River only nodded. The Beast was slashing and tearing at his insides. He knew the Beast wasn’t a physical thing inside him, that it was a presence in the same way his wolf was a presence, but he could feel it like it was really there. Could feel its urges as if they were his own. And being with Bronwyn had just made it worse. He thought he was fine when he saw her in the garden, despite the fact that the Beast had been prowling closer to the surface over the last few days. But when he’d almost kissed her and the power had glowed on her fingertips, something inside him snapped and he couldn’t fully control it.
The Beast hated her. Hated that she was the one that was able to force it to stop, force it back inside. That she was trying to get rid of it. She was foremost in its thoughts. The first person it wanted to kill.
‘No,’ River sobbed through gritted teeth. ‘I won’t let you.’
The Beast howled.
‘Here we are,’ Iain said, yanking the car into a tight turn, the tires squealing as he stopped to wait for the gates to open, then the car lurched forward again, almost leaping up the driveway to the front of the house.
Before he had even pulled up at the front door, the car was surrounded by pack members: Jason, Adam, Gareth and a half dozen others River didn’t know.
‘He’s busted the door trying not to jump out.’
‘Fuck.’
Jason began to spit out commands. ‘Gareth, open the door, Marcus and I will restrain him. The rest of you, make a cordon around us and stay tight until we reach the door.’
Marcus? Was the Alpha of the McClune Pack here too? Another pack’s Alpha couldn’t command him, he knew that, but he could reinforce another Alpha’s strength with his own and completely tie a Were to the command of its pack leader. Jason must feel how bad things were if he’d called on another Alpha to help.
The Beast thrashed inside him. ‘Fuck,’ River swore, holding on tight. He coughed, felt the wetness of spittle on his lips, the dribble of something warmer and saltier down his chin. Rage, hot and vivid, rose inside him, turning his vision red and black. He wanted to lash out, punch something, tear it to shreds.
‘Okay, now.’
The door was flung open and Jason was there, reaching across the car, shackles and chains in his hands. ‘I’m so sorry, River.’
‘Do it quick. It wants me to do something terrible. You can’t let it.’
Jason nodded and River could see in the tightness of his expression, the pain and sorrow in his eyes. He could feel an echo of what was happening inside River. That was why he was prepared in this way. River hated that Jason knew so much of what was inside him, but right now he was grateful. He would make certain River didn’t do anything to regret.
The chains were snapped on his wrists and tied around his middle, and then he was pulled from the car. He tried to help them hustle him up to the front door, but the Beast was strong enough to take partial control of his muscles, pulling on rage. He lashed out, punching, clawing, kicking and biting those who were only trying to help.
He’d have so much to apologise for later.
Finally, they got him inside and up the stairs to his old room. It took all of them to pin him down so they could tie him to the bed. He tried to speak past the growl in his throat, to thank them, but the word wouldn’t come out.
‘Should we get Bron? She’d be able to calm him down,’ someone suggested.
‘No!’ he screamed.
Jason was by his side, hands on his shoulders. ‘She might be able to help, River.’
‘No. No. No.’
‘He’s afraid he’ll hurt her,’ he heard Iain say.
He moved his head, trying to nod, but all he could do was thrash.
‘Bron could help you.’
‘No. No. She can’t … come here. Don’t … bring her here. I don’t want … her. Promise.’ He wasn’t even certain the words were coming out right but, thankfully, Jason seemed to be able to feel what he meant.
‘I’ll make sure she stays away.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Here, give him this.’
Something pricked in his arm and his eyes flashed to Jason, accusing.
‘Sorry, River. It’s for the best. You don’t want Bron, but we can’t have you hurting yourself.’
Darkness edged his vision and a howl filled his head as his eyes fluttered closed and slumped into unconsciousness.
Chapter 10
‘So, tell me what you saw.’
Eloise sat down on the couch opposite Morrigan with a little sigh. ‘I’m not sure where to begin.’
‘You’ve got close to them?’
