“Maze,” she whispered his name, pulling away enough to stare into his dark, chocolatey brown eyes. “I want to—” She was interrupted by another presence in the room, by a voice that was similar to Maze’s, only more serious, quieter, less witty.
“I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?” Dylan spoke from the hall, leaning on the archway between the kitchen and the living room. His strong body wore a grey, short-sleeve shirt, its fabric hugging every muscle perfectly. Jeans hung on his hips, a dark denim that contrasted well with his ashy blonde hair.
Addie felt Maze’s grip on her loosen, and she stepped away from him to go to Dylan. She gave him an easy smile. “You don’t have to leave, Dylan. You can stay.” Had she ever said something so bold before? She couldn’t remember. She would’ve thought it odd, but she was too busy gazing into his eyes through his glasses. Dylan was not as outgoing as his brother, but he more than made up for it.
A slow smile grew on Dylan’s lips, and it was a smile that made her stomach flip. These brothers made her feel things she never knew were real, never knew were possible. She loved them both—something she never would’ve imagined before meeting them. And not only that, but Addie’s love for them was not ostracized. It was welcomed by the pack, encouraged.
She had everything she could ever want, could ever need. Addie had found the place where she belonged, and she would never give it up for anything or anyone. She would fight tooth and nail for them, for this. Addie would fight even death himself.
As if death was a person.
Addie was just about to kiss Dylan when she heard something wet sliding behind her. She spun on her heels, eyes locking with Maze. His nose, the cartilage, the entire thing had slipped off his face, revealing a giant hole where it should’ve been. Bright red blood seeped around the wound, and Maze’s eyes widened in shock. Addie was frozen, rooted in place, watching in horror as he lifted a hand and touched the area where his nose should’ve been.
“Maze,” Addie said, “don’t move.” She wasn’t sure why she pleaded with him, but she knew each movement he made would only make it worse.
But Maze wasn’t listening. He touched his face, dragging his fingers down. As they went, they peeled off the skin above his lips, revealing tendons and veins. “Addie,” he spoke, hard to do considering his lips were in the process of sliding off, “I don’t understand.” The last word was totally incomprehensible, an assault on her ears.
“Maze!” Addie shouted his name, watching as he completely fell apart, pieces of skin sliding off until he was nothing but a skeleton, still somehow standing on his own two feet. Her eyes could not look away as Maze turned his skeletal hands so his palms were up, as if he wanted her help. His jaw moved, teeth gnashing against each other, but no words came out because he had no tongue.
She turned to look at Dylan, hoping he could help, hoping he could do something to fix his twin, but he faced a similar problem. Addie reached for his face, trying to stop his cheeks from sliding off, but all she gripped was mushy, decaying flesh. Dylan quite literally fell apart in her hands.
Addie screamed, tears falling from her eyes before she could stop them, not like she would.
Tears of blood.
Chapter Twenty
As Addie came to, the first sound she heard was raucous laughter. She blinked her eyes open, staring at the side of her cage. The metal bars around her were a more welcome sight than Maze and Dylan in her dream, or whatever the heck that was. Induced by Clay. She felt wetness on her cheeks, and furiously swiped at her eyes, realizing she’d cried from her dream, from what Clay had done to the twins.
Clay held onto his stomach, his painted face twisted in amusement. The sword hovering before Landon shook slightly, keying Addie into the fact his magic was connected to his emotions. Was it something she could use? Regardless, she had to think of a way to get the sword away from Landon.
“I’m sorry,” Clay said, so obviously not sorry, “that was completely wrong and vile of me. It’s just, you know, a little payback for you mocking my name. I had to.” His smile dimmed somewhat, and he whispered, “I do so look forward to getting to know you even better, Addie.” He lifted his gloved hand, his fingers curled.
Addie felt something touch her cheek, though she saw nothing. Using magic he stroked her face, and no matter if she moved her head or not, the feeling remained. It made her stomach ill and her mind furious. Who was he to play with her like this? She was not a doll, not a toy, and these wolves? Somehow she would pay him back for all he had done.
