by Janelle Peel
They would all burn...
Kane
Nat’s plan had hinged on all of them traveling through the Earth tome to lie in wait. His Wolf had originally been upset, but had quickly learned that what Nat thought best, was definitely the way to go.
“If you want to go, this is the only way!” Her eyes flashed with a brilliant green glow outlined in a flickering golden light. Slamming her palm onto the red felt of the pool table, it quickly gave way with a loud crack.
Silence rent the rec room as she met each and every person’s eye. Her rigid shoulders shimmered as the mansion bucked beneath their feet.
There would be no argument. Her word was law and it would be done.
Sora slowly stood and placed her palm on Nat’s cheek, “Shh. If you think this plan is best, then we will follow you wherever you go. We trust you, Nat.”
The hard lines of her body softened and the ground settled at Sora’s words. Jerking a nod, she growled, “The book is the only way.”
Everyone took a breath while they waited for Sora’s decree.
Silver outlined her sapphire gaze as she rumbled, “We follow Nat. We protect what is ours! Goddess be with us on this day as we protect our home, our family,” her fangs lowered as she hissed, “our Clutch.”
Tinkling bells chimed as an unseen breeze swept around the room and touched every person in attendance. As it settled around him, a feminine voice whispered through his thoughts, “Treat my Daughter well, Wolf. Protect her at all costs. Fate is not yet finished with her.”
Jerking out of the memory, he shifted into his fusion form, and tried again to scale the rock cavern that encased them all. Shards of slate shot out as his claws scrabbled for purchase on the rough walls.
“Kane, stop,” Sora whispered as another pain filled roar rent the air. Light shown overhead as another pass of fire lit the top of their cage, “Just wait.”
His Wolf would hear none of it. The anguished cries of his Mate sounded, further inciting his beast to take control of their shared body. Sliding down the rock face, they rumbled a growl for their Beta.
Jet prowled forward on massive paws.
Gritting their teeth, they rushed the large Wolf. Using him as a springboard, they dug their sharp claws into the stone and climbed over the ledge.
The scene before them slowed his Wolf to a standstill as Kane took control once again.
Every single thing was blazing with the exception of one spot.
Bex lay as if sleeping inside the only remaining greenery’s embrace. Heart clenching, he stumbled toward her still form. Shifting faster than ever before, he fell to his human knees. Lifting one large hand to her pink lips, he tried to feel for any signs of life.
Faintly, her breath moved against the back of his hand. Sighing in relief, he noticed the pool of blood spreading out from beneath her. He screamed, “Sora!”
The wind picked up as the silver haired beauty was lifted into the air by magic.
Sora
Calling to the wind, I shot into the air before Kane could finish his terrified cry.
Nothing could have prepared me for the house sized silver and gold scaled Dragon torching to every tree in sight. I watched as Nat beat her massive wings and launched into the sky. Another roar sounded as she began laying waste to a snow covered field in the distance.
“Please!” Kane cried as my feet touched down on the scorched ground.
Flashing, I was before him in an instant. Dropping to the ground, I called to my well and hovered my hand over Bex’s chest. Heat emitted from my palm as the pool of blood beneath her still frame slowed. Pushing with all of my will, I poured more magic into her chest.
An outraged roar rent the air as Nat’s steps thundered toward us.
Kane stood with his arms wide, “Please!” he begged, “Sora is healing her!”
While I watched, Nat slowed her pace. Smoke drifted from her enlarged snout just before she shifted. Green vines shot from the charred forest floor; cradling her in their embrace as they lowered her gently to the ground.
Naked as the day she was born, she strode toward us with tears streaming down her ashy cheeks.
Kane closed the distance between them and took her inside his arms. Pulling her close, he whispered, “Shh. It’s okay. She lives, Nat. She lives.”
A sob wracked her chest as her arms clenched around his neck. She mumbled, “Home.”
I blinked as the mansion’s Training Grounds settled around Bex and I. Cutting off my magic, I touched two fingers to her neck.
A strong beat answered.
Blaze zipped to my side as Justine sucked in a sharp gasp on the dojo mat.
Viv sat up with a shout as Jackson crushed her to his chest.
Multiple Shifters came to, looking around in confusion at our new surroundings.
Daisy met my gaze, “What do we do with that?” She nodded to the Earth tome we’d traveled through.
Blaze rumbled, “I’ll take care of it.”
Everyone had made it, but at what cost?
Nat
In the days following, I refused to leave my room.
I’d almost gotten Bex killed. Not only that, but I’d incinerated countless unarmed Fae… And the woman who had given me life.
Everything I ate tasted like ash.
Bex visited often; sometimes in her human shape, often times as a Wolf.
None of it mattered as I inflicted a punishment on myself only I seemed to understand.
My thoughts continued to plummet until one day, Sora strolled into my room. Pulling the shades wide, she ripped the UV coating from my window.
The sun touched my face and I recoiled. I didn’t deserve to feel its warmth.
Humming softly, she made her way to the foot of my bed, “Lila misses you.”
I rolled over and buried my face into a pillow.
“Bex misses you.”
Holding my breath, I refused to respond.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Kane and Mel are fighting over you on the lawn.” Her footsteps padded across the carpet as she left the room and closed the door.
