Season of the Wolf

by Rachel Jonas

  The long-awaited rescue I needed.

  Dad’s eyes lingered on mine for quite some time. I guess until he knew I wasn’t just saying this to save my hide. When he faced forward again, the Elders and Chancellor were less than amused by yet another interruption, but ignored it since there were no further rebuttals to their decision.

  “And while Nicholas’ service is somewhat of an order, we would also like to make a similar offer to you three,” the Chancellor added, gesturing toward my brothers.

  “As I stated before, we’re in a unique position, a shifting of roles, a shifting of authority,” he added, never quite explaining what that meant, but he did the strangest things as those words left his mouth—he briefly turned his attention toward Roz. Noticing it herself, she subtly hid behind me.

  “Now would be the perfect time to elevate you three within the community,” he went on, “bringing you on as guards to protect our people.”

  The room was completely silent, all parties involved deep in thought.

  “While we’d love to give you an opportunity to mull this over,” the Chancellor said, sarcasm dripping from every word, “time is one thing we simply do not have. Given your recent voluntary effort to assist and guard Evangeline, we believe you three would be an excellent addition to the taskforce.”

  It wasn’t lost on me he said ‘you three’, meaning I would likely be stationed someplace far away from Evie. I was also sure they knew, like I did, what a good idea that was. Distance was key when it came to she and I.

  Kyle breathed deep beside me, but then answered, sounding far more certain then I expected. “I’m in.”

  The Chancellor nodded in response, turning his head a few degrees toward Richie.

  His reply was slightly more reluctant, but he, too, agreed to the new terms.

  “I’m in,” he echoed.

  “Very well,” The Chancellor replied. “Benjamin?”

  Ben was the last to agree and I wasn’t surprised. Of the four of us, he was notoriously too careful and too logical for his own good. But one positive thing came from that—he’d kept us all out of trouble more times than I could count over the years. We sometimes made fun of him for not ‘living in the moment’, but respected his stance on things.

  Even now.

  Maybe, especially now.

  His throat bobbed when he swallowed, bearing the weight of this decision in his expression when he finally nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  I could practically feel the uneasiness in the room—coming from Roz, my father.

  “Then it’s settled,” the Chancellor concluded. “We’ll be in touch in the coming days.”

  With those words, with the four of us bending to their will, the session was over and the six retreated to their quarters behind the heavy door. It was just us now, and while there were so many things to discuss, none of us said a word.

  Seemed our family had just gotten pulled even deeper into the fog of uncertainty. Only, this time, we’d sworn our allegiance.

  Whatever went down in Seaton Falls, we’d all just agreed to stand on the front line.

  Chapter Four

  Evie

  A heavy sigh preceded Elise’s response. “You’re seriously considering this? You’ve brought it up twice now.”

  Tiptoeing toward the edge of the top step, I stooped beside the rail to hide, just out of view of where Hilda and Elise were discussing their ‘options’ yet again.

  The first time it’d been brought up was two weeks ago—following my unsuccessful attempt to escape and capture the witch. As I sat in Liam’s room that night, they exchanged thoughts outside his door. Now, tonight, they were discussing it again. Like Elise had just pointed out, bringing it up twice meant a lofty idea was slowly transitioning into a plan.

  Only, I had no idea what that plan was exactly.

  “We said we wouldn’t bring anyone else into this. Can’t we continue trying with Evangeline? Perhaps the stress of Liam being unresponsive will trigger her in some way,” Elise reasoned, only to have Hilda dismiss her idea the next instant.

  “If anything, Evangeline is even less likely to succeed while under so much pressure. Her head is foggier than ever,” she expressed. “I don’t even think she’s connecting well with her dragon at the moment.”

  Elise was thoughtful before speaking. “How can you tell?”

  “It’s … instinct, I suppose. Witches can sense a supernatural’s identifying shifter relatively easily. For her, it was once her dragon that presented strongly. Lately? It’s been her wolf—almost completely. If I had to guess, her dragon is mourning the loss of Liam’s, even though the man is still with us, the dragon … well, it was murdered. At least that’s how she sees it. And since Evangeline and her dragon are one … a large part of her feels like she’s lost him already.”

  Both were silent before Hilda added, “So, like I said, she’s not the one.”

  Elise took a step or two, maybe pacing now, but I had no way to confirm from here. “Then, if you’re right, our choices are to either give up on bringing the boys back, or bring in another witch—and run the risk of exposure.”

  Several seconds passed and I was startled when Elise’s voice came back.

  “What am I even saying?” she scoffed.

  This time, I was sure she paced.

  “Worrying about exposure? Half our family has already been exposed,” she reasoned. “The Sovereign knows Evangeline has returned, he’s already looking to make heads roll because of it …”

  When Hilda replied, I imagined her smiling, because it could be heard in her voice. “And since when have we let the risk of death keep us from doing what’s right?”

  At those words, I imagined these two causing their share of trouble within the supernatural realm’s political system. Both had stronger convictions than almost anyone I knew. Even if those convictions landed them in harm’s way. They were fearless. It shouldn’t have surprised me that, even now, they were preparing to make yet another bold move that could potentially get them in more trouble than they already stood to face.

