Decadence (Tree of Life Series Book 1)

by Nichole Austin

  When I turn around to go get him, Alizon stops me. “Let him be,” she tells me seriously.

  When I’m about to push her out of the way, he comes out of the castle, and I let out a relieved breath. Before I can take a step toward him, Alizon whispers in a sinister voice close to my ear, “I saw that vision, too.”

  Goosebumps emerge on my skin beneath my cloak, and I begin to regard my sister in a light I never have before. She harshly pulls me toward the forest and, as we go behind the stables, I realize we’re going to a part of the forest I have never been to before.

  A throat clears behind us. “Alizon, you shouldn’t be bringing her here. This is forbidden.”

  Tripping over a root, I land face-first in the snow. When I get up, I notice I’ve uncovered part of a skull. Backing up abruptly, my hand covers my mouth. Everything is so overgrown here, I can barely see where I am.

  When Lawrence helps me up, Alizon looks at him and haughtily points her finger at him. “You’re a guard, Lawrence. I’m a crown princess. Know your place,” she says harshly like she hates every fiber of his being.

  Walking closer to us, she wrenches me away from him by my arm and bares her teeth at me. “You aren’t learning, so now I’m going to have to teach you the hard way.”

  Roughly dragging me about five feet, the forest opens into a clearing with a stone cauldron lightly covered in snow, but it’s broken in half. There’s a stone table behind it, and there’s enough room for people to stand in a circle around the two.

  There’s a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I still ask, “What is this place, Alizon?”

  Motioning me forward, she answers me with a flippant attitude. “Your visions seem to be back. Go check it out.”

  Taking small steps, I walk toward the cauldron. In the background, I hear Lawrence yelling my name, but he seems far away. Reaching out, I touch the lip of the pot and again, I’m thrust into a vision. . . .

  Eight people stand in a circle around the table and cauldron. There’s a baby before me screaming. He can’t be more than six-months-old. Everyone is chanting in Latin, and I can’t see their faces because they have black hoods over their heads. One by one, they throw things into the pot, and dread fills me.

  The liquid is boiling, and I see someone pull a gold ritual knife from their black robe. Walking closer, I try to look into their face, but over their shoulder, I hear screaming and the snow crunches as someone runs through it.

  Standing on my tiptoes, I see a red cloak and my sister’s fiery hair. She trips and lands on her knees. Immediately getting up, she yells, “Benjamin!”

  When she tries to run toward the cauldron, she hits a ward and falls back on her butt. Tears streak her rosy cheeks, and she slams her hands on the ward. “Don’t do this. He’s innocent,” she cries.

  My eyes burn as I watch my sister try to get into the ward, but the baby suddenly stops crying, so I look over. The person with the ceremonial knife has picked him up and is walking toward the cauldron.

  “Xavier, if you do this, I will never forgive you,” Alizon vows.

  Studying the person holding the baby, I see a wisp of blond hair and my breathing increases. The tears that were threatening now fill my eyes. Xavier wouldn’t dare do something like this. He’s an innocent baby.

  When I try to turn away so I don’t have to watch, something holds me in place. I watch as the man who I vowed was the love of my life takes up the ceremonial knife and slits my little brother’s throat over the cauldron. His blood drains into the boiling water.

  My screams tear through the night at the same time as Alizon’s do, and then Xavier throws Benjamin into the boiling fluid.

  Whatever was holding me in place suddenly no longer has hold of me, and I fall to the ground, shaking with sobs.

  “You’ll pay for this, Xavier,” my sister says in a cold, hard voice.

  Looking up, I see Xavier has pulled his hood down and a single tear runs down his cheek. “Alizon, your mother ordered this. I had no control over this, and you know why it had to happen.”

  I’m disgusted by the sight of this man. He killed our brother. I hope he burns for what he did.

  The hard ground is below me when I wake up. Rolling over fast, the contents of my stomach rise up and spill on the ground. When I look around, I see I’m surrounded by utter chaos. Lawrence and Alizon are fighting the same black man with a shaved head I’ve seen before in multiple visions.

  “Quinn?” My voice is a whisper in the wind.

