A Soulmark Series

by Rebecca Main

  My breath catches in my throat. “Plans?”

  I cast a sidelong glance his way, watching as color rises to his cheeks. “I’ve made my intentions clear, and we both know our parents hope you’ll serve on the Council one day. So, if I have to follow you across the country to try and save your friend—and mine—then I will. I won’t let anything out there hurt you, and I’ll help make sure we all get back. I promise.” Wyatt catches my eye, and what I see makes my heart clench uncomfortably. Hope. It’s going to be a long ten hours to get to Branson Falls.

  +++

  “The tracer is sounding off roughly twelve klicks southeast of our position, and it’s on the move,” JJ tells us, scanning the tablet, his eyes lifting to flick through the dense forest sporadically. Wyatt hovers nearby, rifle perched in his hold while two more guns rest on either side of his hips. Naomi and I are finishing adjusting our dragon skin armor and weapons. The tension in the air builds around us. We’ve navigated the van deep into the forest, courtesy of a dodgy unused road clogged with fallen branches and littered with ditches. We’re lucky the van made it so far in, but even so, seven and a half miles—twelve klicks—will take a long while to cover.

  “Well,” Naomi says, “what are we waiting for?”

  JJ leads the way, setting a steady pace through the foliage. Naomi and I take the middle, ready to hold ranks at the side if necessary, while Wyatt brings up the rear. The first hour and a half is made in silence. There are no breaks. No shared looks of contrite concern or weariness as we traverse the mountainous terrain. The trek would have felt more difficult if not for the canopy of leaves and the cool breeze winding its way through the branches. As it is, the dragon armor isn’t exactly breathable fabric, but going without it isn’t an option.

  “Target is changing direction and heading west,” JJ announces, pausing only slightly to tuck away the tablet and change our course.

  “Toward us?” Naomi’s optimism saturates her words, her head whipping about surreptitiously.

  “Yes,” JJ answers, voice clipped. We continue onwards silently, trekking through denser shrubs, along the alpha pack’s boundary lines. When the little red dot signifying Nova stops some two klicks away, he has us do so as well. Naomi pulls out the topography map from her pocket, her finger running along a hand-drawn line through the forest.

  “We’re coming up to one of our old tree posts,” she says. “It’s almost a kilometer west of the alpha pack’s boundary line.”

  “Which means we’re in the beta pack’s territory?”

  She nods at my conclusion. “Yes, but the packs don’t start manning the boundary line until at least three klicks north from here. We should be in the clear for now, but we should stay alert. There’s still active wildlife in this area. Both predator and prey.” Predator and prey? Just which are we? I cannot help but think that we are walking a perilous line between the two at the moment.

  “Do the wolves wander?”

  Naomi shakes her head, folding and pocketing the map once more. “They typically stick to a schedule.”

  “And you said they would patrol outward from what coordinates?” Wyatt asks.

  “47°38'51.9"N 115°14'30.0"W,” she says smoothly. “More wolves will be coming since nightfall provides better coverage for them.”

  “You didn’t tell us that their patrol size increased toward nightfall during the brief,” I respond, surprised and a tad miffed at her casual delivery.

  She gives a short shrug, not bothering to meet any of our eyes. “I didn’t see what difference it would make. I know the area. I know the schedule. We’ll stay out of their way.” She takes a quick glance at the tablet in JJ’s hand. “She’s moving again. Toward us. Faster.”

  Naomi walks off without another word, trying to take the lead. JJ catches up to her in two long strides, whispering something as they continue walking.

  “She should have told us,” Wyatt grunts, shuffling forward to stand by me.

  “How many more do you think are going to come?” I ask quietly.

  “I don’t know,” he says slowly, “but I think we should have brought more guns.” We watch as Naomi and JJ come to a stop ahead of us, heads huddled together over the tablet.

  “Probably,” I remark sarcastically. Wyatt nudges my arm, a sort of grin trying to steal its way onto his face. “What?”

  “Just like old times, eh? Out in the field. The odds stacked against us.” I roll my eyes at his nostalgia, though I don’t deny the comfort of familiarity it brings about. “Tell me something. Did you come up with this plan just to get Nova back, or was there some part of you just dying to get back out in the field one last time? Whatever the cost?”

  I suck in a harsh breath. “Fuck you.”

  He lets out a bark of laughter. “Oh, come on! Not even just a little bit? I know how the anticipation always got you riled up before—”

  “Would you just shut up? That isn’t why I came up with the plan. Nova is my friend. My best friend. She’s loyal, and she’s good, and she didn’t deserve this. We have the power to reverse it. So, why shouldn’t we?”

  “You know why, Calliope. We don’t know if the blade works, and even if it does, it’s too dangerous to have outside of the Banks Facility. In the wrong hands, it could start a war.” I avoid his gaze, managing to take one step forward before Wyatt places himself in front of me. “You get that, right?”

  “Of course I understand. I’m not an idiot.”

