“It’s only temporary. It doesn’t last forever,” I reminded it.
“Long enough,” came the—it’s voice. I didn’t waste time pretending I didn’t know it was him who was speaking to me.
“Why now?” It was what I’d wanted to know all day. Why now? Why couldn’t I wait. I’d known wolves to wait years before claiming or officially mating. None of them went feral.
“Danger,” was all it said.
My curiosity took a backseat for a moment when it was overrun by my concern. “Danger? What danger? You mean the Hunters?”
It didn’t answer and for a moment I thought it was done with me entirely until finally it said, “The last needs protection.”
Frowning I opened my mouth to demand more information, only to be jerked awake and away from it all, from him.
Maeleigh leaned over me, her hair curtaining around both our faces as she peered down at my face, concerned.
“Are you alright?” She asked, her brows scrunched up. I wouldn’t bet against the possibility that I was snoring or talking in my sleep.
I nodded. “Yeah. I guess I was just tired.” I lifted a hand to play with her hair as the other rubbed sleep out of my eyes. Though the dream, if you could call it that, was disturbing, my body felt refreshed. My hand moved to cradle the back of her head to guide her closer. She didn’t resist, and our lips met. Kissing her was an anchor I could feel I needed sometimes. It was nice to kiss her sometimes just because I wanted to and not because I felt a need to.
Slowly, she pulled away, her tongue darting out to lick her bottom lip. I managed not to groan from the vision she made.
“Come on. Let’s go down to dinner.” With a graceful push off, she was up and striding out of the room before I could swing my legs over the side of the bed. I grinned at her back and followed.
Chapter Ten
Alistahr
Tossing back the glass of bottom shelf whiskey, I slammed the glass down on the bar while simultaneously waving for another at the bartender. The man sitting beside me came up for air from his email or whatever the hell he was doing on his techie looking phone, to look at me.
Pretending I didn’t notice, I glanced up at the football scores on the television overhead. Dublin was finally kicking some Welsh ass. The last hour was nearly painful to watch as the Irish missed goal after goal while the Welsh made kicking balls in the net look like child’s play.
Percy handed me my refill for the fourth time…could be the fifth, I’d lost count, and I nodded to him.
When my boys made another goal I shouted, pumping a fist in the air and toasting my new drink to the screen before tossing it back again, careful not to dribble on my beard. It met the bar top the same as the last, hard and loud. Obnoxious.
“Hey,” someone said beside me, I ignored him. “Hey!” It came again, voice raised.
Looking over my shoulder at Mr. Smartphone, I looked him up and down and raised a brow.
The cocky look he gave me told me he was used to getting his way. “Do you mind?”
“Mind what?” I asked obtusely.
“There are other people here trying to unwind. Do you have to be so…loud?”
Putting on a feigned look of concern, I turned to take in the room. There were about thirty other men, maybe some women, who could tell these days, milling about, sharing conversation and enjoying the pool table in the corner.
Turning back to the other man, I placed a hand over my heart and looked aghast, laying on the accent as thick as I could. “Pardon me, govn’r.” I told him.
He just frowned at me, obviously deeming me lesser than himself already. “Yeah, whatever, buddy.”
“Oh but, please, sir, let me make it up to ya,” I babbled on, lifting my hand in the air to signal Percy again, my arm going wild as I did, knocking over his own drink he held in his hand, spilling its contents all over his dress coat and lap. Stumbling off my stool, I grabbed at some cheap napkins and started to pat his chest.
Brushing away my hands and cursing at me, he jumped up and quickly ripped off his jacket to let it fall to the floor. Percy rushed up then, offering a dry towel and another drink. As he got settled in his stool again, I heard the bartender offer him a new round as I walked out, grinning like a Cheshire.
After trekking a couple blocks north and dodging a few cameras here and there, I finally knocked on the door of a house in the uptown part of the city. I didn’t have to wait long before a man opened it. He was a big guy, bald headed with tattoos on the side and the dark designed suit didn’t fit him at all. I smirked at him.
