusting them slightly whenever they derailed from his goals. Amber told me I should be grateful I was going to die because the things he was orchestrating would release a darkness so overwhelming that the world would never fully recover. From the way she whispered his name, almost reverently, I began seeing him as some kind of god. When she began killing for him, I knew if it was the last thing I ever did, I had to warn you all. Unfortunately, the magic silencing me, keeping me bound, was too strong. All I could do was watch and pray she’d slip up.”
“We almost lost you,” Mason murmured.
“I wouldn’t have lasted another day. The body isn’t equipped to handle two human spirits. Unless there was some type of intervention, the one not in control would simply fade away into the afterlife. Toward the end, I could hear voices beckoning me to let go. I couldn’t, though, Mason. I couldn’t let go until I knew you were safe.” I needed him to know that. That I hadn’t given up, that I’d continued to hold on as tightly as I could, despite the lure of death.
He went to say something, but I shook my head. Unable to look at the anguish in his eyes, I turned to Zane, choosing to focus on him, instead.
“All those attacks and deaths you discussed in that meeting? Amber and Helena were responsible for them. Amber used my body to rip them apart, feeding her thirst for blood and cruelty with each ritual they performed. Helena is powerful, Zane. Don’t think for one second she can be reformed or saved. Her heart is as black as her magic. It was a shock when she revealed how deeply her depravity ran and how much she enjoyed each spell she cast. She was nothing like the friend Vivien introduced her as. All I can say is she’s an amazing actress because she fooled us all.”
“I know the news of the betrayal has rocked Vivien to the core. She was the one who vouched for the Salem witch and brought her here. When I spoke with her this morning, she was devastated.”
“She couldn’t have known, I promise you. Helena was perfect in her performance. If I hadn’t witnessed her ability to switch between the two different personalities, I wouldn’t have believed it. But once I did, it chilled me. Helena has no qualms about using whatever means necessary to further the Master’s work. He’ll come for her. She’s too valuable to him to leave wallowing away in a dungeon.”
“He’ll need to find her, first,” Devlin chimed in. Glancing briefly at the clock hanging on the wall near Zane’s desk, he nodded. “In fact, she’s being prepared for transport as we speak. The prison cell holding her right now isn’t as secure as I’d like. She’s being moved to a more fortified prison, where she can be heavily guarded. I’ve already called ahead to the location and warned them.”
“She’s not to be trusted.” I didn’t know how to state it any plainer. “Her magic is not to be trusted.”
“How does the Vortex play into the Master’s plans?” Zane asked, finally speaking up.
“He wants to use the power contained there to break his enemies and subjugate them to his will. From the way Amber viewed him, he was like Helena, but on steroids. He’s control hungry and thinks he’ll become unstoppable once he harnesses the energy force there.”
My admission hung heavy between us. Attacks came and went within the community as tyrants stepped forward to claim the authority they felt was owed to them. There had been attempts at controlling the vortex before, but no one had ever been successful in consuming it. I’d heard it was impossible to contain it within one vessel, but it wasn’t a theory I wanted to see tested. There was a reason why it was protected.
The thought of it being loose on an unsuspecting world was terrifying.
Mason broke the silence. “The artifact. It’s been moved again, right?”
“Yes, your Daniel aided in the removal; and once the task was completed, his memories were stripped by me, personally,” Zane answered.
“Do we need to find it a new hiding place?” Devlin asked, addressing his king.
That was the question. If this artifact held the means by which to channel the vortex’s power, it was imperative it never ends up in the wrong person’s hands, especially the Master’s.
“Perhaps. I’m confident the new resting place hasn’t been uncovered, but maybe we should err on the side of caution. Let me consider it some more.” Already the decision warred within Zane as his brow furrowed in deep thought. “What else can you tell us, Darcy?”
I strained to recollect everything I’d seen. “I think I’ve told you everything. Amber was hired by Helena to do the Master’s bidding and together they killed and performed some dark magic on his behalf. I’m not completely certain what the spells were for, though. Amber only asked a few questions and Helena was pretty tightly lipped with explanations. I know they wanted the artifact for themselves. I know that they were trying to bring the Master here and that when he arrived, Amber was going to have Mason given to her as a reward.”
“Like hell she was,” Mason muttered angrily.
