“Why?” said all the ravens within range. Their mental connection was unnerving. Circe shivered as if she’d just seen grotesque roadkill. She didn’t feel she could trust them at all.
She knew that ravens were opportunists, not predators. But that didn’t mean much. Wolves were apex predators, but as shifters, while exclusive and elitist in their thinking, they could be quite trustworthy and fun to be around once you got to know them. These ravens, on the other hand, made no sense. It gave a new meaning to the term “bird brained.”
“My friend is sick,” she said slowly, measuring each word and the raven leader’s reaction. “I need it to heal him.”
“What are you two?”
“Enough!” Xavier shouted, grabbing Circe by the wrist. He let out a burst of dragon fire, just enough to scare the pants off the old woman. Her eyes narrowed on him.
“Dragon,” she said under her breath in a mixture of awe and fear.
Xavier growled and yanked Circe out of the room. The ravens around them all repeated “dragon” as they scurried away. Xavier’s clothes ripped to shreds as he shifted into dragon form. Circe shouted for him to stop, but it was no use. His wings beat at the air, lifting him above the tree houses. He grabbed Circe by the waist with his massive claw and hoisted her into the canopy.
He flew over the forest toward where they’d left the truck, circled the park, set Circe down gently, and landed. He collapsed almost instantly, naked in the dirt, his beautiful body giving out on him.
“Xavier,” Circe cried, kneeling beside him. She touched her hand to his skin and felt him burning up. She had to get them out of here at once. Looking around, she couldn’t see the pickup anywhere.
She walked to the edge of the parking lot, near the rest-stop building, and glanced over the ravine beyond. Their vehicle had been driven over a fifteen-foot cliff into a stream. She spun around and looked at Xavier, who had found a soft patch of grass to lie on.
Circe ran down the hillside along the ravine to where she could get into the streambed. Maneuvering along the bank, she made it to the little truck. It was at a seventy-five–degree angle, propped against the side of the ravine.
Struggling up the cliff face, she made it to where she could open the tailgate. She needed supplies, clothing for Xavier, pots, knives, and their guns. Inside the back of the truck, she shoved as many supplies as she could find into a cloth bag and started climbing out.
The car creaked as she moved. She tried to manage the incline by lifting herself up on the wheel hub. She slipped back down into the window, the broken glass cutting through her jeans.
Circe cried out in pain and forced herself up to try again. This time she got better traction and made it all the way out of the truck bed with her supplies. Carefully, she made her way down the steep hill to the passenger-side door.
She managed to get the door open and searched for the shotgun they’d taken from the weasel. It wasn’t there. She grabbed the last of the jerky off the floor and shoved it into her bag before hurrying to climb back up the hill.
Once at the top of the hill, she saw Xavier curled up in the grass. She could only see the tan skin of his shoulder. She ran to him, her backside burning from the glass cuts. She could heal herself later; first she had to tend to him. She had to get him out of here before the ravens came back.
She knelt beside him and felt his forehead. He was burning hot, his face pale and moist with sweat.
“Xavier,” she said, stroking his face. “Wake up, please. We need to get out of here.”
His eyes fluttered open, and he struggled to sit. Circe stood and helped him to his feet. She threw a shirt over his shoulders and helped him step into a pair of shorts and shoes. Leaning heavily on her shoulder, Xavier walked with her into the nearby forest.
At this speed, they would never outrun the ravens, but maybe it would give her just enough time to find a Solomon’s seal plant and heal him. Just as they reached the tree line, the sound of a truck engine changing gears crunched behind them.
She looked back to see a small cargo truck pulling into the rest area. She picked up the pace and pushed Xavier past the tree line and into the forest before the cargo-truck driver could see them.
Xavier collapsed on a bed of moss. Circe knelt next to him and looked through the shadow of the forest at the man getting out of the cargo truck. Of all the people in the world who could turn up, it had to be him.
