Laura's Legacy

by Lilli Carlisle

  Dedric remembered the gruesome beasts well. With their hairy body, short legs, long powerful arms and small heads, they would be worrisome enough. Now picture that at over eight feet tall carrying huge weapons in each of those hands and not being able to be killed without severing the head from the body. That was an ogre, and all the beasts were interested in was death and destruction.

  They were hours away from the next town so Dedric laid his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes. He opened himself to his mate, sending out love and encouragement even though he couldn’t feel her in his mind. He would be happy if only a little made it through to her. Dedric hoped the desperation he was feeling was his own because he couldn’t stand it if it was his mate’s.

  It felt as though his heart was being stabbed over and over again. Things would be looking up at one moment then come crashing down the next. Dedric swore for what had to be the hundredth time today that once he had his mate back he was never going to leave her side again. No one would be able to take her away from him.

  Dedric froze in his seat when he felt the first draw of power. It wasn’t a lot but he opened himself up for her to take as much as she needed. He could feel her in his mind, her love, her fear for their unborn child. She was sending out her location even if she didn’t know exactly where she was. It felt like a beacon in the dark, sending her whereabouts and it was now getting stronger in his mind.

  “Definitely, she’s in the Alerian Mountains.” He sat up in his seat, his eyes closed but his head turned as if he were seeing something. He could hear Lothar relaying the information to the rest of their group.

  In his mind, he was seeing things that Laura had seen. The cage she was in, which made him growl when he relayed the information. Then he saw the yellow stone across from her and could feel the pull of it taking his mate’s power. Everything he saw he relayed to the group.

  Dedric pushed more power to her, which thankfully she took from him. His head was still turning as if finding a direction to go in. Their love flowed back and forth through the connection now. He had to be going the right way.

  “Can you sense anyone with her?” Ceva asked, her walkie-talkie in hand ready to share the information.

  Dedric concentrated on the room Laura was in and felt no one else. “She’s alone.”

  Ceva began chanting a spell but Dedric was careful not to be distracted from his mate and held the connection strong. He sensed Laura’s happiness before he realized Ceva had sent something to her. Dedric could feel his mate bite into it and the taste of apple filled his mouth.

  “You sent her an apple, she’s eating it,” Dedric said, happy his mate was eating but surprised by what Ceva had done. “How did you do that? Can you send anything bigger, like a person?”

  “No, unfortunately that is about all I can send without an absolute lock on her location. I’m using your connection to get closer to her, so I can at least send her food because I’m sure the sisters aren’t feeding her,” Ceva explained as she conjured another fruit and sent it through.

  A peach—he knew it was a peach by the taste on his lips. He never realized that he and his mate could have this type of connection, and he promised not to lose it. “Why couldn’t I connect with Laura like this before now?”

  “It typically occurs in times of need but now that the line of communication is there it can never be closed,” Ceva explained.

  Dedric liked the sound of that; he wanted this intimate connection with his mate. And, gods forbid, if anything ever happened again he’d be able to protect her better than before. He continued to scan the horizon, waiting for that moment of surety when he knew the exact direction to go. Then it hit him, like a lighthouse in the dark, the section of mountain she was locked in. It may have still been a large area but it was certainly smaller than the entirety of the Alerian Mountains.

  “That way,” Dedric shouted as he pointed slightly to the east of the mountain range.

  Samson pulled up the vehicle’s GPS and corrected their route to match up with Dedric’s directions. He could feel their link weakening and knew he’d lose touch with his love at any moment.

  I love you, Dedric.

  I love you, my Laura. I’m coming for you.

  Then she was gone. The connection closed as if she didn’t have enough strength to hold it open on her end.

  I’m coming for you, love. You and our baby are going to be fine. I swear it.

  Laura felt the connection close; she had to save her energy. She’d given Dedric as much as she could and hid the apple core and peach pit under her legs so that no one would be the wiser. The stone kept drawing her power away and she was thankful for the boost Dedric had given her. So far, she and her baby were fine but she didn’t know how long that would last.

  She heard the footsteps moments before Ula entered the room. Laura admonished herself; she would have to be more cautious and listen for the sisters so she wasn’t snuck up on so easily again. Ula stood silently for a long time before she asked. “Why do you deserve to live?”

  Laura was thrown by the question. Why would one of the people who wanted her dead ask such a question?

  “I’m unsure how to answer that to the person wishing to destroy me and my legacy.”

  Ula seemed to consider what Laura had said before taking a seat on a rock outcropping a few feet from her cage. “I understand your confusion, but humor me. What would you do with your life if you survived?”

  “I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d continue my life on Newton pack land and continue helping shifters deliver their babies. I would work my hardest to make sure your horrible curse never affects another shifter.” She went with honesty—what the hell did she have to lose?

  “Even though we intend to kill you to end the legacy you dare to speak the truth. Interesting.”

  “Look, I’m not some sort of bug under your microscope to be toyed with. I’m also sure that whatever I say will mean nothing in the grand scheme to end my life. So you might as well go back to wherever you came from and report to Ethne that I’m still fighting her damn stone.” Laura growled and bared her canines at Ula as she spoke.

