“How does torturing our women and having the Keres constantly fighting us be for our own good?” Draco asks with a scowl.
“Casualties of war. That’s why I didn’t say anything you wouldn’t understand,” Elrik says, and shrugs. I can see that his answer has angered Draco, as his eyes are that magnetic blue that talks to high emotions.
“Casualties of war? Why don’t you say that to Brandr, who found Aria nearly dead? How can you say that is helping us? Do you know how many fucking Keres we killed, all because you were playing a fucking war game?” Draco asks, his voice low, deceiving anyone listening to how furious he actually is.
“You got humans involved, gave them enough ammunition to really hurt us if they wanted,” Cassius says.
“Only the group in the underground knew about what we were doing. Any other information about the Elementals and the Keres never made it anywhere else,” Elrik states.
“True,” Scarlett says.
“You didn’t know at the beginning that this would be the outcome. This could all have backfired, and we could all be dead or worse, our women, and then most of us would fucking turn,” Tor states.
“That was a chance I was willing to take, and no, I didn’t know the outcome, but I was sure that if we could tap into their technology, they would be able to help us somehow.” Suddenly, Elrik is off his chair and lying on the table, gasping for breath. I know Draco has lost his patience.
“You were willing to take a chance with your brothers’ lives, with our women. What kind of helping is that?” Draco growls. I stand and rush towards him, because I know that if he kills Elrik, he will regret it for always. I place my hands on his back and start to stroke soothingly.
“Let him go, Draco. You still need more information from him. He isn’t worth your regret later. Please let him go.” I feel him taking in a deep breath, and then Elrik is once again taking in deep breaths, trying to fill his lungs with the much-needed air. Draco lets go of Tor and then turns to look at me. He doesn’t say anything, just kisses my forehead and then inclines his head towards where I was sitting. I know that he’s thankful I stopped him, and that at the moment, he can’t show any weakness, so I turn and head back to my chair.
“I understand that you are upset because I went behind your back, but I would do it again if I had to.” Elrik says, his voice raspy from the lack of breath a few minutes ago.
“You son of a bitch, how didn’t I see how fucking irrational you are?” Tor says with a world of pain in his voice.
“It was easy. You’re way too absorbed in yourself to see anything around you,” Elrik says with a shrug, which has Tor swearing again, but this time, instead of attacking Elrik, he throws up his hands in defeat, turns, and then walks out of the room.
“You could have been our downfall,” Draco says. “How could you do that to your brothers? We have always stood by you, and you have betrayed every one of us.”
“Some might have died, and yes, lots of women were tortured and experimented on, but we had results. I don’t care about the rest,” Elrik says with such a cold attitude that it chills me to my core. How can someone be so unfeeling, so cold? Not caring if men he’s been with for centuries die?
“I will take this to the men. They will decide what is to be done with this,” Draco says. “I was hoping we were wrong, was hoping that somehow this was some kind of mistake.” Draco turns from Elrik and looks at Cassius. No words are passed, but I see Cassius nod. He then walks towards Scarlett and me. “Shall we go, ladies? We are done here.” Scarlett hesitates, but then she follows us out while Cassius stays behind with Elrik.
We walk into the bar, and I see the men laughing and joking around. Some of the women who were standing outside are now inside, draped over the men, simpering. I notice that Tor isn’t here and can only imagine the anger and disappointment he must be feeling. I know that either Draco or Tor will have to tell all these men what is happening, and they are all going to be as devastated with the news as everyone at home was.
This is upsetting news, but I’m hoping that once this is over, the healing will begin, and everyone will find happiness and contentment again. Hopefully no one will let this affect them to the point of not being able to trust those close to them again.
DRACO 18
After talking to Elrik yesterday, I decided not to say anything to the men until Tor was ready. He had disappeared yesterday and only came back late. I left Katrina to sleep and went to sit, waiting for Tor to return, knowing that he would be calmer but still devastated that one of his men would do this.
“How didn’t I see this?” he asks after sitting in silence for a couple minutes after arriving. We are alone in the bar so no one will hear our conversation.
“No one saw it,” I state as I lean back in my chair and cross my arms.
“But I have been with him for fucking ever. I should have been able to see that he was losing it,” he says, and even though I can hear the anger in his voice, his body is relaxed. “Where is he?” He looks up at me.
“My men are keeping an eye on him. I didn’t say anything; I thought you should be here. Do you want to tell them, or do you want me to tell them?” It’s something I’m dreading, but if I must do it, I will. I hate knowing that all the men who were laughing and joking earlier will be as devastated with this as we are.
“Fuck, Draco, I hate this shit,” Tor mutters as he looks down again and pulls his fingers through his hair. “I’ll fucking tell them. What are we going to do with him?”
“This affected all of us. He didn’t just betray the two of us, but he betrayed every man and woman. I think everyone should have a say in what we do with him.”
Tor doesn’t say anything for a long time, but then he nods and sighs in frustration. “When do you want to do this?”
