Ceva's Chance

by Lilli Carlisle

  Lothar felt the spike of fear run through his body as if it were his own, but he knew it belonged to Ceva.

  “Ceva’s in trouble. She isn’t far from here. I need a few men to go with me.”

  All but Haroon raised their hands. He chose Joseph and two other men. They shifted and sped through the forest, Lothar’s senses guiding the way. When they came out of the woods and into a clearing, they were shocked by what they saw. A griffin stood bloodied and raking his front talons onto the ground. Its body, back legs, and tail were that of a lion, and his head, wings, and front talons were from an eagle. At the moment, it was squaring off with Ceva, who held her bloodied sword high.

  When she saw the wolves coming into the clearing, she warned them back. “It’s one of my parents’ pets come to say hello. Don’t get too close. The talons are razor sharp.”

  Lothar could see the bloody slashes on Ceva’s shoulder and growled low and deadly. The griffin turned toward the noise and saw the four wolves, which seemed to infuriate it further. It turned and charged directly for them. Lothar knew his men were well trained, and they charged to meet it at the center of the clearing. When they were five feet apart, Lothar jumped and dodged one talon to latch on to the beast’s wing. He brought his canines down hard and felt a satisfying crunch beneath his jaws. At least now it couldn’t fly away from the battle. It had to face them head-on.

  He let go and fell to the ground, but got to his feet quickly and faced the beast again. He felt a presence at his side, and he knew it was Ceva. Her sword was stained with the blood of the griffin. The other wolves had inflicted similar damage as Lothar to various parts of the griffin’s body.

  “Well, I’ve got to say your timing is impeccable, Wolfie. I had my hands full. I couldn’t throw a decent spell,” Ceva said. “Time for your first in-the-line-of-fire lesson. Hold his image, and push him back.”

  Lothar concentrated all his energy on the griffin as it bore down on them and Lothar imagined pushing the creature back. He pushed with all his might and finally the beast froze on the spot. After a few moments, it began to move backward toward the tree line. It was clawing the earth, desperate for purchase, but nothing helped to stop it. Lothar could hear Ceva chanting and watched as the trees came to life. Branches extended and wrapped themselves around the griffin until there wasn’t any part of the beast visible and its struggles ceased.

  Ceva sat on the ground with a thud and Lothar shifted back to human. “Let me look at your wounds, mate.”

  He could see claw marks on her shoulder and her ribs. Gratefully, both were flesh wounds, and nowhere near life-threatening.

  “We’ll get you cleaned up back at the campsite. There are first aid kits there.”

  “Thank you for coming. Did you sense I was being attacked?”

  “Yes, and it was the most terrifying feeling I’ve ever had to know you were in trouble and I wasn’t with you,” Lothar said. “Now let’s get you back to the camp where you can explain to me why the beast came after you.”

  He helped her stand and walked beside her on their way through the forest. It didn’t take long for them to reach the camp. While Lothar dressed, Karli went to get the first aid kit.

  “How did you manage to piss off a griffin?” he asked with a smirk. His mate was so strong. No matter how much pain she was in, she still smiled for him.

  “I’ll have you know, it attacked first. It’s one of my parents’ bloodthirsty pets. Guess they know we’re on the way and wanted to send out a welcoming party.”

  “Hell of a welcome,” Joseph muttered.

  “Yeah, they always had a flare for the dramatic.” Ceva rolled her eyes. “They never do things halfway.”

  “Okay, enough with the jokes. I need to patch you up,” Lothar ordered as he opened the first aid kit.

  “You know I’ll heal.”

  “Humor me.”

  “Okay, Wolfie, okay.” Ceva patted his arm, conceding to let him care for her.

  As Lothar checked and rechecked her wounds, he gave out orders for sentry duty. They wouldn’t be caught unaware again.

  After he finished his ministrations, he directed the team, “Let’s call it a night. We have a long day ahead.” Looking at Joseph, Lothar said, “I’ll take first watch.”