“You going to a funeral, there Dom?” Sneering, he gave me just the reaction I was looking for. I winked a blue eye at him and edged my way through the doorway and waited in the foyer. The home was old money, but not as old as its mistress.
“Is that you, Alstahr?” The voice was like chimes in the wind.
Following it, I found its owner in the sitting room. White couches, a fireplace missing an actual fire, and two more of her men standing at the ready behind her.
“My queen,” I said, bowing at the waist.
She didn’t mess with pleasantries though. “Did you get it?” She asked, bored already.
The grin I wore, I’m sure, was still Cheshire like, but I couldn’t help it. These jobs the queen gave me weren’t all as easy at the one tonight.
“Yes, your majesty.” Digging into my pants pocket, I plucked out my bounty and held it out for her perusal.
In my palm was an SD card in a clear plastic protective case.
When she reached for it, I carefully handed it to her.
“Was he aware of it?” She asked, handing the storage device to one of her men who then walked out of the room.
Like a proud child, I beamed at her, “No, m’lady. Didn’t suspect a thing.”
Satisfied, she granted me a small smile before she stood and glided out of the room, saying over her shoulder, “You’ve done well, Alstahr. Thank you for your services, once again.”
“It was my pleasure, your majesty!” I called after her. Proud, I turned to look around the room. Itchy, I reached up to scratch my chin to feel that blasted beard still stuck on my face. Yanking it off, my skin rejoiced at being able to breathe again. Catching my reflection in a well-polished, decorative, silver plate on the mantle, I watched it as I slowly reconfigured my natural face. The deep crows feet around my eyes and aged dimples in my cheeks virtually erased and the dull brownish strands of my hair returned to their lush chestnut coloring. When I looked again, I checked myself out. Yep, back to my old handsome self. I wasn’t ashamed to admit it, either.
“Get out,” Dom growled from the entryway, still wearing that glower. Turning, I clapped my hands and smiled at him as I made my way to the foyer.
“Thanks, man. Always a pleasure. Be sure not to shag the wife, funerals aren’t the time or place,” I advised, sauntering out and closing the door behind me. As I jogged down the brick steps to the sidewalk, I checked my phone. “Damn it,” I grumbled, I was late. Headed back the way I’d come, I power walked. Okay, I just plain walked. I had no desire to make the appointment I had with the Druid. Wolves gave me the creeps.
Chapter Eleven
Ben
He was late. It didn’t surprise me, but it still bothered the shit out of me. He was notorious for being late. Most fae prided themselves for being timely, almost religiously. A lot of their magic revolved around time. Mess with it and, who knows, the world may collapse within itself. I wish I exaggerated. They lost the last war because of a missed opportunity with the Druid Amergin. He betrayed the fae and helped the enemy, now Spaniards, win.
But this asshole didn’t much care for wolves, or anyone else, except himself, which is why I told him eight-thirty. When a new model, red, Toyota Corolla rolled up into the curved driveway of the O’Connell estate, I frowned at the kid behind the wheel. College age, he appeared, with a shaggy mop on his head and a still maturing hairy lip, he gave me a cursory smile through the
windshield as the backdoor sprung open. Alstahr climbed out and gave the driver a two-fingered salute as he pulled away.
“That kid is going places,” he said, watching the car drive away in awe.
Bored, I blinked at him. When his smile finally faded, I asked, “Ready?”
The immediate look of utter dread that came over his face was slightly satisfying but I restrained myself from showing it.
“I do this and we’re even?” He asked, glancing up at the stone house.
“Yes. IF,” his head snapped back around to look at me with apprehension. “You tell them all that they need to know, as much as you do.”
He thought on it for a moment, maybe too long for my liking and I feared he may back down for a second before he finally nodded.
I led him to the door and rang the bell.
Liam’s beta, Danny, answered. He studied both of us—more so Alstahr— before stepping to the side to allow us entrance.
They gathered us in a conference room, where I imagine they held their council meetings.