I snapped my blanket down. Did she really say what I thought she said? Irritation quickly replaced my self-pity as I sat up. This was so not happening, right? She was totally pulling my leg… or was she?
Shoving my arms through the sleeves of my jacket, I jerked open the door and thundered down the stairs. Those assholes had better not…
A chorus of screams broke through my thoughts, “Happy Birthday!”
I froze midstep on the landing.
Bex strode forward dressed in grey skinny jeans and a Van Halen band tee. Hooking my arm, she guided me through the packed hall. Beaming a smile at my confused face, she bumped me with her shoulder, “Did you think we would forget? You’re 21, Nat!”
My brows furrowed as she moved us to the staircase of the ballroom. Completely done up in silver and gold streamers, every member of our Clutch waited below.
Panicking, I back peddled and plucked at the hem of my slept in tank, “I can’t.”
Jerking her chin behind me, a door opened as Viv’s voice sounded, “Get in here, Bitch. We have a party to go to!”
Turning around, I burst into tears.
This is what I had fought for. No matter the lows, the highs were always awesome and completely unexpected.
Rowe, Sasha, Allie, Sora, Daisy and Bex, threw their arms around me in one big Nat sandwich.
This was family.
Epilogue
Kai
Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii
Soft rumbles teased the edge of his consciousness; drawing him closer to waking.
A sudden pain laced his body as he lashed out with his magic. Opening his eyes, he inspected his surroundings.
Orange and red, the magma cocooning his body bubbled at his distress. Clenching a hand to his chest, he bid the lava to release him.
Like a lovers embrace, it rose to a hardened ledge, and hesitantly deposited his large frame. Steam hissed fro
m the rocks as he stumbled to stand on his own.
Where was his Queen?
Calling to the pool below, he commanded it to produce Serefina.
Stubbornly, a tendril of fire lifted a shape into the air. The flames caressed the flawless perfection of her body before lowering her frame beside him.
Dropping to his knees, he marveled for a moment at her beauty. Tenderly, he cupped her cheek, “Mother?”
Her lids flickered open as she took a pained breath, “It’s gone…”
His brows lowered in confusion, “What’s gone, Mother?”
Her scarlet orbs snapped to his, “Queen!”
Bowing his head in submission, he murmured, “Yes, my Queen.”
Sighing softly, her knuckles tipped his chin up, “The onyx stone, my son. It has been destroyed.”
He gasped. Who could do such a thing?
Her breath hitched, “And with its loss, my magic is dwindling.”
“How? Who?” Taking her hand in his, his heart wrenched painfully inside his chest, “What do I do?”
One tear drifted down her cheek; it sizzled as it tracked down her high cheekbone before disappearing into her ginger hair. “Take what’s left…” she whispered.
He froze. What did she mean? She couldn’t die. Who would lead their people?
Her voice cracked, “They are all dead. You are the last. My anchor, my King.”
Shock ripped through him as she released his fingers and lit her hand with a molten glow. Faster than he could track, she slammed her palm against his bare chest.
Skin steaming, his veins lit with fire as she poured her power into him.
A thousand lifetimes filled his mind and he screamed at the assault. His thoughts tumbled like loose stones as they made a desperate attempt to order the onslaught of information.
As if in a dream, Serefina took her last breath and whispered, “Revenge…”
Her skin blackened, flaking away as a wave of lava slapped against the rocky outcropping; hungry to have its creator returned.
Jerking a nod, he watched as it crept past his knees and swallowed her whole before slipping back down to the pool below.
Closing his eyes, he focused on his well. Angrily, it flared red and yellow like the sun. He would find who had destroyed the stone and killed his mother…
And then, they would die.
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Glossary
The Clutch- Group of Vampires and Shifters
Sora- Mistress of the SoCal Cutch, Mate to Blaze. Mage, Dhampir, Hybrid, Chosen
Blaze- Vampire, Master of the SoCal Clutch
Nat- Mage, Wolf Shifter
Bex- Wolf Shifter pup
Syn- Panther Shifter
Jackson- Brother of Blaze, 2nd in command, Vampire
Viv- Best friend to Sora, Vampire, Mate to Jackson
Allie- Vampire, Mate to Von
Von- Tacker, Vampire, Mate to Allie
Sasha- Vampire
Julian- Head of the House for the Clutch
Kane- Wolf, European Pack Alpha
Jet- Wolf, Beta to Kane
Justine- Mage of the European Pack
Mel- Wolf, SoCal Pack Alpha
Jonas- Bear, Beta to Mel
Rowe- Fox, Omega to Mel
Seattle Stronghold
Daisy- Mage, coleader of the Seattle Stronghold
Cooper- Mage, coleader of the Seattle Stronghold
Mark- Mage of the Stronghold
Darius- Mage of the Stronghold
Terms-
Menagerie- Group of humans within the Clutch that takes care of the day to day things.
Retainer- Blood servant on rotation that is paid for their services, also a part of the Menagerie.
Protector- Humans who regularly drink the blood donated from Vampires, giving them enhanced physical attributes and longer life spans.
Felidae- A group of Feline Shifters within the SoCal Clutch.
Pack- A mix of every other Shifter.
Fledgling- Newly turned Vampire.