Instead of saying what she really wanted to say, because she knew she had to play nice with him until she figured out a way out of here—if there even was a way—Addie asked, “Is the sword still necessary? You have me. You’ve been inside my head—”
Clay cocked his head, the expression on his face making him look younger than what he was. “Ooh,” he murmured, his voice far too calm, “this one is yours too, isn’t he? He doesn’t have much time left, I’m afraid. I was going to drain him tonight.”
Addie did not want to get into specifics with him, didn’t want to explain the long story about her chosen mates, curse the word, so she nodded along when he asked if Landon was hers. It wasn’t like she could say, I only met the man once, and he was kind of a jackass, so…
The last thing he said, though, made her ask, “Drain him?”
The hand that had been magically caressing her cheek dropped as he nodded. Clay was all too willing to explain, “I am not just a warlock, Addie. I am a special kind. Of course, you wouldn’t know, since I just broke our existence to you, but let me educate you. Every witch and warlock has the capacity for whatever they put their minds to. But, for the sake of it, and since we have not figured out the spell for immortality yet, most choose a school to focus on. I am what some call a death priest.”
A death priest. That did not sound good. It sounded the furthest from good something could possibly be. Addie felt her breathing catch in the back of her throat, and she locked gazes with Clay, unable to look away.
“Do you know why we’re called that?” Clay asked in a whisper. When Addie said nothing, his brown irises flashed a blood red, glowing, burning their mark in her soul. Her heart sped up, and she wanted to crawl out of her skin.
The blood on the walls, the stains on the floor, every bit of red, congealed blood in the place lifted from the wood, floating. It joined into one piece, one shimmering, magical sphere of blood.
“Everything that gives life, everything that’s a little dark, spells that other witches and warlocks forbid themselves from,” Clay said, reaching for his one glove. He pulled at the pinky first, then he went finger by finger until he loosened the thumb. He did not pull off the glove, though. “We revel in. There is a price, but it is one we are more than willing to pay.”
Addie could not blink, did not dare turn away as Clay finally slipped off his glove. The reason he wore only one was because what sat underneath was not a hand. At one point in time, maybe. Now it was nothing more than a skeleton hand with a few loose and dried-up tendons, enough to let him bend the hand and use it.
“Another demonstration,” Clay said, his voice growing in her head, echoing through the cabin. His reddened eyes flashed an even brighter hue, and the sphere of blood slowly broke apart, sifting through the air as it made its way to his skeletal hand.
How much of him under that suit was a skeleton? Addie wondered. Her dreams of skeletons made too much sense now. Were visions and premonitions a thing for witches? Was that why she’d had such crazy dreams lately?
The blood wrapped around the skeletal hand, curling and coiling, solidifying as it went up his sleeve. The whole thing took maybe a minute, and when the floating sphere of blood was gone, Clay stood, flashing a semi-formed hand at her. Missing skin, but much more than skeleton now. Red and pink, muscles and tendons formed.
Clay frowned at his new hand. “Fresh blood always works better and lasts longer.”
It took Addie far too long
to find her voice. “That’s why you’ve been killing wolves? To keep yourself alive?”
“I’m not that old, Addie. It’s not like I’m immortal. Death will take me like it takes everyone, eventually. He is our master, each and every one of us.” Clay slipped on his glove, hiding the glaring red on his newly-formed hand as his eyes returned to brown. “It is the spells we cast that drain our lives faster.” There was too perfect of symmetry on his painted face, on either side of the straight white line, as he smiled. “If you shifters would help a priest out, maybe I wouldn’t have had to linger here for so long.”
He turned to Landon’s cage, raising his human, flesh-covered hand and flicking it aside. The hovering sword withdrew from Landon, returning to the table of torture instruments. With another wave of his hand, the table vanished, and the only things in the cabin were the two cages, along with Clay and his wolf.
