Alphas Rise: Immortal Brotherhood (Edge Book 1)

by Jamie Magee

  “Evanthe believed her?” Reveca asked.

  “After the first night she did. She told me that she felt this pull around her home. She was reinforcing it.”

  “And?” Reveca said when Zale’s pause was too long.

  “And that was the last I heard from her, two weeks ago. I sent those in my ranks to investigate and they said she was gone, so I came myself.”

  “You mean you sent your Rogue’s to see her.”

  “Yes. I sent my people that you’re hunting to her.”

  “I’m not the only one hunting them any longer,” Reveca said with a glance to Jamison.

  “Well aware,” Zale offered.

  “Was that what this little meeting was about?” Reveca questioned. “You’re joining forces to find her?”

  “That’s the plan,” Zale said with a look of disdain, surely not happy that he was speaking with Jamison or Reveca for that matter.

  “And?”

  “And if she’s being held here I can’t sense her. Jamison believes that a recently deceased human may have been in possession of a book of shadows that would have taught him and his followers how to mask her.”

  “And what if they took her somewhere else?”

  “They’re not wise or strong enough to move her and conceal her,” Jamison said. “She’s here somewhere.”

  “Evanthe is capable of defending herself.”

  “And she has too big of a heart,” Zale nearly snapped. “It’s my understanding that the pair of you have let this all get out of control. That some human has not only kidnaped Rogue’s, but also taken witches. If my sister was taken anywhere where souls were in danger she would have stayed to help them, to free them.”

  Reveca knew that was the truth. “I’m working on something. I have a lead on where several girls are being held.”

  “Gaither,” Zale said arrogantly, deliberately wanting to point out that he was well aware of Reveca’s every move. “She’s not there. Your boys have done an excellent recon. I saw them there when I prowled through last night. I have no doubt that Evanthe was there at one point, but she’s gone now. However, there is one little witchling there, one of mine too. You get your boys to get our people out and maybe we’ll have something to go on.”

  “You think I’m going to hand over a Rouge to you?”

  “I do,” Zale said with a sly smile.

  “You don’t remember me very clearly.”

  “Obviously we both share that short term memory issue for if you remembered me, you’d know that I’d rather blow the whole damn place to smithereens, killing those addicts that were trying to remedy their path, your little witchling, and my Rouge before I’d let you take one of my own before my very eyes.”

  “Destroying all leads to your sister,” Reveca said with a cool stare.

  “I’ve lived a long time, Reveca, a shade longer than you. But unlike you, I have patience. I will find my sister in due time and clean up this mess while I’m at it. Hell, maybe it’s time for me to relocate. Watch over my Rogue’s and their progression in this city of sin.”

  Jamison cleared his throat. “Threats are not needed. Whatever war you want to engage in at later time, Zale, will be there once we bring our own out of harm’s way.”

  “Back into the fold,” Zale said mockingly as his gray eyes moved to Jamison. “You told her she’d be safe with the coven. You were wrong.”

  “I also told you that until your sister was found I would allow you in this city. That I would ensure that the coven, or Reveca, would not rip you limb from limb. Let’s hope I’m not wrong about that, too.”

  Jamison let that threat hang in the air and Reveca did her best to swallow that silent demand…let Zale have passage into this city.

  Bottom line, Reveca needed too much information from Jamison to go against him now and strike Zale.

  Which ticked her off to no end.

  Chapter Four

  Jamison cleared his throat and pulled the folder from beneath his arm. “Zale brought this with him.”

  “You giving that to me so I can call it bullshit?” Reveca said as she took it.

  Her remark earned her a grin from Jamison and a glare from Zale.

  “There is a drug called Black that’s all the rage around my home,” Zale said as Reveca opened the file, as she saw printouts of articles from all over the other half of the globe.

  “It’s a high end drug, supposed to be better than cocaine.”