The grape weasel from just outside the valley unzipped his pants and started to piss into the grass along the parking lot. Circe made a silent moan. What was he doing here?
The writhing mass of black-bodied ravens shot through the parking lot and landed around the truck. The weasel looked at them with smiling eyes while the ravens opened the back of the truck. They pushed out crates of grapes attached to dozens of ropes.
As each crate was removed, ravens picked up the ropes and flew them away. So the weasel was growing grapes for the ravens. Interesting. What did the ravens have to offer that would entice him to share his precious crop? Or maybe it was what they didn’t do that enticed him.
The old woman and the redheaded man spoke with the weasel for a moment, and then they all started to look around the parking lot. A second later, the weasel shifted and ran out through the leg of his pants. His little nose twitched in the wind. Circe gasped. The weasel looked right in her direction and began trotting across the parking lot.
She pulled Xavier to his feet and forced him to move. She could feel his pulse through the vein in his wrist as she pulled him on. It was fast and thready. His temperature had to be in the hundreds, and he could barely keep his eyes open.
Now that they’d run away, there was no telling what the ravens would do to them. The weasel would find them. There was no doubt about that. Circe couldn’t fend off the old man or the ravens without her grab spell, and Xavier was as helpless as a baby.
She cursed under her breath, angry with Xavier for putting them in even greater danger. He’d been rash, a trait of his hot-blooded dragon personality. She hadn’t seen this trait before he’d metamorphosed. As the leader of the San Diego compound, he’d been measured and careful. Since they’d changed, he’d become far more brash.
She could hear the weasel scurrying through the underbrush toward them. Xavier was like a dead weight behind her. Before her on the ground was a perfect Solomon’s seal. Without a second thought, she grabbed the plant, root and all, and shoved it into her shirt.
The weasel caught them a moment later. He shifted to his human form, saggy balls and all, and sent a sharp whistle through the quiet wood.
“I told you not to touch my grapes,” he said with a yellowed smile. “Payback’s a bitch.”
Chapter 22
Circe cursed, and Xavier leaned heavily on her shoulder. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. This couldn’t get any worse.
The black bodies of ravens tumbled through the treetops and overtook them, circling and squawking before settling on the ground around Circe and Xavier.
They shifted into human form with a shimmering blast of energy. The leader strode toward Circe with a sneer on her face.
“A dragon and a witch,” she said, sizing them up. “You look like neither. What’s with him?”
“I told you he was sick,” said Circe through gritted teeth.
“It’s not contagious, is it?”
“And if it is?” Circe mocked.
The ravens stepped back. Some snapped back into bird form and flew into the branches above. The old woman gave Circe a suspicious look and snapped her fingers.
“Take these idiots back to the tree house.”
They ushered Circe and Xavier to the parking lot and pushed them into an empty grape crate. The flock of birds took the ropes in their beaks and lifted the crates into the air. Circe never would have believed that such small birds could carry such a heavy load if she hadn’t seen it herself.
The ravens flew them over the canopy and dipped into the forest, where they dep
osited their captives on a balcony in the vast complex of tree houses. The birds who had carried them shifted to human form and tugged Circe and Xavier out of the crate. Xavier moaned, nearly blacking out. His face was sheet white and sweating.
Circe’s stomach clenched for Xavier as the ravens pushed them into a room and locked them inside. He crumpled on the ground, and she ran to kneel beside him.
“Xavier, are you all right?” she asked, stroking his brow.
His eyes were closed. He took a deep breath and let it out. “I am all right as long as you are beside me. Circe, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you have to put up with me. This illness. I never should have shifted. I don’t think I can hang on much longer.”
“Don’t say that, Xavier.” The words caught in Circe’s throat. It was worse than she’d feared. She had to find a way to get the Solomon’s seal into a tea for him to drink before it was too late.
The door opened, and the old woman stepped inside dressed in her long black robe, her feet bare and black feathers in her long white hair. Her black eyes focused on Circe.
