Black Orchid (Svatura)

by Abigail Owen

  Opening her eyes, Adelaide gasped. Exactly what she’d seen in her mind’s eye was happening. And the glow was spreading from thread to thread, like dew on a spider web. In wonder, she watched as it began to stretch from Selene to where Griffin stood beside her. And then another thread formed, stretching to another wolf and then to another and another.

  “Griffin,” she thought to him, not wanting him to be shocked when he suddenly felt the pack mind. “You need to see this.”

  She left her thoughts open to him so he could see exactly what she was doing. And it couldn’t have come too soon. The crowd’s anxiety was starting to build into a frenzy. Griffin said nothing, but she felt him watching with her as the lines connected. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash, although only Adelaide could see it.

  Immediately, Griffin’s body shimmered with the mirage-like wavering that heralded a morph. And then, where there’d been a massive golden wolf, a man now stood. He had short dark blond hair, and even from her vantage point several feet away, Adelaide could see his unusually colored amber eyes.

  There was a gasp throughout the room as they felt his mind connect with theirs at the same time as he shifted. Selene’s hands flew to cover her gasp. Then, with a cry, she threw herself into his arms, tears pouring down her face as she sobbed her relief and happiness. Selene and Griffin stole a brief, private moment to look deep into each other’s eyes, and then they turned back to face the Vyusher.

  “Harold and Marguerite will decide for themselves if they want to risk being turned back into wolf metamorphs. But they will not be your rulers either way,” Selene announced. “I am your Queen, and you are looking at your future King.”

  Harold nodded and clapped a hand on Griffin’s shoulder while grasping Selene’s hand in his other. “That is our decision as well,” he announced.

  Griffin stepped forward, focusing a hard glare on the assembly. “Selene is your Queen and has led you with only the best interests of the Vyusher in her heart every step of the way. You owe her your allegiance for what she’s done over the centuries to protect you. And now, as her te’sorthene and future King, and as one of you, I will demand your allegiance as well.”

  Adelaide wasn’t sure what he did next, but Griffin seemed to grow in stature, or maybe everyone else in the room shrunk. One by one, they all shifted and then bowed low, as they had just done for their former rulers.

  Adelaide was thrilled, despite the constant worry in her mind for Nate. Selene and Griffin were whole again, and they were accepted. They could now move on with their lives as fated lovers.

  Finally.

  Chapter 35

  The joyous moment didn’t last long. Griffin suddenly jerked upright, and Selene gasped. “What is it?”

  First he turned to Charlotte, sending her some kind of silent message. With a nod she vanished.

  “There’s been a development,” Griffin announced. “Desmond’s back.”

  “Does he have Maggie?” Selene asked.

  “Yes. He has a few people.”

  Adelaide’s heart stuttered. “Nate?”

  Griffin grimaced. “We don’t know for sure. Doesn’t sound like it, though. Charlotte’s getting them now.”

  Struggling with the high and then low she’d just hit, Adelaide gave a jerky nod. Suddenly, Charlotte appeared with four people in tow. Adelaide felt her last shred of hope disappear as she saw Desmond with three women she didn’t recognize. And no one else. Her dream filled Adelaide’s mind. There was no way that had just been a dream.

  Desmond immediately moved to stand before Selene and Griffin. “Gather the troops now. There was an uprising going on, which allowed us to escape. Nate killed some woman named Melanie, and I think that triggered it.”

  Lila gasped. “She’s the one who tried to put me in that stasis fog.”

  Desmond nodded at her. “Well, when Nate took her out, I think anyone in stasis or anyone under her brainwashing was released, because Maggie woke up, and everything turned to chaos. The confusion allowed us to get out. I know where the base is. We need to move fast and hit hard while they’re disorganized.”

  Selene clenched her hands. “Griffin, summon every Vyusher and Svatura ally to us. I’m bringing the castle down on top of that bastard’s head. We end this today.”

  Everyone in the room shifted, but no one protested. This is what they’d been preparing for, fighting for. The time had come.