“You wouldn’t have had a choice. With the Master controlling everyone, you would’ve become his puppet. You all would’ve. And Mason, toward the end, Amber hated you. As much as she loved you in the beginning, with her last breath she vowed to make you pay for your neglect and refusal of her.”
“She’s no threat to us,” he replied, reaching over and gripping my hand. He held on tightly, his f
ingers trembling as he struggled to contain his anger. I’d known he wouldn’t respond well to hearing everything, but it wasn’t the threat to him that infuriated him. It was the fact I’d been exposed to this kind of vile evil that rattled his cage.
“She isn’t,” I agreed. “But the Master is. He’s still out there, even without the aid of his minions. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t have others working for him, as well. There was too much riding on his plot’s success to rest it solely on two people. This isn’t over. If anything, he’ll be even more anxious and determined to see his work done.”
A thought struck me at the same time I paused to take a breath. It came slowly, but once it came, it was startlingly.
“You have something to share?” Zane had read me, again.
“When Vivien and Elynor were performing the ritual that freed me, for the briefest of seconds I felt someone else in my body.” As crazy as it seemed, the longer I dwelled on it, the surer I became.
“Someone other than Amber?”
“Yes. As she faded away, another presence entered me. It wasn’t able to take her place and retreated swiftly when I sensed it–but yeah, it was awfully crowded there for a moment.”
“Any idea who?” Devlin asked.
A shudder passed through me. “Evil. Pure evil. That’s all I know.”
Devlin sat back, staring at Mason before looking to Zane. “Maybe Vivien can find out who?”
“I don’t know,” Zane answered, pondering the possibilities. “I think to do so she’d need to probe inside Darcy’s mind and, for the moment, I’m reluctant to ask that much of your niece. Something tells me the mystery will resolve itself soon enough.”
The thought of having someone else in my mind, looking around, jolted me, causing Mason to squeeze my hand reassuringly.
“I’m willing to do whatever you need,” I began, but was interrupted by a rapid knock on the door. Before Zane could address the newcomer, Vlad burst in, his shirt torn and blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
“We’re under attack. Helena’s escaped.”
All thought of future spells were tossed aside as everyone leaped to their feet and rushed toward the door.
“Stay here, Darcy,” Mason ordered. A command I promptly ignored as I followed him out into the hallway. “Fine, then keep close. No unnecessary heroics.”
“I could say the same for you,” I fired back.
Be careful, came his response through our connection.
Always.
Love you was the last message I received as we burst outside and found fighting still underway.
****
I’d seen fight scenes on TV and in movies, even witnessed a few brawls amongst angry Pack members, but the one that had finally been contained outside the Council building was nothing short of insanity. There was no preparing for it—no way of understanding just how intense that kind of battle could be.
That was exactly my thought once reinforcements arrived and the Enforcers subdued those not lying on the ground, knocked out. The sole purpose of this battle had been retrieving Helena.
“Tell me what happened?” Devlin thundered, looking around. So far, no one was reported dead; but judging by the limps and groans I heard around me, everyone had received their fair share of hits.
It was Vlad who stepped forward. “I was sitting in my car getting ready to leave and noticed the prison convoy arrive. Instead of leaving, I waited long enough to see Asher and Carlos bring her out in chains. Everything appeared to be going according to procedure when someone burst out of the back doors of a van and struck Asher. More bodies emerged, some from another vehicle that pulled up behind it, and chaos followed. I saw Carlos radio for help as I raced inside to raise the alarm.” He’d been hurt when he came to the office. Touching the side of his lip that was still swollen, he didn’t flinch. “They tried to stop me, but I got away.”
“And Helena? Tell me someone managed to prevent her from escaping.” He wasn’t the only one glancing about, frowning when he couldn’t see her.
Asher staggered forward, the front of his shirt ripped, the gaping hole revealing gashes across his skin. “I tried, but they were quick. Three overpowered me while one grabbed Helena and escorted her to the waiting van. It looked like a decommissioned Enforcer vehicle . . . the same make and model, only dark blue instead of black. Anyone giving it a brief glance would easily confuse them.”
“You’re not trained to be confused, Asher,” Devlin barked. He’d taken a few blows through the fight as well, but unlike the others, who were stretching out sore muscles and wiping away blood, he stood rigid—refusing to acknowledge his own injuries until he had the full details.
