by Jess Buffett
They all watched her leave the room, eyes wide.
“Your mate is a little scary,” Theron muttered, though his eyes twinkled with mirth.
Yorik on the other hand looked serious as ever. “And I thought she was human.”
“So did we, but after Sage and I claimed her, her scent changed.”
Theron gaped. “How?”
“We aren’t sure exactly.”
“She smells like a bird. Like prey,” Yorik grumbled.
Leontis fisted his hands by his side to stop himself from taking a swipe at his brother. “If you have a problem, then feel free to let the door hit your arse on the way out.”
Yorik snorted, “Whatever. I’m getting a drink.”
His brother stood and headed for the kitchen around the corner.
“I’m sorry about that.”
Leontis turned to face Theron. “Why did you bring him? He clearly doesn’t want to be here.”
“But he does.” Theron dragged his hand down his tired looking face. “I told father I was coming to find you and Yorik overheard. He said he wanted to come, help me find you. Yorik was worried about you.”
Leontis scoffed, “Yorik? Worried about me? Not likely.”
“Then why else would he have offered to come,” Theron asked exasperatedly.
“Because unlike you, he can see the larger picture.”
Leontis whirled around to find a stranger standing beside Yorik, who wore a dark grin.
“Yorik?” Theron groaned. “What are you doing? Are you crazy? Who is this?”
“Me? Crazy?” Yorik pinned them with a glare. “You’re the crazy one, Theron. You’ve spent all this time trying to track our baby brother, and for what? So he can come back and take over our Pride? No fucking way. He is the youngest, he was supposed to be the runt. I won’t follow this freak.”
Each word dribbling from Yorik’s mouth slashed at Leontis like a physical wound. Did Yorik really hate him that much?
“We both know Leontis has no interest in ruling our Pride.”
“Not a chance I’m willing to take.”
Leontis growled. “Two of you and two of us, you really think you get a say in how this all turns out?”
Yorik’s smile was brittle and harsh. “You always did underestimate me, little brother.”
He didn’t have time to question what Yorik meant when something hard and blunt struck him hard. Collapsing to the ground with a howl, another blow, and then another came. Everything began to dim around him. He couldn’t even manage a snarl when the last thing he saw before his world faded was an image of the trouble maker, Bricker, standing above him, a sneer twisting his lips.
*****
“Leontis! Wake up!”
Leontis groaned at the sharp noise, instinctively trying to turn away from it.
“Leontis. Tessa, where is she?”
He frowned. Tessa? Last thing he remembered Tessa was putting Ryder back to…
“Oh shit!” He shot up, instantly regretting it when his stomach rolled. Shaking off the feeling, he met Sage’s panicked gaze. “Did they take her? Oh God. Tessa.”
“Who took her? And who the fuck is that?” Sage asked harshly as he pointed at an unconscious Theron, Chase hovering above Theron with his claws extended like he was ready to pounce at the first sign of movement, to help or to tear his brother’s throat out, Leontis didn’t know.
“Theron, my brother. He came with another brother, but Yorik was working with Trevor and Bricker. I didn’t see Bricker until it was too late.”
Sage growled viciously. “Bricker?”
Leontis nodded and brought a hand up to his head, wincing.
Sage cupped his skull gentle, brushing his lips over Leontis’s forehead. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Tessa?”
Sage’s eyes darkened. “She isn’t here. I’m about to track her scent, but I needed to make sure you…”
Leontis rested his hand over Sage’s. “I’m okay. Let’s find our mate.”
Sage’s lips thinned and he nodded. He looked over at Theron’s still prone form. “Chase. Lock him up.” Leontis went to argue, but Sage silenced him with a look. “We have no idea if he was in on this too.”
Leontis winced, knowing Sage was right.
Dominic suddenly burst through the door, drawing all their attention. “I think we’ve found her, and Ruth. They’re near the clearing. Same place Bradley took Summer.”
