by Billi Jean
“It is time you handed over your rule to the rightful head of the Jade.”
Sorcha stood silently, too dumbfounded to speak for several seconds.
“Circerran is ready. You allow her too much time to heal. Her rule will be just, and her power and need to fix the wrongs around her will bring your coven from the lofty place you’ve taken it to heights the two of you will someday celebrate. You have given her a chance, now allow her the rule she was born for.”
“My sister? Trouble? The sister who never attends meetings, or is there when I need her? Or who gets the coven into trouble every time I turn around? That sister?”
Bridget’s eyes danced with merriment, no doubt laughing at Sorcha.
Fine. That will do. She was tired of everyone coming to her, let Circerran take the reins and answer every call.
“Fine. That works for me. As soon as I get—”
“She will not be pleased at first.”
“Uh, that is an understatement.”
Laughing, the goddess folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head. “You have done well, daughter. Go save your mate, but remember, this time you must let this mage go, or else you will lose Alex forever. The choice will not be easy, Sorcha, but you must make a decision, no matter the cost.”
Goosebumps rose on Sorcha’s arms, but she didn’t get time to ask what her goddess meant. Instead, Bridget shone brighter than any star. Sorcha closed her eyes and when she opened them, the battle raged around her.
Alex was exactly where she’d seen him, slumped over, his tanned face drained of colour, but now he stared at her with such a look of misery she gathered her power and cast a spell that cleaned the tunnel of every man standing. The wind she used forced them back until with a suddenness the sound and wind ceased. With a shout, she landed at Alex’s feet, her hands already glowing with power as she covered his chest, casting a spell to bind the wound and surged energy into him as fast as she could. The wound knitted together under her hand, and deep in her own chest, she felt the sharp blow, then as quickly as it had struck, the pain disappeared. Above her, Alex suddenly gripped her shoulders and swayed.
“Sonofabitch, witch, warn a man next time,” he complained.
She hugged him around his waist, still on her knees, but not able to stand yet. She felt all wobbly inside, not weak, but overwhelmed with too many emotions and events to guarantee she could stop the flood of tears quickly enough.
“Sweetheart, damn, don’t cry, goddess, don’t cry, not when you’re on your knees like this, eh?”
The teasing sounded forced, and she hugged him harder, not falling for his attempt at humour. He’d nearly died. She knew it, deep inside where she knew with absolute certainty that his wound would have killed him.
“Just stand, my love, just stand for me, eh?” He tried to urge her to her feet and after a few more seconds of simply holding him tightly, she stood with him and scanned his handsome face. She reached up and brushed his brown hair from his forehead. She stared down at him, still rocked by too many emotions to speak for several seconds.
“You nearly died, Alex.”
He tilted his head, reminding her of Bridget for a second before his frown disappeared. “Nearly isn’t dead, eh?”
“There was poison on that blade, Alex, you would have—”
He stopped her from scolding him with a kiss. He didn’t let her respond, but pressed her mouth open with the urgency of his lips. As soon as she melted against him, he wrapped her tighter in his arms and drove his tongue into her mouth urgently. He used his hands to touch her everywhere, on her back, her ass, her hips, her neck, along her hair, finally urging her closer by lifting her thigh and settling her against his aroused body. Shocked she felt a growl vibrate from his chest. He pressed her gown up her legs and with another low snarl released her mouth.
Breathlessly, he watched her. “I want to claim you, here, now. I never want you out of my sight again without being able to speak to you—mind to mind.”
She froze—stunned to the point that she almost didn’t hear the sound of more men. Alex did, but he merely tightened his big arms around her.
“If you will have me, eh?”
“I want you,” she began, pressing a finger to his lips when he would have interrupted her. “But not so you can know where I am!”
He grinned and tipped his head back to laugh so long and loud, she pinched his side to get him to stop. He only laughed longer and pressed kisses to her face and jaw, nipping her a few times when she still struggled with him.
“Why are you laughing at me, you silly wolf? There are more men coming and we have to go.”
