by Sydney Addae
“The making of pups outside normal means. It’s been happening for years, we’re going to stop the cross-breeding farms before they go too far.”
Cross-breeding? She hadn’t heard about that. “How long does training take? I’m not trying to be rude, but I really need to get to Canada to find my friend and help him.”
Isodora closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose for a few seconds while Sarita watched. Had she pushed too hard? What if Isodora said no? Stuck in the middle of nowhere, Sarita had little choice in the matter. Hopefully, Isodora would be kind and help her out.
“Training goes at your speed, however long it takes you to learn.” She turned and faced Sarita. “We’ll start in an hour. Have three questions about Salah prepared for discussion during training.” She held up three fingers. “Every time we train, we will discuss three facets of your lineage, is that understood?”
Pleased things were moving along, Sarita nodded. “Three questions.”
“Different questions on different topics,” Isodora amended.
Sarita’s smile slipped slightly but she fought to remain upbeat.
“I will send for you when I’m ready.” Isodora turned and walked off.
Sarita headed toward the door she’d entered, it opened automatically. Carin stood outside and smiled when she saw her. “Ready? I’ll show you where everything is so you don’t get lost.”
Sarita nodded and followed Carin, but her mind was on how disappointed Isodora seemed. It bothered Sarita that she had a knack for making people unhappy, it wasn’t intentional. She simply spoke her mind honestly, lies were headaches.
“This is the training area where you’ll return to tonight.”
Sarita stepped forward and looked inside. It was a large room with hardwood floors and white walls. How did they train without equipment? Maybe she’d use that as one of her questions.
The impromptu tour didn’t take long and fairly soon Sarita was back in the room where she woke up. She climbed on the bed, inhaled and focused.
“David?” she called.
Nothing.
CHAPTER TEN
FISTS CLENCHED, CHEST heaving, Nadira strode into her secret cavern and kicked the small jar of herbs across the floor. “Isodora I’ll kill you for this,” she yelled while looking up at the crags in the ceiling. Her pack, destroyed. Attacked in her prison, on the run, hiding like a criminal? It was too much.
She stopped, inhaled and muttered an incantation recalling the energy and power she had shared with her men. As her power returned, she calmed. Confidence surged within her. They would pay with their lives for what they’d done.
What manner of magic did they use? Her mouth continued to burn from the poison in Cain’s blood. Why hadn’t it burned when she licked him the first time? Clearly, she sensed female energy but couldn’t pinpoint it. And the bubble? How would she kill the black wolf as long as he remained inside?
She focused and held her palms outward, pulling energy. It swirled and grew into a small ball. Perhaps this would shatter the bubble, she thought as the energy particles coalesced.
“My Queen.”
Nadira glanced over her shoulder at Baez kneeling with his head down. Pity he was the lone survivor and now knew the location of her inner sanctum. She had allowed him to shift for healing and to search for supplies.
Ignoring him, she strode through the natural archway to the waterfall several feet away. Standing close to the edge, the cool water covered her head and washed away the dirt of the cavern floor. More importantly, Cain’s hand-prints on her neck and his scent disappeared beneath the cleansing stream.
Task complete, she returned and pulled out her short tunic, shorts, weapons belt, and boots. “What did you find?” She dressed and sat on the bench to pull on her boots.
“The bodies have been removed. The food supplies are gone. The tents remain.”
She flicked her gaze at him and held back a sigh. Of all the litter-mates, Baez had always been the most useless in her opinion. He said and did the right things, but she always suspected he cheated somehow and didn’t trust him.
“My supplies are low, there’s not enough for us both.” Sage was scheduled to go hunting the same day he died.
He bowed lower. “I give my life for my Queen.”
Of that she was sure. He had no choice. Cain or the black wolf would kill him on sight. Once again, she cursed Isodora for leaving her in this place so long. Being locked in a mountain was punishment enough, did she plan to starve her too?
“What do you know about these full-bloods? Obviously, they are not normal. Not the way they destroyed all six of your brothers. Did you learn anything from the black wolf?” She looked at Baez.
“He mentioned speaking to his Alpha, gaining permission. He still communicates with the outside, my Queen.”
“Some links can’t be stopped,” she muttered.
Baez looked at her and bowed his head again. “Truly?”
“Litter-mates and mates, no one can stop those links because they’re one of the same,” she said wondering what her next step should be. She could ask Isodora what was going on but refused to give her the satisfaction of a discussion.
“Is the Alpha coming to their aid?” she asked. Could she still cut a deal and escape? The idea of besting Isodora and raining down vengeance on that one made her giddy.
“I believe so, Mistress.”
She stood and walked across the floor with her fingertips pressed against her forehead. “How to make this work? Maybe we can still make a deal, gather their assistance to leave here.” She walked back to the bench and looked at him over her shoulder. “What can we use as leverage? A bargaining tool to make the Alpha agree to release us when he comes for his son?”
“You could threaten to kill him.”
She refused to admit the unlikeliness of her success and waved the idea aside. “What good is a corpse?”
“There’s too much water to poison, but you can poison his food and offer to revive him. They would agree for the antidote.”