Eloise nodded.
‘They don’t suspect you?’
She shook her head. ‘Not at all. They’re trusting by nature. The healer especially.’
‘Good. Good. Cain is still trying to get inside one of their minds, but until he’s done that, you will have to try to get closer.’
Eloise swallowed hard, but nodded.
‘I know it drains you, but you are strong. You are more like me than I could have imagined. So,’ she said, clapping her hands onto her lap, noting that the pain of her injuries was now completely gone—nothing but a ghost of memory. The power from the healer had actually done her a favour. It would have taken her months more to heal to this stage. ‘Tell me what is going on between the healer and River.’
‘I think she likes him. She’s been muttering to herself about a kiss and yet she’s avoided him, and him her. I thought at first it was because they didn’t like each other, but then today, when they were together for the first time in weeks, there was definitely a different kind of tension between them.’
‘This is unexpected.’ River was horribly scarred. She couldn’t understand anyone seeing something worthy of loving. ‘Are you certain?’
‘Yes. They touched a few times and when they did, there was a definite reaction from her. I smelled it.’
Morrigan wrinkled her nose. ‘Smelled it?’
Eloise nodded. ‘When I’m in another body, I take on that person’s or creature’s attributes.’ She looked down at her foot with a frown. ‘Although, this never goes away.’
‘Things that are part of the soul never do.’ She waved her hand. ‘But that is of no matter. What of him?’
Eloise straightened. ‘He feels something for her too. He is definitely very prickly around her, and yet he keeps seeking her out and talks to me about her all the time. He has come to her shop every day but doesn’t go in. He just stays outside and watches. I’ve been watching him as much as I can, allowing him to tempt me closer. He brings me treats and talks to me,’ she said, her brow furrowed in confusion over how kind he was, but before Morrigan could comment, Eloise rushed on. ‘And you should see the garden he has built for her.’
‘You are certain it’s for her?’
Eloise nodded. ‘I’ve heard some of the others speculate about it. They’re not sure what it means.’
This is it.
‘Yes.’ Excitement grew in Morrigan’s chest. She stood, began to pace.
‘Morrigan? Do you know what this means?’
Morrigan didn’t turn to look at her protégé as she stopped pacing, but instead stared at the painting she’d hung on the wall. A painting she’d painted centuries before, of her sister standing on the moors, her arms raised as she welcomed the man who was moving through the lavender towards her. They were both in shadow, and yet you could see the longing, the love, that drew them together. They would do anything for the other.
Love. The eternal weakness.
Slowly, she nodded. ‘Yes. I know what this means.’ She swung around to face Eloise. ‘It means you’ve discovered the key we have been looking for.’ She looked back at the painting. ‘These feelings between them must be encouraged to grow.’
‘But how can I do that, Mist … Morrigan?’
‘Make him want to swoop in and save her from her problems. Men are suckers for a female in distress. They can’t help but be the hero. And w
omen love a hero.’ She stopped, thought for a moment, tapping her finger against her chin. ‘You must do anything you can to sabotage her healing efforts, make her doubt herself and her powers again. And I will do things that will ensure the same. Pushing Skye’s power again so that it goes into the healer when River is around might just do the trick there.’
‘But how will that help us?’
‘Because if he does love her, he will do anything to help her.’ She reached out towards the painting, her fingers searching. ‘He will sacrifice everything. And that is something I can use.’ Her fingers snapped closed. Looking down at her closed fist, she began to laugh.
Chapter 11
River crouched in the bushland just near The Point lookout. It was the best spot to watch Bronwyn’s shop. He could see up and down the road as well as the front and a fair view of the back of the shop from here. If anyone approached, he’d see them.
He’d had a prickling up and down his spine ever since the full moon. The Beast snarled at the thought of the full moon. The snarl was so strong, River could feel the rumble of it in his throat. He buried his head in his hands, pressing into his temples, and whispered harshly, ‘Go away.’ The snarling got louder. River pressed back against it. Sweat trickled down his brow as he strained to push the ugly sensation of the Beast back into the recesses of his mind. ‘You get to come out three nights every month. I won’t let you out more.’
