by Colt, Shyla
“Look for the ravens.” His voice faded as the world around her pitched, and she was pulled into the darkness.
* * *
Twitching, she fought through the sticky cobwebs of sleep and opened her eyes. The sun’s rays trickled through the thick limbs of the trees overhead. She shook her head to clear it, and slowly eased onto her elbows. Cold, wet snow clung to her naked arms. The scenery around her had changed. Where am I? She craned her neck, stunned to discover she still wore the buckskin dress. Sitting up, she took in the drooping branches of the massive pines, heavy with snow. A gurgling croak drew her head up. A circle of black birds gave her pause. Ravens? It was a given fact ravens liked wolves. They often followed them around and alerted them to food by imitating their howls.
Look for the ravens. Was this what he meant? The inky birds swopped down, circling her head once more before flying off. Unfamiliar with her surroundings, she went against her first instinct and began to follow. Wolves ran hotter than humans, so the cold barely registered as she walked barefoot through the white frozen water. Ravens continued to cry out, keeping her on the right path. The sensation of being watched hit. Her spine tingled. Turning to look at the woods, she caught a pair of golden eyes watching her. The wolves.
The rustle of branches set her on edge. Her ears twitched as she guessed the numbers. The pack was big. A rush of air alerted her seconds before the large, black wolf landed in front of her. The wolf came to her chest. Stumbling back, she froze. Overly intelligent eyes pierced her own. Its lips were peeled back from massive teeth as it gave a growl of warning.
The wolf stalked forward, nose twitching as he took in her scent. She’d never seen a werewolf this big before, not even an Alpha. This must be one of the wolves Dad mentioned. She swallowed hard and straightened her spine. Fear would not earn respect.
The wolf expelled air through its nose. White wisps of steam curled up between them. Keen eyes studied her. Her mental walls were nudged.
Brush rustled nearby. The wolf glanced over his shoulders before bounding away. He disappeared into the trees.
“Are you okay?” Isiah asked breathlessly.
She turned. The sight of his leather leggings and matching tunic told her he’d had an experience similar to her own. “You saw him, too?”
“I saw … something. Which is why I need to leave.”
“What?” Her shrill voice rang through the unfamiliar section of the forest.
“I need to arrange things.”
“And in that time, we’ll do what? Live like criminals on the run?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m going to make a deal.”
She scoffed. “With who?”
“My father.”
She held up her hand. “I’m sorry. Were we at the same place yesterday? He’s not into compromise.”
“He won’t have a choice.”
She furrowed her brow. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“We all have secrets we’d prefer not to get out. Being the owner of those dark truths gives one power.”
“You’re going to blackmail him?” she asked skeptically.
“Yes, and you’re going to steer clear of him.”
How can I trust him with this?
“We’re in this together now, Joss.”
“Are we? ’Cause it feels like we want two different things.” She tossed her hands up in the air. “Like we always have.”
“How long are you going to throw up barriers between us?” He shook his head, gesturing between them. “We’ve evolved into a unit.”
“And that is convenient for you. This new development in line with the desires you already had,” she exploded.
“You think it’s easy to be linked to a person who’s constantly in opposition to what I want? You’d be wrong.” He took a step closer. “We have to find common ground, or we’ll both lose everything. His voice lowered an octave. “There’s too much at stake.”
“You wield your words like a weapon, meant to force me to bend to your will.”
“Are you so self-centered and paranoid?” he spat. “This is about life as we know it. As the world knows it ending.”
“Yes. But why does that require me to sacrifice everything I want, and believe in?”
“Because I’m the one with the plan,” he roared.
She cringed but refused to back down. “The mysterious one you’ve yet to share with me?”
“You want trust without giving it?”
“You owe me. You’ve bullied, oppressed, and stalked me for years, so don’t stand here and play the victim. Don’t think this thing beyond our control makes our past null and void.”
“The future is coming fast, regardless. We need to put the petty issues we have aside.”
“Set them aside for what? You’re not giving me any choice other than blind trust.”
“I’m going to do what’s necessary, Joss. Unlike you, we can’t all sit back and keep our hands clean while we hope for the best.”
“Is that what you think I’ve done?” She threw her head back and laughed. “My soul is stained with the lies I’ve helped force-feed others. Whatever fate they meet, I helped lead them to. Don’t tell me I sat back and let others do the work. I’ve already been a puppet for your father. How dare you expect me to do the same for you.”
“Soon you won’t have a choice.”
“Now you threaten?”
“I’m stating facts.” He sighed. “I don’t have time to waste arguing with you. Come, we need to find our way back.” Turning on his heel, he ended their conversation, giving her no choice but to follow him. Whatever he’d learned in his dreams had spooked him into action.
Chapter Ten
“You had no clue he was going to announce your engagement?” Brook gawked.
Joss shook her head. A week later, and she’d become quite adept at avoiding the Alpha like the plague. Not that he tried hard to find her. Whatever Isiah did kept him at bay. “He called me and Isiah out of the blue to come over. He must suspect we’re hiding things. Why else would he pull this?”