  “Then I’ll watch with you,” Ceva declared as she stood.

  “You should rest. You’ve been hurt.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mr. Overprotective.”

  Lothar smiled wide and held out his hand, then he lifted her off the log, wrapped his arms around her, and murmured, “Why don’t you put on something warmer and join me?”

  Ceva grabbed her jacket and joined her mate. She had never wanted to leave his side willingly, and now was no different. It wasn’t like her to need anyone’s constant presence, but then again, she’d never had a mate before. This could be normal for all she knew, but she felt edgy when he wasn’t around.

  She wondered if Lothar felt the same. “Wolfie, are you having a difficult time leaving me? I get a sick feeling in my stomach when I’m not near you. Is this part of the mating?”

  “I feel it too. I’m trying to fight it so that you won’t feel trapped, but it’s getting harder to stay away. I don’t know if it’s normal for a mated pair. I noticed Aldric and Helena seem to be always near one another.”

  “True, they’re always together, so maybe this is normal. Or maybe it’s a witch-wolf mating thing.”

  “Could be anything, but is it so bad to have me hanging around?” he teased as they took up a post overseeing the grouping of tents.

  The night was clear and the weather calm, which surprised her. She figured her parents would have put up more of a front knowing that their daughter was on the way. Particularly since they had to know she had killed Penrod. They had sent a griffin—Ceva hadn’t seen that one coming—so gods knew what would come at them next.

  She and Lothar sat in comfortable silence watching nature unfold around them. The night creatures had come out of their dens searching for their evening meal, especially the large owls that swooped and dove into the fields. Soon a chorus of snores filled the air, along with the soulful howls of a wolf, a real one, not a shifter.

  Lothar touched her cheek, surprising Ceva, who had been lost in thought. His calloused hand felt so right on her skin and made her senses come alive.

  “You’re so beautiful in the moonlight, baby. Your skin glows golden. Why is that?”

  Ceva placed her hand over top Lothar’s on her cheek. “White witches glow golden in the moonlight. It is said that it is our internal light.”

  “Well, your internal light is stunning, witch, just like the rest of you.”

  “You might be a little biased, mate.”

  “No, just being truthful.”

  Ceva was never one for compliments, but coming from her mate they felt special and she cherished them. She wondered what life would be like once they returned to Black Ridge. They hadn’t talked much about what would happen once this was over, not knowing if they’d survive the next few days.

  “Will we live in your house when we return home?” she asked.

  Lothar smiled wide. “Yes, I thought you could move in with me since I have a larger house. We’ll have to add on since I have only two bedrooms. We’ll need more room for the children.” The pride in his voice was unmistakable. To build and provide for his family seemed to mean a great deal to Lothar.

  Ceva had always wanted a family but thought it was something she would never have. Now it was within her grasp, as long as they stayed alive.

  “When do you want to start our family?”

  “As soon as this is over, is that too soon for you?”

  She thought about it for a moment and couldn’t find a single reason not to start their family when the mission was over. So she said the only thing that felt right. “As soon as we get home, let’s start trying for our first.”

  The joy on Lothar’s face made her smile. He looked like he’d been given the greatest g
ift.

  “I promise you I will be the best mate and father I can be.”

  “I know you will. Our mating tattoo revealed they would all be wolf, but I wonder if they’ll have any powers.”

  “Considering we both have powers, I would think that some, if not all, will be shared by our children. One thing’s for sure, they’ll be as beautiful and brave as you, my mate.” Lothar’s voice cracked a bit. She looked up to see his eyes were glassy.

  “What’s wrong?” She stood and wrapped her arms around him. “Why are you upset?”

  “I’m not upset, I’m happy. You have no idea how much I want this. Ever since my father died and I became my mother’s protector, I knew I wanted a family to love and watch over.”

  Ceva cupped his cheeks and leaned in so she could whisper in his ear, “You’ll be a great father.” She kissed him gently, ghosting her lips over his.