“Aye, sweet, but you, my love, are going to have to learn I am here to stay. You won’t be able to rid yourself of me, no matter where you run off to, eh?” With that startling admission, he bent and kissed her once more, then released all but her hand. “Come we need to get to safety and this tunnel is not safe. Your strength is back?”
“Yes, but Alex we need to leave. Is Agni here?”
“Aye, up top.”
As he spoke, he pulled her along, making sure to scan the tunnel ahead as they went. The light spilling along the passage worried her. What caused it and worse, what if it suddenly stopped? Alex halted them at a crossway, tilting his head as if he were listening then turned left. This new shaft of rock wasn’t as bright, and she stumbled several times on the uneven surface before she used her free hand to trail along the rocky wall.
“This heads down. Agni and I misted in at an opening at the top of the mountain. If I’m right this will lead us out at the bottom.”
“If you’re right?”
Alex tossed her a quick grin over his shoulder and squeezed her hand. “Trust me, eh?”
“Oh, I do, just maybe not your underground mountain sense.” The tunnel gradually darkened to the point she drew light in her palm to light their way. Immediately Alex stopped.
“No, drop the light. I can see. I won’t lead you wrong.”
She huffed at his bossy tone, but let her light dim and go out. The pitch dark surrounded them, making her feel colder in the light gown than before. Her imagination picked out sounds she knew weren’t dangerous, merely them walking silently, but the image of some creepy monster following them wouldn’t dim.
“What of your arm? Is it healed?”
“Yes, it’s fine. Are you sure you know where we are going?” she asked.
Alex squeezed her hand again, but she still felt unsettled. When the scream broke through their silence only part of her startled, the other part nodded as if yes, now they were out of the frying pan and into the fire.
A sudden light appeared. She squinted, her eyes stinging after so long without any sort of light. Rage stood mere feet from them and at his side a witch stood. Agni knelt next to the young witch, attached to her wrist by a leash and collar around his neck.
Holy Danu. Agni lifted his head and she realised she’d whispered those words aloud. His handsome face was dark with blood. Along his blond hairline, a jagged wound sliced along his temple and cut through his sideburn and past his ear. His black T-shirt was torn and his side glistened with more blood.
“Ah, I see you recognise my new pet. Deidre has tamed him, but for you, I believe I might trade such a worthy addition to my collection.”
“Fuck off,” Agni growled.
Alex lifted an arm to hold her back when the witch did something and Agni started to shudder—in pain—but silently. Blood eased from his clenched lips, and as she watched a red swath of more appeared along his stomach.
“Stop it!” She raised her arms, fully drawing on her power.
Rage laughed. The sound brought a chill to her, but she still struck out at the witch, tossing her backwards in a heap of agony. Agni fell with her, writhing in pain next to the woman.
Sorcha swallowed and shut her spell with a snap. Both fallen victims struggled for breath, Agni gaining his first then his feet. The leash between him and the witch pulled taunt a
nd he had to bend to stand, but he faced her with a determined look.
“Fuck this shit, Alex, get her out of here.”
“What? No! No, I won’t leave you like this!” Sorcha struck out at Rage, only then realising that the mage had sent a projection and didn’t stand facing her at all. She fought Alex’s hold on her arm and shook him off to throw a slicing spell at the leash. Agni fell to his knees with a low groan of pain.
“Sorcha, stop it!” Alex yelled.
“We can’t leave him, Alex!”
Alex forced her to face him and after only a second, a determined look she knew pasted over his strong features. With a snarled curse, he turned, punched Agni in the face, and hit him again, then again, each blow landing on his temple with a sickening sound. She covered her mouth to hold in the scream, comprehending what he was doing—knocking the witch out—but not liking it. The demon barely suffered, but the witch gasped then fell backwards after another powerful blow to Agni’s temple.
“Fuck, man, can’t you hit harder than that?” Agni complained with a grimace at the witch.
Alex snorted and glared at Agni. “Can you break free now?”