  Reveca wasn’t about to admit that she had already heard of this drug so she just kept speed-reading the articles in the file.

  “It’s said to increase every single sense. It’s even said to make you feel immortal.”

  “And this drug had what to do with Evanthe missing?”

  “It has to do with a lot of problems we have,” Jamison said. He nodded to the folder. “As with any drug, producers are looking for a way to make more of it for less. The law has had a hard time getting their hands on it in general because it’s only sold in small quantities. A few months ago when Zale came across this, he had it tested and found that the sample had several elements of blood within it.”

  “Our blood? Immortals’ blood? So the human race is turning into fucking vampires,” Reveca said with a you gotta be kidding me expression strapped across her face.

  Both Jamison and Zale almost laughed but the severity of the situation halted them. “This drug will not change them, its effects are temporary. But it is the reason that Rogue’s are coming up missing,” Zale said.

  “You want to tell me something that isn’t obvious?” Reveca said closing the folder. “Rogue’s are missing and addicts are hunting them. It’s clear the drug was behind that. Which is why I’m going after the addicts, working my way up to the buyer.”

  “You need to work your way up to the human that has this knowledge,” Zale said. “We can take down every building and house that they are using to cook this and it will not stop until we find the ones that have the knowledge to summon supernatural beings.”

  “Newberry’s friends.”

  “Right,” Jamison said. “Those same followers are not only selling what they find, they are moving to create their own immortals to use.”

  Reveca shot a hard glance at Zale. “Yeah. I didn’t see that coming. I wonder what ass decided to share the knowledge of creating immortals with the world at large.”

  “I shared it with someone who was close to me, clearly those that I let in eventually leave,” Zale shot back.

  Jamison held out his arm when he saw Reveca lunge. “Reveca, every person you and the Sons save will lead us closer to those in charge. It’s happening here, somewhere close. All evidence points to that.” Jamison let his arm drop. “Let your boys shake up that house you found, give Zale his Rouge—he’ll get more out of him than you will. Then we’ll figure out what to do next.”

  Reveca just glared at Zale.

  “All right then. I want you both to leave now. And next time,” Jamison said as his stare moved between Zale and Reveca, “call before you come.”

  “Answer the phone,” Reveca said glaring at him.

  “Handle this, Reveca, then we’ll have a look at your other projects.” He nodded to Zale then moved to his back door.

  The energy in the yard became dense, hard to breathe through. That was Jamison’s silent way of saying leave. Now.

  Reveca nearly stomped around the side of the house with Zale at her side.

  “I meant it,” Zale said when they reached the sidewalk.

  “What?”

  Zale’s hungry stare moved over Reveca. “You really are glowing. What magic have you tapped into once again?”

  “Like I’d tell you.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Reveca, my grand plan was never meant to hurt this world.”

  “And in all the history of man, what new revolution have you witnessed that has not brought forth bloodshed?”

  He tilted his head in agreement. “There is bad blood in the ranks, I wo
n’t argue that. But I will never ask those in this life to withhold their natural cravings. They will become what they are meant to be. You can’t stop that, no matter how many of mine you force into an overpopulated Veil.”

  Reveca glared up at him regretting that she had ever had mercy on him. “You’re here for more than Evanthe. You know I’m cleaning this city up, that what I do here impacts others, sends a message.”

  “And what exactly are you doing here? Beyond playing human.”

  “Existing.”

  He smirked.

  “Listen to me, I don’t need your shit. You’re allowed here for now, fine. But you will not ride around mocking my boys.”

  He lifted a brow.

  Reveca moved her stare to where the illusion of Cashton’s bike was. Now a corvette was parked there, one that Zale unlocked with a control in his hand.

  “I was just looking for a way in. You really didn’t think Jamison would invite me in on his own did you?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Like you, Reveca, I lurk before I make contact. It didn’t take long to figure out that bike had been at Jamison’s woman’s house more than once. Didn’t take me long to figure out that baby-faced biker of yours was allowed in.”