  She would hold the image of Lothar and their children in her mind when she came face-to-face with her biological family.

  The thought of the true family she and Lothar would create would be her beacon of light in the darkness that was to come.

  Chapter Eight

  Two days later found the team at the edge of her family’s estate, along with hundreds of soldiers as well as King Leonidas and various Alphas from the area. Alpha Aldric, from their home pack at Black Ridge, was in attendance.

  Lothar took Ceva’s hand and led her over to his Alpha, proud to be announcing their mating in person. Aldric saw them coming and broke out into a big smile. Of course he knew from their phone call and he saw their mating tattoos, but when they approached, he didn’t say a thing.

  “Alpha, I would like to announce my mating to Ceva.”

  “Well, you two have been busy on this mission,” he joked. “I’m happy for both of you. May the gods bless your union. Helena is so happy. May I?” Aldric motioned for their tattooed arms. Both raised them so he could look at the details. “Four children. You are indeed blessed, old friend.”

  “I’m the one who’s blessed, Aldric,” Ceva said, and Aldric regarded her with interest.

  “Yes, you are,” he said to her in a serious tone, making her smile.

  Lothar had been Aldric’s warriors captain for a long time. They had fought together in many battles and nearly died together. They’d grown up as kids in the same pack until Aldric was given a pack of his own, and Lothar followed Aldric to their new pack lands.

  “So what have we got to worry about in there, Ceva?” Aldric asked.

  “I have a drawing of the interior and basic information of the layout. Maybe we should join King Leonidas so I can explain it to everyone,” Ceva suggested.

  “Agreed, let’s go see the King.” The three of them headed toward the King’s tent, which had been set up as a command post. As soon as they approached, the table quieted, and the three were given space around the maps.

  “Good to see you, old friends. Thank you for joining us,” King Leonidas said. He looked stressed and tired. “Tell me everything you know.”

  The King and his advisors stood around the table covered in papers and listened as Lothar and Ceva explained what had happened during their mission. When they came to the part about finding the empty towns and the bodies, everyone present bowed their heads in grief for the lost.

  Lothar looked to the sky and noticed a storm was forming—natural or spelled into existence, he didn’t know, but it felt ominous just the same. He looked at Ceva, who was also eyeing the storm, and she answered his unasked question.

  “It’s a natural storm. Can you push it away for me? It would be harder to fight in the rain.” As she continued going over the maps on the table, a few of the Alphas watched him closely, especially Aldric. Lothar concentrated on the updrafts and the cold front moving in, the wall of clouds, and on every drop of precipitation, then he pushed hard to break it up and send it away. Slowly at first and then progressively faster, the storm reversed directions and began to dissipate.

  Alpha Gregory looked shocked. “Aldric, your warrior captain has the power of a wizard. You lucky bastard.”

  Lothar almost blushed at the compliment. He looked up to see Ceva smiling wide before returning to the map of the estate she’d created from memory. King Leonidas allowed Ceva to take over the meeting and explain the ins and outs of the estate. Koen and Adela, Ceva’s parents, had to know the King, his troops, and the team were in the area. Lothar was surprised and worried that it was so quiet. The quiet before the ogre storm. If they could only get a closer look at the estate grounds before they sent in the troops.

  When Ceva finished, she answered numerous questions and left the planning of the soldiers’ deployment to the King and the attending Alphas. They all knew what Ceva and Lothar’s job would be—to go after Koen and Adela while the troops fought the ogres and looked for any survivors.

  Ceva looked at the sky longingly. “I was thinking about doing a little recon, find out where the ogres are positioned.”

  “I’ll come with you.” There was no way his mate was going near the estate without him. Who knew what traps they had set.

  “I’d be more maneuverable on my own,” Ceva murmured as she quietly begged him to understand.

  “But what if something happens? You won’t have backup.”

  “I’ll be careful. You know it’s for the best. We could use that information.”

  “If you’re not back in fifteen minutes, I’m coming in to find you.”

