by Cecy Robson
Uri’s stare softened, to my relief. Misha’s actions could have been interpreted as a challenge. I considered the extent of Uri’s power. Whether he had a soul or not, I wasn’t positive Misha could take him. Uri grasped Misha’s shoulders. “My son, no vampires shall accompany Celia on her journey. Many days may pass without any human contact. I will not risk one of us acquiring bloodlust, nor can I allow those on the expedition to be used as food. That is my final order.”
Aric glowered at Tye with enough resentment to burn. “Celia cannot go with just Danny and . . . him. We don’t know what she’ll face and her safety is of tremendous importance.”
Anara locked eyes with him. “Celia is welcome to bring any additional Alliance members she wishes—except you.”
Taran tossed her hair back. “She doesn’t need Alliance members. She has her sisters. We’ll go with her.”
Their wolves tensed. Koda and Gemini appeared on the verge of changing. The muscles in their faces twitched, but both managed to keep their control. I started to object, only to have Makawee interrupt with her soft, reassuring voice. “Taran, I deeply admire your love for your sister and ask your forgiveness for the request I am to make of you.” Taran relaxed her stance—whether to be respectful or from surprise, I wasn’t sure. I only knew Makawee appeared to appreciate her less defiant posture as she continued. “I wish to ask you to join Aric and his Warriors on their mission to Chaitén. We have learned that one of the Tribesmen guarding the sacred stone is an extremely powerful witch. While our Warriors are gifted in many ways, sorcery eludes them, and so does the fire. The demon wields flame as a weapon. I fear we need a fire wielder of our own to assist them. You would be a tremendous advantage, and I have no doubt that, with Gemini as your mate, you will be kept from harm.”
Taran looked from me to Gemini, her torn expression obvious in the way she took us in. I refused to allow her to choose between us. “Go ahead, Taran. If you’re going to do this, it’s best you stay with Gemini.”
Emme wrung her hands nervously. It was a rare occurrence for the four of us not to fight as a family. Still, she recognized the need for Taran’s power on Aric’s team. She tried to smile despite her obvious worry. Shayna slung an arm around Taran. “Go with them, dude. We’ll keep each other safe.”
Taran jutted out her chin. “Okay, Makawee. I’ll accompany Aric’s team. But only if Celia can take another of his Warriors.”
Anara’s teeth grinding made it clear Taran’s request was out of line. She didn’t seem to care, and neither did Koda. He stepped forward and bowed. “Great Elders, I respectfully ask to accompany Celia’s team. Shayna is my mate and I would like to assure her safety and that of her family.”
“No,” Anara said stiffly. “She will only distract you from your goal.”
Koda’s tumultuous dark eyes blazed with volatility. Aric took hold of his arm. His actions, while assertive, did little to silence Koda. “You allow Gemini to stay with Taran, but you will not allow me to be with my wife?”
The sound of wolves howling followed the surge in Anara’s power and anger. “Gemini has the ability to split into two wolves, one who can continue with the mission at all costs and one who can protect his mate. Unless you have suddenly developed this gift, you are to accompany Aric.”
“Anara, my mate—”
“Miakoda, she voluntarily chooses to be with her sister. No one is forcing her to do anything. I will hear no more on this subject.” Like the flick of switch, the song of wolves ended.
I seriously thought Koda was going to attack Anara, and apparently so did Shayna. She left Taran to wrap her arms around him. He returned her embrace. While it did not completely soothe his rage, it calmed him enough not to make a move against his Elder.
A bunch of swearwords ran through my head. Damn, I hated Anara. He returned my glare with equal loathing and likely a little more. Any sane person would have dropped her eyes immediately. It was a shame I sometimes felt sanity was overrated. “Is there something you wish to say, Celia?”
Uri placed himself in front of me. I stumbled back a little when a touch of his vampiric magic brushed against my shoulders. He was flexing his power to both me and the wolves, despite his deceptively pleasant smile. “Leave her alone, Anara,” he said. “Celia is family and friend.”
