I have hidden rotating cameras in all the areas and will be keeping an eye out to see all movement. We agreed at the meeting yesterday that if we don’t find what we’re looking for, we will find a way to enter the closed-off areas and see what they have hidden. The only reason we don’t blow them out of their holes is that we worry that whomever the asshole is with the activation codes, he might try to blow up our women if he suspects anything.
I want to get this over and done with as soon as possible. It’s becoming more difficult to keep away from Talia as time passes. I know that she’s curious about why I won’t go near her after I professed that she’s my woman, but this is club business, and we don’t want the women to worry more than they already do. There’s something escaping me about this whole situation, and I can’t tell what it is. The idea of something happening to one of the women or even all of them because I’m missing something is driving me crazy.
I’ve had minimal sleep in the last few days, looking and relooking at all the evidence that we have, but till now, I haven’t seen anything new. Revving my bike, I speed after my brothers, hoping that the wind will calm my perturbed soul.
I wonder what this meeting is about. Usually Draco only calls a meeting so soon after another one if something urgent has come up. There better not be any more fucking surprises, because all of us are ready to explode, especially the brothers with the women who have the explosives in their bodies. We can feel the tension and anger radiating out of everyone, and now that I’ve finally found my mate, I understand the anguish they are going through.
To even think that anything could happen to Talia makes me break out in a cold sweat. The rage that wants to consume me at the thought is overpowering. I know that if she’s ever threatened, I won’t be able to keep my cool. Some of the brothers are known for their self-restraint, and even they are slipping under this type of pressure. I have never been very good at keeping my emotions contained. That’s why I keep away from Talia.
Yesterday, I found myself spying on her without her knowing. Just the thought that she’s close has my blood racing. All I want is to take her in my arms and make her mine. When we were standing outside the club and one of the Cape Town brothers commented on how lucky I am, and that I got myself a sexy mate, I lost my shit. If it weren’t for Draco stopping us, we would have fought. I know that he was complimenting me, but the thought that he was even looking at her drives me mad.
We park the bikes next to each other outside the main doors as we pull up to the club. I want to go inside and see Talia, take her in my arms, and forget about everything, but I need to hold back, and I worry that my already stretched self-control is running out.
“Hey, Brother,” Caelius calls from next to me. “How are you holding up?” Caelius has always been someone I can talk to. He is also someone who analyses a situation, and when he comments or suggests something, everyone listens, but in this situation, there is really nothing that can be said except that we need to find the motherfuckers we are looking for and quick so that I can bond with my mate.
“Hanging in there.” He nods without saying anything else and walks away. I follow him inside to find that the brothers are already making their way towards the area Tor keeps for meetings. Whatever this meeting is about must be important because Draco usually gives us a breather before we get holed up without the brothers seeing their mates first. By their faces, I can see that they’re also sceptical about this meeting.
We all walk in and sit around a solid yellow wooden table that has been engraved with Tor’s ancestors’ Viking symbols. I see Draco texting before he takes a seat at the head of the table. As the club president, he always sits at the head of every table when visiting one of our other chapters. “So what is this about?” Ceric asks when we’re all sitting.
Before Draco can answer, Bjarni walks in with Gabriela right behind him, and by the frown on his face, I’m guessing he also doesn’t know what this is about. Then I see all the women enter except Aria. I’m guessing she’s taking care of all the kids, as they’re not with their mothers, and I know that whatever this is, we’re not going to like it.
“Fuck,” I hear Wulf grunt under his breath. “Come here, angel.” He draws out his hand to Jasmine. I see she doesn’t hesitate before she approaches him and sits on his lap, leaning into him. Wulf wraps his arms around her midriff and pulls her tight against him.
“If this is any more fucking bad news, I don’t want to hear it, and where is Aria?” Brandr snaps as he looks at the women.
“She’s keeping an eye on the children, and it’s not really bad news. If anything, it’s good news, depending on how you look at it,” Nova states, raising her chin in answer. I hear Ceric groan from next to me. We have all realized that when Nova juts out her chin like that, trouble is coming.
“What have you done, Hellcat?” he asks with a scowl.
“Nothing, baby, I swear,” she grumbles as she walks around the table to stand behind Ceric’s chair. Leaning forward, she kisses the top of his head as she places her arms around his neck.
“Let’s get this meeting started,” Draco calls, and by the look in his eyes, I can tell trouble is coming. Looking over at Talia, I see that she’s looking nervous as she clasps and unclasps her hands. I hope that whatever this is about doesn’t involve her. Everyone quietens, waiting for what’s to come.
“I was asked to arrange this meeting. Apparently your mates have a solution to our problem.” At his words, I stiffen. Looking around at the women, I can see that whatever this solution is, they don’t think we are going to like it, because all of them are looking nervous, even Nova.
“Fuck me,” Burkhart grunts as he leans back and squeezes his eyes.
“Ladies,” Draco calls, “who’s going to talk?”
“We have found a way of extracting the devices without them blowing,” Brielle relates hurriedly. I see her eyes are on Bion as he stares at her.
“How?” Brandr asks as he sits forward.
“Before we explain, just listen to everything before you comment,” Gabriela says.
