by Sydney Addae
The captain smiled at Cain and clapped Silas on the shoulder. “Alpha, yes?”
“Yes. Nice to meet you,” Silas said after the captain introduced himself and the lone crewman. Within seconds they pulled off and headed out. Sitting on the deck, Silas stared in humble awe of the majestic, mountainous landscape unspoiled by human hands. There were no words.
For several minutes, neither he nor Cain spoke as they sat in contemplative silence scanning shorelines.
They had been traveling for an hour when Silas sensed Nadira. She appeared next to Cain and grinned at Silas.
“Hello, have we been formally introduced?” she asked dressed scantily in a piece of gauzy material barely covering her nipples and hairy mound. Her long hair covered most of her back and one breast. Large blue eyes stared back at him and then at Cain when Silas didn’t respond.
Silas scanned Cain and was relieved Jasmine’s energy still protected him. The captain saw her and fingered something on his necklace. The young assistant’s eyes almost popped out of his head as he stared at her before the captain turned him around.
She rolled her eyes at him and sat in Cain’s lap.
“Miss me, lover?” She licked the side of his face.
Cain didn’t move or do anything. His gaze locked on Silas. “Can I kill her? Rip her head from her neck?”
Silas blinked at the violent imagery. “No, that’s not necessary.”
Cain stood.
Nadira fell to the deck and growled up at him.
Cain stepped over her and walked to the edge of the deck. Silas watched her stand and take Cain’s seat. She stared at Cain’s back and then looked at Silas.
“You’re not going to bind me?” She smiled at him.
He shrugged, placed his clasped hands across his lap and told Jasmine about their new passenger.
“Can she travel over water for long periods of time?”
“I don’t know. She just showed up.”
“You’re the Alpha of the Americas?” Nadira asked.
“Yes, have you been there?” Silas asked curiously.
“No, I don’t believe so. Will I like it?”
He shrugged. “It depends on what kinds of things you like.”
“As soon as I’m rid of him and the pups, I think I’ll visit America,” she said slyly, tossing her long hair behind her.
“To come on any Pack lands you must receive permission from the Alpha,” he said. “I’m not granting you permission to step foot on any of my lands.”
She laughed, it was a husky sound that grated his nerves. “You can’t watch every entry point. I’ll be quick. Grab a few slaves and leave. No one will know I was there.” She waved her hand as if it was a joke to tell an Alpha you planned to enslave members of his pack.
Fury seized him at her words. Silas pulled her wolf.
She lay panting on the ground as he held his palm over her and waiting until her panicked gaze met his. Slowly, he closed his palm.
She howled and whimpered in pain. He allowed her to remain in that condition for several minutes. When the captain’s assistant looked as if he would faint, Silas released her.
She lay on the deck in human form gasping for breath.
“Never threaten to enslave my pack or do any of them harm again. My right to protect them supersede any rights you may have,” he warned her before leaning back in his seat and ignored her.
Nadira didn’t say anything as she scrambled up and moved to the opposite side of the boat.
Cain returned to his seat and stared at his fingers. “I think she’s beginning to understand things have changed in the world and she’s vulnerable.”
“Why do you care?”
Cain looked at him. “I don’t. Not really.”
Silas leaned toward his old friend. “Are you sure you’ll be able to deal with her death? That’s the only way we go home. She cannot return to the States with you. The Goddess will not permit it. I need you to be crystal clear on your loyalties.”
Cain stiffened and then his shoulders slumped. “Scan me. Scan me deep to make sure there’s nothing there. There are moments when I’m concerned about her and moments I hate her. The back and forth is abnormal.”
Silas nodded and touched Cain’s foot with his. The first time Silas and Jasmine cleansed Cain they missed some of the virus which had multiplied quickly and worked to bend Cain’s will to Nadira’s. It was a nasty, resistant bug that took Silas several minutes to eradicate because the host had been cleverly hidden in Cain’s groin area.
Cain sat holding his forehead and wiped the blood that trickled from his nose. “I’m thinking clearer already.”
“Good. Use Jasmine’s protection to lock her out.”
Cain nodded.
Silas watched Nadira glance at them until she finally marched over. “What’s going on? Where are we going?”
“Didn’t you talk to Isodora?” Silas asked.
She snorted. “Talk? She won’t talk to me. She’s still mad over what happened years ago. Hanna’ forgave me, but not Isodora. Some Priestess, right?”
“High Priestess,” Cain corrected.
“Whatever,” Nadira growled.
“Isodora has the answers to your questions,” Silas said.
Nadira looked at Cain and then Silas. “Is this about Hanna’s pups? Are they going to fight me now? Seriously?” She clapped her hands and spun around with a wide smile. “In a few days all of this will be over, I’ll be free.” Smiling widely, she lifted her hands as if praising the Goddess. “This is great news, totally unexpected.” She looked down at Silas. “You’re my good luck charm. First, you break me out of prison, then you set up a fight for me to win my freedom.”
Silas’ brow rose at her ridiculous comments. “You talk too much.”
Her smile dropped as she glared at him. “I’ve been in prison for 20 years, this is the first time in decades I’ve experienced real wind on my face or seen the sun. I apologize for enjoying life.”
