“You’re crazy, Anders. Nothing is taking your power, nothing is taking your face. This is your child.”
He shook his head. How could he be sure with what he'd seen?
Her smile softened as she reached for him.
He jumped back. “Don’t, Kindra. I once loved you, but my parents were right. You want power, you want status. I’ll never have any of that, and you think he can take my place and rise in the ranks.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I love you, Anders. Please eat. I prepared a healing tonic. Come to the table, please.”
“Not a chance in hell. You’re poisoning me. The other witches don’t see it, they’re blind to what’s going on. All except Cora. The same thing was happening to Daniel, but she hasn’t seen the little people, and she sure as hell isn’t helping them.”
Only, Cora wouldn’t go to the Silver Council. She didn’t believe they would help, but Anders knew he would die, the same as Daniel, who was even worse off than Anders, if he didn’t do something right that moment.
Anders had called that morning, and they were coming. He wasn’t sure exactly when, but it had to be soon.
Kindra moved closer and reached out, magic on her palm.
He knocked her hand away. “Why are you doing this? Do you realize what that thing is doing to me?”
Her eyes narrowed, venom on her tongue. “He’ll be better than you ever could be. He’ll be the new high priest and rise above your stupid simple life.”
“You weren’t like this.”
“No, I’m better now that Gerard came into my life.” She lifted her hands, chanting.
Holding up his palms, he created a wall of energy. “Whose is it?”
That shut her up for a second. She covered her stomach with both hands. “His. I’m his. The baby is his.”
“He can have you.”
He turned to walk away, but Gerard was there, reaching for his face.
Anders slammed one fist into his face, then another, and hurled magic at him.
Pain pierced his side and he slammed his elbow back, sending Kindra to the ground. He took the blade from his ribs and slammed it into her chest before stumbling out the door, into a solid wall of muscle.
“What happened?” a deep voice asked.
Anders’ knees gave out. “My wife helped that thing become me. Then she stabbed me.”
Two more mages rushed past him. The wild-haired one guided him to a seated position and covered the wound with his hand. “It’s not going to feel great, but it’ll stop the bleeding.”
He nodded. “Is there a way to get rid of my magic?”
“There is, but it means becoming something else.”
“What?”
“Wereanimal, probably werewolf. And I don’t see you having much choice. You’re close to death, and that thing stole enough essence, I’m not sure anything else can save you.”
“Don’t care. Don’t want to be a witch. Don’t want magic.” He wanted a new life so he could forget the old.
“Hang on.” The mage scooped him up and carried him back to his car. “Keys?”
Anders shook his head. “Don’t know.”
“Going to hotwire it.”
“Fine.” His eyes slipped shut.
When he woke later, they were traveling toward the rising sun.
His voice was hoarse, but he managed to get the words out. “Where are we? Where are the other mages?”
The man sighed. “Don’t worry about them. They may not understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That thing attacking you was a doppelganger. You have little or no magic left, and your only options are to fade to the point you die, or you accept a wolf. There’s one other, but it means you become something like them, feeding off other people’s magic.”
Anders shook his head. “I won’t do that to another. It wanted my magic. I don’t want it.” A vision of Kindra stumbling back when he plunged the knife into her chest came back and a strangled sound escaped. “And I know what I did was wrong, but what other option did I have?”
“Wrong? In what way?”
“She was pregnant. I stabbed her.”
“I saw where she stabbed you. They were going to kill you.” The mage lifted a shoulder. “I don’t see another option, unless you would have preferred death.”
He snorted. “My coven thought I was crazy.”
“You weren’t.”
“What’s your name?”
“Tremaine. I already know yours, Anders.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to the biggest werewolf pack in Washington. It’s in a town full of Others. All kinds. And they all get along. I know it might take you a bit to get used to it, but once you do, I think you’ll find your place.”
“A pack works together, right? One big family?”
“Typically. And this one does.” He pulled down a dirt road that led back to a cabin. The mage hopped out and Anders climbed to his feet but had to hold on to the door.
The mage came back and pulled his arm over his shoulder. “Won’t be long before you’re stronger than ever.”
A man came to the door with ashy brown hair that reached his shoulders and steel gray eyes. “Welcome. Come in.”
The mage guided him to a chair. Anders recoiled when a witch touched his shoulder, the magic tripping down his body. His magic tried to respond, but it was depleted, causing a pins and needle sensation to travel from the center to the source of contact.
“Don’t,” Anders snapped.
A male witch said, “Don’t you want to try to fix what’s wrong before sealing your fate?”
Anders hated the defeat in his voice. “You can’t fix what’s wrong. I want to be a wolf.”
“You’ll give up your magic?” the woman asked, not hostile, but definitely confused.
Anders snorted. “It’s gone. I can’t give up what was already stolen.”
“We could fix it,” the guy insisted, taking a step closer.