He clamped down on the cry of pain as the Beast slashed at him with its claws. Then it was gone.
Panting and exhausted, River collapsed to his knees.
‘Are you okay, man?’
River nodded at Iain’s question.
‘It’s getting stronger, isn’t it?’
‘I’ll stop it.’
‘I know you will.’
River looked up at him, eyes burning as he stared at the Lone Wolf, the man who could have been a mentor, a best friend, in another life, giving him the kind of support he wasn’t sure he deserved. Iain stared back, unflinching despite the fact that River knew what he saw must be ugly, because he felt ugly in a way that had nothing to do with his scars.
The ugliness was a cancer growing inside him. A cancer that Iain had seen firsthand on those days of the full moon. He and Jason and Adam and Marcus had split the shifts between them, watching him, shooting him with tranquillisers, when in Beast form, he’d broken from the bonds tying him to the bed and tried to pound his way out of the room through the door, the walls. He only had hazy memories of what he’d done, but he remembered attacking Marcus and Iain, even while tranquillised. Remembered the scent of blood. The warm tear of flesh under his claws.
He pressed the horrifying sensations back, and glanced up as Iain took a step closer to him. Iain and the other lieutenants had seen the absolute worst of him. He couldn’t understand how any of them could be around him or trust him when they knew what was prowling inside. But here Iain stood, looking at him with an empathy he didn’t deserve. In fact, in the last few weeks since the full moon, he’d felt them even more closely around him, their caring a warm stroke to his touch-hungry wolf.
He turned, unwilling to accept the connection, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.
‘Perhaps you should see Bron earlier than your appointment? I’m sure she’d schedule you in.’
River shook his head. ‘That’s unnecessary. She’s busy with her clients and I don’t want to take her away from her business. It makes her happy.’ He frowned as he said that. She hadn’t been so happy lately. She put a good face on it for everyone, but he could see that something was bothering her. He just hoped it didn’t have anything to do with him.
‘It would make her happy to see you.’
River’s head snapped up. ‘No more than it would make her happy to see any of us.’
Iain’s lips twitched. ‘You can’t tell me you really think that, River. She’s your mate.’
River was on his feet, fists caught in the collar of Iain’s coat before he’d even given it a thought. ‘She is not my mate.’
Iain didn’t blink. ‘Only because you won’t let it happen. I don’t understand why you’d do that to yourself.’
‘Don’t you?’ He let go and forced himself to take a step back, hands trembling. ‘You saw what I was on the days and nights of the full moon.’
‘But that’s only three nights in a month, man. Bron wouldn’t worry about that. Besides, when she heals you, then there will be no problem. Unless of course you damage your wolf now in holding back, or hurt her so that she won’t accept you.’
River flinched in the face of Iain’s words. ‘I would never hurt Bronwyn.’
‘You will hurt her if you deny the mating.’
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Iain shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed, looking out across the valley beneath the peak they stood on. ‘Perhaps not. Lone Wolves rarely mate. And I don’t really want that kind of complication in my life. But I can see it’s hurting you, and if it’s hurting you, it’s hurting her.’
‘It hasn’t gone that far. She has no idea about the mating. And she won’t if I have anything to do with it.’
Iain made a snorting noise. ‘Fuck, man. You’re living in a dream world if you believe that. She’s your mate and an empathic Healer Witch. She has to be feeling it.’
‘No. No. I’m blocking it.’
Iain shook his head again, sadness filling his eyes in a way that made River keen inside. ‘Not enough, man. Not enough. She’s feeling it. Jason knows about it. I’ve noticed it. How long do you think it’s going to be before others notice it too?’
River trembled at the thought. ‘No. They can’t know. Jason knows because he’s the Alpha and the Alpha always knows. And you know because you’re just one hell of a nosy bastard who can’t help but stick his opinions into other people’s business.’