  Breaking through the ward Lawrence and Alizon put up to protect me, I jump to help, although my vision is still blurry from the shock of my last vision. My sister and Lawrence can’t keep up with Quinn, and need my help. When Quinn sees me coming toward them, his fangs extend, and he bites Lawrence to get him out of the way.

  Red is all I see, and I barrel toward the fight. Suddenly, everyone around me, allies and enemies, drop to the ground, crippled in pain. Stunned, I stop. When the screaming stops, I stare at Quinn. Instead of locking eyes in a vision, we lock eyes in real time. My heart races, and I run toward him. He bares his teeth at me.

  He moves faster than my eyes can track. Before I know it, he’s on top of me. Using my powers, I throw him off. He gets up and runs right back at me. I hear a howl, and then Alaric’s wolf is there, along with Xavier. Stumbling, I run toward Alaric when I feel a hand grab my leg, and I fall to the ground.

  Xavier grabs my arm and Alaric bites Quinn’s leg. All of a sudden, the world drops out from under us and we’re falling. . . .

  With a splash, I’m dropped into a cold, crisp river. Coming up sputtering, I look around for everyone else but don’t see them. Taking note of my present situation, I see I’m back in the garden, and I know I’m in the same river Alaric and I were in my prior vision.

  Remembering Alaric, I rush to make my way to the bank and try to find him. The man standing on the bank of the river, though, isn’t him, it’s Lucas.

  “Lucas?” Surprise fills my voice as the final piece of my heart snaps into place, like a puzzle.

  He studies me with suspicion while looking around. But before he can ask me anything, Quinn suddenly jumps down the embankment, and just, like he did by the alter, he again tries to charge at me. But he’s slammed down by Alaric.

  Seeing Alaric, I gasp, “You’re alive.” But all he does is glare at me.

  “Do I know you?”

  Tears instantly fill my eyes, and I quickly turn around. Lucas quietly moves to me and asks, “Are you okay?”

  I shake my head, and for some strange reason, I want to lay my head on Lucas’s chest. This familiar pull I feel for him is powerful, so much so, I lean toward him. When he startles and puts his hand up to keep me away, our skin touches. As soon as we make contact, the ground beneath us shakes a little, and he gasps. Then, he tilts his head to the side and puts his hand on my cheek. “All of a sudden, I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

  A growl comes from behind us. Lucas turns around and visibly pales. Xavier stands nearby, and my nails bite into my fists as I clench them. My thoughts cloud as I think back to the first vision I had of Lucas, of Xavier torturing him.

  Snapping back to what’s going on around me, I put Lucas behind me. “Stay the hell away from both of us.” My voice is deadly.

  Before Xavier can say anything, Alaric pipes up, “Would someone mind helping me here?”

  Stepping away from Lucas, I run to help Alaric restrain Quinn. As soon as I put my hands on Quinn, he stills and stops fighting, staring at me in wonder. He’s definitely a sight, covered from head to toe in mud. Sputtering out a chuckle, I shake my head at him. From behind me, I hear Xavier say, “Where did she go?”

  Standing up, I say, “I’m right here.”

  Quinn comes to me and gently braces his hands on either side of my neck. “Concentrate, you’re using my people’s powers.” Our foreheads touch, and I sigh. “You’re blending into your environment. Just think about wanting to be seen and it’ll stop.�
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  Taking Quinn’s suggestion, I concentrate. Suddenly, everyone gasps.

  “Hmmm, interesting,” Alaric says, putting his finger on his chin. “Well, I guess one part of the prophecy is right.”

  My eyes snap open, and I look at Alaric. He has a beard, which is new and will definitely take some getting used to. “The prophecy your mother was talking about before?” Walking to him, I reach out to touch him, but he immediately backs away from me.

  “Stay the hell away from me, Witch,” Alaric hisses.

  I slowly back up and turn away from all of them. I walk toward the tree where my first vision started. It seems the man with whom I had the strongest connection now apparently hates me, and I have no idea why or how to fix it.

  Taking a seat at the base of the tree, I see Lucas make his way through the leaves. His lips turn up in a smile, and he takes a seat next to me. “Would you tell me what’s going on?” he gently asks.