That idea had potential. She stooped and opened her small cupboard beneath the bench where she kept her supplies. Four jars held her most precious herbs. One was empty and the other three, sorely depleted. The best she could do with what she had was a short-term paralysis that might last three days at most. But the Alpha wouldn’t know that. If she timed it right, she could trick them into believing he was dying and needed her assistance to survive. A perfectly wicked ruse. She smiled and looked at Baez.
“Good idea. You’ll need to go hunting.”
ANGUS AND JACQUES MONITORED the choppers flying over the mountains and the Knights on the ground. They’d been searching for five hours and were getting tired. But Angus wanted to tell Silas something when he landed in nine hours and pushed them to continue.
“Coffee?” Angus asked Jacques as he poured a cup.
“No, I’m good.” He took a piece of chicken from the large platter and ate. “The girls are coming home this weekend, well Jewel and Diamond are coming, Ruby couldn’t make it.”
Angus looked up and smiled. “I haven’t seen your jewels in a while. It’ll be good to see them. How long are they staying?” He returned to his seat at the console and took a drumstick.
“I don’t know. They grow up so fast, seems like yesterday they were crawling around the house.”
“Victor’s in France on an exchange program, right?” he asked about Jacques only son who wanted to learn more about his father’s homeland and was completing his degree abroad.
“Yes, yes he is. Talked to him last night, he’s doing well. Sure do miss him.” He pointed at Angus. “Just wait, when Ares and Christian leave for college you and Shyla will understand what I mean.”
Thinking of his teen-aged sons, Angus grinned. They were delightful handfuls that kept him and Shyla on their toes. Shyla’s parents moved closer and often had the boys on the weekends or during school breaks giving him and Shyla time alone. He loved those days.
“Maybe, but I’m thinking we’ll be busy traveling, seeing the world together on a perpetual honeymoon to miss them that much.” At least he planned to do his part to keep Shyla entertained. “I have plans to keep my mate to myself once those two are gone, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Jacques laughed. “Sounds good. Your nursery is closed I take it?”
“Shyla is content with two, so am I. No more pups for us. I think grand-parenting is the way to go. Lots of fun for a short period, then send the buggers back home.” He and Jacques laughed.
“I wish you and Shyla well. Victoria has little interest in traveling these days. She’s enjoying the role of Nana too much.” Jacques smiled. “So do I. It’s a pleasure seeing all the wee ones when I go home.”
Angus sat forward, placing his cup aside as he pointed to the console. “Someone said something. Turn up the speaker, have them repeat it.”
A Knight spoke. “Movement on the ground, lone male running, he stopped and is looking up. He hears the copters.”
“Knights move to that area in stealth mood, human deep, stat,” Angus said. “Apprehend and hold for questioning. Do not allow him to escape. According to Cain, there’s only one full-blood left inside, this may be him.”
Releasing a pent-up breath, Angus wished he was there on the ground joining the hunt.
“How many are in the area?” Angus asked, impatient. They couldn’t allow the full-blood to escape or return to the mountain.
“Closing in,” one Knight said, and then another. There were four closing in on the full-blood.
“Just one chopper, the rest pull back and continue surveillance in your assigned areas in case this is a trick,” Angus instructed. “Do not lose sight of him.”
“Yes, Sir. He’s moving slowly but steadily down a rocky path.”
“There are antelope grazing in that direction,” another Knight said. “I’ll meet him there while the others get behind him. We’ll box him in.”
Angus nodded, pleased with their strategy. “Let me know when any of you on the ground has eyes on him.”
Several moments passed. Angus and Jacques sat forward listening intently.
“I’ve got eyes on him.”
Angus released a breath as one of the men coming behind the full-blood saw him.
“Eyes on him, moving forward,” another Knight said.
“Has he seen or picked up on anyone?” The full-blood shouldn’t since they were in stealth-mode, but Angus wanted them prepared for anything.
“Eyes on him and his prey. He’s preparing to attack an antelope, permission to engage.”
“Engage. Do not kill him,” Angus stressed. “Hold him for La Patron. I repeat, do not kill him.”
“Copy, Sir.”
Angus sat back and wished he had Silas’ ability to see through others. Waiting was a bitch. “Any way the copter can give us a visual?”
“I’ll ask but he’s a distance away to keep from spooking the herd.” Jacques made the request. Moments later the monitor flickered, and they saw a man on the ground being held by four Knights.
Angus frowned and looked at Jacques. “No fight? He just gave up?”
Jacques shrugged and asked the Knights.
“There was resistance, we’re taking him to meet the copter and back to the base. We’re changing shifts now and will have him under 24-hour watch until we deliver him to La Patron.”
“Agreed. Good job. Lock him in a collar. I don’t need to tell you how disappointed our Alpha will be if that full-blood is missing when he arrives.”
“Understood, Sir. We will guard him with our lives.”
Angus wiped his face and spoke to the copter. “Mark that area where you initially saw the full-blood. When the shift changes, I want Knights in that area searching every nook and cranny for an opening.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The more information they had for Silas the better. “If that’s the full-blood and he was hunting deer, then Cain and David are alone underground without food.” He looked at Jacques. “Did we just fuck up? Should we have let him take the food inside?” He hated second-guessing himself and tried to reach Silas.