A cough seized me, a tightness rattling around in my chest and drawing Devlin’s attention my way. I hadn’t been in the thick of things, leaving the heavier fighting to those who were better equipped, but one of the attackers had spotted me and rushed over to engage me in combat. I’d taken a few strikes to the head, which dazed me, causing me to stumble backward as I struggled to regain my bearings. It was impossible to tell who it was, the combatants wore ski masks to disguise their faces, but whoever it was seemed determined to drag me to the van. They hadn’t expected me to retaliate and use my strength to resist.
With one last chilling blow, my vision had blurred and then, as quickly as they’d come, the assailants who were still standing fled. Vehicle doors slammed shut and tires squealed over the asphalt as they retreated. It didn’t matter that they’d left behind some of their comrades. They’d got what they came for and left a definite statement—one that screamed this wasn’t the last we’d seen of them.
“You okay?” Devlin used his vampiric speed to cross the distance between us in a blink of an eye. His thumb brushed across my bottom lip and came back with a smear of blood. “Talk to me, Darcy.”
I could hear him speaking, his question registering in my mind, but it wasn’t what held my attention. It was the suffocating feeling that almost consumed me. My vision went black and I dropped to my knees, gasping for air.
I heard voices calling my name.
Just not the voice I expected.
“Mason,” I wheezed, still fighting to catch my breath. I felt winded, but it was the terror now overtaking me that heightened my anxiety.
“He’s here somewhere,” Devlin answered, pulling me into his arms as he helped me stand. “Vlad, see if you can find Mason. Last time I saw him, he was heading inside after one of the attackers.”
“Got it, boss.”
“No,” I exclaimed, the word stopping Vlad in his tracks. “He’s not inside.” Steady on my feet again, I shook my head as if it could dislodge the truthfulness of my next sentence. “He’s not here.”
“I think you need to sit down,” Devlin added as I swayed back and forth, unable to keep myself upright.
“No. We need to go find him,” I murmured as everything began to darken and the ground rushed up to greet me. Something was wrong. A lethargic feeling flooded my body. Mason was in trouble—our connection flickering.
“Darcy?” Shaking me, I opened my eyes and found three Devlin’s staring back at me. “You’re not making sense.”
“They took him,” I whispered, no longer able to fight whatever was affecting me. “And they drugged him.”
Action exploded around me as Devlin gently gathered me in his arms and carried me back inside, barking orders as he strode. Even though I was still aware of my surroundings, time seemed to slow down.
Helena hadn’t been the only purpose for the strike. Mason had also been a target, and in kidnapping him, they’d openly declared war.
Struggling to shake off the dizziness that plagued me, there was one thing I knew with a certainty.
No one took the Alpha without a vicious retaliation.
No one took my mate without feeling the weight of my fury.
Chapter Fifteen
Mason
I woke with a start, Darcy’s name on my lips. The word ca
me out in a distorted slur as everything flooded back—the meeting with Zane, the fight outside, and being shoved into a waiting van. The last thing I saw before everything went black were the attackers struggling with Darcy and the way she fought with everything she had.
I’d tried to reach her and failed.
I’d tried to warn her through our connection, but they shot me full of something from a syringe they roughly jabbed into my arm. There was no breaking free.
Slipping in and out of awareness, I gave up on trying to overpower my captors and, instead, did everything I could to remember whatever I saw. It didn’t matter if it was the smallest of details—streets, facial features, or the place they pulled up in front of and dragged me into. I needed to conserve my strength because there was no way I was going to let them keep me here.
When I made my bid for freedom, I’d be successful.
Whoever they were, behind the masks they wore, they’d regret their plan to take me. There was nothing to gain from this move and everything to lose. If their goal was to piss me off, as well those who supported me, they’d just accomplished it.
Drugging an Alpha against his will was beyond foolish.
Kidnapping him was equal to declaring war.
The burning at my wrists and ankles confirmed my suspicions without opening my eyes. I was spread out over a rough surface, my limbs tightly secured by silver-laced shackles. It wasn’t enough to burn through my flesh, but served its purpose of stifling my power and keeping my strength on the edge of depletion.
There wasn’t much that could stop a werewolf—an Alpha even less—but silver always did the trick. Daniel and I used to joke about it growing up, and how the precious metal was our kryptonite. We loved pretending we were Superman or one of the other heroes found in our comic books. We thought we’d be invincible when we grew up, that no one could ever hurt us. This was a painful lesson in humility; realizing just how crippling the effects of silver really was.
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