“I think we should get Celmund to set up a live feed to all the chapters and make sure that everyone is there. I will start by explaining everything we have all as Elementals gone through and what has transpired the last couple days. I won’t tell them the name of the person or that that person is a brother. I will leave that to you. Are you fine with that, Tor?” Tor places his elbows on the table and covers his face with his hands. I can see the emotional tiredness that he’s going through. Being an Elemental and living for so long sometimes has us emotionally and mentally tired, and when something like this happens, it can drain all the energy out of us.
“It’s fine. Just let me know when.” With those final words, he stands and leaves, heading for his room. I sit by myself for a long time, contemplating all the changes that have transpired the last couple years. I feel that we have all gone through a period of change. Even the brothers who didn’t find their mates yet have started to look at their surroundings differently. I believe that it’s been wrenching at times, but that this is the pinnacle that will tip the scales and we’ll finally find the peace that we so desperately desire.
The men have been speaking for a while about building homes on our property for themselves and their families. Now that we have finally found our way to peace, I think it’s a good place to start. The compound is becoming very crowded as the families grow, and I suspect that soon, we’ll have more additions. We’ll use the compound for training and for those who still want to stay there, but for those who want a home, we will build a home for them on the vast property surrounding the compound. Sighing, I stand and make my way to the room that I usually use when here. Opening the door, I see Katrina spread across the bed, sleeping, which has me smiling. My woman doesn’t know this yet, but she’s carrying our child. When I first sensed the change in her energy, I was sceptical as to why I would sense a change, but didn’t say anything, and then her natural fragrance became sweeter. When I realized that she was carrying my child, I panicked. I didn’t expect it to happen so fast, and the thought of being a father worried me like nothing else before has.
What if I’m not a good father? What if something happens to Katrina while carrying our child? I would
never be able to forgive myself. She has no idea yet, and I worry about how she might take the news, as we haven’t really spoken about having children yet, even though I know she loves children. At least I know that some of our worries are resolving themselves, and if I have a son, he won’t need to worry about turning as all of us used to.
A son! The idea of having a little boy like Wulf does has my heart tightening, of being able to teach him how to ride, how to bend his element. When I looked at Wulf with Orion, I was surprised of how Wulf changes when around his son and mate. I can feel the calmness in his energy, but I can also see deep contentment and happiness, something he didn’t have before that he does now. I think all of us have found that contentment and happiness with our mates. I know I have.
I had never thought of leaving the compound, but now with my child on the way, I will see what my vixen wants. If she prefers to have a house built where we’ll live, then I will build her a home. If she prefers to stay at the compound, then I will have to enlarge our room to fit the baby’s things and, later on, a room. I know that Katrina also doesn’t know about how fragile our children are when young, but I know she will be an excellent mother and will teach our children good norms and values that will make them grow into great Elementals.
Thinking of norms and values, Elrik once again comes to mind, and I feel that sadness of losing one of my men fill me. Bringing a child into this world when you see one of your own brothers whom you have always stood by not care about others around him and think that others are dispensable, and I think for the hundredth time how someone can be so unfeeling.
“Draco.” I realize Katrina has awoken and is looking at me, a worried look on her face.
“Go back to sleep, vixen. Everything is okay. I’m just going to have a quick shower and then join you,” I say as I walk up to the bed and lean down to kiss her forehead.
“Are you okay?” she asks, her voice sleepy.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I smile as she nods and closes her eyes. She probably won’t remember waking up and asking me this tonight. I grin when I see her rub her face against my pillow like a kitten, and then I look down and groan when I see my T-shirt that she’s wearing to sleep has slipped up and is now showing off her perfect bum. I would like nothing more than to slip into bed with her right now and forget about everything deep within her body, but my woman needs her rest. Well, I guess it will be another cold shower for me, but I’ll make up for it when she wakes up.
With that thought in mind, I move towards the bathroom to shower but stop when I feel Bion’s energy approaching. Before he can knock and wake up Katrina, I am at the door, opening it a crack so that he can’t see inside to where my woman is sleeping. I see him about to lift his hand to knock.
“Elrik wants to talk to you. He says it’s important and he will only talk to you,” Bion says quietly. Fuck. So much for lying down and enjoying the closeness of my woman’s body next to mine. I slip out of the room and close the door behind me. Bion and I make our way down to where we are keeping Elrik.
“Is there a reason this couldn’t happen in the morning?” I ask.
“He says he wants to do it now when he is certain it will only be the two of you,” Bion says, and then he stops and looks at me when I also stop and turn to him. “He has lost all sense of right and wrong. There is no compassion in him. I think that he has been fighting against turning, but it has affected him in this way. If it’s decided to let him live, I think that the women could try to heal him, but knowing the Elrik I used to know, he will never be able to live with himself if he gets back to his old self.”
I know that what Bion is saying is true, and that one way or another, we have lost Elrik. I doubt he will be pardoned, but if he is, he will have lost all will to live.
We continue until we are standing outside where he is being held. Wulf walks out and inclines his head. “He’s all yours,” he mutters. “We are going for some coffee. Let me know when you’re ready to leave.” I nod before entering the room.
Elrik is leaning back against the headboard, legs stretched. “Draco, sorry to ask to talk to you at this time,” he says.
“Why do you want to talk to me?”