  For such a large mobilization, the Vyusher accomplished everything quickly. Within hours they were ready to go. As things were coming together, Adelaide grabbed Selene’s arm and pulled her off to the side. “I have an idea,” she said.

  Selene raised her eyebrows. “I’m all ears.”

  “I think I can break Maddox’s pack relationship.”

  Selene frowned. “What about your dragon? Won’t that put too much stress on you?”

  Adelaide grimaced. “I don’t think so. I’ve had a lot more control lately. Although I’d feel a little more confident if I knew we’d find Nate. He helps me sometimes. But I think I’ve got it without him.”

  Selene gave Adelaide’s arm a squeeze. “If your dream is right, he might be under again… with them.”

  Adelaide swallowed, but nodded. “We’ll have to take that risk. Breaking that hive mind could be key. At the very least, it’ll force them into confusion when they can no longer hear each other.”

  Selene nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll send Sheila and Griffin with you. Between her tracking and his shield and telepathy, hopefully they can get you to him while the fighting keeps Maddox’s attention diverted.”

  But Adelaide shook her head. “No. Get me in ahead of the attack.”

  Selene held up both hands. “No way. I can’t risk you and anyone else we’d have to send. We need everyone to go up against Maddox if he goes dragon. Especially with Ellie’s powers so off. Besides, I don’t want to jeopardize the advantage surprise will give us.”

  “But if I can neutralize most of his fighters, then it allows all of us to concentrate on only a few or possibly just on Maddox. Part of his power is in his numbers. And most of those numbers were forced. If I can get to Nate fast, I could even conceivably cut those relationships before you arrive.”

  Selene’s lips compressed and her jaw clenched. “Okay. Who do you need?”

  “I need Charlotte, but just to get us down there. I need Desmond – he’s good for cover.”

  Selene shook her head. “We need him to get us to the right place and to keep the castle invisible until we’re in position. But Sheila,” she pointed at the shifter who’d just returned to them, “she’s intimately familiar with the base and can possibly locate Nate once you’re in there.”

  “I’ll go,” a gruff voice sounded from behind them, and they turned to see Griffin.

  Selene frowned. “No!”

  Behind him was the whole family. Hugh and Lucy. Charlotte and Dexter. Ellie and Alex. Lila and Ramsey. Only Nate was missing.

  Griffin moved to Selene’s side and took her face between his hands. “I can hide us and protect us with my shield. I can hear the thoughts of those around us once we’re in, possibly even Nate. If he’s under, I might be able to help bring him back. And as your future King, it makes sense to have one of us watching over each major element of this plan. And this,” he nodded at Adelaide, “is key. Agreed?”

  Selene’s eyes welled with tears that Adelaide could understand. Griffin had only just come out of being permanently wolf… had only just been accepted by the Vyusher. For the first time, the lovers could be together openly and completely. Only to possibly lose each other in the midst of the battle. To enter that situation separated was nothing short of heart-wrenching.

  “Agreed,” Selene whispered through trembling lips. Griffin pressed his mouth to hers softly.

  “I’ll come back to you,” he promised, pulling her into his arms.

  Adelaide gave them their moment but then cleared her throat. “I… um… have one more thing I need before we go.”r />
  All eyes turned on her.

  “I need my memories. If I’m going in there, I need to be able to recognize friends and enemies. And I need full access to my powers.”

  “But the pain could kill you,” Lila gasped.

  Adelaide gave Lila a soft, sad smile. “Saving my family and my te’sorthene is worth the pain, don’t you think?” she whispered.

  “I do,” Ramsey said. He came up and wrapped his arms around Lila.

  “We all do,” Ellie said. Alex nodded at her side.

  Adelaide took a deep breath. “Griffin?”

  She made sure all of her mental defenses were down, and then she waited. Suddenly, a picture of a younger, smirking Nate flashed in her mind. The first time she’d met him. Then another one of Nate laughing as he took off into woods with Lila on his back. Then more images coming faster and faster… Nate laughing, Nate kissing her, Nate holding her, Nate tickling her feet, Nate never far from her side.