“Among other things,” Anara added scornfully. Aric bellowed a hideous growl, shaking the glass wall. Misha covered my mouth and hauled me to the door as Anara swerved toward Aric. “You dare challenge your Elder?”
Martin stepped between Aric and Anara, his dark face twisting with anger. “Do you expect Aric to ignore such blatant disrespect to his mate? Enough of this childish behavior, Anara.”
Makawee’s soothing power flickered and encased the furious wolves. It was Aric, though, whom she specifically addressed. “Aric, calm, please.”
It was only because Aric’s growls ceased that I allowed Misha to lead me outside. He released me once we reached the wide walkway at the bottom of the stone steps. “Anara only behaves this way as he is threatened by you. Do not give him the satisfaction of knowing his words affect you so.”
“I don’t care what that idiot thinks of me. But I do care about how he treats Shayna and Koda. It’s as if their relationship doesn’t matter. He’s a bully and an elitist, and I can’t stand him.”
“You do not have to hold him in your favor.” He smiled then. “But I fear your anger blinds you from seeing you have found the weapon to eliminate the very enemy who seeks your destruction.”
I straightened at his words, unsure of what he meant. Then I remembered how desperate the Tribemasters were getting, and how the strongest among them had sought to raise Ihuaivulu. “The stone. The one I’m supposed to go after?” I grabbed Misha. “If I get it, I can take out the Tribe once and for all.”
“Or at the very least cripple them beyond repair. Either way, you can see to the Tribe’s destruction and those who follow it.” Misha’s humor dissolved and his stare turned forceful. “This corroborates that they were the ones who sought to kill you. If they’d schemed to raise Ihuaivulu, then they’d know we’d send you to retrieve the element that could stop him.”
Especially since Virginia portrayed me as the vampires’ linchpin. Knowing I could finally end this war fired up my desire to find that damn stone. “I can do this,” I said aloud.
He pushed my hair off my shoulders. “I know you can.”
Misha’s smirk and his show of affection made me uncomfortable. I caught Shayna’s and Koda’s scents and used that as an excuse to turn from Misha. They sat near one of the outdoor fireplaces on the massive porch holding each other. Koda stroked Shayna’s ponytail so that the long strands slipped between his fingers. From the gentle way he showed her affection, no one would suspect how easily he could kill. “I don’t want you to go with Celia,” he said. “We don’t know what you’ll find and I can’t focus if I’m worried about you.”
Shayna smiled, but her grin lacked its usual brightness. “Puppy, I can’t sit by while you and Celia are away, any more than you could. I promise we’ll be careful.”
“It’s more than that, baby. I want to be with you.”
Shayna continued to smile despite the tear that slid down her cheek. “I would love to fight alongside you. If it wasn’t for that loser—”
Koda cut her off with a kiss. His original intent was likely to keep her from insulting Anara within hearing distance. The kiss, however, turned into something more . . . a lot more. My own temperature rose considerably when Koda swept Shayna into his arms and disappeared to say a proper good-bye.
Misha placed his lips near my ear. “I see passions run deep in the Wird family.”
I took a few steps away from him. “Stop it, Misha.”
The aroma of angry lupine had me glancing toward the top of the steps where Aric stood. He stalked down and handed me a stack of documents without
meeting my face. “These are your passports and medical records. I understand the vampires already provided you with the necessary immunizations.” He spoke as if discussing business with a complete stranger. I searched his features for a hint of the man I loved, yet he continued to avert his gaze.
I cleared my throat. “I was vaccinated months ago in preparation for my foreign missions.” Aric nodded, refusing to look at me directly. “Which Warrior do you suggest I take with me?” I asked in an attempt to get his attention.
“Liam volunteered to go. Based on what’s happening between him and Emme, I advised against it. It’s best that they spend some time away from each other. Out of everyone I’d want Gemini to assist you, but it’s not fair to oblige him since Taran will be with us.”
“What about Bren?”
Aric leaned back on his heels. “Bren isn’t respected by the Elders due to his lack of education in our pack and because of his former lone status. I had to fight to include him in the meeting today. But despite his weaknesses, I know he’s loyal and a fierce fighter.” He ran his hand through his hair. “The problem I face is trying to convince the Elders.”
