Ruby’s Pride

by Romy Lockhart

  “There has to be a way to stop him.”

  “There are always ways.” She nods, though this is the first time I’ve really seen her be less than positive. “Now we must locate your mates.”

  She pulls things from her kitchen cupboards and sprinkles them into a cauldron-like bowl. She mutters things quickly as she works and then looks up and smiles at me. “Come see.”

  I look down into the bowl as an image begins to take form. Holy shit. It takes a second, but it’s like looking into a slightly rippling TV screen. I see my guys are together. Three of them, anyway. Who knows where Warner’s wandering feet have taken him. Corwin and Ransom seem pissed at each other, and Ax has a quiet look of resignation on his face.

  It’s too dark around them to tell where they are. I frown at Aster as she puts a hand over her mouth.

  “Where are they? I thought this was supposed to locate them?”

  She moves her hand away from her mouth. “The pride have them. That prison is within their territory. They claimed it as their own many years ago.”

  So many questions fill up my head, I can’t even figure out which one to ask first.

  “We have to get them out of there.”

  Aster nods slowly, but her eyes don’t focus on me. “You’re not at full strength. It will be impossible.”

  “You keep saying that. I don’t understand. How do I get to full strength?”

  She locks gazes with mine. “A woman called Alice promised to bring magic back to this world. She said she would send a witch, but that this witch would need to complete a specific task to earn her full birthright. Your power is tied to completing your task. Once it’s been done you’ll be capable of so much more.”

  “My magic will stop disappearing at nightfall?”

  “Yes. It will also be far more powerful.”

  “Then can you ask your cauldron how I can defeat the Darkness? Because I’m kind of sketchy on that whole thing. I don’t even really know what it is.”

  “I can only show you what form your darkness will take. It is different for everyone and it is changeable.”

  She moves to the cauldron and does some more muttering. Again, an image takes form within a few seconds. The lion who tried to kill me. Great. Just fucking great.

  I gaze up at her. “How do I defeat a guy who can’t be killed?”

  Chapter 38

  I ask Aster something like a million questions, trying to figure out what to do. Going to the pride is the obvious choice, but deciding the safest way and coming up with some kind of plan takes so much longer. The sun rises when we’re almost ready to leave. I’m exhausted, but at least my magic is back.

  “Time to go,” I tell her, heading to the door.

  Aster nods and we leave. The trek through the woods and along the road to the Emerald City is enough to wear me out. I magic myself up a coffee but it barely gives me a five minute buzz and then I’m back to yawning my damn head off.

  “We must show no sign of weakness once we get to the pride.”

  I make a vaguely positive noise so she knows I’m listening. We’ve already spoken about this. I know, but she makes sure to tell me over and over again, as if I’m going to forget.

  Apprehension fills me with every step I take. It’s likely that I’m the end goal here. They wouldn’t have merely imprisoned the guys if they didn’t intend to use them for something. The darkness wouldn’t have chosen to possess their most deadly assassin if he wasn’t going to still be gunning for me. We must get to the pride’s territory quickly.

  Aster stops suddenly, after we’ve walked through the courtyard and into a cobbled street with vacant looking run down little cottages.

  “What is it?” I ask, my gaze flitting around in search of a threat.

  “We must transform to get there.” She moves onto her hands and knees and I gasp out a breath as she shifts into a lioness with white fur. She turns back to me before taking off at a fast pelt into the distance. Through a field of poppies. Oh damn.

  I visualize myself as a lioness and take off after her. This at least seems faster than walking. I realize I could have transported at least to the courtyard earlier, but Aster seemed to want our energy conserved. I get why now that I’m running around on all fours in this form.

  It feels so strange. Everything is different from this view-point. How the world looks and feels and smells. If I wasn’t so fraught over my guys I’d be taking some time explore. As it is, the clock is ticking down. This needs to be resolved before night fall. I won’t be a threat to them when my powers depart. I need my magic to find a way to permanently banish the darkness from this land. I need it to save my lions.

  Aster slows once we’ve passed through the field. She’s cautious in checking around now, sniffing and gazing slowly at our surroundings. She moves forward and shifts back to her usual form, brushing off her skirt. I follow suit once I step out of the field.

  I can’t help thinking how clever it is that the pride have surrounded their territory with these fields. They’re immune to the effects. The guys are too, in their lion forms. Human, not so much. Aster did a lot of talking last night. She didn’t mention that we’d have to shift form to get here, but I guess I should have realized as much on my own. The fields look endless from all angles. There was no way I could have transported past them.

  Aster walks onward, and we’re quickly approached by two of the lion-men. Neither of which have red eyes. I frown upon realizing this fact. Their eyes are black, which seems slightly less creepy.

  “Halt,” the taller one calls out as they come closer.

  We stop walking and I scowl at them. These are the bastards who made my lions outcasts.

  “Which of you is Ruby?” The second asks, glancing back and forth with disinterest in his gaze. “You both smell like witch to me.”

  “I’m Ruby,” I say, stepping forward. “Where are my mates?”

  He laughs, and I smirk. If he thinks he doesn’t need to tell me anything, he doesn’t know what a witch is. I force my will on him as I ask, “What was that, asshole? I didn’t hear you properly.”