  “So, who do we have? Who can we trust?” Elise amended.

  Hilda was quick with her answer. “We can trust no one. But we’re beyond that now.”

  A sheet of paper rustled below, and I wished I had x-ray vision to read it.

  “I set out to prepare a list of names, but could only come up with four,” Hilda replied. “These are the most powerful, effective witches I know. And, trust me, we’ll need lots of power to fill this order.

  The paper was exchanged and I waited, imagining Elise skimming Hilda’s suggestions. Another deep sigh made it clear she wasn’t thrilled about any of the options.

  “Ora, Elenore, Lorelai, and … Maisy?”

  Elise read the last with considerably more disdain than the others, which was saying something seeing as how she nearly spat the others from her mouth.

  “I know you hate them all—”

  “No kidding!” Elise interrupted.

  “But you cannot deny they’ve all proven their abilities over the years.”

  “Yes, they absolutely have,” Elise scoffed. “One for pulling off the largest heist in world history, one for helping multiple terrorist groups pull off some of the most devastating attacks the history books have ever seen, one for causing several plagues that have successfully wiped out large chunks of the human population over the years, and one who … one who …” she paused there, unable to blurt the last offense as freely as those mentioned before.

  With the credentials of the others, I had to wonder what this one did that seemed to choke Elise up.

  “I never said they ranked high on the moral scale,” Hilda said calmly, an air of consolation in her tone. “I said they were effective.”

  “They’re also fugitives,” Elise added. “These witches are wanted for multiple criminal acts, with such high prices on their heads you could, literally, purchase a large island and spend less.”

  “Which is why three
of the four may be nearly impossible to coax out of hiding,” Hilda reasoned, pausing for a long time before going on. “Which is also why Maisy is, perhaps, our best option. She’s technically a fugitive, but not nearly as sought after as the others.”

  A break in conversation came before the reveal of what Maisy’s wrongdoing had been. And hearing it, I understood why Elise had such a hard time getting the words out.

  “Whoever we call in to assist … we’ll have to invite them into our home, Hilda,” she said gravely. “And Maisy? I’m not sure I can do that. Not after what she did to me, my family. What she took from us? The havoc she caused?”

  There were more shuffling steps, and then silence.

  “She cursed me, Hilda,” Elise admitted through quiet sobs. “She’s the reason our bloodline is on the verge of dying off.”

  “But it’s not dead,” was Hilda’s thoughtful reply. “Evangeline pushed her way into existence despite Maisy’s curse.”

  “And at what cost?” Elise scoffed. “Thanks to Maisy’s magic, with Evangeline also came the Liberator.

  Hilda had no response.

  “And here we are again, back in the same cycle of hoping and praying history doesn’t repeat itself. Praying I don’t have to bear the pain of losing my daughter for a second time.”

  “Lower your voice,” Hilda urged, but it was too late. I heard it all. Every single word.

  “We must keep in mind that Maisy was not acting of her own will in those days. She was under the Sovereign’s rule as his chief witch, and had no choice but to do his bidding. Even if his bidding included cursing the bloodline of his only rival—Noah, my brother.”

  “How can you even ask me to consider this, Hilda?” Elise’s voice was strained, quiet.

  “I can ask you to consider it because we want those boys back. And you know as well as I do that our backs are against the wall now. So, if you’re sure you want to drop it here, forego the restoral, then I’ll support that decision,” Hilda reasoned. “But … if you want to bring them back … this is what we must do.”

  The air inside the house felt thick, uncomfortable. Knowing it’d come down to this, I identified with Elise’s hopelessness.

  “Maybe this is where we’re supposed to stop.” Her French accent was heaviest when her emotions were high, and now I heard it stronger than ever. “What if we’re not meant to tamper with nature any more than we already have? Liam could wake up tomorrow and that alone would give us quite an advantage when things take a turn.”

  Hilda’s silence made that strange heaviness in the air so much worse. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with remorse.

  And I hated it.

  “You love him like a son,” she began, “and I, too, hold the same affection in my heart for him that I do for all my family … but—”

  My ears perked then, listening harder when she said more.

  “Things are too dire to continue on like this, Elise, forsaking realism when we’re both aware of the circumstances,” she stated. “He should have awakened by now. I lifted the spell more than a month ago, and yet … he hasn’t moved a muscle. The longer he remains in this way, the bleaker his chance of recovery,” she added. “We must accept the fact that … he may not recover.”

  My heart sank to the floor and she pushed a knife into it with her final words.

  “Elise … Liam is gone.”

  No. Absolutely not.

  I refused to accept that.

  There was no way I’d been sitting beside a dead man all this time. Liam was in there somewhere, lost in the darkness, trying to find his way back to me. I knew he was. Whether anyone else still believed it or not.

  Suddenly not caring if Hilda and Elise heard me above them, I stormed down the hall, slamming Liam’s bedroom door behind me, locking it. I stood there, staring at his lifeless body, illuminated by the lamp at his bedside table.

  Liam is gone.