“To undermine and control his son like he always has. In this instance, I think you got caught in the crosshairs.”
“I wish I could buy that. I don’t. Especially not with him mentioning the comet.” And all of the other things I don’t dare share for fear of endangering you.
“What does your dream man say?” Brook stirred the straw in her cola.
“Kazimir wants me to come with him.” And it gets harder and harder to tell him no.
“What exactly happened between you and Isiah? It looked like pretty potent magic.”
Her stomach bubbled. How could she explain that her enemy was an old soul she was connected to? “I wish I could tell you. We’ll add it to the list of things I need to figure out.” It was another lie.
“How do you plan on doing that?” Brook arched her brow.
“I’m going to see Kishi.”
Frowning, Brook wrinkled her nose. “You need to be careful around her, Joss.”
“I never forget who I’m dealing with,” Joss assured her.
“Remember you also have people here to help you. “
They’d driven an hour and a half to escape the pack. Seated in the back booth of a restaurant they spoke in hushed tones.
“How?” Disgusted, Joss shoved her plate of fries away.
“By putting our heads together and seeing what we can come up with. How’s Isiah been since the glowing incident?”
I wouldn’t know. He took off out of here like a bat out of hell, and I haven’t heard from him since. “I don’t know. He hasn’t been around lately. What happened that night scared me, Brook. It was heavy, old magic and far too personal for comfort. The things I saw confused me. It might’ve seemed like minutes to you, but for us it was centuries. I’m afraid of what I’ll see the next time I do look him in the eyes.”
“Jesus. Is it …” Brook gulped, “a romantic thing?”
“No, it’s familiarity. Like he’s known me longer than anyone else on the planet. God. It feels like such a lie. How can he be this important to me? We’re at each other’s throats constantly. We’re like Batman and the Joker.”
“Appropriate as one of you is extremely insane,” Brook snorted. Joss rubbed her temples. “I just realized something.” Brook sat up in her seat. “You’re a werewolf caught between a wolf and a vampire.”
“Brook. Don’t you dare,” Joss growled as she pointed her finger.
“You’re officially Bella Swan, dude.”
“I’ll kill you.” Joss tossed a french-fry across the table, and Brook laughed.
“Isiah is totally Jacob. Hot-headed, and into a girl who wants nothing to do with him romantically.”
“I hate to burst your bubble, but Kazimir is more Jasper Hale than Edward.” Joss shook her head. “I cannot believe I’m having this conversation.”
“You needed a smile. Besides, there’s no way in hell I was missing out on this golden opportunity to reference a favorite book. You can’t avoid the men in your life forever.”
“Yes, Kazimir reminds me of that daily. He likes to make sudden appearances when it’s safe.” Joss smirked as she sensed him near. “Like the one he’s about to make now.” He was an expert on walking the line between overbearing and sweet. He didn’t allow her to push him away, as hard as she tried. He gave her space, even when it cost him. It was a combination of give and take mixed with communication.
“Wait,” Brook sat up straight, “I get to meet Mr. Dreamy?”
Joss rolled her eyes. “He has a name.” The door opened, and she smiled as Kazimir entered, drawing the gaze of every woman and a few men. Blue jeans accentuated his long legs, a black pea coat and wool hat contrasted with his pale complexion.
“How can he be out right now?”
“Magic and age,” Joss answered without taking her eyes off him.
“You lucky bitch,” Brook muttered. “No wonder you never looked at anyone else.”
Her cheeks heated as she grinned. Kazimir strode toward her, gaze burning a hole inside of her. He was water, fluid and smooth, deceptively calm but deadly when riled. He arrived at their table and bent, kissing her sweetly.
“I missed you, little sun. Days apart are like years.”
“I missed you, too.” She brushed her lips over his and pulled back.
Brook watched them, a hand tucked under her chin as she sighed. “Let me live vicariously through you for a moment.”
Joss shook her head with a smile. “Kazimir. This is my best friend, Brook. Brook, this is my …” She trailed off, unsure of how to categorize him. “My Kazimir.” The joy at her claiming burst through their link like sun through the clouds.
He gave a slight bow at the waist. “Ms. Brook. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine. We often doubted your existence over the years. For once, I’m glad to be proven wrong.”
“I apologize for taking so long to arrive. But I assure I won’t be going anywhere now.” The word alone was obviously implied. He took a seat beside her.
“You were discussing what happened earlier this week?” Kazimir asked.
“I’m no closer to being able to explain any of it though.”
“Nakeeta would like to read your cards.”
“Tarot?” Brook asked.
“She’s quite skilled. People booked her months in advance in her shop,” Joss said, bragging on her new friend. Her life wasn’t the only one turned upside down by a mission bigger than herself.
“Yes. Nakeeta is incredibly independent and driven. She’s eager to return to her business.”
“How does that work? ’Cause Crewe seems like a real hard-ass to me,” Joss said.
Kazimir chuckled. “Oh, he is. He’s changed a fair bit, but they also challenge each other … constantly. It’s entertaining to see the warrior I once knew dragged into the twentieth century.”
