by Marie Harte
Everyone nodded.
“I still don’t understand why she’s so persistent. I mean, you said no. What does she expect to happen?” From what Liam had told him about Danya, the sorceress wanted Liam as her own. In her bid to win him, she’d killed his father and cursed Liam to an eternity without his precious wolf.
Granted, Liam had a sexy charisma about him that called to everything in Anson. But wouldn’t a sorceress as powerful as Danya have access to other males in her life?
The queen answered. “Danya has gone mad from the Darkness. Her power continues to grow at the expense of demons and sorcerers alike. She’s obsessed with Liam. It makes little sense, but I fear she won’t stop until she has him.”
“Surely you can stop her.” Anson had seen the power the slight queen held, and it awed him. “You speak with Banathmae.”
“I do, and I know he cannot interfere. Danya called upon Banathmae’s twisted brother, and that demon god has ripped holes in the very fabric of this world. At our expense. Banathmae can only enter during times of sacrifice and celebration, or he fears permanently damaging the athmae. Already the sorcerers are having problems thanks to Danya. I would not have our kind maligned as well. It’s up to us to rid the world of her evil. The time draws near.”
Anson looked at the sober group. The mating confused him, even as he surprised himself by wanting to accept it. But one thing was certain—this Danya bitch would find out the hard way that Lycos’ descendants could get pretty possessive about those they considered under their protection. The Spirit save the sorceress if she returned to grab Liam. Anson would kill her without a second thought.
Liam’s hand on his arm stilled his instinctive growls. “It’ll be okay. I won’t let her hurt you.”
Anson scowled. “Hurt me? Fuck that. I won’t let her hurt you or anyone else here. She’ll be lucky if I kill her quickly the next time she shows her face.”
The queen grinned. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Chapter Seven
Two celibate days later, Liam felt as if he walked on pins and needles. He sensed Anson’s gaze on him all the time. More than the man watching him, he swore the spirit of Anson’s werewolf reached out through the odd bond Liam and Anson had formed.
Though Anson had asked for some time to figure out his future, he wouldn’t let Liam out of his sight. The golden wolf had grown very possessive, to the point of glaring at Malem if he stepped too close. All signs that Anson intended to acknowledge Liam’s mating claim.
It had taken some time to realize that as much as he had wanted to wait to find a mate, he couldn’t ignore the blessings of his god. Anson was perfect. He challenged Liam on every level. Sexually, Liam had never had better.
Anson might be young in years, yet his innocence of spirit seemed eternal. A worthy mate for a prince. Hell, for anyone. But for the wolf in Liam’s breast, a golden wolf, one who wore the Mark of Lycos himself, was the ultimate lure.
Liam sighed and shifted, trying to ignore his painful arousal. As he’d been doing the past two days. Yes, Anson is wonderful. He’s also a major pain in my ass. And other places. He smothered a groan, wishing he could be content with a brief respite from one of his guards. But no such luck. Since accepting Anson as his own, he could no longer think about anyone else—unless Anson agreed.
Athmae breathed sex, yet Liam hadn’t touched or even looked at another male while waiting for Anson to make up his mind. His wolf cried out for his mate, while the demon inside him demanded Anson’s surrender. The sooner he fucked Anson, the sooner he could tie himself and his guards to the sexy werewolf.
His men kept nudging him along, no doubt lusting after Liam’s pet. Pet, pup, mate—it was all the same to him. Love didn’t care what name he called Anson. The emotion simply existed for the beautiful male he wanted with his entire being. For that reason he wanted to give Anson all the time he needed to be at peace with his new future, a future that would demand a lot from the young wolf.
Anson would have to walk away from everything familiar to fold into Liam’s way of life. No more Silver Wolf Clan, no more Great Forest. And they hadn’t discussed Anson’s potential to be alpha, not in any satisfying depth. Anson had mentioned it in passing and acted as if he didn’t want the position. But for a wolf as young and fiery as Anson, not wanting to be alpha made no sense.
Liam fidgeted as he sat with Anson in the middle of a grassy field—Anson’s favorite place to relax away from the castle. His guards gave them privacy, fanning out around the perimeter of the small field, just itching for a chance to meet Danya again.