At first, it was just Danny, the two of us and Liam, but slowly the rest began to enter. First, Jolleen, who didn’t join us last time I was here, then the children started arriving. Brianna, a boy whose name I never got but I’ve seen him before wearing glasses and a Druid, then Ro, Gearden and Maeleigh. I couldn’t keep myself from racing to her side, stopping when Ro let a growl rumble low in his throat and Gearden lifted a corner of his mouth to bare his teeth. Ah, I see. She had a territorial protector now as well, interesting. Tucking that away for a later time, I smiled down at my daughter and signed, “HOW ARE YOU?”
From the look in her eyes, I could tell she contemplated how to answer. I knew then that I was getting to her, all was not lost. I just had to make sure I didn’t slip up again. Rebuilding the trust, she had lost in me would probably take a long time, years maybe, but I was here for it. Whatever it takes.
Finally, she just shrugged, indifferent. It was better than nothing.
They all took their seats around the table, except Danny, who guided us to sit at the other end of the table. Okay…
Standing behind my chair, I could feel his steely gaze on me. It made me hyper aware of my exposed neck, too.
“Are we going to do this? I haven’t got all night,” Alstahr said, breaking the silence first. I stilled and glared at him when Liam said.
“We’re waiting for someone.”
The obvious glares that he’d earned, had Alstahr sitting back uncomfortably in his seat.
Damned idiot.
Good. The fae needed a good kick in the mouth to remember some manners, that’s for sure.
When Maeleigh’s interpreter from school entered the room, a messenger’s bag slung across her chest, I frowned. She wasn’t Druid, I would have picked up on her aura, which must make her wolf. Interesting.
Quickly relieving herself of the bag, she placed it in a corner of the room before taking a stand in front of Maeleigh on the other side of the table, at the ready.
It dawned on me then, that Liam had requested her presence. A pang of guilt got me deep in the gut. Another man had done such a fatherly thing for my child and it hurt like hell. Only a small part of me was grateful for his thoughtfulness, as it was overrun by that of resentment. Maeleigh should be at home, under my roof and care, not his. Yet, O’Connell seemed comfortable in taking on the parental duties while she was in his home. And that made me want to break his nose.
“Alright,” Liam started. “We can begin.”
Sally went about translating for everyone in the room when they spoke, and I started.
“Right, well, Alstahr, here, can answer most of the questions you have about the prophecy.”
“The what? Prophecy?” I ignored the l look of terrified shock the fae aimed my way. But he wasn’t done. “That’s what this is about?” I couldn’t ignore him now, as Danny started to edge in closer.
“Calm down. I couldn’t very well tell you what it was about, as you wouldn’t have come.”
“Damn straight!” His words spat out as he pushed away from his chair and stood, ignoring Danny entirely as he started to stomp out.
With clawed fingers I whipped my hand out and I imagined his trachea between them. He stopped dead in his tracks and gripped his throat, choking sounds coming from his gaping mouth.
“You’ll sit down and answer their questions, Alstahr. Or I’ll call in your debts for your blood,” I growled. I dropped my hand and held my stare. After he coughed and gasped, he stood and turned to eye me wearily. Well he should remember what I can do. I wasn’t human and I wasn’t your average Druid either. I was an ancient and I had no tolerance for his quibbling tonight.
He nodded and cast his eyes downward as he reseated himself.
Movement down the table caught my eye. Maeleigh was gripping Gearden’s arm and he had his head bent close to hers. In obvious distress over what she just witnessed; he was likely soothing her. I pushed back a new rise of displeasure at the thought of scaring her, I couldn’t dwell on it right now, we had more important things to discuss at the moment.
Liam asked the first question. “I assume you can confirm that this prophecy is real.”
Alistahr eyed me briefly then nodded, “Yes. It’s real.”
Maeleigh watched Sally and when she’d finished, Maeleigh looked wide eyed at him. “When is this child supposed to be born?”
He shrugged and tried to act uncaring, but I knew better. This prophecy was all the fae could talk about, in either courts, for centuries following the last war.