“I’ll give you some time with him, because I’m feeling generous and I know it’s a lot to take in,” Clay spoke.
Suddenly the cage Addie was in was not separate from Landon’s. The bars above them had joined, as had the sides and bottoms. It was now one, huge cage they shared, with a lone, magically-locked gate.
Clay’s gaze shifted, and he no longer stared at Addie. It was like he was momentarily somewhere else, not truly in his body. It was a long moment before he snapped back. “Those fucking wolves will not leave the barrier alone, even if it means pain.” He laughed, though Addie saw nothing funny about it. She hoped the others would be all right, hoped they wouldn’t be stupid enough to hurt themselves over and over in the sake of trying to break through. “Maybe I should let them through and take care of them, though I hate to dwindle my supply of shifters if I don’t end up getting what I need from you…”
“No,” Addie said. “Please.” She had nothing to bargain with, nothing to tempt him with, and he was way too nuts to leave them alone out of the goodness of his heart. She wasn’t even sure he had a heart, beneath his suit. It could be all skeleton. The thought of any other wolf being in the position she and Landon were in caused her great stress and anxiety. She’d do anything to stop it from happening. “I’ll do whatever I can to—”
“I know you will,” Clay said. He looked to his wolf. “Rufus, guard them. Make sure there is no Houdini escaping. No biting or scratching her, too. I want her intact when I get back.” He sent a smile to Addie before disappearing from her sight. Within a blink he was gone.
Had he disappeared to go to the barrier and take the wolves there? Maze, Forest, and the others? Or had he gone somewhere else? It was possible he was reporting to his master, whoever the hell he was, which meant, maybe, Addie had some time.
Beside her, Landon’s wolfish head stirred, and his body let out a low whine as he slowly moved a paw over his ears, as if trying to rub his head. His blue eyes turned toward her, and she didn’t know what to say or what to do. It wasn’t like she could make this better. This was a disaster of epic proportions, and she had never come face-to-face with a death priest before.
She didn’t even know death priests existed before ten minutes ago.
“I’m sorry,” Addie whispered, unable to take the pained look Landon wore. As a wolf, it was difficult to discriminate one facial expression from another, but just like with her inner wolf, she knew what he felt. Then again, it didn’t take a high IQ to know he was in pain. She wanted to add, I’ll find us a way out, but she kept quiet on that, partly because of the wolf in the corner of the cabin and partly because she wasn’t quite sure if she could get them out of here.
Landon struggled to move, the dried blood on his brown fur matting the hair and turning it black.
“It’s okay,” Addie said, gingerly setting a hand on the top of his head. The instant she touched him, he calmed. His head seemed to be free of wounds, so she ran her fingers through his fur, pretty much petting him like he was a dog. She rubbed his ears, which he seemed to like, based on how his eyes closed and he leaned his head on her lap. “I hope you didn’t storm off all because of me.”
If he had, if she was the only reason he went off that day…well, all of this would be her fault.
Landon let out a loud breath, moving one of his paws and resting it over her knee. Addie wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Did he blame her? Was he trying to tell her it wasn’t her fault? Would he have stormed off either way because he was kind of a jackass? Now would be a good time to suddenly learn how to speak to animals. She could talk to Landon and also the wolf in the corner.
The scarred wolf had laid down before the magical fireplace. His ashy blonde fur danced with red, and though the beast looked like it was resting, Addie could see the glimmer of slit eyes, and she knew it watched her, watched them both.
Clay had control over him. Was it an unbreakable link, or could Addie try to sever it? She was part witch or warlock, apparently, so she had a bit of magic in her. Somewhere, deep down. She’d made a book float with her anger. Surely she could do more?
The question was how.
Chapter Twenty-One
Trying to sever the link between Clay and the other wolf was the best plan she had, although Addie had no clue how to go about it. If she closed her eyes and concentrated, would she be able to feel it? She’d felt the barrier almost instinctively; would she be able to feel more if she tried to? If she opened her mind up or whatever it was she had to do?