“Kitten, is Brendan who you desire by your side?” Aric glared at Misha. He hated when he called me “kitten.”
I not so casually stepped between them. “Only if he wants to go.”
He flashed Aric a little fang. “Then you shall have him. I will inform Uri and he will make it so.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. And let the pissing contest begin.
Tye strode down the steps as if he owned them. “You must be quite the little hellcat to captivate a wolf and a vampire.” The corners of his mouth curved. “I’m looking forward to getting to know that side of you. That kiss alone wasn’t enough.”
Aric’s unholy growl only slightly overpowered Misha’s deadly hiss. I narrowed my eyes at Tye. “Look, moron. The only reason you even got that kiss was because I mistook you for Aric. Keep your head out of your ass and focus on the mission. And if you dare make a move on me I’ll knock the living shit out of you!”
My predator eyes still flashed when Aric and Misha faced me. They both smiled and Aric even chuckled. Tye’s expression went from slightly surprised back to alluring. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?”
Aric switched back to Big Bad Wolf mode. “You’ll never know just how much.”
Makawee swept down to us, her lovely white hair trailing like a bridal veil behind her. “That is enough out of all of you,” she said calmly. “It’s time to ready yourselves. You leave in a few hours. Tye, come with me, please.”
Misha lowered his head. “Pardon me, great Omega of the Elders. Celia wishes for Brendan to accompany her on her mission. I ask respectfully that you grant her this request.”
Makawee clasped her hands in front of her and considered his appeal. “Very well, Sir Aleksandr. Inform your grandmaster. If he agrees to allow it, then so will we.”
Misha winked my way as Makawee disappeared with Tye. “I will see you back at our home, kitten.” Aric didn’t react. I thought for sure the “our home” combined with his pet name for me would set him off. It didn’t, and in a way disappointed me. Aric didn’t seem to care about anything, me included. Misha hurried into the main building, passing Taran, Emme, and our remaining friends on his way to speak to Uri.
“Bren, do you want to accompany Celia to Africa?” Aric asked.
Bren immediately perked up. “Hell yeah! We’ll tear those Tribe bitches up.” He grabbed me in a choke hold and messed my hair.
I shoved him off me and pushed my hair out of my face. The wolves’ darkening faces focused on Bren. “Don’t be an asshole, Bren. Aric isn’t just talking about slaughtering Tribesmen,” Liam said. He glanced at Emme. “You need to take the entire mission seriously.”
Bren got in Liam’s face. He continued to smile, but his eyes shadowed with all the seriousness of a predator. “No shit, Liam. Do you think I’d let anything happen to them? I’d die first, man.”
Taran grabbed Bren’s hand before I could and pulled him away. Bren wasn’t challenging Liam per se, but it was never a smart idea to allow two weres to make eye contact. “Damn, Bren. We love you, too. Now be a good little beast and stop talking about dying.”
Emme shuddered. None of us wanted to think about not coming back, yet it would have been foolish to think it wasn’t a possibility. I smiled a little and tried to lighten the mood. “I think you wolves forget we’re not exactly delicate little flowers.”
Gemini glanced at Aric before speaking to me. “You may not be pack, but you’re part of our family, Celia. It bothers us when we can’t protect our own.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. My sisters and I had gone most of our lives without anyone. To know we finally had family was both beautiful and frightening. I shook off my girly emotions and tried to grin. Instead my face dropped when Liam gathered Emme in his arms, allowing her to release her pent-up tears. “Just because we’re not together doesn’t mean I won’t always love you,” he told her.
Taran fell against Gemini. He smoothed her hair as her emotions unraveled. “Son of a bitch—enough with the mushy shit.”
Aric’s fists clenched as he stared intently at the building opposite. He couldn’t openly show me affection, but at the very least I wanted him to acknowledge me. Instead he gave me his back when I tried to touch his fist with my fingertips.