“Just get to it already,” Burkhart states. I can see by his tense muscles that he’s holding on to his temper by a thread.
“Well,” Scarlett starts to explain, “Jasmine and Gabriela looked into the future, and it works. No one dies.”
“Shit,” Cassius says as he starts to stand, but then sits again with a resigned look on his face. “I’m not going to like this, am I, baby?”
“It works,” she says, trying to appease him.
“What works?” Wulf asks.
“Well,” Jasmine starts, “now that we have Talia, she can extract the devices with her mind while Celmund uses the required wavelength.” At her words, I can feel my stomach tighten. What the hell are they thinking?
“You must be shitting me?” Ceric asks.
“It works,” Nova tries to convince him.
“No,” he snaps as he pulls her arms from around his neck and stands to face her with his hands low on his waist.
“Stop being pig-headed. Jasmine and Gabriela saw that it works,” she argues as she stands before him.
“What they see is one option. What if it doesn’t? Then one of you will die.” I agree with Ceric. There is no way in hell I’m going to let Talia do that. She will have to stand close to the women to extract the devices. If it explodes, she will also die, and if she doesn’t, she will never be able to forgive herself.
“Actually, I volunteered to be first.” At Nova’s words, Ceric pales. I see his muscles bunching and his breathing deepening. Fuck, this is going to be bad.
“Cassius, show the women out,” Draco grunts as he stands. I have also stood and moved closer to Talia in case Ceric loses the restraint on his temper.
“But it can work,” Gabriela says.
“Bjarni,” Draco snaps, warning him to help Gabriela out. We all know that we need to get the women out of here as soon as possible before Ceric loses it. I see Wulf hurriedly guide Jas
mine towards the door as Bjarni drags Gabriela. Cassius is ushering Brielle, Scarlett, and Talia out the door.
“Nova,” Caelius calls, “if you leave, we can discuss it.” None of us dare go near her when Ceric is already a hair’s breath from losing his shit. We all know that if one of us touches her right now, we won’t be able to hold him back. She must sense this, because she shrugs and walks out.
“Ceric . . . nothing will happen unless we’re all in agreement, so relax,” Bion calls out.
Ceric snaps his eyes to Draco. “She’s not doing it.” His voice is unrecognizable with the strain he is under in trying not to let his rage overtake him. Draco nods before he sits back.
“We still need to discuss it and see if there is any chance of it working, and if there is, how do we make sure that it’s safe?” Bion suggests.
“Do you think it could work?” Brandr asks.
“Are you serious, Brother?” Burkhart asks with a raised brow.
“If there is a chance that this could work, we need to know. I want my woman to be able to sleep without worrying that it might be her last,” he growls.
“Fuck,” Burkhart snaps.
“Let’s all settle down and try to think this thing through,” Draco states.
“Fuck, I hate this shit,” Ceric yells as he bangs his hand on the table. We all know that we have all been leading to this explosion. It was just a matter of time before it came to a head. I know it makes sense to try this, but I will not have Talia in danger.
“What if this is their plan?” I suggest as thoughts swirl through my head. “Don’t you guys find it strange that we found the Keres near Talia’s work?”
“It is suspicious, but they don’t know what all our women can do,” Bjarni states.
“What they were suggesting is possible, but we would have to time everything to the second. Also, we would have to see if Talia can actually extract the device without seeing it,” Bion says.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I snap.
“Is your woman going to be the guinea pig?” Ceric asks angrily as he paces.
Bion lifts his hands in defeat. “I’m just looking at the possibility of what they are saying. Brielle also has the fucking device,” Bion snaps. Standing from his chair, he places his hands on the table as he glares at Ceric.
“Enough,” Draco suddenly roars. “Everyone fucking sit down. We’re here to find a solution and not fight with each other.” Bion grunts in anger but reluctantly sits back down, “Ceric!” Draco calls, enough anger radiating off him to make Ceric pay attention.
“Fuck,” Ceric roars again as he strides towards his chair and sits.
“Now,” Draco says, “we are going to discuss this and look at all the angles to verify if what they say is correct or if we abandon the idea. I don’t want any more fucking arguments. We are not here to let any of the women blow themselves up. We are here to prevent it.” He looks over at Bion. “What are your thoughts?”
“As I was saying before, I think it could work, but we need to make sure that Celmund and Talia’s timing is correct. That might only work if they are bonded.” At his comment, I tense. I would like nothing more than to bond with my woman, but it’s too dangerous.
“What if it’s Leif and that is all he is waiting for?” I ask.
“I don’t think he would know that you have mated unless you leave the club. Maybe you bond and as soon as you two are ready, we proceed with the extraction of the devices. It would help us figure out if it’s Leif or not. Once the devices are extracted, you go out and let them see you. If any of the devices are activated, we’ll know that that was what they were waiting for,” Bion suggests.
“I don’t like the idea of Talia doing this. Not only would she be in danger, but if anything happens to one of the other women, she wouldn’t ever forgive herself.”
“Wulf, what do you think?” Draco asks with a raised eyebrow.
“I trust my woman’s gift. If she says that it will work, I believe that it will,” he states.
“Brandr?” Draco asks.