The connection was so patchy it kept dropping. Once Silas landed they’d be able to talk.
NADIRA STOOD AT THE edge of the grotto staring down at the camp below. They had taken the individual tents and made a large rectangular one. The insolent pests had robbed her lair of fabrics, herbs and her food supply while she had been training Baez on the intricacies of leaving through Isodora’s veil at the mouth of the cavern. It was tricky and if not done correctly could leave a person stranded in a less hospitable part of the mountain. Even though Nadira couldn’t leave, she had tried for years and failed, Isodora allowed a way for Nadira to receive supplies and company. It had taken months to bring in all seven litter-mates. And mere hours to destroy them, she groused.
Anger throbbed in her chest over everything she had lost because of these two.
Baez should be returning soon with meat and berries. Hunger gnawed at her belly, it had been days since she’d eaten and the aroma of whatever they prepared below drew her. By the time she reached the exterior of their camp, her hunger pains had increased.
An invisible barrier stopped her from going closer. Rage rippled through her over being denied. She stomped around until she faced the front of their tents and yelled. “You robbed me.” Holding her palms together she drew energy, watched it build and build into a round, fiery ball. Cain stepped out and looked at her. The others stood on each side and touched his shoulder. The bubble shimmered for a few seconds and then stopped.
Pissed by their disregard of her greatness and their supreme disrespect, she threw the energy ball toward them. It sizzled, sparked and was absorbed into the shield.
What? Her gaze narrowed as she stomped forward and pointed. “You will pay for what you’ve done. I will slice the skin from your bones and cut off your balls. Your sire will curse the day you were born,” she yelled.
The black wolf yawned, walked back to the tent and returned with a bowl. He ate a piece of meat, chewing it slowly while watching her.
Her stomach growled. She sneered at him.
“Where’s Baez? He’s been gone a long time. I hope my Alpha’s men haven’t caught him,” the young wolf said glancing at her as he continued eating.
Inwardly she stilled. Alpha’s men? Had the Alpha arrived already? No, he said the Alpha’s men. No one mentioned there were others. Had Baez been caught in a trap? She didn’t know and that pissed her off more.
Hungry but not defeated, head high, she returned to her sanctuary and searched for something to ease her hunger. There was nothing but a few half-rotted berries. For now, that would have to do.
Minutes dragged into hours.
Baez never returned. What would she do now? How would she poison the young wolf and use him as a ransom? The plan seemed perfect earlier, now she had no idea how to go forward.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BAREFOOT AND DRESSED in a brown, loose-fitting jumpsuit, Sarita walked into the training room after being summoned. Unsure what to expect she searched for a place to sit and saw nothing. Standing alone in the middle of the room, she wondered what was next.
“What is your first question?” Isodora asked walking behind her. Sarita spun around and took a quick breath. She hadn’t heard anything; the air hadn’t moved.
Swallowing hard, trying to slow her heart, Sarita strained to remember her first question. “Why lines or vines as a birthmark? Why not something dealing with what happened to Salah and the patriarch?”
“That is an interesting question. What birthmark would you have given?” Dressed in emerald green leggings with a matching fitted, sleeveless tunic, with her dark hair piled atop her head, Isodora moved to stand in front of Sarita and crossed her arms.
Sarita hadn’t thought that far ahead and realized she should have. Thinking of the story and the current mission, she gave it her best shot. “A pup.”
> Isodora smiled.
Relief coursed through Sarita. Seeing a pleased expression from Isodora made her happy.
“That is the same answer I gave when I asked that question many years ago. I will share the answer I was given.” She turned and waved her hand. A picture grew on the wall. It started fuzzy and slowly focused. It was a picture of a pup trapped beneath heavy, thorny vines.
Sarita’s heart went out for the pup.
“What do you see?”
“A trapped pup.”
The picture expanded until more of the scenery could be seen. Two wolves battled, and another sniffed near the pup but couldn’t reach him because of the vines. “Now what do you see?”
“A fight and a predator trying to take the pup.” She looked at Isodora and then at the picture. “We’re the protection instead of the victim? Is that it?”
“Yes. Always the protection.” The picture remained on the wall. “Hold out your hands.”
Sarita held them out.
Isodora waved her hands over them. “Clasp them together and close your eyes.”
Sarita followed instructions and heard the Priestess say words in a language she didn’t understand.
“Open your eyes.” Sarita saw particles floating in front of her. “Whoa, what’s that?”
“A key, only given to Salah’s descendants, or rather only Salah’s descendants can see or access the key. Now we can train. You need to understand how to move to invade space and time to rescue or learn information or for any reason.” She held up a hand and met Sarita’s gaze. “Never use any of your gifts for evil or extremely selfish reasons. Remember they are from Yahweh to Salah.”
Sarita nodded and for the next two hours learned to move without sound, appear and disappear without detection.
“Next question,” Isodora asked standing in front of Sarita.
“Why dark lines? Why not a more neutral color? Why so conspicuous?” Sarita asked.