Both men snarled then raced out the door, all thoughts of his brother’s safety leaving Leontis’s mind in a cloud of fury. Bursting through the trees, Leontis didn’t slow until he caught sight of Tessa tied up and hunched over near Bricker and Ruth. A line of others gathered around them, some of the faces he recognized from the group who went after Tessa at the gathering. Leontis allowed his sense to stretch and he drew in a breath when he realized they not only faced other shifters, but witches too.
In front of them all stood his brother, Yorik.
“Who the fuck is he?” Sage snarled.
“He’s my brother, Yorik,” Leontis whispered savagely.
“Another one?”
“Bastard,” the snarl ripped from his throat. Not hesitating any longer, Leontis shifted, his clothes tearing and bones cracking. Moments later his paws hit the ground, a growl rumbling from deep inside.
Tilting his head, he saw that Sage had changed too, his tiger snarling and ready to fight. Nudging the Alpha’s shoulder to let him know he was ready to find their mate, Leontis launched forward and into the fray.
All-out war had ensued in the time it had taken them to shift. Dodging blasts from witches and claws from animals, Leontis fought his way through the crowd until he found himself beside Sage again and a badly wounded Dominic. Skin pale, the stark red that matted the man’s hair stood out, his shirt had been shredded already and Leontis could smell the copper tang of blood. Why hadn’t he shifted yet?
He watched in satisfaction as Sage shifted into human form and grabbed hold of Yorik. Sage was still half shifted, his claws unsheathed, eyes blood red with his need for vengeance.
“What did you want with my mate?
Leontis growled as his brother cackled, “You really think I’ll tell you? I’m already dead, by you or by them. Either way, I’m not feeling inclined to be helpful.”
Leontis snapped and growled at him. His own brother? Regardless of their differences, he couldn’t believe Yorik had turned on him like this? Why?
“Oh, give me a break. Nothing you could do would be worse than what they would have install for me, were I to betray them.”
“Who is they?” Sage demanded. “Aidan? Is he behind this?”
The bastard seemed to consider for a moment, before grinning. “You know, I just can’t quite seem remember.”
“Pity for you,” the Alpha snarled, swinging out and tearing into Yorik’s flesh.
Leontis watched in detached horror as Yorik let out a blood curdling scream to rival a banshee’s, finally coming to an abrupt halt when Sage took another swipe.
Just as Sage delivered the final blow, another blast suddenly shot out just nipping Leontis’s tail and he hissed, turning to face the witch who had thrown it. He realized his mistake, however, when sharp claws sliced through his skin, piercing the flesh. The witch had just been a distraction, keeping him focused so someone else could attack. He let out a howl as he fell but found himself unable to move.
More blows came, his lion’s body screaming out in raw agony even as he witnessed Sage get tackled to the ground. When he slumped to the dirt floor, unable to fight, the claws disappeared. Out the corner of his eye he saw the tiger who had swiped at him saunter off, no doubt on the prowl for his next target.
Using everything he had, Leontis tried to stand on all fours again. He needed to find Tessa, Sage.
Blood dripped down his face, and his stomach clenched as he felt more dampness on his back. His legs began to shake, and soon they were too weak to support him, his lion form falling back to the
ground with a thud. He could do nothing but watch helplessly as the enemy continued their attack, many of their own Pride falling. Searching frantically for his mates, Leontis wanted to cry out in despair when he couldn’t find them, though all he could manage was a snarl.
The last thing he saw before he blacked out was his brother’s lifeless form lying nearby.
Chapter Eleven
Sage swiped another paw out, relishing the shriek that came from the enemy as he took the witch down. Rain had begun to fall as he moved to his next prey, making the ground beneath him muddy. He had never seen himself as particularly bloodthirsty before, but these bastards were the same people who had kidnapped his mate. No one was safe.
The forest around him had suddenly become a battle zone. Witches worked in tandem with a group of rogue shifters.