The woman strode to the single chair inside the small log room and sat down, crossing her arms.
“The weasel told us you stole our grapes, held him at gunpoint, and nearly shot him.”
“This is ridiculous,” said Circe. “We had no idea the grapes belonged to anyone, and he attacked us first.”
The woman waved her hand, dismissing Circe’s comment. “Listen. I don’t know what is going on with the two of you, but I can feel strong magic despite the fact that the dragon looks like he’s at death’s door.”
“What do you want?”
“A partnership,” said the raven.
“After kidnapping us twice!”
“It was simply a precaution. This is our territory, and we strictly protect our borders. We can’t have outside shifters moving in. It keeps the place clean of zombies. Plus, I didn’t know you had a tame dragon.”
“And what do you propose? My friend is dying. I don’t have time for negotiation.”
“Then you’d better decide fast, deary. Whatever power that dragon has at his command; we want a part of it.”
“What makes you think we’ll keep our end of the bargain and not torch this whole place the second we have the chance?”
“Because we both want the same thing. We want to drive the Anu from our skies and destroy every last zombie that roams the land.”
“What do you have to offer us?”
“We will help you heal the dragon.”
“I could have easily done it myself if you’d just let us go. I’m afraid you have nothing to offer, little bird. So either kill us or let us go.” Circe was beginning to feel desperate, but she wouldn’t make a deal with her kidnappers, not if they had nothing to offer.
“We have magic of our own, witch. We can help you find the dryads.”
“You said there were no dryads in these woods.”
“There aren’t. They are further north. I know exactly where they are, but it will be hard to find them without a guide.”
“Fine. I agree to a partnership,” she said, acquiescing to the old woman. She and the conspiracy of ravens were essentially on the same side, even if she didn’t agree with their methods. “Now. I need to get to the kitchen to boil water. Someone help Xavier into a comfortable bed.”
“Done. I never properly introduced myself. My name is Barb. Come. The men will take your friend to a comfortable room. Quickly now.”
Circe followed Barb through the tree-house compound to a kitchen with a wood burning stove. She produced the pot from the cloth bag she still held, pulled the Solomon’s seal from her shirt, and washed it off in a bowl of fresh water.
She filled the pot with water, put it on the stove, and began chopping up the herb. Once the water boiled, she dropped the root into the pot. When the root fibers began to break down, she took the pot off the heat and added the leaves and flowers.
She let it steep for fifteen minutes before straining off the dark-brown water into another bowl. Taking the bowl and a mug with her, Barb escorted Circe to the room where Xavier was resting.
Bitterness filled her as she sat beside Xavier’s bed. If the ravens wanted an alliance, they could have just asked. She put her fingertips to his neck, feeling his high, weak pulse. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. She poured some of the decoction into the mug and helped Xavier sit up.
He was almost too weak to sit. Through dry, cracked lips, he sipped the tea. Circe took sips from the bowl between the sips she gave Xavier. By the time he’d drunk the entire mug, the color began to return to his face.
She felt better herself, stronger. Energy coursed through her veins. Sighing with pleasure, she threw her head back. Xavier’s eyes came open, and he looked at her with a sly smile.
He sat up straight in bed and rolled his shoulders. They caught each other’s gaze and began to laugh. It was a high, manic laugh that made Barb take a step backward. They’d been healed.
Circe whipped her head around to look at the old woman. She doubted she needed the raven’s help, but she’d humor her. New powers and awareness awakened inside her. Circe knew she and Xavier could destroy the entire raven roost with one burst of acid fire, but why burn the birds to death when they could use them to their advantage? They did both want the Anu dead and gone.
“We seem to be healed,” Circe enunciated, arching her eyebrow.
As if she could feel the power radiating off the two, Barb shrank against the log wall of the bedroom. Her lower lip quivered slightly, and then she smiled, regaining her pretense of control.
“Good!” she said. “Now we can help you find the dryads. Together we can clear this world of scum.”