  Rubbing at my temples, I rack my brain to give him an answer. Turning my head slightly, I look at him from the corner of my eye and grab his hand. “If I had an answer for you, I’d give it to you.” Squeezing his hand, I tell him the truth. “The person with the answers is the man with the beard over there. If you guys can get him to talk, he’ll be a great resource.”

  Lucas laughs harshly. “Alaric? He’s not telling anyone anything.”

  Getting up from the ground, I stomp through the vines. Alaric is not going to bully his way around. I’m done.

  He’s standing in the field of flowers, and the memories are fresh, but I refuse to let them take hold of me. Crossing my arms over my chest, I demand, “What’s your problem?”

  Turning around, he mimics me, only he’s a lot bigger. “You’re my problem.”

  Putting my hands on my hips, I’m surprised steam isn’t billowing out of my ears. “Considering a few months ago, you were swearing I was your mate, I highly doubt that.”

  He laughs as he disdainfully looks me over. “I’d never swear you’re my mate. You’re not that much to look at.”

  There’s no point in talking to him anymore. Using my powers, I throw him in the river. When he comes out sputtering, I laugh.

  He heads right for me and says, “Do it again, Witch, and I’ll ruin you.”

  This time I throw him across the garden so he hits the hard ground. Maybe it’ll knock a memory or two loose. Hands come down on my shoulders. Glancing behind me, I see it’s Xavier. And I throw him across the garden to join Alaric. They both need to learn a lesson.

  When I see dark hands land on my shoulder, I grab them. “Remind me never to piss you off, Rosalyn.”

  Smiling, I turn and face him. “You know my name?”

  He nods. With his eyes, he motions for me to turn around. Alaric stands right behind me, fuming. “Don’t ever use your powers on me again,” he growls, close to my nose.

  Smirking, I tell him, “Then don’t ever call me ‘Witch’ in a derogatory manner again.”

  Slowly smiling, he says, “Witch.”

  Instead of using my powers against him, I do something I know he’ll feel more. He says he doesn’t remember declaring I’m his mate, well maybe this will kick-start his memory. I slam my fist into his face. He doesn’t budge, but pain explodes in my hand. His face is as hard as a rock, and I’m pretty sure I have some broken bones. But, all of a sudden, warmth fills my hand, and the swelling recedes before my eyes.

  On a choked breath, Alaric’s deep voice caresses me. “Rosalyn.” His arms wrap around me, and I’m crushed to his chest. The mental block I felt between us for so long is now gone, and now, for the first time in my life, my soul feels complete. Every single one of their voices fills my head. She’s beautiful . . . She’s so young . . . What am I going to do when I go back? I’m home where I belong. Tears fill my eyes at the last thought, and I lift my head and look at Alaric. Right when he’s about to kiss my lips, I turn my head because suddenly, Lawrence’s face flashes through my mind.

  A frustrated grunt leaves his mouth, and he lets go of me. “So, you thought I died, and you moved on that fast?”

  “I mourned you for weeks,” I scream. Lucas comes to me and gathers me in a hug, rubbing my back. Taking a calming breath, I ask, “Will you just tell us what the hell’s going on?”

  Quinn is the first one to speak up. “Well, everything centers around you. I know that much.”

  My whole world stops turning for a second as I give him an incredulous look. “Someone needs to start talking and fast.”

  Alaric speaks up next. “You see that tree over there? That’s where everything began, seventeen years ago.”

  Thinking back to my first vision, I remember the sap that was stolen and a baby. The blood drains from my face.

  “When we all touched, we were dumped here. My mother explained that when the time was right, we would all meet because that’s when the events in prophecy would begin.” He kneels on the ground in front of me. “I think that’s why we’re in the garden. It’s the easiest place to explain everything.” Rubbing my cheek, he continues, “Over one hundred years ago, a Witch made a prophecy that a baby would be born from the sap of a tree, and her name would be Rosalyn.”

  Xavier rudely interrupts him. “That’s enough. You’re upsetting her.”

  In a second, Alaric is up and pinning him with a look. “No, you just don’t want her knowing the full story. I’m in her head. Believe me, I’ll know when she’s had enough.”