“What’s your problem?” Anson muttered. He sat with his legs spread before him, leaning back on his hands as he stared at the fading sun. “I’m the one with the big decisions here.”
“Really? Because I always thought a mating took two.”
Anson wouldn’t look at him.
“Anson, I know this is difficult.” Liam sighed. “Believe me, it’s not like I asked for you to be here. I just wanted an end to my curse. I hadn’t thought to mate for at least a few more hundred years.”
Anson finally looked at him, his eyes wide. “Just how long do you live?”
“A few thousand years, give or take. Unless something unnatural happens to put me in an early grave.” Visions of Danya came to mind.
Anson scowled, reading him too easily. “She’s not your worry. I am.”
“Oh?”
Anson scrambled to his feet and paced. His jittery nerves made Liam feel better, that he wasn’t the only one out of sorts. “I don’t know how to feel. I wasn’t ready to mate either. I’m barely a voting member of the pack, at my age. My power comes from a great dynasty, from Lycos himself. But I haven’t done much to earn it yet.”
“I think you have,” Liam said quietly. “You don’t understand what you’ve done for me. Anson, for years I couldn’t touch my wolf. Do you know what it’s like to lose a part of yourself? To know you’re much more than you are, but that you can’t be who you were meant to be?”
Anson gave him a strange look. “I think maybe I do.”
Liam said nothing, curious.
“I told you I came from the Silver Wolf Clan. My brother and I are twins, descendants of Lycos. There are one or two born every generation.” He glanced at the mark on his arm. “To be honest, it’s both a blessing and a curse. Everyone wants a piece of me for it. Our females were dying to match me at the mating ceremony, but it wasn’t for me. It was for this fucking mark.”
Liam understood, because he himself had been the recipient of Anson’s power.
“I don’t lump you in with them.” Anson put his mind at ease. “I think you’re like me. A pawns in some puzzle the Great Spirit and your god are playing.” He paused in thought. “But you know, their game saved me in a way. I was so scared I’d be paired with one of the females in the pack. And my uncle is all over my ass to assume the role of alpha. He expects me to fight Fenris to the death to take the position. As if I could kill my twin to rule.” He sounded incredulous.
“You care for your brother.”
“I do. No way I’d fight him for a title I don’t want. Hell, I’ve had more fun hunting in your forest for the past two weeks than I ever did at home. I wanted to be Master of the Hunt, you know.”
Liam studied his mate, taken with Anson’s passion. “Master of the Hunt?”
“In the pack, we each have our roles. When a wolf doesn’t fear his alpha, it’s a given that wolf will challenge for the position. Losing means death or starting your own pack. But even though I have plenty of complaints about the clan, they’re family. I have cousins, my brother, my aunt and uncle. They raised me ever since my parents died, long ago.
“I love my uncle, my alpha, but he doesn’t care what I want. I want to be in charge of the hunt, to form parties to scout the forest, to live as a wolf lives.”
“Free and wild.” Liam nodded.
“Yeah. But at home, it’s all about duty and dominance. Don’t get m
e wrong, I want to contribute to my clan, but I get tired of always having to defend my status. I’m young but powerful, and it’s constantly one fight after the next when I’m there.”
“It’s not like that here.”
“I know.” Anson stared down at him, his eyes intense. “It’s too easy to like it here. You’re all about fun. I’ve been hunting every day. Running with you is like nothing I can compare to. Sheer pleasure with the wind through my fur and my mate by my side.”
Liam’s heart raced. “You acknowledge our tie.” The first time he’d openly done so.
“I’m not an idiot. Only the Wolf in the Forest could have allowed this to take place. With all due respect to Banathmae, the Great Spirit takes care of the wolves.”
“So…you’re okay with us?”
Anson sighed. “Yes and no. Fucking you is no hardship. Shit, I’ve never come so much with anyone before. And the fact that you’re male has strangely grown on me. I think it’s all that demon venom you give me when you’re biting me.”
Liam grinned. To his delight, Anson grinned back.