  His expression slackens before he gives me the answer my magic has coaxed out of him. “They’re in the prison over there.” He points back to it.

  His friend looks aghast. “They are not permitted...”

  “Nothing is out-with our permission,” I cut him off. “Take us to my mates. Now.”

  They bend to my command swiftly, leading us to the prison. So far, so good.

  We’re almost at the heavy, metal door to the building when the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end suddenly. The creeping feeling that falls over my body grows as I turn and fix my gaze on the assassin I killed yesterday. If I could go back to that moment and do something to make sure he stayed dead, I wouldn’t hesitate. It would mean all of this was over, once and for all.

  He smiles at me. “Little witch, little witch, let me in.”

  My head begins to pound, and the world starts to swirl all around me. Panic grips me as I realize it’s the same exact feeling as when I drank that cocktail in Wonderland After Dark. The last thing I see clearly is the assassin’s red eyes floating in front of me, before I collapse to the ground unconscious.

  Chapter 39

  I awaken in a familiar place, a faint pounding that I initially believe is inside my head, filling my ears. I wince and try to drag myself to my feet. My glittery, red feet. I’m not in Oz anymore, Toto.

  Shit. I’m back in that office at the nightclub. I realize it about a second after the girl with the bunny ears clears her throat. She’s perched on the desk this time, and there’s no sign of her drinks tray. Her expression is on the irate side.

  “What the fuck am I doing back here?”

  “I’ll ask the questions, thank you very much,” Alice snaps. “What were you doing back there? You almost let him inside you.”

  I frown at her. “I don’t know what you mean?”

  “Possession means death, Ruby. Your deat
h.”

  “Okay, I’ve had enough of this bullshit, Alice. What is this darkness I’m supposed to defeat exactly? And how the hell do I do it? Because I’m sick of walking around blind in there, and you clearly know more than you’re letting on if you’re able to pull me out of there so damn easily.”

  “Oh, it was anything but easy,” she snaps, blowing out a breath and seeming to calm a little on the exhale. “But you’re right. You should know more.”

  I’m surprised to hear her say it, but I nod and wait.

  She stands up. “Something has been running amok across the magical realms. Causing chaos that will cause those worlds to implode. They run on balance. Everything does. The thing you know of as the Darkness doesn’t belong there. It belongs here. With me.”

  I take it in and my head only fills up with more questions. “So why don’t you go in there and deal with it yourself?”

  She smiles ruefully. “If only it were that simple.”

  “Why the hell isn’t it?”

  “I can’t trespass in any of those realms. Being there for even a second will rip me to pieces and I’m much too important to maintaining balance to risk that.”

  “So you find idiots to do it for you.”

  Her sigh this time is weary. “This was always meant for you, Ruby. Some people live mundane lives until they day they die. Others are destined for greatness. For the extraordinary. You’re one of those people. You always have been.”

  I’m not entirely sure I believe her, but what’s the alternative? Oz feels like home to me now. My mates are incredible men who shift into ferocious predators. My friends are in other worlds and they seem so much happier too. It would take a complete bitch to not see this for the true gift it is.

  “Stop inflating my ego and tell me how I take down the darkness.”

  “It has to be instinctive.” She shrugs. “That sounds weak as shit. I know. But it’s how it is. You’re the right person to restore Oz to its former glory. That’s all I know.”

  “Seriously?” Pissed doesn’t even begin to cover how I’m feeling right now. “Well then, you could at least tell me how to avoid being possessed by the darkness.”

  She shrugs limply. “I only know when it’s about to happen. I don’t know how to stop it.”

  Damn it. “What use is that?”

  “You have to destroy him before he can attempt it. The moment you get back. Use your magic.”

  “Like with the mirror?” I ask, trying to think if there were any useful objects around in front of the prison. I don’t remember seeing any.

  She shakes her head. “Killing the assassin will only force the Darkness to choose a new host. That’s not how you get rid of it.”

  I take a deep breath. I’ll know what to do instinctively? Fine. “Put me back.”

  She raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You’re ready?”

  She doesn’t sound certain. I’m glad I feel more confident than she sounds.

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  The tornado of smoke surrounds me a second later and I drop into a crouch, ready to spring back to my feet once the world stops spinning around me. Once I’m back where I belong.

  Oz is home to me now. Whatever it takes to get rid of the darkness, I’m down.

  Chapter 40

  Some time has passed, it seems, because when I appear back in front of the doors to the prison, I’m alone. The sky has darkened above, and it’s colder than it was a few seconds ago. I take a quick glance at my shoes which are still white, and breathe a sigh of relief.

  Straightening myself and looking around, I wonder where the hell everyone disappeared to in such a hurry. Then I decide I don’t care. As soon as I see the assassin again, I’ll deal with him. Right now I’m freeing my men.

  I will the doors to the prison to open wide. They creak inward and I step inside the dark building. I’m inside a closed off area, and a guard quickly steps out of an office to my right.

  “Can I help you, Miss?”

  “Yes, you can let me inside the prison and you can let my mates out of their cell.”