  Quinn comes to me and picks me up, setting me on his lap. Laying my head on his chest, I listen to Alaric talk. “The baby, which is you, was born to save the world. She would have never been born if it wasn’t for your kingdom stealing something that didn’t belong to them.”

  “The sap,” I whisper.

  “Yes, sweetheart, the sap,” he says. “How did you know about that?”

  My teeth clench as I tell them what I know. “One of my powers is visions, and the first vision I had was of me being born in this garden.”

  Alaric’s teeth clench along with mine. “What you saw that night was your people stealing the sap from the tree to make themselves immortal.” Shaking his head, he says, “I thought sacrificing babies to stay immortal was bad, but to steal from the garden, that’s a sin I wouldn’t do.” He looks at me and gravely says, “You have the four of us to help you on this quest.”

  Looking at him, I ask, “What’s supposed to happen with the four of us?”

  “According to the prophecy, we’re all going to get married.”

  All our eyes go wide, except Alaric’s. None of us were expecting that, and it’s going to take some getting used to. Lucas reaches over and holds my hand, and then Alaric is next. When Xavier comes near me, I glare, but I realize it’s a unity thing at this point. As soon as he touches us, we’re falling again and five life-changing thoughts race through my head. Everything I thought I knew has splintered, and the wind has blown it away. I have no family. I have no parents. I was born from a tree. My life to this point has been a lie.

  PART 2

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Xavier

  The pine trees come at us fast as we fall head-first toward the ground. Rosalyn’s holds onto Quinn, and as a branch of a tree hits her arm, Alaric grabs her. She whispers something loud enough only for them to hear. The limb of a tree tears my cape as it catches it, and then we all slam to the ground on our backs. An energy ball is thrown in our direction, and an almighty roar comes from Quinn, but he doesn’t need to worry. A cry echoes through the clearing. Looking over, I see Alizon and Lawrence on the ground.

  With strength backing her voice, Rosalyn says in Alaric’s direction, “Take care of Quinn.” His eyes soften, and then he squeezes her hand.

  I look around us, but I don’t see Lucas. From the corner of my eye, I see Alaric and Quinn take off running. Alaric transforms into a wolf quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they’re out of sight.

  My mate takes a ragged breath, and I walk over and grab her hand.
She pulls hers out of mine, and the glare she directs at me would make the strongest man drop dead if it held power behind it.

  “Don’t touch me,” she growls as glares at me, hatred burning through her eyes.

  My lips pinch together. “I’m not good enough to touch you, but you’ll use my powers?”

  She snarls, and then directs her concentration to Alizon and Lawrence to make sure they don’t go after the others. She doesn’t last long, though. I reach out my arms as her eyes roll back and her limbs crumble under her weight. I catch her before her body hits the ground.

  My knuckle glides over her cheek, and there’s a connection between us I’ve never felt before. While I’m wrapped up in Rosalyn, I hear harsh breathing in front of me.

  In a deathly quiet voice, I’m threatened. “Get your hands off of her, or I’ll kill you.”

  My gaze is pulled from Addy’s face, and I look up. Shaking my head, I answer Lawrence. “No, I won’t get my hands off my future wife.” For once, it’s not a feeling. It’s a fact. My mouth pulls up in a cocky smirk.

  Red hair briefly flashes by my eyes, and then she’s pulled from my arms and handed to Lawrence. Alizon. I swear that maddening woman will do anything to keep Rosalyn and me apart. The muscles in my forearms cord up, and if I had my powers, she would regret what she just did.

  She returns the smirk I just gave Lawrence. “It sucks not having your powers, doesn’t it?” Flipping her hair, she walks away, motioning for Lawrence to follow her. “You realize she’s never going to forgive you about Benjamin, right?” There’s such bitterness in her voice, and I realize nothing has changed in one hundred and seventy-six years.

  What happened to Benji wasn’t my fault. I had no control over what happened. I’m as heartbroken as she is, and I wish she would understand that. “We’ve gone over this many times, Alizon. Why aren’t you just as upset with Lawrence? He was there.”

  She gasps, and her steps falter. Lawrence turns around. If he wasn’t holding Rosalyn, he would have come after me. The only thing keeping Alizon from him is the same thing.