Another tiger shot out of nowhere and tried to attack him. The sly bastard would have succeeded too, had Dominic not come charging in. His brother took the other tiger down swiftly, Dominic’s teeth clamping around his prey’s neck. The tiger hissed and jerked, but eventually ceased moving. When his brother lifted his head, he tipped his head and Sage followed his line of sight to where Tessa and Ruth were tied up, not a few feet from Bricker.
Sage shifted in one fluid motion, aiming straight for him. He should have known sending the trouble maker on his way after punishing him at the gathering was a mistake. Spilling blood had never been the first option for Sage when dealing with betrayal, but now, it was all he thought of.
Sage could hear Dominic’s heavy breath behind him, knew his brother had his back. Desperate to get to his mate, Sage let out a vicious snarl, ducking and weaving through the crowd. Something suddenly seared his flank, and Sage rolled to the side. A heavy weight landed on top of him and he snapped at the figure.
“Easy there, little kitty. I promise, this will only hurt a bit, but it’ll be a lot nicer than what we have installed for most of them.”
Sage growled, bucking the figure off. Seeing Dominic close in on the witch that had attacked, Sage spun around and headed for Tessa only to freeze.
“Enough!” shouted a livid Bricker. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, his face twisted into a snarl. Lethal looking claws were held to Tessa’s throat, slowly pressing in just enough for Sage to see small trickles of blood tail down her smooth skin and matting in her flame colored hair. “Stop them or she dies.”
With no other choice, Sage growled, low and commanding. The other members of the Pride ceased their fighting within seconds, the force of their Alpha’s will too strong to ignore. Sage shifted back into his human form, panting as he stood.
“Let her go, Bricker. Or what I did early will seem like child’s play.”
Bricker crowed. “Oh, I think I’m done following your orders. As you can see, I’m not alone, and you are outnumbered.”
“And you underestimate us.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. It’s true that with you as their stoic leader, your Pride may be strong.” Bricker’s shrug was carefree. His eyes though, they were warped, twisted, malevolent. “But if I were to break you...and I know how to break you, Sage.”
“If you hurt her, you die.”
Bricker was already dead, something in the way his eyes glimmered told Sage he knew that. But how he died was still up for discussion.
The man’s distorted chuckled echoed through the trees. “Always one step behind, aren’t you, Alpha. She isn’t the only mate you need to fear for.”
Tessa screamed. “Leontis!”
Sage turned in time to see his lion mate fall to the ground, hands clasped to his stomach as blood seeped out. He could see the moment Tessa decided to race out into the open to get to their fallen mate. Just as he saw Bricker begin to shift.
“Tessa. No!”
His shout came too late.
Sage pounded across the forest floor, desperately pushing himself to reach his mate, but Bricker had already changed leaped into the air, pinning her as he landed. Teeth, vicious and jagged plunged deep into her neck, tearing at the flesh. Sage attacked, claws and teeth shredding through the enemy. A scream echoed through the trees but Sage refused to stop until the body in his hold ceased to move.
Eyes searching, he quickly shifted as he found Tessa a few feet away. Dominic was already at Leontis’s side. Gathering her into his arms, Sage clamped his hand around her neck, struggling to stop the flow of blood.
“No. No, no, no. Sweetheart. Please. No.”
“S-sage,” her voice garbled and wet shredded through him.
“No, please.”
He continued his begging uselessly, rocking back and forth. Sage could do nothing but watch helplessly as the light faded in her eyes and Tessa’s body went limp.
Gone.
She was gone.
No.
He let loose a blood curdling roar, joined by the other animals surrounding them. Their cry, their screams echoing the storm, almost murderous in its intent. Agony and fury its only company. Lightning crackled through the midnight sky, slamming unforgivably into the earth as if the very heavens themselves had begun to cry out in mourning. The earth rumbled and the winds unleashed a deadly power, sending leaves, branches large and small, hurtling through the air.
Sage held the lifeless body of his mate in his arms, blood seeping freely across the once green grass, staining it red. Unable to stop the flow, Tessa’s pale skin nearly translucent now. Beside him Leontis lay, half unconscious, unable to move, yet the same uncompromising pain flooded his eyes. Their mate. Gone.