“I never thought about having pups, but I find I don’t mind. Fenris can continue our lineage. According to my uncle, his days are numbered. Poor wolf has a mate thanks to my uncle.”
“My mother did mention athmae breeders, so having young isn’t outside the question,” Liam reminded him. He stood and walked to Anson’s side. “So this mating no longer worries you?”
“I won’t lie. It’s scary as hell to think of this as my new home. Everything’s different. You’re the only wolf here, and I’ll miss my family.”
“You need your own pack.” Liam took a step closer and enveloped Anson in his arms. He tilted the wolf’s chin up to meet his gaze. “Once we truly bond, you’ll feel the threads of family weave tight. Anson, I know you’ve been holding back. We’re close, but not quite mated all the way. You have to truly accept me. Once you do, you’ll feel the pull from the others.”
“Others?”
Liam nodded to his men discreetly tucked into the forest. “Malem, Ryder and Zain are mine. Before my wolf vanished, I kind of claimed them. Not like mates, but as honorary wolves. Like you, I need a pack, a community to soothe my wolf. They may be athmae, Anson, but they function as family. You’ll see.”
Anson considered him, speculation bright in his green gaze. “You mean it? All of it? You really want me to be yours, don’t you?”
Liam nodded and kissed Anson. Not a seductive, carnal exploration, but a tender show of acceptance. “I’d like nothing more.” He paused, then said to hell with it and confessed a truth that had been building for some time. “I love you.”
Anson blinked, but before he could reply, the ground shook underneath them. Oozing black tentacles shot from beneath the grass and wrapped around them. Muffled screams and shouts filled the forest, and Liam could only imagine what was happening to his men.
“Well, well. Liam and his new toy out here all alone,” Danya’s smug voice intruded.
“You.” Anson growled, his eyes turning before the rest of him did.
Terrified the sorceress would do something to his mate, Liam drew her attention. “What will it take for you to go away, Danya? My surrender? Is that what this is all about?”
“Yes,” she hissed and floated over the ground on a burst of magic. “For years you’ve scorned me. Tossed me aside like nothing. Why? I would give you everything. Kingdoms, slaves, power. Yet you spurn me.” Her disbelief soured the surprised hurt in her voice.
With a muttered incantation, Liam pushed through the rotted vegetation holding him captive and dropped to the ground. Anson remained bound, the decayed vines holding his arms tight by his sides.
He subtly stepped between Anson and Danya and answered her with anger. “You killed my father. Cursed me to a shell of my former existence. You thought I would reward you for that?” He glanced past her to see his men engaged with several dark, shadowy creatures. “You think to destroy those I care about, guards here to protect me. Why then would I go to you?”
“Because I demand it.” Her bright blue eyes darkened with madness. Balls of lust burst from her energy like a pestilence and made him itch deep inside. “Because I want you, and I always get what I want. Your blood is the key to everything. Sex, blood and magic from a demon who’s also an animal, yet a man at the same time. You’ll bring me that which I crave, which I deserve.”
She narrowed her eyes and shoved him out of the way with a thought. She floated toward Anson, and Liam’s heart threatened to burst from his chest. “That you could choose this pathetic creature over me makes little sense. I grant you he’s pretty, but he’s nothing but an animal. Push the wolf aside, and he’s likely as pitiful as any human I’ve ever tasted.” She batted her eyes at him. “Or is he? Let’s see, shall we?”
“No!” Liam tried to go to Anson, but suddenly half a dozen armed mage-held human servants, ensorcelled by dark arts, surrounded him with moonblades—especially crafted for killing demons.
“Don’t worry, love,” Danya tittered. “They won’t hurt you. Well, they might if I order them to. You’re very vexing, you know that? But they won’t kill you.” She drew closer to Anson, who remained still as he watched events unfold.
Liam fought like the demon he’d been named, but he was too late to stop Danya.
The evil sorceress held out a hand and chanted the haunting verse that had caged his wolf for so long. The vines holding Anson drew him even higher and seemed to squeeze him tightly.
To Liam’s shock, Anson shifted into his werewolf in the blink of an eye. The golden creature lit with an inner fire that caused Danya to float back a pace.