“Hanna would’ve loved to experience the same things, but you stole that opportunity from her. You killed a member of your den,” Silas said staring at her.
Gazes locked, she exhaled, wrapped her arms around her waist and turned from him. “What do you know about it?”
“Nothing other than what I was told.” He waited to see if she would explain what happened.
“You have no idea what it was like, being rejected by the one thing you wanted most in life. They never explained or told me why I wasn’t good enough to embrace Salah’s legacy. Just slammed a door in my face.”
“Maybe they read the true intent of your heart and realized it wouldn’t work. Saved everyone trouble,” Silas said.
Nadira snorted and looked up. “Maybe. Who knows or cares?”
Silas didn’t bother stating the obvious that Nadira cared.
“I’m not going to give up my life so two spoiled pups can live,” Nadira murmured as she turned and looked at him. “I’m not.”
“Who asked you to?” Silas asked meeting her intense gaze.
“They’re members of your pack? I saw one of them leave this morning,” she said.
“Does it matter to you if they’re members of my pack?”
“No,” she snapped. “Once the challenge begins, you won’t be allowed to interfere.”
He shrugged. “Good to know.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing. Not yet anyway.” His gaze flicked over her and then at the captain’s back and his crewman who stared at them.
“I want to live just like everyone else,” she murmured staring at Cain’s back.
“You’re a murderer, that crime has a penalty,” Silas said.
“I’ve been imprisoned for two decades, I’ve paid my debt,” she yelled at him.
“No. No, you haven’t. Salah has been merciful allowing you this opportunity to fight for your life. I hope you appreciate it,” he said.
“Merciful? Is that what you call b
eing locked inside a mountain —”
“Alive. You’re still alive,” Silas said leaning forward, meeting her gaze. “The penalty for betraying Pack is death. The penalty for betraying family is death. The penalty for betraying your Alpha is death. I would have snatched your heart from your chest and smashed it as it beat in my hand the moment Hanna breathed her last. Yeah, Salah was indeed merciful to you. I would never have allowed you to live after what you did.”
She glared at him and disappeared.
Cain looked at Silas.
“She’ll be back, she can’t stay up in the air long,” Silas said, having learned a lot about her when he pulled her wolf.
PRIESTESS ISODORA’S servants met them at an abandoned campground, surprising everyone. They hadn’t expected to find anything this organized on such short notice and had dreaded seeing their accommodations.
There were 12 cabins, two communal bathrooms, a large eating hall and sports field. The supplies Jacques ordered had arrived. Clean linen and pillows had been placed in each cabin. The kitchen had been stocked with food, new cookware, plates and eating utensils. Jacques had sent it all.
Pleased, Jasmine chose her and Silas’ cabin, made the bed and took a quick shower. Clean, she headed to the kitchen, calling Rose, Danielle, and Jackie to help. The others claimed cabins and went through the supplies for clean towels, soap, and other necessities.
Asia, Hawke, and David talked to Sarita about the upcoming fight. No matter what they said, or how urgent they tried to make it sound, she couldn’t get psyched about it.
“We need to train,” David finally said. “You need to pull energy from me to protect yourself.”
“Who’s going to protect you?” Sarita asked.
“I won’t be fighting directly. It’s you and Kim against Nadira.” He held Sarita’s chin and met her gaze with a serious one of his own. “She’s good. I’ve fought her and I’m telling you she’s not a light-weight.”
She pulled back, dislodging his hand. “I don’t want to fight. Hanna’s not Mom or Dad or you or anyone I love. I don’t understand why I have to kill a stranger.”
“Because for her to live, she has to kill you,” David said plainly. “That’s not happening so you need to be prepared to fight.” He took her hand and walked with her to the field. “I’m serious Sarita, this isn’t a game. You’re blocking her way to freedom, she’ll kill you if she can. I cannot allow that to happen, so you’ve got to practice pulling my energy and making it work for you.”
She nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
He ignored the whine in her voice and looked around. “We need someone to play Nadira.” He called Adam.
Moments later Adam ran toward them. “What’s up?”
David explained what he wanted Adam to do.
“Got it.” He moved to the middle of the field, stood in a fighter’s stance a few seconds, then leaped forward and slammed into Sarita.
“Ow, Adam, not that hard,” she said holding her arm as she got up from the ground.
Adam looked at David with an apology on his lips.
“Again,” David said with his hands behind his back watching.
Sarita’s head snapped up.
Adam leaped toward her.
She jumped out of the way and then rolled to the ground.
“Better,” David said. “Again.”
Adam brushed off his pants and went after her.
Sarita jumped.
Adam followed, they collided in the air knocking the wind out of her. She lay on the ground gasping and glaring at both Adam and David.
“Catch your breath,” David said looking at Adam. “Move faster. Nadira’s really fast.”
Adam nodded. They looked at Sarita who remained on the ground.
“Get up, he didn’t hit you that hard,” David said.
Glowering, she stood, brushed off her pants and waited. A split second later, Adam rushed her. She stepped aside, he changed directions and slammed into her sending her flying backward.