Lowering her to the ground, blackness stole over him. The need for more death the only constant thought in his mind. Never had he felt such raw hatred, malicious in its very being. Sage could hear the gasps from his family, not just for their loss, but for the look in his eyes.
Cold, dark, death.
“Sage,” whispered his sister, yet Summer’s words barely penetrated the fog covering his mind.
Eyes zeroing in on their target, he let his tiger take over. Ploughing Bricker into the ground, Sage became a beast. Mauling at the tiger’s fur, relishing as it changed in color, stark red blood mattering. If his victim screamed while Sage tore into him, he didn’t hear. Could hear nothing, see nothing, but death, until a searing, burning pain raced up his flank.
He stilled when he saw Trevor, Aidan’s brother, standing above him, gun pointed straight at him.
“Now, now. Is that any way for a man to behave," Trevor tsked. “Now me. I’ve always preferred a more civilized approach”
“Coward,” he spat. “Shift and take me on.”
Trevor chuckled. “I’m not an idiot, Sage. I know I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Why? If you’re going to kill us, then tell us why? Was it Aidan?” A small, twisted part of Sage needed to know. Bricker hadn’t been smart enough to organize something like this, and Trevor had always been there to do his brother's bidding.
“I’m not going to kill everyone, Sage. Not yet anyway.” His cold eyes scanned the area, before settling back on Sage. “And as for my brother let’s just say...he has discovered an acquaintance he has something in common with. And you're currently in the way.”
Trevor fired the gun and Sage braced for the impact. But nothing came. He didn’t even have a moment to process what was happening before a loud squawk filled the air. Suddenly Trevor burst into flames, the look of horror and shock faded quickly as he was consumed.
A bird. No, that wasn’t right.
Sage blinked, attempting to make sense of what he was seeing. A large bird hovered in the air, flames licking up its feathers as it let out another ear piercing shrill.
A Phoenix?
Sage covered his ears and his eyes as the mythical bird expelled more fire, screams of their attackers filling the night air as they succumbed to the flames. When all went quiet, Sage pried his eyes open, fearing what he would discover.
The Phoenix, so beautiful yet deadly, landed, a human form appearing even as the flames continued to burn. Slo
wly they dissipated, revealing a sight that would have brought Sage to his knees had he not already been crumbled to the ground.
“Tessa?”
“Sage.”
“I thought…”
“It’s okay. I’m tired, but it’s okay.”
As Sage curled around her and reached out for Leontis, his mind spun out of control. With Tessa murmuring in his ear, promising him everything would be okay, the only thing he could think at that point in time was. Maybe it will be.
*****
Tessa woke with a start, her skin so hot she felt as though she had been burned. Memories filtered through and a hysterical bubble of laughter broke free. In a sense she had been. She had been on fucking fire.
“Tessa? Honey?” Leontis’s deep timber rolled through her. He pinned her with his intense gaze even as his hands roamed over her body, as if he couldn’t believe she were sitting right in front of him.
“I’m okay,” her voice wavered, the lie clear to anyone who had heard her.
“You will be.” Sage moved into her field of vision looking and sounding broken.
“What happened?”
None of it made any sense.
“They took you, I couldn’t stop them,” Leontis’s choked out. “My brother, Yorik, he was working with Trevor and Bricker. We tried to save you, but…”
“I died.” It wasn’t a question. She knew. Tessa just couldn’t quite believe it. “How am I here now?”
“You’re a Phoenix, honey.”
She frowned at Leontis. If he thought that was supposed to make any kind of sense, he was crazy. Or maybe she was, because the memory of being on fire, and soar through the air felt very real. But that was...crazy.
“So I’m a shifter? Is that why I smelt like a bird? How is that possible? You would have known, right?” Questions shot out of her like rapid fire and her heart rate increased.
Sage cupped her cheek as both her mates helped sit her up. Leontis rubbed her arms as he moved in behind her and between the both of them, the soothing gesture, she began to calm.