  He moves quickly to do as I’m telling him. I feel all powerful, and kind of slimy. This is probably an abuse of power. I’m sure Aster would never dream of doing such a thing, good witch that she is.

  I check my arms, but I’m still not turning green. Guess I’m not that bad.

  There’s a chill in the air as we walk past rows of dark, empty cells. I shiver, a sense of foreboding washing over me as we get further into the building and the guard heads down a dark winding staircase. It’s even colder, as if there’s a draft. I hold onto the handrail as we descend into the darkness. The metal cools my fingers but it’s too dark to move without holding it.

  I’m glad once we exit into another hallway. It’s more medieval looking down here, with fire-light to see by and moss covered stone on the walls.

  I can hear low voices up ahead, my mates trying to come up with a plan. It makes me smile in spite of the cold and the dank surroundings. The guard stops and takes his keys from his belt. I hang back just out of sight, my smile squirming to break out into a grin.

  “Must be time to die,” Ransom announces sourly, as the door to their cell is opened.

  The guard steps back and I see Ax step outside cautiously, his jaw dropping on sight of me.

  “Move, Ax. You’re blocking the way,” Ransom complains, pushing his brother forward and stopping in his tracks the moment he sees me.

  Corwin steps out last, and frowns deeply at the guard who is standing still now that his task is complete. “What’s going...” He turns and a slow smile forms on his face.

  “Hey, guys. It’s not time to die yet,” I tell them, as Ax and Ransom crowd in to hug me.

  As good as it feels, and damn it feels good to be pressed between two warm and hunky men, I know we don’t have time to waste.

  “Daylight’s burning,” I remind them, before breaking away and heading back toward the winding staircase.

  “Ruby, you shouldn’t be here,” Corwin tells me as he cuts in front of his brothers to follow me up the stairs first.

  “You’d rather have stayed in that cell?”

  He sighs. “If it would keep you and our cubs safe, then yes.”

  Hold the hell up. “How does everyone just know I’m pregnant?”

  “I don’t know about everyone,” he begins.

  “We can sense it,” Ransom calls out to tell me.

  I roll my eyes. That’s a non-answer if ever I heard one.

  We walk out of the prison and into the gloomiest day I’ve ever seen. The clouds are grey above us, and there’s a hint of thunder rumbling across the sky.

  “We should shift now and cross the poppy fields...” Corwin begins.

  “We can’t leave,” I tell them. “Not yet.”

  “We must,” Ransom says.

  “It is not safe here, Ruby,” Corwin tells me as he nods. “We must leave at once. The pride cannot be allowed to capture you.”

  “How long until nightfall?” Because that grey sky is making me nervous. I won’t be able to tell when my magic is going to abandon me again.

  “There is some time,” Corwin says, his eyes heavy with concern. “But it will be difficult to leave once your magic is gone. We cannot risk it.”

  I realize he’s right. There isn’t time to do what I need to do and make it through those fields before I lose my magic for the night. We don’t go now, we’re trapped.

  If it were only the assassin I needed to worry about, we could leave. But Aster’s innocent expression plays on my mind and I blow out a breath. “I freed Aster last night. She brought me here. I don’t know where she is now. We can’t leave her behind.”

  “The Good Witch is a friend to all,” Corwin says. “She will not be harmed here.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” I tell him as Ax tangles his fingers in mine. He gives my hand a little squeeze and I smile at him though my thoughts are elsewhere. “They want me. I think they
would threaten her, and if she got hurt that would be on me.”

  “Ruby, we have to get you out of here.” Corwin tugs at his hair as we all gaze up at the sky.

  Rain starts to pelt down from the sky, hard and fast. I gasp as it soaks my clothes and hair. It suddenly feels like I weigh an extra twenty pounds.

  “Back inside,” I stage-whisper before retreating.

  We stand there in the doorway, looking out into the stormy weather raging outside.

  “Where would they have taken her?” I ask, practically yelling over the insane downpour.

  Ax shrugs, he doesn’t know. Corwin stares into the distance, a pensive expression on his face. Ransom looks away from me. He knows something. Or at least, he thinks he does.

  “Ransom?”

  He shakes his head, but his jaw is tense. He doesn’t want to tell me.

  “We don’t have time for games.”

  And now Corwin is studying his brother more closely. “Ransom, if you know...”

  “I don’t,” he snaps, shrugging. “I don’t know and we need to get Ruby away from here.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, and stop talking to me as if I’m not here,” I yell at him.

  “We have to leave,” Ax says quietly.

  I shake my head. Now I remember why I ran away from them earlier in the first place. Only one thing matters now, and I need to stay focused to get this done.

  “The Darkness is here, and I need to catch him before my magic stops working.”

  Chapter 41

  I step out into the rain, and begin to mutter the words of Aster’s vision spell. The droplets freeze in mid-air and turn colors. I blink slowly and step back to see the assassin is in a building that looks suspiciously like the one up ahead, chaining Aster to a post. My stomach churns before rage burns off the feeling.

  I move forward, pushing the ice out of my way and shattering it to the ground. The doors to the town-hall-esque building are closed but they’re not locked. I step inside and my men follow me, in various states of protest.