“No one really knows. The goddess isn’t very detailed with the timing of things,” he told her. Maeleigh sat back in her seat and watched Sally continue as Jolleen took a turn. “How do we find out who that person is, should they already exist?”
Alistahr took a moment to answer. Looking around at all the intensely curious faces, he put it together. “You’ve found it, haven’t you?”
Right away I worried his scavenger background would get the better of him and tried to scramble for something to tell him, to cover, but Maeleigh spoke up before I had the chance.
“I think it’s me.”
I closed my eyes in dread for a second. Then, turning, I prepared to demand his vow of silence only to find him nodding to her in a sort of bow and say, “I am at your service, my lady.”
Maeleigh blinked at him, even glanced to Gearden in confusion. Gearden shrugged, at a loss himself. It was Liam who placed his hand on her arm and told her, “Let me,” and she nodded in acquiesce.
He looked up at Alistahr. “Tell us all you know about this prophecy, even if it’s speculation.”
With more seriousness now, he answered. “Not Druid nor wolf, a child will bear the blood of both. And all reigns will fall when it comes to call.”
“Kinda vague on the details for a prophecy,” Bri pointed out.
“I’m sorry, do you hear many prophecies, then?” Alistahr asked sarcastically.
Bri just rolled her eyes, not offended in the least.
“Anyways,” he paused for dramatic grandeur. “The goddess Danu told this to the Unseelie queen at the fall of the courts. After the war, everything was split apart. Those who remained above ground— “
Liam sat forward, “Remained above?” He asked dubiously.
“Look,” Alistahr sighed. “You asked me here for information that only I have, correct?”
Liam scowled but sat back in his chair and clamped his mouth shut.
“Those who remained above ground, had to forsake their people, the fae who went below.” He went on. “Everything split, then. Clans were created, and people began to change.” He aimed a look at Liam, “The fae with animal magic,” then to me, “Those with elemental magic,” and finally ending on Maeleigh. “And those with blood magic.”
The room was deathly still.
“Their time apart from their people and the goddess’ influence, caused them to evolve into something else, something more primiti
ve.”
“Lycan,” Brianna whispered, looking to Gearden. Maeleigh signed, “Vampire,” Sally said.
“And Druid,” Alistahr finished. “No one knew what she meant. Back then a Druid was a human who practiced magic, not one who actually possessed magic. Same with the mention of a wolf. They all thought the queen herself had gone mad after the kingdom’s fall.”
“Why record it then?” Jolleen inquired. “Why hold the prophecy with such regard now? Wouldn’t it have lost authenticity if that were true?”
“It did. Until one day a Druid—” He eyed me. I ignored it, but he did. “Went digging when the Hunters population began to explode.”
“You found it?” Sally said.
I looked at Maeleigh and nodded, eyes showing the truth. I didn’t want to keep anything else from her ever again.
“But how?” She asked.
“I’m nearly a hundred and fifty years old, Maeleigh,” I told her, keeping my expression gentle.
She was the only one to look around the room in shock. Gearden nodded to her when she looked for confirmation.
“It’s common for us to live longer than humans,” Caleb explained.
Her mouth opened in an “O” shape as she took it all in.
“When he brought it to the Druid council, who shared it with the fae. It caused quite a stir. There are believers out there, but mostly it’s seen as a fairy tale.” He turned to eye me speculatively. After a moment he smirked and then eyed Maeleigh. “Well, at least until tonight,” he said.
“What do the fae make of it now? Knowing there are wolves and vampires about?” Liam inquired.
Alistahr grew uncomfortable again. “Understand that the queen doesn’t much…appreciate the lycan, though far more so than the vampires.” He chose his words carefully, but I knew very well the queen’s distaste for what she’d deemed a waste of fae genetics. “She would prefer that it wasn’t spoken of at all, honestly.”
Liam smirked, telling me he’d had firsthand knowledge of the queen’s animosity towards his race.
“What is spoken of it, is by non-royals. And they are hopeful of bringing the races back full circle. To be absorbed within the faerie from which they rooted from.”
The Chase: Book 2 in The Hunt Series Page 5