  “I would expect nothing less, my love.” She stood on tiptoes and feathered a kiss over his lips. She took a step back, released her wings, and took to the sky.

  The sky was calm; thanks to Lothar, the storm was far away. She couldn’t imagine fighting ogres in the rain and mud. She knew she’d put him on the spot, but he had to be prepared at any time to use his powers, and she was proud that he had learned to master so many of his abilities quickly.

  As she approached her parents’ lands she kept her senses open for attack. It was too quiet. Ceva landed just outside the estate and weaved her way through the forest. A hum of noise softly echoed through the trees, and its volume grew as she got closer to the clearing. Just before she cleared the last of the trees, she stopped and dropped to the ground to crawl forward the last few feet, careful to stay behind the thick bushes. The hum had changed to a chorus of growls as she viewed her parents’ army. Rows upon rows of disgusting ogres stood waiting for the soldiers to attack. There was no way she’d be able to spell the entire group into dropping their weapons, but she would give it a try if the time came.

  As she watched them, she began to notice that over fifty percent had some sort of deformity. Some had different-size arms and legs or were missing the appendage all together. There were only a handful of completely intact ogres. What the hell was going on? She’d never seen anything like this, and one ogre even had both arms growing out of the right side of his body.

  Ceva started to ease away from the grisly scene when she felt him. He approached in his gray wolf form and stared at her. “Hello, Wolfie, didn’t take you long to catch up.”

  She knew Lothar wouldn’t stay behind. The moment she left, he probably shifted and came right after her. “Did you at least tell anyone where we were going?”

  Lothar nodded once and crouched down low to have a look at the ogre army. She could see the confusion in his green eyes. She continued to ease backward farther into the forest until she was able to stand up without being seen. He followed her out and shifted into his human form.

  “There is something seriously wrong with that army. They’ll still do some damage, but almost none of them looked ready to battle. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, but something’s not right.”

  Ceva released her wings and came up behind him. “We’ll discuss this back at camp where we aren’t at risk of discovery. But I agree, something’s not right.”

  She wrapped her arms under his arms and took off into the sky, still staying low so she wouldn’t garner
any attention. She flew until they were almost back to their camp before she landed again. Lothar shifted back to wolf and they both walked into their camp. The soldiers were readying for battle, sharpening their swords and double-checking their guns. Though it wouldn’t kill the ogres, bullets did slow them considerably. The remainder of their forces would fight in their wolf forms.

  Lothar shifted and dressed before they went to see King Leonidas and tell him what their reconnaissance had yielded.

  “And over eighty percent are this way?” the King asked, incredulous.

  “Yes, it’s beyond odd. In all my years, I haven’t seen anything like it. There has to be something wrong with the magic creating them,” Ceva explained.

  “We’re getting ready to move out. We’ll surround the estate. You two wait a few minutes before trying to sneak inside. No matter what, Koen and Adela need to be stopped. Let us worry about the ogres. You two concentrate on the dark magic wielders,” King Leonidas commanded.

  “Yes, sire.” They nodded and left to prepare for battle.

  Though their team would be following Aldric into battle since they were his troops, it still felt normal to prepare with them. Since this mission began, they’d faced numerous threats and protected several towns. They’d grown into an odd family of sorts. Joseph and Rowl were holding Karli. She would be with the other Omegas who came to support the soldiers with their powers as well as to heal as many people as they could during the battle.

  Princess Helena, a strong Omega and Aldric’s mate, couldn’t leave their newborn son and remained on pack lands.

  “Ready?” Lothar asked Ceva.

  “As I’ll ever be,” she answered honestly. She knew what she needed to do. Now it all came down to her and Lothar. “We need to practice working on your shield.”

  “I’ve been practicing it for five days. I’ve got it, don’t worry.”

  “I have to worry. If I stop worrying, then I leave us open to them.”

  “Okay, okay. I’m shielding myself and I’ll hold it until this is over,” Lothar groused. She threw a few spells to test him. He was safe and just smiled at her. Smug.