“Pot meet kettle, I think,” Brook said.
He smiled. “Perhaps. You haven’t had a visit from Isiah, have you?”
“He’s still gone. It’s the longest I’ve gone without seeing him. It’s not like him to drop off completely.” She shouldn’t worry about him, and yet, she did.
“You’re concerned about him?” Kazimir frowned.
“I am. He stood up to his father for me publicly. That usually ends poorly for him.” Guilt slipped in like a burglar, stealing the pieces of her happiness.
“If you’ve finished here, we can see the others. Perhaps Rainer or Nakeeta can help you with this?”
Joss glanced at Brook.
“Your friend is welcome,” Kaz assured her.
“I’m sure Cyprian would have a field day with that.”
“He’s gone to meet others in our group. Silver and Reagan are in the state now.”
“I suppose it’s settled then.”
They quickly paid the bill and headed outside. What did it say about her that after everything she still cared for Isiah? Had what happened been a spell of some sort? Even now, was the Alpha manipulating them? Unanswered questions swirled in her head, taunting her like demons.
* * *
“Sisters!” Rainer greeted them gleefully in a pair of black tights and a long, black button-down covered in colorful butterflied. She looked more child than woman. Her youthful exuberance appeared to be catching. The atmosphere was lighter here, regardless of the worries that plagued Joss.
“Rainer, this is Brook.”
“I know.” She smiled serenely. A roguish twinkle danced in her almond-shaped amber eyes.
“What?” Brook exclaimed.
“I am a seer, and so very pleased to meet you.” Rainer held out her hand and shook it exuberantly like she’d met a celebrity.
“What’s this about?” Brook asked
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Joss shrugged.
Crewe hung back, keeping his body between Keeta and the new wolf. He watched every move with eyes full of distrust. She could see his mind calculating as he sized her up.
“This is Crew and his better, nicer half, Nakeeta. Don’t let him intimidate you. He’s just a little overprotective.”
Joss snickered. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“We don’t know this new wolf. I won’t take chances with Keeta.”
“Yes, brother, we know Mother is essential to our mission. She’s also our friend whom we’d never willingly place in danger.” Kazimir walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We both have precious treasures to protect.”
Crewe nodded. His jaw clenched, and he fell back, in his version of relaxing. “Of course, Kaz.” The bond between the two shone through.
“Brook has her role to play, too. You will treat her with kindness,” Rainer said sternly.
Crewe shot her a look that would kill if it were a bullet. Clearly, he wasn’t the type to take orders. The aura of power, stance, and frank words screamed Alpha. It was fascinating to watch two alpha vampires interact so casually.
“Crewe is of my blood. We shared a sire.”
“Which makes you family by proxy,” Nakeeta explained. “I’m still learning their ways, too. Don’t let it overwhelm you.”
Joss nodded, taking the words to heart. She’d gone from being on her own to being brought into the fold of a highly unlikely family. Her gut told her to accept them; nevertheless, her brain balked. When had things ever gone smoothly for her?
“Umm. What role?” Brook asked.
“If I told you, I don’t think you’d believe me. There are things that we must discover on our own,” Rainer insisted.
“I don’t like the sound of that at all,” Brook replied.
Nakeeta laughed. “I like her.” It was an odd settling in. Neither of their people interacted normally. Now they had one thing in common—survival.
“Tell us what happened with your pack,” Rainer said, bringing them back on track.
“I’m still trying to figu
re that out myself. He conjured up energy out there. Or it used him. It was a ritual for Odin, which is nothing new for us. This he called a Blot. The sacrifice was a lamb. He had us all ingest the blood, while Isiah and I ate the heart.”
Keeta whistled. “Blood magic done with an innocent sacrifice. Potent. The rarer and more precious an item, the greater the magic conjured. This is why Vikings used to sacrifice children.”
“Oh God,” Brook gasped.
“They were brutal. How far do you think your Alpha is willing to go to immolate them?” Nakeeta asked quickly.
She thought back to the sea of blond hair. “I’m not sure.”
Kazimir grasped her hand, and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss on it. “Why do you sound so anxious, Keeta?”
“Joss is looked upon as a modern-day priestess of sorts. Sacrificing you would create an immeasurable amount of power.”
“Over his dead body,” Kazimir growled.
“He announced my betrothal to his son. He plans for us to marry on the night the brightest comet of the year passes overhead.” She dropped her head, ashamed. The nasty rumbling escaping Kazimir’s chest should’ve been frightening. Instead, it flattered. “It won’t be happening.”
“Does he know that?” Brook’s gaze bounced from her to Kazimir.
“Alpha or Isiah?”
“Both are going to have a problem with your change of plans,” Brook said.
“I’m not springing it on Alpha until the last minute. I’m on the fence about Isiah.” Lying to him felt wrong now.
“You anticipate him being a problem?” Kazimir said.
“With Isiah, you never know.” She shook her head. “During the ritual things changed. We connected.” She pushed her two index fingers together.
“In a display of magic that looked like a fireworks display, might I add.” Brook waved her hands around.