Dazed, seeing stars, Sarita lay on the ground a few seconds trying to get her bearings.
“I am not losing my mate, my heart to that crazy bitch. If you don’t want to fight her, fight for me. Fight to have a life with me,” David said.
“What am I supposed to do? Hurt Adam?” she asked moving slowly.
“If you can. Then Rese or Rone and Storm. I want you to win against us all.”
“You’re crazy, I can’t win against all of them.” She brushed her pants off and glared at him.
“Not alone. Use me. Learn to pull from me to win,” he urged. “Adam, again.”
Adam glanced at David and watched Sarita brush the dirt off her blouse while staring at him.
“Remember the training classes from school,” Renee told her walking toward the field. “You’ve got this.”
Adam sped toward her. She leaped. He followed, they met in the air, this time she turned and knocked him off course. They both fell but not as hard.
“Again,” David called as Hawke and Asia walked over.
Sarita inhaled and tried to focus.
Adam leaped, she pivoted, he fell forward, rolled and hit her from behind. She flew across the field.
David exhaled and watched as she stood slowly.
“Close your eyes, Rita,” Asia said. “Can you sense where Adam is on the field?”
Sarita closed her eyes and saw nothing. “No.”
“Look through my eyes,” David said gently.
She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“No, through our link. What I see, you can see. What I feel, you can feel.”
“Oh.” She closed her eyes but still couldn’t. Frustrated she bent forward with her hands on her knees. “I can’t see.”
“Focus on my voice. Follow that thread and merge with me,” David said.
“Okay, keep talking.” She followed his voice and tried merging, but nothing happened. After several moments she opened her eyes and saw, Tyrese and Bella also stood watching. Embarrassed by her failure to merge with David, she no longer wanted to practice.
“It’s okay, it’ll happen,” David said calmly. “Go through a few moves with Adam, or would you prefer your mom?”
Sarita wasn’t sure her mom would be any better. “Adam’s fine. I need to focus. It’s been a while since I’ve done any of this.”
“I know, we have a little time before Dad arrives with Nadira.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Goddess forbid Nadira seeing her pitiful performance. Moving in position, she waited for Adam to strike.
“You take the offense,” David said. “Go after him.”
Surprised, Sarita blinked a few times. “Go after him?”
“Attack him,” David clarified.
Sarita recalled her recent training with the Priestess Sarita as she walked over to Adam, smiling. Now was a good time to use what she’d learned.
He appeared confused and glanced at David.
“Is there a way we can work this out?” she said.
“Huh?”
Before he finished speaking she slammed him with an energy ball that sent him flying through the air.
“That was good, can you do it without getting close to her?” Asia asked as Bella ran over to Adam and helped him up.
“Sorry, Adam,” Sarita said, watching him stand slowly.
He waved off her apology, kissed Bella and returned to the field.
“Nadira will hit you before you reach her,” David said, earning a glare from Sarita. “Try something different.”
Running toward Adam, he dropped, rolled and kicked her from behind, sending her flying forward.
Sarita hit the ground face first trying to catch a breath. If she couldn’t defend against Adam who was taking it easy on her, she’d be dead as soon as Nadira attacked.
“Take a deep breath,” Renee encouraged. “We’re here with you. Pull on David’s skills, he’s really good.”
“Don’t get discouraged, you ca
n do this,” Rose said.
Sarita shook her head as she stood, turned and faced the growing crowd before looking at David who stood with his hands behind his back watching her.
“Again,” David said.
Tyrese placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder and entered the field instead.
Watching him, Sarita took a deep breath. There was no way she could win against Rese, what was David thinking?
“Ready?” David asked.
“Am I offending or defending?” she asked as if it made a difference.
“Which do you prefer?”
“Does it matter? He’s so much better than me,” she snapped.
“He’s close to Nadira’s skillset, that’s why he wants to help you prepare. No one can win against us, Sarita. Believe that,” David said.
“I do.”
David didn’t say anything.
“Honestly, David I do.” When he didn’t respond, she released a breath. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Defend yourself,” David said.
Seconds later Tyrese became a blur and she lay on the ground. He returned to her and helped her up. “I only used speed because David says she’s really fast,” Tyrese said. “Chances are she’ll use claws to rip you apart when she flies by you. If you allow yourself you’ll feel when I’m close and can jump up, leap forward or pull a shield that will knock me back.” Tyrese placed his hand on her shoulder. “Understand?”
Some of it made sense. “How do I erect a shield?” Had Isodora taught her that? She couldn’t recall.
“Think of what you want and pull energy to erect it. Try it.” Tyrese said.
She thought of Salah’s crest over the altar in the prayer temple, opened her hands and it appeared. Seeing it, she stared amazed at Tyrese and started laughing when he smiled.
Tyrese knocked the shield with his fist a few times. “Good job. Remember how you did that and be prepared to use it whenever you feel threatened.”
Excited, Sarita recalled a few more things Isodora had taught her. Tyrese backed away as she put the shield away for now.
“That was really good,” David said.
Sarita’s heart expanded as she watched Tyrese.
“Again,” David said.