  Laura couldn’t decipher the look on Ula’s face but it was definitely not the anger she’d expected. Before Ula could say anything more Ethne walked in carrying what looked like a wine bottle in her hand.

  “What are you doing in here, Ula? Playing with the animal?” Ethne asked as she stumbled in and took a seat.

  She had never seen her stumble even though she was supposed to be blind. Laura had figured out pretty quickly that Ethne was using some sort of a spell to see with. Was she drunk from whatever was inside that bottle?

  “I see you haven’t finished sucking down that fairy’s life force. I wonder which you liked better, killing the fairy with your own hands or the high you get from drinking his powers.” Ula shot out and Laura reared back at the realization of what was inside the bottle.

  Ethne cackled and waved the bottle in front of Laura’s cage. “What, not a fan of a nice Pinot Fairy?”

  “You’re a vile and disgusting being,” Laura spat out. “If given the chance I’ll end your existence myself.”

  “I don’t believe you’re in a position to threaten anyone, mutt.” Ethne laughed before tipping the bottle back and emptying it. After every last drop was gone, Ethne threw the empty bottle against the wall above Laura’s cage.

  Glass rained down on her and she screamed when a shard sliced into her shoulder. Immediately, love and strength poured through the connection she had with her mate. Dedric must have felt her pain.

  Ula’s head snapped to her while Ethne continued to cackle and remained oblivious. Finally, Ethne quieted down and stood up. “I’ll leave you two to whatever you were doing. It’s time for me to rest. It won’t be too much longer now before we start to see that stone in action. The real fun will begin then.”

  Ethne stumbled out of the door and was gone. Laura looked at her shoulder. The cut was deep, and it would tak
e a few days to heal.

  “So you’re in contact with them. That might be useful,” Ula mumbled.

  “You leave them alone.”

  Ula stood before saying, “And where would the fun be in that?”

  Laura didn’t know how long she sat there staring at the rock before she started to reach out to her mate to warn them. She didn’t know what Ula meant but it couldn’t be good.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It had been three days and Dedric was losing his mind. Laura hadn’t seen the exterior surroundings before being taken into the cave, which made it harder for them to find her. Plus some sort of spell protected the mountain. They were deep in the forests dotting the mountainsides. Dedric knew he was close to her, within a few miles, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where.

  The last time they spoke his mate had sounded tired from holding the stone at bay. Dedric begged her to take as much power from him as she needed, but he could feel her fear at taking too much and leaving him weak for battle. Thankfully, she continued to draw the power she needed to keep their pup safe.

  “Anything yet, Dedric?” Samson asked as they walked through another clearing. The sun was setting at their backs signaling the end of another day searching.

  “Nothing, and she’s getting weaker by the day.” Dedric sagged. “I’m failing her.”

  “From what Lothar said it took him several days to home in on Ceva. You’re not failing her; you haven’t stopped searching since she was taken,” Samson reminded him. “Our alpha has never failed us.”

  Dedric wished he felt as confident as his beta but he swore he would never stop searching for his mate. Nothing would stop him.

  Mate…

  Laura, can you hear me sweetheart?

  Yes. There’s lots of movement around here, I think you might be close to us.

  “Laura says there’s movement on her end and thinks we’re close.” Dedric announced to their group. Everyone froze and scanned the areas around them.

  Dedric, someone’s coming.

  Laura…Laura, but she didn’t answer, she was gone.

  “She’s close. Look for anything out of the ordinary, an entrance of some sort.” Dedric ordered as he began hunting. His mate was close; he could feel that. Nothing was going to stop him from getting her back safely.

  Another pair of ogres stormed passed the small entrance to her room. That had been the fourth pair in the last few minutes. Something was wrong. She had to get out of this cage before more of her power was drained. She’d be forced to reach out to her mate for more, not such a good idea especially now that there may be a battle looming, but she’d never risk her baby’s life either.

  Laura was torn; if she took from Dedric to protect their baby, that put her mate at risk. If she didn’t, their baby wouldn’t be able to survive the constant pull of power draining her. She would never choose between her baby and her mate. She would protect both.

  You will take power from me, as often and as much as you need. Dedric’s voice came through loud and clear as if he was yelling.

  I didn’t mean to scare you, Dedric, but they have a team of ogres in here. Do you have many warriors with you?

  I’ve brought backup. All you need to do is keep yourself and our baby safe until I get to you.

  Some of the roots she’d been summoning began wrapping around her arms. She redirected one toward the yellow stone on the wall in front of her. She was still a good inch away but if she could reach it she could use its power as her own.

  Do it. Take the power you need from me and grab it, mate.

  Laura knew she had no other choice. It was obvious her time was coming to an end so she reached deep, pulled power from Dedric, and pushed it straight into the root. Laura was amazed by how fast the root moved, even though she hadn’t taken that much power from him.

  The root coiled around the stone and pulled it free from the wall before placing it in the palm of Laura’s hand. The other roots that she’d managed to coax between the rocks while fighting off the stone wrapped themselves around the frame of her cage. Now that she didn’t have to fight the stone’s power anymore she could use it to get herself out of here. Their baby was strong and healthy and now so was she.