The Alpha shook his head. “Ignore Druciela and Josh. I thought their presence may help, but it seems I was wrong. Neither of them understand what you’re going through. I’m sure most witches can’t imagine life without their magic.”
Anders met Slater’s gaze and latched on. He didn’t want what made him a target. He needed the freedom becoming a wolf would provide. “Can they leave?”
“You’re a fool to not try,” Josh hissed.
Anders spun back to face him. “You don’t know what I’ve been through.”
“Josh, come with me,” Druciela chided, pulling Josh to the door.
Aliyah touched Mark’s shoulder, breaking him free of the memories. “Are you okay?”
He managed a tight smile as her magic tripped along his nerves, calling to the void hidden deep within. He hated that feeling. It happened every damned time he got close to a witch. This time, something sparked and shot through his nerves like fire. He pulled away, breaking contact as he faced her. “As good as I can be with my mate being held by a bunch of vampires.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine what Josh is going through.”
Only two of the witches in Edenton knew what he had been. And Josh never accepted his choice. Druciela only seemed to pity him. So he avoided most of the witches without being an asshole.
Even though most of the witches were there because they left their own coven, or were born without a coven around them, he still stayed away. After being so thoroughly betrayed and denied by his own coven, he wanted nothing to do with any reminder of his past. In the end, his people, those he considered friends and family, treated him like a pariah because they didn’t want to believe something so heinous could happen right under their noses.
Mark pushed out a breath. “I just wish Robert would bring us in to find them.”
“You and me both,” Brody said. We’ve dealt with casters.”
Slater sighed. �
��This is different. They only had mages back then. Now they have the DSF, which means more specialties. They’ll get to them and get them out. If they need trackers, they’ll call us, but keep in mind, they have no real lead right now.”
And Mark had a feeling Slater knew more than he did. Fine, whatever. He usually did. And right now, Mark just wanted to know where Gina was, and there was no way Slater knew without barging in there and getting her back.
“Hate this,” Delilah snarled, pacing away.
He didn’t blame her. He hated it all too.
* * * *
Kindra rubbed at her empty stomach. She’d been locked up for days…weeks. She wasn’t sure anymore. Definitely more than a week, but she’d lost track.
She’d gone to Seattle for a shopping trip but was bitten by a vampire and drained until she lost consciousness. She woke up in a huddle on the floor, against the wall of a cavern with at least a hundred Others surrounding her. All kinds. Fae, weres, witches, mages, and all manner. She’d never been so scared in her life.
The Others captured weren’t the problem. The vampires who held them were. They had a vast number of cattle and thralls that kept them prisoner. Anyone who posed any kind of threat had been chained. The rest them were too afraid to do anything after watching the harsh punishments doled out from the vampires.
A number of vampires drank from her. Small drinks, leaving her weaker, but not dead. They fed them nutrient rich foods and juices, but that only came twice a day.
She’d spent her time keeping her head down, avoiding everyone. One person drew her attention. The blond woman who’d been taken to a room down the hall at the end of the cavern. She hadn’t seen her since. But there had been something familiar about the woman. Not the woman herself, but the essence lingering on her. She would have recognized that sensation anywhere.
Anders. The woman had to know Anders, had to be close to him. That didn’t make sense. Anders was dead. And yet, just having the blond woman near made her reach for Anders and that pathway was still there but blocked.
Kindra couldn’t help watching the door, questions circling her head. Had Anders escaped? Was he alive now? Did he recover? He was so close to death the last she saw him, and even though he nearly killed her, she wanted him back. But she had attacked first.
She would have died if Gerard hadn’t pulled her through the portal to Faery. Gerard assured her Anders had died. The coven’s healer saved her and the baby’s life. A baby tainted by Gerard’s influence over her.
Had Valen been Anders’? Yes, at least until Gerard’s influence seeped into her little boy. He was different than other boys. His magic was tainted.
As years went by, the coven believed Gerard was Anders. Her friend Cora’s husband was now Anthony, but everyone believed him to be Daniel. There were three others who died when their doppelganger had taken on their form.
Anders had lasted longer than the rest of them. The more he lingered, the more conflicted she became until she finally snapped, realizing there were no other options than ending his suffering because he couldn’t survive. He wouldn’t.
Maybe she was just going crazy, away from Gerard and Valen so damned long. She needed to be back in Brightwater Bay.
About a week into her captivity she even began to feel strange. Maybe guilt had finally started to eat at her. So much time to question all her decisions.
Her husband would be looking for her. Her son too. Especially her son. The vampires refused to listen to them. The cattle were too far gone to help. And she could feel the connection to Gerard but couldn’t reach across a barrier to contact him. Dark magic surrounded this place.
One of the vampires’ cattle roamed past. Kindra caught the man’s pant leg. “Let me out. Please.”
Soulless eyes stared back. “Cannot do.” He stumbled on, pulling from her grasp.
Kindra sat back against the wall, pulling her sweater tighter. She needed Gerard to find her, and soon.