  “Says the girl who brought her brother and friend into warring wolf territory with a fledgling vampyré on the loose. Oh, and let's not forget the Eldritch Witches on patrol as well. This is a suicide mission if I ever saw one. One the Council would never have approved of… but hey, if you can manage to pull this off and get the ring back? Then maybe the Council won’t banish or kill you. They might even reward you for your daring and ingenuity. Reinstate you as a Warrior. But I bet you already thought about that, didn’t you?”

  Heat gathers and spreads across my neck and cheeks. “Drop it, Wy,” I order icily, unable to bring myself to deny his observations.

  His hand reaches out and grips my wrist tightly. “I know you, Calliope. I know how you think. I know how you act. I know all about that darkness inside of you. Because you and me? We’re two sides of the same coin.” He lets his words sink in, but my mind drifts traitorously to an image of Keenan. His stern face and anxious plea the fateful night of our meeting. If anyone is to be my other half, isn’t it the mysterious wolf? “You didn’t just come here to save Nova and get the ring back, and we both know it. You can’t honestly believe the Council will reward you for this suicide mission, even if you pull this off. At least not without all of our support and testimony.” I catch the meaningful look on his face and feel a pit of worry develop in my stomach. “And if you don’t pull this off, you’ll need a lot more than that.”

  “I’m aware of the consequences I might face—”

  “Are you? Really? Because if you don’t, we all know what consequence you alone will face.” Death. “Though, with the right persuasion, you could find yourself allowed to stay, at the very least.” I go to reply, lips opening to administer a callous retort, when I see the glint in his eyes. His grip intensifies. “My family holds considerable weight with the Council, Calliope. More than yours or the other two founding families. Marry me, and you’ll come to witness it firsthand.”

  “Wyatt—” His name cracks on my tongue as he pulls me back into his chest.

  “We could have done this properly,” he tells me heatedly, eyes suddenly wide and wild. “But you’ve cut that option to shreds. Marry me.”

  I shoot a desperate look over my shoulder at JJ and Naomi. They remain near one another, backs hunched and heads dipped forward. I swallow the lump in my throat. Feel my hummingbird heartbeat pulse all throughout me.

  “We can’t possibly get married,” I finally say, eyes still locked on the other two. His fingers gently persuade my chin to the side, to face him fully.

&nbs
p; “We need only a Warden’s light and blessing to sanction a handfasting, plus a witness. We have both.”

  “We also need rings,” I respond, tugging out of his hold. Wyatt pulls a cloth out of his pocket and unwraps its contents. “Wyatt,” I breathe, closing my eyes as I shake my head. “We can’t get married.”

  “Two rings, a witness, and a Warden. We’ve all we need. You just need to say yes. After all this mess is taken care of, we’ll conduct the ceremony on the plane on our way back. It’s the only way they won’t find a reason to banish or kill you. Just think about.” His hand reaches out faster than I anticipate, cradling the back of my head and pulling me forward into an earnest kiss.

  “Keep your hands to yourself, Baker,” JJ barks. I take two steps back in hasty retreat, hand flying to my lips as I stare aghast at Wyatt. His mouth trims into two thin lines, his eyes meeting JJ’s in a menacing glare. “We’re not here so you two can rekindle your relationship. We’re here to help Nova and secure the Amethyst of the Aztecs. Understood?”

  Wyatt grunts and straightens. “Understood.” JJ’s hard gaze lands on me.

  “I understand.”

  Naomi touches JJ’s arm, pulling his attention back to her. I catch the frown upon her brow, the worry etched plainly across her features as she steps toward him.

  “What’s going on?” I ask. Naomi nervously adjusts her glasses.

  “Nova’s movements are becoming sporadic,” JJ tells us.

  I look back to Wyatt, taking in his expression of the news. He too can tell something is off between the two. “So, is she headed away from us?” He shakes his head. “Then what’s the matter?”

  “She’s still moving toward us, but faster than before. Much faster.” There’s unspoken meaning in the short sentence. Much faster? More like too fast. Not humanly possible fast. Our seventy-two hours is up. There is no other explanation for a target being able to move at such high speeds. “She’s coming in at us in a strange pattern though. She’ll arch one way, then dart another.”

  “But she’s still coming toward us?”

  He nods, then motions for us to gather closer. “Wyatt will take trigger point,” JJ says, slipping to position himself at the back while Naomi and I once more take position in the middle. Wyatt slowly leads us forward by JJ’s instruction, and a strange hush falls over the forest. It will be predator against predator should we encounter Nova, and the thought does not bode well.

  Though my eyes should be tracking for movement, I can’t help but steal glances at Naomi. Vogart’s Blade is still snug in its sheath on her hip, but Naomi looks ready to exchange the gun she holds for the blade in a second flat.

  Something catches my eye in the distance. A blur of movement too fast for the human eye to catch. Wyatt raises a fist, and the group comes to a halt. “How far away is the target?” Tension pricks at my skin while we wait for JJ’s response.