  I heard Hilda’s voice echoing those words inside my head over and over again, but they simply would not stick. I wouldn’t be left here alone. Even surrounded by other family, friends, without him I would most certainly be alone.

  There had to be something. Something I hadn’t thought of, something I hadn’t tried. Searching every corner of his room with my eyes, I came up with nothing. My gaze fell on him again and I felt my heart tugging in his direction. Not the supernatural pull I’d gotten accustomed to, just the longing of a girl so beside herself with love it was almost criminal.

  He looked like he was only sleeping. How could she all but pronounce him dead already?

  I went to his side, swiping tears with every step.

  “Why are you doing this to me?” The question left my mouth on its own, no rational thought backing it. I knew he couldn’t hear me, knew my voice fell on deaf ears, but I couldn’t help it.

  His hand was warm when I took it, tracing the dark ink of a tattooed compass on the back of it as more tears soaked the collar of my shirt.

  “This can’t be how it ends, Liam. You said we had forever,” I reasoned. “And I believed you.”

  The tears transitioned from sad to angry, washing down my face with heat and fury.

  “I believed you,” I whispered.

  It was futile to be livid with an unconscious man, but I was. My happiness was solely wrapped up in him. It was unhealthy, I know, but it hadn’t been a choice. My heart wanted what it wanted … and my heart wanted him.

  “You’re not allowed to leave me,” I sobbed.

  In one last hopeless attempt to feel the closeness we used to share, I brought his hand to my chest, placing it over my heart, where our tether once linked me to him. The warmth of his palm made more tears swell in my eyes, spilling over my lower lids when I closed them.

  Even with him resting in some distant place, I could still feel his love. That’s how powerful it was. If Hilda was right, how was I ever supposed to let that go? Convince myself to keep pressing ahead without it?

  At the thought, my heart beat even more wildly, causing my pulse to vibrate at the base of my neck. I was overwhelmed with grief—over what could have been, over wasted love.

  Standing there, I let it all pour from me like a volcano erupting for the first time in millennia. I was so full, holding it in for fear of having to accept that things might never get better. But I wouldn’t hold it in anymore.

  My heart thumped against his palm—hard, wild.

  I let him feel me, the pain losing him would cause. I let my guard down and stopped fighting so hard to bridle these fierce emotions that had my entire life frozen in time—pining over him, waiting.

  I let him feel everything

  … And that’s when it happened.

  That’s when movement pulsed in his fingers.

  My eyes sprang open only to land on hazel ones slowly blinking back in response.

  I couldn’t move, thinking I might wake up from the dream if I did. This had to be that, a dream. Quivering breaths breezed across my lip as I did all I could to stave off hyperventilation.

  His hand at the center of my chest moved again, gently gathering the material of my shirt in his fingers as the grogginess seemed to make it hard to focus, to get his bearings.

  “I’m here,” I whispered, unable to speak much louder than that. “I’m here.”

  At the sound of my voice, a bit of awareness seemed to return and he settled down a bit.

  I was ravished by so many thoughts, all at once.

  Was I dreaming?

  Did this mean he’d be okay?

  Should I call for help?

  Had this transition changed more than just his physical body?

  … Would he remember me?

  My first impression of him, months ago when he stepped out of my dreams, was that he, in all his beauty and intensity, was impossible. Someone like him, someone so unimaginably perfect for me, couldn’t possibly exist.

  Today, as my fingers slipped between his, I had that same feeling.

  It’d been t
oo long—too long since I stared at him and he actually stared back.

  Too long since I felt his arms around me.

  Too long since I heard his voice.

  My mouth opened and shut, feeling dry all of a sudden. I was unsure what to say or do next, unsure which of my questions would be answered yes, which would be no. But … Liam did his part to relieve me of one uncertainty. And all it took to convince me was one word.

  “…Evangeline.”

  He hadn’t forgotten me.

  A deep groan passed through his lips when I rushed in, squeezing him harder than I probably should have, but I was beside myself with too many emotions to identify. Drawing myself into his bed, I curled up beside him, trying to catch my breath as hot tears soaked my face.

  He held me back and I wouldn’t move from this spot. Not until I had to. It felt like I was owed this—the chance to soak up his undivided attention before having to share him with the others.

  Inhaling deep, I breathed him in, pressing my face to the side of his neck, feeling his pulse against my mouth when I placed a kiss there. I let my eyes drift closed, fighting to keep my emotions wrangled in, but that was almost impossible. He had no idea how long he’d been out, how long I’d been suffering. No idea how much had changed. I’d get around to telling him everything eventually, but … not right now.

  Right now, I just wanted … this.

  Chapter Five

  Liam

  One hour changed everything. That was all it took to pry the details free from Evangeline, although I was sure she still held some back, wanting to avoid overwhelming me.

  It only took an hour to understand the hell she’d been through waiting for me to come around.

  An hour to realize I’d been out six weeks and Seaton Falls had practically become a military base.

  An hour to realize we were weeks, maybe days away from the Sovereign retaliating for the clan’s insubordination; for Evangeline’s ambush and rescue that crippled his army.