* * * *
Gina sat in the room, in the dark, rocking from side to side. She couldn’t help thinking about Mark and what he was going through. She wanted to reach out and follow the link to him, but it was hidden from her.
She curled up against the wall, closing her eyes. “Tell me he’s all right.”
He is, the voice murmured. Sleep for now. There is nothing you can do yet.
Hating the answer, she closed her eyes and reached for Mark once more.
Something snapped. She catapulted out, through the wall, ground, and into the open air. She flew above the trees and she finally felt him as she sailed past a barrier.
She found Mark pacing in their bedroom. He came to a stop and reached out to touch her. Gina tried to grab his hand, but her fingers moved through his.
“Where are you?” Mark whispered.
“A room somewhere underground. I don’t know. I haven’t seen anyone but one vampire.”
“How did you know how to do this?”
“What?”
“Astral projection. You left your body to find me.”
Shrugging, she shook her head. “No idea, but I needed to reach you. Think you might know someone who could follow me back?”
He rubbed at his neck. “I can ask a few people. Anything to find you faster. I’m terrified of what will happen to you.”
“So far, nothing has happened. You need to relax. I’m fine. And I know you’ll find me soon.”
“The Council won’t let me help.”
She frowned. “These vampires are different, Mark. They may have a good reason to keep you away.”
“Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t come for you. I love you, Gina.”
“I love you more than I can fully express,” she answered.
He rubbed at his face, then looked her in the eyes. “Why did you leave me?”
She dropped her gaze. “That’s complicated. You’ll think I’m crazy.”
He shook his head and reached for her but dropped his hand. “Just tell me why.”
Touching her temple, she shrugged. “I keep hearing a voice. One that helped me through hard times. She wants you to live and didn’t think you would if you came with me.”
“Why?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t know.” She looked outside and frowned. “The night is coming. I need to go.”
“I wish I could follow. If I never became a werewolf I could.”
“What do you mean?”
He blew out a breath. “I was a witch. I could do that.”
“I was Fae, but they took that part of me when I was little.” Something called to her from far away. “I need to go.”
She slammed into her body as the door flew open.
Gina jolted, looking at the door. Dark eyes met hers, then she was slammed against the wall, everything going black.
Chapter 3
Damn near two days had passed and it felt like forever. Mark needed Gina safe, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do. Robert had finally explained what was going on. Delilah had filled him in as well.
Her sister, Amelia, who happened to be a vampire, was working with a sorcerer to reach the leader of the group abducting Others and some humans. An ancient vampire was leading the blood cult. To supply his followers with food, they kept prisoners.
That’s why Gina had been taken. To be food for vampires. Most vampires avoided Other blood because of what it did to them. It was like a drug. Sometimes they went crazy. And this cult fed off Others.
Until they found these vampires, they couldn’t find those taken. The Council suspected they were in the woods at something the Fae referred to as the Old House. It was an old mansion in the middle of the woods, up in the mountains. He’d been there a few times, but it always looked different. Something about the people there could affect the home itself.
The night before, the enforcers were asked to help search the area around the Old House. The building had been gone. A few vampires had attack
ed, and he’d killed his share. And still, they couldn’t find where the vampires had come from.
There was only one strange thing, besides the vampires appearing out of thin air.
A voice. One he’d only ever heard when that thing had tried to siphon his essence. Only, the voice was a peaceful voice, telling him to breathe, to relax. That Gina would be with him again.
The voice scared the shit out of him. Last time he heard it, everything went to hell. But with Gina gone, it was already hell.
Robert had taken them away when a vampire called out that they wouldn’t find what they were looking for.
So now, Mark paced the kitchen. He thought about making food, but he had no appetite.
There was a pop and he spun to find Robert. “You want to be there when we get Gina out, right?”
“That is the dumbest question I’ve ever heard.”
Robert sighed. “I’m not talking about going to get them out. The vampires involved all have magic, Mark. I’m talking about Headquarters, where I’m bringing everyone as soon as we take care of the problem.”
“I want to be there,” he growled.
“I know you do. And I also know you and the other werewolves with their mates being held are going to want to murder everyone involved.”
“Can you honestly say you wouldn’t if it were Liz or Tremaine taken?”
Robert ran a hand over his face. “My nephew has been taken, and I plan to go in there and do what I can to prevent more bloodshed than necessary. Yes, some vampires will die, but I’m willing to bet some of them are not there by choice.”
“Fine. You’re right. I wouldn’t stop to figure that out. Yes, I want to be there when you bring her out.”
Robert touched his shoulder, and they reappeared in a cafeteria.
“What the fuck?” Mark asked.
“Sorry. Fastest way to get you here,” Robert explained. “Delilah and Dane are already here.”
He scanned the people in the building. “Am I the last one here?”
Robert nodded. “And I have to go.” He disappeared.
Delilah pulled him toward a seat. “I’m going crazy. Christian’s going to be lucky if I don’t kill him.”
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