Taran’s and Emme’s sobs echoed around us. If it hadn’t been for Bren, I think I would’ve started crying, too. As I mentioned, Bren didn’t do well with sappy women. To distract us, he told us the most disgusting joke ever involving a weremuskox and a Chihuahua in heat. While it was a joke I’d never repeat, it did sidetrack us. Taran slapped his arm. “You’re so nasty.” She was right, yet she still cracked up and so did the other wolves.
Emme’s face scrunched. “Is that even possible?” she asked me in a low voice. Why she thought I’d know was beyond me. Everyone else roared with laughter, having caught sight of my burning cheeks.
“Anything is possible with a little imagination, a dash of determination, and a tube of petroleum jelly—”
I held out my hand. “That’s enough, Bren. No more.” There was a lot I didn’t need to know about Bren’s creative thoughts.
We continued to chat until Shayna and Koda joined us. Night overtook the mountain and darkness crawled along the sidewalks, reminding us our time was up and we had to say good-bye. We embraced and wished one another well. Aric and I were the only ones who failed to touch. He stormed away before I could tell him I loved him. My sisters watched him leave, taken aback by his rebuff. Regardless of the hurt he’d caused, I wouldn’t allow it to interfere with our farewell to Taran. I opened my arms to them and we held each other. Taran’s teeth clenched while she fought back tears. “Don’t get yourselves killed, all right?”
Shayna squeezed her tighter. “And don’t you join the Mile-High Club.”
Taran’s siren grin gleamed in the increasing gloom. She tossed Gemini a wink over her shoulder. “Too late for that, sister.”
We left, not knowing when we’d speak again. The wilds of Africa weren’t known for their terrific cell phone reception, and finding the stone could take weeks. Emme drove us in silence while I sat in the back riffling through the paperwork Aric had given me. I jumped out of my seat when I saw he’d also left me a note. “Shayna, do you know where they keep the landscaping equipment when it’s not in use?”
Shayna turned around from the front, clasping the side of her seat. “It’s outside the Den walls in an old barn. Why?”
“Take me there.”
• • •
I raced through the cold, snowy woods in the direction Shayna pointed. The barn door swung open when I was mere feet away. I leapt into Aric’s waiting arms. He kissed me wildly as he ran his fingers through my long hair, holding me tight and speaking between r
agged intakes of breaths. “I’m sorry about this, Celia. I just couldn’t stand not being able to say good-bye as lovers.”
I rested my face against his chest. “When you wouldn’t look at me, I thought you were mad at me. Why did you treat me that way?”
“Sweetness, I couldn’t look at you. It’s getting damn near impossible to control my wolf around you. All that part of me wants is to be with my mate no matter what. My animal side doesn’t care about the consequences, and now I don’t know if my human side does, either. I can’t keep away from you much longer. This bullshit is driving me crazy.”
I thought about what Misha said would happen to Aric’s family if he abandoned his pack. “Aric, please don’t do anything rash. I don’t want anyone hurt because of our desire to be together.”
Aric cupped my face in his large hands and fell into a deep silence. He shook his head. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep my promise, love.”
CHAPTER 27
It was hard to say good-bye to Aric, but the thought of an indestructible seven-headed fire-breathing demon on the loose proved adequate motivation. I allowed Shayna to drive to make up for my time spent with Aric. The ride was frightening to say the least. Emme spent most of her time screaming while I dug holes into the dash with my claws. I don’t know how Shayna did it, but we managed to beat Misha back by at least fifteen minutes. If she ever tired of our “ridding the world from evil” gig, driving in the Indy was definitely in her future.
When we arrived, three small backpacks with the essentials had already been prepared for us by the schoolgirls. I was almost afraid to peek inside and hoped they’d opted to fill it with protein bars and matchsticks as opposed to edible undergarments and ball gags. We had a quick meal and then headed for the airport. Misha accompanied us to the landing strip, where a lavish private plane awaited. “Safe journey,” he told us.
Emme stepped out first. “Thank you, Misha,” she said softly. “We’ll see you soon . . . hopefully.”