“I wanted to make sure that we weren’t going to be overheard by someone walking past. I’m going to give you the option to either share this information with the others or not,” he says, shrugging. “I had the option of infiltrating the agency, so I did. When I realized that they could maybe help us, I didn’t look back.” He strokes the scar that runs down his cheek, and there is a sadness to his eyes. “I wanted to find a way for the Elementals to not be so dependent on our mates. If they died, then we would continue to live and maybe even find companionship with someone else after.”
“That is crazy, Elrik. Our women become part of us.”
“Yes, they do, but Ben found a way that we could transfer the women’s energy temporarily to the experiments. The thing that he didn’t know was that if they are mates and the women transfer their energy, that is saved in our DNA and we can then cope with their loss, as we have a part of them with us.” I’m surprised at his revelation, never thinking that that would be a possibility, but it makes sense.
“There is only one hiccup. If they live, their gift will be returned to them after a day or two, so the mate would have to die for the Elemental to keep that gift and the presence of his mate within his system.”
I can’t believe he is even suggesting such a thing. “You know we would never harm our mates,” I state.
“You might not, but how do you know that others won’t want to not be dependent on their mates.” My anger rises at what he’s suggesting.
“Think about what you’re saying, Elrik. Do you really think that I will stand for any man killing his mate for the simple reason that he wants to live longer?” Just the thought has me wanting to forget this conversation.
“It is everyone’s right to know that they have an option,” he states.
“I will not give any man an option of killing his mate,” I state. “We live for centuries. If we have to die because something happens to our mate, so be it.”
“Well, I have told you. It is now in your hands. Are you going to do the right thing and let the men know so they can choose what they want, or are you going to hide it from them?” he states as he leans forward on the bed and looks at me.
“Yes, I will do the right thing, and the right thing is to not give any man an option to kill another.” With those words, I turn and step outside before I lose my shit and kill him. Closing the door behind me, I lean back against the wall and close my eyes; I take a few deep breaths, calming my anger. When I finally open my eyes, I send a message to Wulf, letting him know that they can come. I can’t let him tell anyone else what he just told me. We cannot give our men the option to kill their mates.
I doubt that they would, but I never thought that Elrik would do what he did, and here is my proof. Therefore, I would rather keep this secret until the day I die than share it with anyone and give them an option to kill. I sense the men nearing and stand up straight from where I’m leaning.
“Fuck, Draco, I could feel your anger all the way to the kitchen,” Bion states when he’s standing next to me. “I thought for sure that you had killed him, but I’m still feeling his presence.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I grunt.
“What did he want?” Wulf asks with a frown, but I shake my head and know that he won’t push the topic. That is one thing about my men—they trust my judgement and don’t ever question my decisions.
“This is one fucking messed-up situation,” Wulf mutters.
“Do you think it’s true and no one else knows about this project? Is it possible that this is the end of it?” Bion asks as he pulls his fingers through his hair.
“Yes, Scarlett saw the truth of his words,” I answer. “It looks like we’re finally going to have the peace that we so much craved.”
“Thank fuck. I’m going to lock myself away with Br
ielle for a month and just enjoy not doing anything. Be warned; if anyone gets hurt, too bad,” he quips. I know he’s teasing, but I also know how much all the men have craved peace and time to enjoy their women and some their children too. I completely understand that drive now. Since meeting Katrina, all I want is to give her the best life possible.
I’m hoping I can do that now.
KATRINA 19
I am disturbed from my sleep by a slight noise, but my eyes open immediately. Before, I would sleep like a log, but since Zan was born, my maternal radar has been triggered and any slight noise wakens me. Opening my eyes, I smile as I see Draco standing naked with Zan against his shoulder as he whispers to him. I don’t move, as I love seeing the two men in my life together. Draco was a nightmare when I was pregnant, not wanting me to do anything. Any slight twinge would send him into a panic.
It has been a year of many changes. Everything started with the disclosure of Elrik as the traitor. It was a terrible day, I remember, when Tor and Draco informed everyone about what Elrik did. They brought him in to hear the discussion, but before they could start, he stood up and stabbed himself right through his heart, ending his life. It was live, so everyone in all the chapters saw it and were completely devastated, as they all knew Elrik. Draco and Tor then explained to everyone what had been happening and what they had found out, but that still didn’t decrease the grieving for a man everyone knew before.
With time, things have settled and everyone has gradually moved on from the news. The Keres we have healed are also being integrated back into their lives once again, and for most of them, their mates have been found. The Elementals are mainly finding the Keres still out there and bringing them in. There have been some situations where Elementals have also been on the precipice of changing, and those are the ones more difficult to control, because not everyone has a mate out there yet.
Everyone has relaxed more, as there hasn’t been any real fighting since Vercin was killed. The men keep an eye on the agency, but there haven’t been any suspicious activities that would have them worried. I smile as I see Zan’s sleepy smile as Draco continues whispering to him. When my eyes encountered Draco across the bar for the first time, I would never have thought that we would be so happy and so in love with each other. Draco fulfils me in every way. He does everything in his power for Zan and me.
DRACO'S WRATH: Elemental's MC (book 11) Page 13