Agni closed his eyes and clenched his fists tight, but after only a second or two, he opened his eyes and shook his head. “No.”
“Shit!” Sorcha glared at the witch, recognising her from the cabin. So the teenager thought to control a demon? She’d learn that Agni was no mere demon, but one of the few breeds that had earned their forgiveness for following Lucifer in his battle to rule the world. If the witch didn’t follow an honourable path, Agni would be able to cut through her spell like butter and when he did, he’d probably gut her.
“Gather her up then, this shit is over,” Alex growled. “If he knows where we are that easily then reaching safety isn’t going to—”
“Travel! I can try to spell us free,” Sorcha cut in, excitement and hope suddenly filling her.
Alex shook his head hard. “Those kinds of spells cost you, witch, and I’m not willing to drain you to get us free. He could simply follow us, couldn’t he?”
“What? He can’t follow me. Didn’t we just have this conversation, Alex? Believe me, I’m strong enough to whip your butt with one hand and make pancakes with the other. Besides, what choice do we have? Agni can’t mist.”
Alex simply shook his head stubbornly. “We have others coming—”
“It’s too late, Alex!” she yelled, startling him she saw when he lifted his eyebrows. “We can’t defeat Rage. Not now, but we will. We have to. But now we move. You promised me.”
He frowned immediately, but instead of arguing, he said, “Then we go, but not by magic. We run, Sorcha. Agni, keep that damn witch out and down.”
“Love to,” Agni growled.
Sorcha gripped Agni’s arm before he could pick the girl witch up. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezed her hand and gave her his panty-dropping grin. “Hell, woman, I’ve been in worse. Just hoof it. I have the witch. We will break her spell when we get the hell out of here.”
Sorcha agreed. Breaking the spell was the least of their problems. Ahead of them, she heard running feet and worse, the only path ahead of them was narrowing to a downward slope that would be difficult to defend.
Alex growled low in his throat, manoeuvring her behind him with a determined look that said if she didn’t stay back, he’d not be pleased.
She shivered, suddenly realising the worst was yet to come. Bridget’s warning still sounded in her ears. This was too easy. Leaving here, without facing Rage or having to make a choice, wasn’t what Bridget had warned.
Go save your mate, but remember, this time you must let this mage go, or else you will lose Alex forever. The choice will not be easy, Sorcha, but you make a decision no matter the cost.
Goddess, please aid us.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I hope this means you are almost fully healed because we have a demon to save now, not just Alex and Sorcha.”
Markee stared at Bethany—Blood Moon—and swallowed his mouthful of dinner in surprise. He’d not seen her in years, but standing with her sword out, her long, black hair tied back in a complicated pattern of woven braids, he knew her. He’d recognised her in the storm when they’d saved Sorcha, but now, she stood proud and tall in his hotel room, looking ready for war. Heck, she’d been a little kid the last time he’d seen her and now, she had to be at least in her twenties, possibly older.
The hotel room spun a little when he moved too quickly, but he could feel his bones and burns healing as he struggled from the bed. Most had completely healed. He swallowed another mouthful of his steak and set the plate aside already feeling more like himself.
“Say that again?” he asked, surely having misheard her. “And how about a hello and an explanation for being all fucking grown up?”
“You heard me, Markee. We have a demon to save.” She grimaced and shrugged a shoulder when he glared at her. “I’m all grown up,” she muttered, “Because I moved to the Fay realm for a few centuries.”
“Holy hell. A few…” He cut off and rubbed his chest, testing the wound he’d taken there. “That’s insane.”
“Maybe, but that’s what happened. Time flows—”
“Yeah, differently there. I know that, Bethany—”
“Moon.”
He narrowed his eyes. She had power. His wolf though, acknowledged her power and that settled things. A pack member had asked for help. He couldn’t—and wouldn’t—deny her. “So we have to free a demon, huh?”
“It seems that way.” She tipped her head to the side and a slow grin spread over her face. “If you’re real good, I might just aid you in finding yours.”