Circe rose to her full height, smoothing out her jeans. Xavier stood beside her. He seemed to have grown an inch since the last time he’d stood. His muscles bulged under his tight-fitting clothes. His cobalt eyes radiated intensity as he looked down at the little bird woman.
Barb gulped. Xavier showed his sharp teeth and chuckled.
“I need a backpack and extra clothes that will fit my friend,” Circe told Barb. Barb hurried out the door. Xavier caught her up in his arms.
For the first time since they’d left the San Diego compound, Circe felt Xavier’s full strength. Power emanated from his body. He held her close, enveloping her in his massive power. Circe felt herself go weak in the knees. She’d been carrying this weight for so long. Now Xavier could carry her, effortlessly.
She gave herself over to his strength, basking in his glow. His lips fell on hers with a gentleness that masked an all-consuming force just behind it. His lips brushed over her cheek and forehead. A tear seeped from the corner of her eye, and her mouth opened to take in extra air.
Heart throbbing, Circe pressed her hands to Xavier’s chest. He gripped her head in his hands and kissed her lips again. The door to the room opened, and he slowly let her go.
Barb stood before them, determination masking fear. The raven held a bundle of men’s clothing and a backpack. Xavier began to disrobe in front of her, pulling the tight T-shirt over his head. His skin glistened as if sun glinted off body oil. Barb’s mouth dropped open, and she scurried out of the room.
Circe watched him take off his clothes. Every part of him had become more defined, more magnificent. Remembering their task, she began packing his clothing in the backpack. Xavier had two changes of clothes in case he ripped through one.
She opened the door, and he strode through. Looking around, Circe could see the ravens staring at them in awe. They must know. Circe flung the backpack onto her back, and Xavier snapped his fingers. Barb ran up to them, pulling off her robe just before she changed into bird form.
Xavier jumped from the balcony and shifted in midair. He pumped his wings, keeping his body level with where Circe stood. She gracefully climbed onto his back, tucking her feet around his neck. Once she was safely in place, Xavier took to the sky.
The birds lifted into
the air around them, with Barb’s little figure in the lead. Xavier followed the conspiracy of ravens as miles of greenery stretched out below them.
The afternoon sun glistened on the treetops, and the salty scent of the sea wafted in the air. In the distance, a fast-moving object shot toward them. Circe gasped, and her heart leapt into her throat. An Anu drone patrol ship shaped like a bullet sped over the forest with lightening speed. The ravens broke formation and shot above the ship as it approached Xavier’s larger form.
He banked left as the drone shot its lasers at him. Circe screamed. Carefully, she swung her feet around, standing astride the crook of his wings and grasping tight to his neck. She ran healing energy into his body with a new force she hadn’t had before.
The Anu ship swung around at an impossible angle and velocity. Its lasers streaked through the sky, missing Xavier but taking out several of the ravens. The scent of blood and burnt feathers filled the air. Circe’s heart went out to the little birds as she clung to Xavier’s back with all her strength. The flock dove at the drone, covering its sensors with a cloud of bodies.
Xavier roared and threw back his head, pulling a deep breath into his lungs. The birds broke away from the ship as Xavier let a plume of acid fire explode from his lungs. It hit the drone dead center. Circe felt herself slipping. She scrambled to keep her foothold on Xavier’s wings and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. The small craft spun wildly in the air as it fell to the ground.
Below, it crashed in a fiery explosion. The birds flew past Xavier, squawking and fluttering. He roared, and Circe buried her face in his neck. When she looked up, she saw a second drone patrol ship flying toward them at top speed.
The ravens wasted no time blinding its sensors while Xavier gathered another breath of fire. But the ship blasted the ravens back with a burst of sound and flame. The reek of burnt plastic and oil mixed with the smoke from the burning forest below. A dozen birds went plummeting to the ground. Xavier let his fire burst from his chest while Circe fed him as much energy as she could.
Marked by the Alpha Wolf; Part 1 Page 39