  “Less than one klick. Hold position. Wyatt, at the ready.”

  “Ready. Will shoot on command,” Wyatt answers.

  Naomi’s head whips to the side to stare at him in shock. “Shoot? We’re not shooting Nova. What the hell, JJ? This isn’t the plan.” My gaze darts across the darkening plain. My swirling, fluttering nerves skipping into overdrive as the group loses focus. Another movement. This one far off in the distance and accompanied by a shuddering of branches along a row of bushes.

  “We’re not going to kill her, Naomi. Wyatt’s gun is loaded with—”

  “We’re not shooting my sister,” she snarls, effectively cutting him off. “End of story.”

  “Listen—”

  “No, I won’t fucking listen! You listen to me.”

  “You guys,” I hedge, gun poised and at the ready to cover my side if necessary, “we need all eyes out on the ground. We’re in wolf territory, remember?”

  Naomi growls her frustration, “Are you seriously agreeing with them?”

  “No,” I snap back, frustration and aggravation clear in my voice, “but I’m also not willing to leave us unguarded. And I seem to be the only one who—” A sharp crack sounds in the air, stealing all of our attention. And anything within a mile radius.

  All eyes turn in shock to Wyatt, the crack of his gun still reverberating through the air. A strangled cry rears from Naomi’s throat as she staggers forward. I roughly pull Wyatt back, receiving an undignified grunt in response. Heart hammering in my chest, I seek out Nova’s figure in the fading light. Some 500 meters away, a deer wavers on its feet. A muted bleat echoes through the air as it buckles to the ground.

  Naomi’s fist drives into the side of Wyatt’s face, her body twisting and adding to the weight of her punch. Wyatt stumbles, hands releasing the rifle to cup his jaw. “Jesus, Naomi! It was just a deer.”

  “It could have been Nova!” she shouts back. “You piece of shit, that could have been her!” Naomi launches forward once more, but I’m quick to step between the two, hands held high in surrender.

  “Everybody needs to calm down,” I speak softly, letting my hands lower slowly.

  “That could have been Nova, Callie.” I don’t dare look over my shoulder at Wyatt, though I’m dying to deliver the same punch.

  “I hit the deer with a tranquilizer. If you would have let JJ finish explaining a minute ago, instead of flying off the handle, you would know the rifle is loaded with two tranquilizer darts made for vampyrés. That deer will be out until tomorrow.” Naomi’s face is flush with anger, but her eyes scream uncertainty.

  “That could have been Nova,” she breathes harshly, unwilling to back down. “You would have shot her with a tranquilizer?”

  “She’s still a vamp, Naomi,” JJ cajoles. “We’re deep in wolf territory, and that deer is apparently wearing your sister’s tracer.”

  “What?” I ask wide eyed. He nods, jaw clenched tight as he shows us the tablet. Oh no. The red dot remains at a standstill 500 meters from us. He stows it away and picks up his weapon once more. I trickle of apprehension digs into each vertebra along my spinal column. “Why would a deer have her tracer?”

  “How would a deer have her tracer?” Naomi asks, voice hollow with dread.

  “Resume formation,” JJ orders. In strained silence, we do as we’re told. Wyatt spits out a thick curdle of blood as he snatches his rifle from the ground. He passes both Naomi and me an icy glare, but the point is moot. My Beretta M9 feels heavy in my hands as I direct the muzzle northward, a swell of adrenalin taking place of my apprehension. The Borealis Matter only heightens the sensation as I survey the growing shadows. There is still little chatter from the inhabitants of these woods, which means a predator still lurks nearby.

  “Fall back,” JJ commands softly. Naomi stiffens, casting a helpless look my way.

  “But—”

  “No buts. We planned accordingly for this scenario earlier. We stay at the ready, all of us, and fall back to the van.” Cautiously we backtrack, JJ resuming the lead trigger position. A mile into our trek, JJ turns on a small flashlight attached to his belt. It's only half past nine, yet already it's startlingly dark. We most certainly aren’t in Alaska anymore, I think. And the once helpful canopy now works to our detriment, spoiling the last vestiges of light as the sun sinks past a distant mountain peak. Thankfully, the walk back passes more quickly than our way out; JJ’s pace to credit.

  When we make it back to the van, weapons still at the ready, an uncertain calm takes hold. Naomi lets her gun drop to her side, the tension she carried all throughout our journey back dropping from her with a crestfallen look.

  “Remind me again, what scenario is it we just experienced? Nothing happened out there. We could have still found her somehow.”

  “That tracer didn’t place itself on the deer, Naomi,” he says flatly, though some regret lingers about the edges of his tone. “The movement of the deer was too scripted up until the end. Too easy. It had all the signs of a trap. I couldn’t ignore it. Besides, without the tracer still actually residing in Nova, the chances of finding her f
all considerably.”