  The metal began to scream in protest as one by one the bars of her cage bent and broke. Laura quickly sent the roots back down into the soil and crawled out of her cage. It took her a few moments to get the blood to return to her legs as she stumbled over to the opening of the cave. She needed to find a window so she could send Dedric a picture of it for Ceva to teleport the rescue team closer to her location.

  Laura peeked out into the hallway and found it was empty. Quickly she decided going left was as good as right, and headed that way. The hallway branched out in four different directions. The entire time she kept up a dialogue with Dedric. She chose the third hallway; she could feel the fresh air calling out to her from somewhere down its dark bends.

  She headed straight toward it without question, not wanting to run into the sisters on her way out of this creepy-ass place. A few doors down she came to a room filled with light. She peeked inside—empty—and she stepped in. On the far wall were three large arched windows, and the center one was broken. The room was devoid of furniture or drapes; instead it was covered in cobwebs—dusty, long cobwebs.

  Carefully she made her way through the loose floorboards and over to the window. What she saw outside was breathtaking. This room was situated at the bottom of a crater in the center of a mountain. There was a waterfall high up spraying water down the sidewall over by a small pond. The foliage was thick with fragrant flowers and honestly it surprised Laura that something this beautiful could live near dark witches filled with such rage.

  Dedric, I’m going to use my gifts and get my butt to the top of this hole.

  Be careful, my love, we’ve sighted ogres coming our way. We’ll be back together soon.

  The growling was her first hint that she was no longer alone. Laura turned and looked into the multiple beady red eyes of a Storan. Shit.

  Laura watched as the eight-legged beast stalked her. Its thick matted fur clung limply at its sides. They were common in the mountainous areas since their four-inch claws could be used to scale vertical slopes with ease. They remained wild creatures, vicious to the core and fearless, with three-inch canines ready to rip flesh from bone.

  She needed her wolf’s claws and teeth right about now but she still had the stone in her hand. If she went furry, her clothes would shred and she’d lose control of the stone. She looked down at the stone in the palm of her hand, no bigger than a peanut, and knew she couldn’t allow it to fall into the hands of the sister witches, or any dark magic wielder.

  With one quick motion, she made her choice and swallowed the stone before shifting into her white wolf. Laura prayed she hadn’t just doomed herself or her baby. The Storan paced back and forth only a few feet away from her and pawed the earth. She bared her large teeth at the beast, hoping to convince it to leave, but the Storan simply continued to growl.

  Laura brought her powers in close to her and felt an extra rush of strength pulsing through her. She knew she hadn’t taken any from Dedric but soon she lost her train of thought as the beast charged her. She called out to the plants covering the floor and walls of the crater and they attacked immediately and without mercy. It felt as though she had a direct line to their movements, more control over each and every vine and bloom.

  While the beast was distracted Laura called upon the wind, and much like the cake she saved at the welcoming party, she used the force to lift her up and out of the deep crater. When she was roughly halfway up she released her hold on the Storan. There was no need to kill the beast who was acting on instinct alone. Then it hit her: Why don’t I just teleport to the top?

  Since she was unable to use the gift Ceva had given her while the stone sat in that golden shrine sucking the power from her, she hadn’t even tried. Laura looked and stared at the place she wanted to be, concentrated
and felt the wind swirling around her. The next moment she felt the earth beneath her feet and found herself standing above the crater. She sent the picture of the area to her mate and waited.

  Within seconds she was surrounded by warriors all holding hands with Ceva so that she could teleport them all together. Dedric rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her furry body. She couldn’t help but lick his face in happiness. Laura never wanted to be away from him again and she snuggled further into his hold.

  “I’ve missed you, my mate. I love you so much and never want to go through that again.” Dedric buried his fingers deep into her fur.

  Ceva walked up to them carrying clothing for Laura; the benefits of being a white witch—poof!—clothes. She handed them to Dedric and Laura shifted back into her human form before dressing quickly. When the last button was done up, Laura was gathered into her mate’s arms. His stormy expression on his face said it all; he knew.

  “I couldn’t leave the stone in their hands. They would have used it against innocent people.”

  “I understand the logic but what will it do to you and our baby?” Dedric asked as he buried his face in her hair, filling himself with her scent.

  “Actually, I’ll have to look into it but I don’t believe the stone will attack either of them,” High Priestess Farrow announced as she neared. “It would view you as its master and as such protect you. The baby is essentially a part of you.” She paused for a moment then continued, “I’ll make inquiries when we return to your pack, Omega Laura.”

  “Thank you, High Priestess,” Dedric answered. “Anything you can do is greatly appreciated.”

  The warriors were scanning the area while the king and Ceva discussed whether to go after the sisters when Laura heard the earth, ground, trees and plants all cry out to her. “They’re on their way. We stay and fight. These two shouldn’t be left free to harm another soul.”

  Laura wiggled out of Dedric’s arms, wishing to stand on her own two feet. Warriors scanned the forest and rocky terrain as Dedric looked her over.