  It took all Reveca had not to show an expression.

  “I shifted into his appearance and knocked. A girl let me in and hollered for someone, told them that I was there. Of course daddy dearest saw me before anyone made their way down.” He lifted his chin. “You. Of all people you were the last I would have suspected would follow the old ways.”

  “And what old ways are those?”

  “Arranged couplings. You know, the practice our fathers engaged in, ensuring their offspring were with others that could continue the life of power.” He grinned. “Seems Jamison is eager to ensure his daughter does such things.”

  “You’re assuming a lot for someone that lurks.”

  “I’m using those powers you tend to ignore, the ones that feed off energy, sense it. I know that the girl that never made it downstairs was far too nervous and excited for this to have been going on long. I know that Jamison is no fool and carefully screens who comes near his own little fleshy child. What I don’t know is why you would care. You were against coupling from day one, and now you’re aiding Jamison in his attempts to further that coven tradition.”

  She wasn’t, not that she knew of, but she’d never argue that with Zale. Right then Reveca was livid that she had been kept in the dark on this point. “You need to focus on getting Evanthe back, and not twisting realities. Nothing is going on here.”

  “Sure,” Zale said with a wink before he crossed the street to get in his car.

  The entire way back to the Boneyard Reveca fumed. She left wanting simple answers and came back with more hell. Now she had to tell Talon Zale was not only in town but he would have to give over a Rouge to him tonight. She would have to deal with Cashton’s lack of truth, and she was going to have to rip Tisk into shreds. The latter she was okay with. She really did hate that girl.

  The gravel lot at the Boneyard was packed. Not for a party but for a distraction. All those bikers would ride out in different directions when the boys did go on this run tonight, and when it got ugly they would offer whatever back up was needed.

  Once her bike was parked she marched into the lounge. It wasn’t hard to find Tisk. She was onstage in a bikini top and a short skirt all but humping the pole, entertaining all those that were waiting for the action that would happen in a few hours.

  She marched right up to the stage, grabbed Tisk by her hair, and pulled her off hearing “boos” from the crowd. She never let go of her as she marched down the hall that led to Church, Tisk screeching the whole way.

  She flung the door open with a glance. All the guys were in there, ones in the life and not in the life, plotting their run tonight and loading guns.

  “Family meeting,” Reveca nearly growled. She held her glare on Tisk as Talon ran down the last points of what was to go down before those outside the life left.

  Tisk was grunting and whining trying to get away from Reveca. “I didn’t fuck your boy, King. I couldn’t even get a rise out of him.”

  The entire room went tense as every one of the boys glanced to Talon then back to Reveca. Everyone knew Tisk was trying to make waves like she always did but her methods, calling out the new guy that no one could figure out, built into the tension that everyone had been feeling for days.

  Reveca let Tisk’s hair go only to fling her against the wall with her energy.

  “Babe,” Talon said in a deep, calm tone.

  “Tell everyone why you are hiding here again,” Reveca said as she prowled before Tisk.

  Tisk nearly cried. “I told you some cranked out old men are snatching up witches.”

  “Which you are not,” Steele hollered. Trying to get a laugh he went on, “If they were yanking hoes I could see your concern.”

  He did earn a few laughs, but they were dark ones. They sensed a rat or a coward in their midst.

  “What witch was harboring you?” Reveca seethed.

  Tisk’s eyes filled with fear.

  “Say it,” Reveca said as she put her face in Tisk’s.

  “Evanthe,” Tisk said as her eyes watered.

  Groans were heard all through the room. Evanthe may have been a witch that was helping Rogues or even wannabe witches, but she was just like Reveca, just as lethal, just as wicked to contend with. No one cared to cross her unless they had to. For all they knew then, the Club had been harboring an enemy of hers, someone she’d cast out and they picked up.

  “And what happened to her?” Reveca pushed.