Shocked, he fisted his hands to hold in his excitement. If Moon knew of Sabin, his lost mate, she could aid him in ways he’d never considered. Moon was a witch, after all. The smirk on her face though, pissed him off. “What! Does everyone know that Sabin lives?”
She lifted a delicate black eyebrow but merely shrugged. He stalked towards her, but she held up hand. “I didn’t know her name, but you’ve not lost a mate, Markee. You should know that—if you’d lost her for good, you’d not be as strong as you are now.”
“What? How—?”
“We can discuss this as we go. Agni’s in trouble and for once the demon might not be able to beat or smooth talk his way out of it. Besides”—her smile turned into something much more cunning—“saving his arrogant ass might just make my century.”
“Shit.” He shoved his sword over his head into his scabbard, secured his guns, making sure that he had enough extra ammo to slow even the most powerful immortals, and turned to face her again. His shoulder burnt, the muscles still knitting together, but he stretched the arm once more and felt almost as good as new. “I might just feel sorry for him, you know?”
But hope stirred in his chest. If Bethany—Moon—aided him, perhaps he could find Sabin. And when he did, then he’d discover why she’d run.
“Don’t. He more than deserves it.”
The way she’d said that set his mind to spinning out a few reasons for her ‘centuries’ in the Fay realm. None pleasant. Had Agni done something to her as a child? He doubted that immediately. Agni was many things, but he’d never hurt a child. Samantha, Moon’s wicked cool sister, and his uncle, Derrick’s mate, would skin the demon.
“Ready?” she asked.
He dismissed the questions and settled his mind on the task at hand. She’d tell him her story if she chose—just as he’d spill his if he wanted. “Yes, we’d better go. It’s been hours and Alex swore to check in before now. Things went wrong.”
Moon narrowed her eyes. “Things always go wrong. Who did he have you call?”
Markee exhaled wearily at the question. “Trouble.”
Moon choked on a laugh. “Oy! That must have been a fun conversation.” She had the nerve to grin at him, clearly finding it funny that he’d had to call and inform the craziest witch that he knew that not
only had he known where her sister was this whole time, but that she was in trouble.
“Didn’t the Fay teach you manners?”
“They tried, but you and I both know that was a lost battle. So when is she—?”
“What the fuck!” Trouble shouted before she’d even fully materialised in the hotel room. She was dressed in black leather from the top of her bosom to her toes and looked like some deadly but sexy pin up girl.
Moon simply tossed the witch a salute. “Well, hi to you too, Circerran—”
“Trouble, and who the fuck are…?” Trouble stalled midsentence and frowned from him to Moon as if he’d somehow kidnapped her too.
“It’s me, Moon, but you knew me as Bethany—”
Trouble snorted at Moon and glared at him. “I recognise you, Bethany. Did you steal her—?”
“No, he didn’t. And it’s Moon. Look, I’ve been in the Fay Realm, but right now isn’t the time for another catch-up-on-Bethany’s-life. We have to hit the road and save an arrogant demon.”
“Demon? Excuse me? I came here because that pup called to say Alex had Sorcha. Alex, the cold-blooded, daft bastard I’m going to split in two.”
“Uh, well, okay, but Sorcha may not be too pleased, since, you know, they are bonded,” Moon said in the most deadpan voice he’d ever heard.
Damn woman was going to get him split in two.
“What!” Trouble froze halfway to reaching their side and Markee watched her disbelief melt away, replaced by an oddly fearful look. She frowned at him and pointed a finger. He held his breath, ready to feel a spell, but nothing more than her finger waggling under his nose occurred. “You knew this? You knew Sorcha and Alex were off on a honeymoon this whole time?”
“Hell no. He kidnapped her, I mean,” he stalled out at her outraged look and hurried on to pacify her, feeling as if he’d entered a battle no one had prepped him for. “He and Sorcha are in trouble—right now trying to kill Zith, a warlock you know as Rage.”