Why was magic so complicated? Everything would’ve been so much easier if no one had lied to Addie, if her mother hadn’t kept these things from her. Granted, it wasn’t like her mother could teach her spells and whatnot—it would’ve been her father’s responsibility, if he was still alive—but still. She could’ve been better than she was now.
Addie had a sudden and unwelcome thought. What if Clay felt her trying to sever the link? What if he came back and killed Landon right then and there because of it? Was it a risk she was willing to take?
Landon’s head on her lap, the way he struggled to breathe in deeply, the glazed look in his eyes told her he didn’t have much time anyway. Addie had to try. It was now or never, do or die, literally.
“Hey,” Addie spoke, Landon’s head still on her lap. Her gaze was on the wolf near the fire, and though his green gaze was not fully opened, she knew he watched her right back. “Your name isn’t Rufus.”
Okay, well maybe it could be, but what mother and father would name their son Rufus?
“You have another name,” Addie said. “What is it?”
Silence. Heavy silence, save for the occasional crackling of the fire.
“You don’t have to be under his control, you know. You can be your own wolf. You can help us get out. You can save us.” Saving her and Landon seemed to be the last thing the wolf wanted, for he turned his head to the side, effectively staring at the wall. “Okay, you don’t have to save us. Just let us go. Don’t chase after us.”
Wishful thinking, all of it.
If only Addie could talk to wolves…
Addie stopped. She couldn’t talk to wolves, but she had one inside of her. Would her inner wolf be able to help? Maybe, but she would have to reach her first, and getting there while conscious seemed an impossible task. It was one she would have to try, if she and Landon had any hope of getting out of here alive.
She closed her eyes as she laid back. Landon took his head off her lap to watch her. Addie had no time to explain her plan. Really, it wasn’t even a plan—she was just throwing a bunch of things at her problem and hoping something stuck.
If she had any hope of reaching her inner wolf, of stepping foot in that forest she knew was her mind, she had to shut her racing thoughts off and calm her rapidly-beating heart. Addie breathed in through her nose, feeling her lungs rise with a slow, meaningful breath. Once she’d taken in all she could, she held it in for a few seconds before releasing it. Over and over she breathed like this, focusing on relaxing her nerves and body until she could hear no other sounds. Her mind was slow to shut off, and soon Addi
e knew. Somehow, she just knew when to open her eyes.
When she did, she found herself laying in the forests of her mind. Addie sat up, looking around. Her wolf sat ten feet away, her head cocked as it stared at her quizzically. Her wolf probably wondered why Addie was here, or maybe even how she got there.
Addie didn’t have time to explain it all to her, though maybe the wolf knew, since they were one in the same. She still didn’t understand it all, but now was not the time.
“I need your help,” Addie said. “I need to talk to another wolf while he’s still…well, wolfy. Is it possible?”
Her wolf responded by standing, trotting closer, stopping only when she stood beside her, her brown and pink fur less than a foot away. The wolf turned her emerald stare upon Addie, and Addie knew what she had to do. She could not let her wolf out, not yet, but she could let her wolf in.
What was the difference? She didn’t know. Addie only knew there was a difference. Slight but distinct. Perhaps due to her father’s side, due to the magic running through her blood. It was very probable she had different options because she was a half breed, a hybrid. Not fully shifter and not fully witch.
Addie set a hand on the side of her wolf’s muzzle, running it along her cheek and down to her chest, stopping when she felt her wolf’s heart beating beneath her palm. “It won’t be too long, girl,” Addie promised, “before you’re out of here.” Before she and her were one.
Today was not that day.
A rush flowed through her, taking hold of each and every part of her. Her muscles hardened, her hearing adjusting. A whirlwind of sounds and sensations catapulted around her, and when Addie opened her eyes, she saw everything anew. New, fresh colors, even in the night of the forest. When she breathed, she felt each and every muscle contracting, expanding, and then shrinking.
Limitless: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (Crystal Lake Pack Book 1) Page 16