  When Tisk didn’t say anything Reveca squeezed her with all her energy.

  “Babe, killing her in front of us is not going to give us any answers, and I would bet money that’s exactly what she wants you to do,” Talon said with a bit of humor added to his seductive tone. He liked it when Reveca became ferocious; it turned him on something fierce.

  “Evanthe has been taken by these human assholes that are hunting Rogues, and because she has, her brother dearest is now in town, given a stay by Jamison until she’s found. The last wannabe witch that Zale knew her to be with was Tisk.”

  Tisk was trembling against the wall, daring to cry.

  “Evanthe told her brother that this witch had a fear that she would be taken and it was a real fear because she felt that dark energy in her home not long after Tisk arrived.”

  Tisk shivered on while the tension built.

  “Zale is here,” Talon said in a glacial tone.

  Reveca met his stare. “You can thank this bitch for that.”

  Talon moved his unforgiving stare to Tisk. “What happened?” When she didn’t say anything he growled. “Speak.” That one word was what caused Tisk’s tears to flow.

  “I don’t know. She was gone when I woke up. I waited for days and when she didn’t come back I left. Everyone was talking about some girl that was taken from the graveyard, a witch. I came here.”

  “You’re lying,” Reveca spat, wanting to make this girl pay for all the hell she was going through now.

  Tisk shook her head.

  “No one knows where Evanthe is?” Thrash asked in an unnervingly calm tone. He was there the last time Reveca and Talon were face to face with Zale, knew this was exactly what no one needed now. He also knew Evanthe well. She helped the most with Thrash’s transition; that beast that Reveca could not figure out inside of him.

  “She’s not at that building you’re raiding tonight, but she was there at one time.” Reveca looked across the room at all of them. “There is a witch there. She needs to be brought here. Maybe she can shed light that Tisk will not.”

  “There are a lot of people there,” Thames said looking down at the blueprints on the table.

  “Yeah, well, the witch comes here and you set the Rouge free.”

  Everyone looked to Talon when they heard that command.


  “Why in the fuck would I do that?” Talon asked staring down Reveca.

  “Because if you don’t, everyone there will die, including the witch. You’ll slaughter every lead we could gain to find Evanthe—ensure that we reside in the same zip code with Zale for longer.”

  Talon moved his glare to Tisk, clearly finding the same blame Reveca had with her.

  Reveca took the folder out of the back of her waistband where she had stored it and tossed it on the table.

  “Black. It’s a drug. A high-end one that assholes are trying to make readily available to the less economically endowed. Blood’s in it. Ours. Newberry was a part of this. We’ve got a mess to clean up. And thanks to this bitch, who could have told us two weeks ago about Evanthe, now we have to do it with Zale.”

  Her stare moved all around the room. She made it a point to let her eyes meet Cashton’s for an instant. “One of the fastest ways to tick me off is to blindside me. This right here, it blindsided us all. We’re in an all-out war right now, and it will get worse long before it gets easier.”

  Reveca released her energy from around Tisk and she fell like a bag of bones to the floor.

  If Reveca didn’t leave then she’d kill that girl where she lay. She turned and marched out, slammed the door behind her, charged toward her home. She needed silence to take all this in, to figure out what the hell to do next, and she wasn’t going to find that near the garage.

  Just inside her front door she felt that hum that haunted her since King returned intensify. She nearly moaned as she felt it. For two reasons of course. One, it eased her, and two, because she didn’t have the energy to deal with King just then.

  When she reached the top of her stairs she saw him, the back of him anyways, leaning into Gwinn’s door, apparently waiting for a response to a near silent knock. Reveca stepped back into the shadow of the stairs and watched as Gwinn opened the door and saw the smile that beamed across her face. She watched as King went in her room and closed the door behind him.

  Reveca felt sick, so sick that she was shaking. Her life was just fine before the pair of them surfaced, and now she was engaged in a war while trying to figure out what the hell to do with them.