  Other memories were there too. Time spent with her family. The introduction of each new member. All the schools she’d attended. Meeting Ellie and Griffin. The places they’d lived. The battles they’d fought.

  Tears trailed down her cheeks as pain tempered by love flowed through her. She waited for more… for debilitating agony to rip though her. But it never came.

  “That’s it,” Griffin murmured.

  Adelaide’s looked from face to face. “What did you do?”

  The other three girls glanced at each other, mouths ajar. “Nothing,” Ellie said.

  Adelaide’s brow puckered. “Shouldn’t I be screaming in agony right now? Or something?”

  They looked at each other again and all shrugged.

  “Well, let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth,” Lucy said. “Thank heaven you’re okay. But it’s time for you to go.”

  They all froze at her words. Adelaide knew that her plan was the right thing to do, but now that the time had come to leave the family she’d only just truly remembered, she didn’t want to go. Only the thought of Nate, trapped and under Talia’s spell yet again, kept her determination intact.

  Adelaide nodded. Suddenly they were all hugging and crying and saying goodbyes that they hoped weren’t the last. It reminded her so much of a memory only just returned to her of when they’d fought Gideon and the Vyusher. Only things were so much different this time around.

  Adelaide moved to her parents to be enfolded in their arms. “I know I’ve been… absent… lately,” she choked out.

  Lucy held her tighter. “Don’t. We understood. You go save Nate. Save your te’sorthene.”

  Adelaide’s heart silently shredded into tiny pieces. While she remembered him now, they’d tried to fix their relationship, and it hadn’t worked. So she wasn’t saving Nate for herself. He wasn’t hers anymore. But this compulsion she felt to find him and to make sure he was safe was for him. She’d risk her life for Nate.

  “Then he is your te’sorthene,” Lila’s voice sounded in her mind.

  Adelaide turned from her parents’ arms to see Lila standing behind her. “The bond might not be fixed, but the feelings are true. Don’t ignore that, and don’t think it isn’t real.”

  After hugging Lila, Ramsey, Alex, and Ellie, Adelaide moved to stand in front of Charlotte and Dexter. She took a deep breath. “I didn’t remember you—”

  “Oh honey, that’s not your fault. And we will always love you,” Charlotte said.

  Adelaide gave her a sweet smile. “But while my memory was gone, Nate talked about you.”

  Charlotte grasped Dexter’s hand tightly.

  Adelaide continued. “I think you should know that he loved you both very much. The guilt he felt over what he considered to be his weakness in betraying us, a lot of that was about me, but a lot was about you too. And you should know that all the memories he shared with me – about both of you – were filled with love and happiness.”

  Adelaide almost lost it as Dexter’s face crumpled. “Thank you,” he choked. He pulled her in so that both of them could give her a hug.

  Adelaide stepped back and looked around at her family. They were being divided today. Please God, just let us be reunited when all of this is over.

  Chapter 36

  Adelaide, Griffin, Sheila, and Charlotte were just getting set to go when Adelaide gave her family one last lingering look.

  Family… something about that word triggered a thought. Adelaide frowned. She turned her power to see relationships directly on Ellie and gasped.

  She hurried over and whispered a few words in her friend’s ear. Ellie jerked back, eyes wide, and then smiled so beautifully that Alex sucked in a deep breath.

  “What was that about?” Griffin asked.

  “What? You couldn’t hear me?”

  “Hard to do when you’re blocking me.”

  She winked. “Nice thing about remembering… I also remember my powers.”

  Griffin raised a single eyebrow but didn’t get a chance to question her further. Adelaide nodded to Charlotte. “Let’s go.”

  They landed in a large tunnel carved into thick granite.

  “Good luck,” Charlotte said, and then she was gone.

  Sheila looked around, getting her bearings, and then stood eerily still as she reached out with her power to try to find Nate.