Iain burst out laughing. ‘Yeah, that’s me. You’ve got me pegged.’
River turned away from Iain’s sarcasm and stared down at Bronwyn’s shop. ‘If you tell anyone else …’
Iain’s hand landed on his shoulder. ‘I would never do that, man. If you want it kept secret, then that’s what it will be. But I’m telling you, you won’t be able to keep it at bay for much longer. Others will start to figure it out, and when they do, you’ll have to do something about it. Either choose her, or walk away. But if you walk away … I’ll be one of those who’ll come after you to make you pay for hurting our healer.’
River’s lips twitched. ‘I’m doing everything I can to make sure that won’t be necessary.’
Iain patted River’s shoulder. ‘Well, despite how interesting this all is, it’s time we go, otherwise you’re going to be late. And you know how much Bron hates it when people are late.’
River glanced at his watch and saw Iain was right and really wished that he wasn’t. He wasn’t ready to see Bronwyn yet—hadn’t steeled himself against it. But then again, there was no steeling himself against the depth of his feelings for her. Not truly. Pushing to his feet, he began to jog down the hill, knowing that Iain would be right behind him.
***
Eloise watched River enter Bron’s shop. She had to let her mistress know he was there. Running to the woods, she made her way to the sacred circle Bron’s grandma had used with her coven years earlier. Bron didn’t use it anymore, but it still held magic. Enough for Eloise to use. Despite the blood spell Morrigan had bound her with, she still couldn’t truly communicate with Morrigan like Cain could. But with the help of the circle’s power, she could send a single word.
‘Now.’
***
Bron paced, knowing she should be getting ready, calming her mind, preparing herself for the session ahead, but it was really difficult knowing River was about to arrive. She had trouble thinking of anything but him these days, but since yesterday it was even harder.
The Darkness. It was more than it had been before the full moon. It had dug in deeper, spread further, look
ed stronger, more insidious. And nothing she was doing seemed to make any difference. In fact, all her healing had done over the last few weeks since the full moon was to make it angry and cause River pain.
She was now officially annoyed. And officially worried. Everything else about her healing was coming along nicely. Sure, she wasn’t doing her full load of work as she was still getting a feel for it and dealing with the kinks—completely healing Mrs Jones’ nasty tummy-tuck scar had been a bit of an oops. But she’d been able to cover that up so that there would be no stories about ‘miracle cures’ popping up again.
What she couldn’t understand was, if she could do that, why couldn’t she heal River? It made no sense.
The Darkness. It had to be the Darkness, but she couldn’t figure out what it was or where it had come from. And she had no idea how to get rid of it. There was something oddly familiar about it. Like she’d seen it before. Except she knew that she hadn’t. There was no mention of it or anything like it in the diaries she’d read so far. She wasn’t even certain why she called it the Darkness—only that the name seemed right somehow.
The diary on the table flickered open and in her head she heard one word: Read.
She had no idea if the voice was her grandma or the Goddess or just some manifestation of her own subconscious, but whatever it was, it hadn’t set her wrong so far. She plonked down on a chair, her eyes focused on a word written in different coloured ink half way down the page.
Triad.
‘Three witches tied together by blood and friendship,’ she read out loud. ‘One a Healer, one a Medium and the other an Elemental, the combination enhancing their powers threefold.’ A chill of excitement chased along her shoulders and down her arms, tingling in her fingers. ‘It’s us,’ she whispered. ‘Skye, Shelley and I. We’re a Triad.’ She read on, about the Elemental and the Medium, the descriptions perfectly outlining her friends and their power. This could be something they could use.
The page flipped over again and her eyes focused on the next passage. ‘The Healer in the Triad is the soothing essence, balancing the others …’ Bron choked back a laugh as disappointment sank into her, chasing the tingling away. Looking up at the ceiling she asked, ‘Is this your idea of a joke? I can’t even balance myself. Besides, how is this supposed to help? I can’t balance the Darkness out of existence.’
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