“Liam, you all right?” Anson asked on a snarl. He cut through the bonds holding him tight with little effort and dropped to the ground.
“Good. You?” Liam continued to plow through the mage-held, learning too late that once struck down, they reanimated and duplicated themselves. Now instead of six enemies, he was surrounded by a neat dozen.
Anson didn’t answer. Liam couldn’t see—he could only hear as he fought the threat closing in. He prayed his guards broke free to save Anson. Because without his golden wolf by his side, Liam didn’t consider life worth living.
Anson glared at the petite female before him. She’d cast a dangerous spell against his mate and now threatened to hurt him with her dark magic. His fury grew, and with it, his power magnified. Her spell bounced off him like a breath of wind.
“I don’t understand. What is this?” she shrieked as he rejected her hold on him and pushed through it, step by step, in her direction. “You shouldn’t be walking.”
“I’m werewolf. I’m immune to dark magic, bitch.” To her spells, but should she conjure something else dark, he might find his ass in a sling. Better to kill her before she figured that out.
“He’s mine! My incubus, you cur. Go back where you belong.”
Her spell struck hard, then shattered into beads of energy he greedily absorbed.
She struck at him with fire, ice and hail.
He heard Liam and Ryder calling his name. Saw Malem out of the corner of his eye fight to get to him.
But nothing would stop him from gutting this danger and casting her aside.
Until she whispered, and a monstrous creature materialized out of thin air and threatened Liam and the guards. It had two heads and a dozen or more limbs. Its torso seemed crafted from the corpses of those Danya had no doubt savaged at some point in her existence. As she cast her spell, the thing attacked the athmae and endangered Liam, nearly piercing his shoulder with claws that appeared on the ends of its appendages.
Caught between needing to end the sorceress and defend his mate, Anson’s werewolf forced him to see to Liam.
He diverted the monster while the athmae handled the shadows and mage-held. Liam barely dodged a blow that would have severed his leg in half, and Anson roared with rage. He struck down the human who’d almost hurt his mate while Liam continued to b
attle the others around him.
Anson fought the monster, growling at every limb he severed, which in turn became a monster to fight. The severed limbs changed into fighting undead. Like a soured amalgamation of death, the creature was made of the dead who had no life or will but that which Danya gave it. He smelled nothing living, only her rotted scent on the beast.
Not pleased with how the sorceress had managed to divert him, Anson had had enough. He called on the power of Lycos within him, and he called on his mate.
“Liam, I need you.”
Liam beheaded the enemy closest then joined him. They rushed the bloated thing as a unit. Working with Liam felt right, and the pair decimated their opponent with measured strikes, until only the torso of the creature remained.
“I’ll take the eyes. You reach its core,” Liam yelled.
As if fitting a key into a lock, their energy merged and made Anson even more powerful.
Anson roared and ran straight into the beast’s great maw, bypassing the teeth as he sliced through it with a speed and light he instinctively called from deep within. The monster shrieked, and he thought he heard an answering scream from Danya, but Anson couldn’t be sure. The beast exploded into ash, burned from the powerful glow now emanating from Anson’s entire body.
“Nice.” Liam smiled, then turned to swipe at a shadowy figure drawing near.
Behind him, Ryder fell and Zain stepped in to help. Malem contended with half a dozen shadows, wielding his blade with a fervor Anson could admire even as he rushed to help. Though the large monster had fallen, the sorceress had plenty of minions to keep them busy. Liam stayed by his side.
A contingent of athmae arrived to help battle the sorceress’s growing army, and Anson finally felt free to turn back to Danya.
“Go,” Liam urged. “We’ll never finish this if we don’t stop her. I’ll help Malem. Take my energy.” And my love, Anson swore he heard whispered inside himself.
Liam turned to Danya. “Your time is done, witch,” he spat.
“Ah, William. I will have you. Perhaps not all of you, but your spirit will be mine.” She cackled, and the beauty of her face withered into the face of a crone. Her skin cracked, her eyes turned completely black. Her form shifted, her skin seemed to bubble then even out again.