  Griffin and Adelaide both telepathically watched Sheila’s thoughts. All they could see was a jumbled mess. Sheila saw people with powers as points of glowing lights, similar to how Selene and Ellie applied their own powers. Adelaide could see her own bright yellow glow standing beside Griffin’s golden glow and the deep purple that she guessed was Sheila. But the chaos came from the mass of all the others, at least a hundred, milling throughout the underground complex.

  “How will you know if it’s Nate?” Adelaide asked.

  “Once I see someone’s unique signature the first time, I can find them again as long as they aren’t being blocked somehow,” Sheila murmured.

  Adelaide’s gaze lit on a sunset amber glow, and a warmth stole through her. “Is that him?”

  “Where?”

  “The orange light up to the left.”

  “Yes!” Sheila cried.

  “There’s someone else with him. Murky brown, you can barely see it…”

  “We go in with my shield up then,” Griffin said.

  As quickly as they could, they followed Sheila through the spider web of tunnels until they made it to a developed section of the base. Then they moved through hallways and stairwells, avoiding the elevators. They only passed a few random people – some in human form, some in wolf. But none of them saw the trio hidden behind Griffin’s shield, which he could use to reflect the surrounding walls, essentially making them invisible.

  Finally, they got to a door and Sheila stopped. “This is it.”

  In one fast movement, they opened the door and stepped inside what looked like a conference room. Nate lay motionless on the long table while a petite girl stood over him, her hands on his arm. Dark circles under her eyes gave her a haggard, sleep-deprived look, but Adelaide still recognized her.

  Talia looked up. “Who’s there?” She searched the room but couldn’t see them because of Griffin’s shield. “I feel you there, whoever you are.”

  Any joy Adelaide felt at finding Nate quickly disappeared. She burned with a rage so violent that she almost doubled over. Talia was obviously doing to Nate what she’d done before. Adelaide had never been so convinced of anything in her life. The shaking she’d feared for so long slammed into her, through her. But this time, Adelaide welcomed the power fizzing through her veins.

  Looking down, she saw with fascination that her fingernails now looked like talons. She felt the beast moving beneath her skin, but instead of trying to get out, the dragon was just a part of her.

  “Drop your shield,” Talia commanded. She smirked when Adelaide appeared before her. “I thought that was you. Don’t you think this obsession of yours is a little pathetic? Nate is mine.”
<
br />   Adelaide said nothing. Instead she concentrated on stoking the inferno that was brewing inside her belly.

  Talia blanched as she got a better look at Adelaide’s glowing yellow eyes. Hands held up to ward off an assault, she started to back away. Adelaide once would have let the girl go, but the animal inside her had changed her, and so had her experiences. And now she advanced with single-minded intent on the one person responsible for more pain in her life than she’d ever thought possible.

  “Holy shit,” Griffin muttered.

  Talia raised her hands. “Don’t—!” Her words broke into a tortured scream as flames erupted from Adelaide’s mouth, engulfing the girl in a conflagration of terrible, bright-yellow heat. Adelaide kept up the stream of fire, dispassionately fascinated with the sparkling color. She felt no burning inside her or on her lips. And the shaking was gone, perfect control in its place.

  “Adelaide, stop!” Griffin yelled, grabbing her arm and giving her a shake.

  She snapped her mouth shut, cutting off the blaze. As she watched, the flames spread through the room. But the fire never touched anyone but Talia, thwarted by the invisible barrier Griffin had erected.

  “Burn in hell, bitch,” Adelaide spat. She didn’t even feel an ounce of remorse as she watched her inferno devour the evil girl.

  *****

  “Adelaide?”

  Nate sat up groggily. Slowly Adelaide pulled her glower from the awful sight in front of her and looked at him. Seeing him sitting up, she gasped and then threw herself in his arms.

  Nate held her tightly and buried his face in her hair. When the scents of vanilla and summer and lemons hit him, he knew for sure that this was real. He felt her take a shaky breath. After allowing themselves a brief moment to savor the embrace, he let her pull back and looked her in the eyes. Still glowing yellow with her power.