“I hate this fucking situation,” he grunts. “I want that time bomb out, but I need to make sure that it’s one hundred percent safe. I will not have Aria placed in any more danger than she already is.”
“Bjarni?” Draco calls.
“We have no reason to doubt our women. I believe if they say it will work, it will work. Sorry, Brother, but I think this is something we should look at,” Bjarni says as he looks at Ceric.
“Caelius?”
“It’s a tricky situation,” he says. “The way everything has built up tells us that they have been a step ahead of us at every turn. I think if we do this, it should be kept between us until it’s over.”
“Do you suspect that we still have eyes on us?” I ask at his comment.
“Just being careful, and we’re not in our own home at the moment, so we don’t know what eyes or ears there are.” I have checked everyone in this chapter, especially knowing that the women would be here, but I also didn’t find anything on Sven until Scarlett suspected him.
“Cassius?”
“I don’t want to fucking do this. It’s too much of a risk for the women, but I know that we need to do something, because those sons of bitches can just press the button at any moment,” he says angrily. I notice his hands are fisted and his muscles are tense. Since mating with Scarlett, Cassius’s energy has calmed, but there are still stages where his rage flares up, and I suspect that it will always be like that because of everything he went through at the hands of the Keres.
“Burkhart?”
“We should go in and blow the fuckers up. No one can press a button if they’re in little pieces,” he argues. “I don’t like the idea of having the women placed in danger, but as Cassius says, we need to do something, as they’re already in danger.”
“Ceric?”
“I will not let Nova do this unless I’m one hundred percent sure that it will work. I don’t care what the fuck she says. That damn woman is going to drive me crazy,” he grumbles.
“Celmund, do you think that wavelength will work?” Draco asks me.
“It makes sense, but we would have to try it out. Brandr, is there any way that you can create a mini bomb working with the same wavelength?” I ask. “We need to test it.”
“Sure, shouldn’t take long.”
“It seems like we’re all in agreement that the women might be right. Celmund, I want you to test everything until you’re happy that it’s working. We need to do this as soon and as quietly as possible,” Draco states. “Also, it looks like you’re going to get yourself mated faster than you thought.” With those words, Caelius playfully punches me in the forearm. “Once you’re happy that everything works, make Talia your woman.” I nod at Draco’s statement and can’t help the lurch that I feel in my stomach.
The thought of finally having Talia as my woman fills me with an excitement that I haven’t felt in a very long time.
TALIA 10
We have been asked by the men not to say anything to anyone. It has been a week since we were called into the meeting, and every day since, I have been asked to show them how and what I can do with my gift. I know that they’re worried about this not working like I am. Just the thought of something happening when I start to move the device makes my heart race. Also, I think that Bion has noticed that after using my gift, I don’t feel great after, but till now, he hasn’t mentioned anything.
Today, I have been asked to meet Bion once again in the meeting room. Usually it’s only Bion, Brandr, and Brielle present and in Bion’s room. I wonder what they have for me today? Approaching the meeting-room door, I knock and wait until I hear Bion’s voice. Entering, the first person I see is Celmund. I haven’t seen him since the meeting, and now I see that he’s sitting back, looking at me. Instantly, my heart starts to race, and I can feel myself being pulled towards him. I fight myself to not move and stand where I am.
I look away from Celmund
towards Brandr, and only then do I notice that there is a dog lying at his feet. “Come sit,” Brielle calls out as she pats the chair next to her. I can feel Celmund’s eyes follow me as I walk towards the chair.
“How are you feeling today, Talia?” Bion asks as he takes Brielle’s hand in his and strokes his finger over hers.
“Fine, thanks.” I can feel the nervousness in the pit of my stomach. I have never used my gift before Celmund except when I first met him, but he didn’t know it was me then.
“You have seen the dog at Brandr’s feet,” Bion states. “Today, we ask you to please remove the metal device that we gave him to swallow earlier today.” I fist my hands in my lap at the nervousness I feel.
“I have never done something like that before. I will need to see where the device is before I can even start to remove it,” I warn. I don’t want to hurt the poor animal.
“Relax, sweetheart. Don’t let this intimidate you.” At Celmund’s voice, I instantly feel my muscles start to relax. How does he do it? “We have put him to sleep, so you don’t need to worry that he will feel anything.”
“I will still need to see where it is. I don’t want to hurt him by moving it against one of his organs,” I explain.
“I will make a small incision where the device is located, like I will do on the women. All we need you to do is extract the device through that incision.” I nod and see from the corner of my eye as Brandr picks up the dog and places him on the table.
“Are you ready?” Bion asks as he stands.
“Yes,” I reply, but I can feel my legs shaking. I have never done something like this before. The thought of hurting the dog has me perspiring. As the days pass, I get more and more apprehensive. I know that if this works, the women will be scot free, but what if it doesn’t?
Bion is now standing over the dog with a scalpel in his hand. Looking over at me, he waits. I stand on shaky legs from my chair and approach the dog. When I’m on the opposite side of the dog and Bion, I stop. “Let’s do this,” I say with more conviction than what I’m really feeling.
CELMUND: Elemental's MC (book 7) Page 7