by Jo Ellen
Robert winked. “We come in peace.”
“How the hell is this junk jewelry supposed to help?” Niall asked.
“Master Robert, I feel for your guide,” Elnen said, dryly. “These necklaces Robert procured have been taken to the other side and enhanced. You’ll both be able to see Willie should he show up here. Simply stand on either side at the edge and a barrier will form to keep him out.”
Ian went down on one knee and touched the water. “Hey, you two come here, let’s see if it works.”
Robert and Niall walked to the edge and immediately Ian jerked his hand back when he felt a hard surface form on top of the water.
Ian stood and wiped his hand on his jeans. “Elnen, I want to keep these necklaces when this is over to prevent this happening again. They’re a good security measure.”
Elnen’s hands waved around. “That’s not up to me, they belong to the Fae Queen.”
“The Queen has always gifted our wolf friends whenever there was a need. I will speak with her on yer behalf when I go home.” Robert told Ian.
* * *
The brothers gathered their mates together for a run and to integrate Olivia into their pack. Devlin hadn’t forgotten how Olivia had practically challenged Rafe in a show of dominance. Her wolf needed its alpha to prove his strength before she could submit. He knew Ian had not had to worry about Melanie challenging anyone, her wolf was as much a lover of everyone as Melanie was and tended to lean more toward being an Omega to the pack, comfortable handling others emotional problems.
They ran with abandon, weaving in and out of the forest with Rafe in the lead. He came to a stop and turned to face his pack, his paws planted firmly in the ground with his head held high. His brothers bowed their head, acknowledging his dominance, along with his mate. Melanie cocked her head as if listening before bowing down also. Olivia stood on all fours staring at her alpha, feeling strong and invincible in her wolf form.
She shook her entire body, the white fur fluffing up as she waited for her alpha to prove his strength. Devlin sat down calmly beside her, watching his brother.
Rafe walked up to her and snarled before shifting to his human form. “Devlin, I’m going to scruff her, be warned.”
With that, Rafe quickly grabbed the fur on the back of her neck and flipped her to her side, holding her down. He waited while she fought and tried to bite him before handing her over to Devlin.
Devlin had shifted also and reached down to take hold of his mate in the same fashion which Rafe held her in. Once Devlin had a tight grip, Rafe released his hold, shifted and took off with the rest of his pack. His point was made with no bloodshed.
Devlin waited as his mate panted from her exertion and shifted back to her human body. Stiffening his spine, he anticipated her lashing out in anger, but she surprised him.
Rolling to her back, she rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, I get it now. Rafe is a hell of a lot stronger than I am, but I think he kind of cheated when he shifted and used his hands to take me down.”
Devlin squatted beside her with his hands dangling between his legs and shook his head. “I don’t think you understand what just happened. Rafe took it easy on you. Normally he would have taken you down in wolf form, pinning you until you showed him your submission. In deference to me, he showed his dominance in a much gentler fashion. Had he taken you on in wolf form, you would have fought which would have left him no choice but to bloody you, and then I would have gotten involved.”
Olivia thought about what had just occurred and realized her wolf no longer wanted to challenge her alpha. She accepted his dominance over her. She had a small epiphany.
“He took me down in human form,” she mused. “As a wolf, I should have been able to take him, had he been a normal human.” She glanced back to Devlin. “It’s scary to think what he could have done to me in wolf form.”
Devlin smiled and held his hand out to her. “Now you understand.”
They shifted and bounded off to catch up with the pack. Once Olivia saw Rafe, she immediately went up to him and rolled to her back with her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth.
Rafe acknowledged her submission with a snort and she could almost swear he rolled his wolf eyes.
She shifted to human, planting her hands on her hips while the others shifted also.
“Go big or go home,” she said. “My wolf no longer feels the need to challenge her alpha, I wanted Rafe to understand that.”
“I got it Olivia, from your actions. Words aren’t needed in the animal world, showing your belly or neck suffices. Your wolf knew what to do from instinct.” Rafe shifted again and led them all home.
Chapter 11
At the bar once again, they stood surveying the area. “I don’t like this,” Devlin said. “Olivia’s only rested for a few days.”
Three a.m. was the witching hour, or so everyone believed. Olivia stood just inside the door, glancing at the empty stools and tables.
“Olivia!”
Empty except for the usual contingent of ghostly regulars. She waved at her spiritual friends.
“Well I’ll be damned.” Rafe stared at them in disbelief.
“We’re here to help. We’ve all gotten stronger since visiting that pond, and we’d like to help send Willie to his maker,” Ned told them, nodding at each of them.
“How come I haven’t seen you here before?” Rafe asked.
Ned shrugged. “No need to. Now there’s a need.”
Rafe strolled over to their table and rested his hands on his hips. “This is my territory and I don’t like strangers setting up their tent without my knowledge.”
“Don’t get your panties in a wad,” Ned winked at him. “You’ll only know we’re here when we want you to.”
Rafe growled, low in his throat as the door opened, and he saw Lisa and Melanie saunter into the bar.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” His growl now rumbled from his chest as the women ignored him to stare at the ghostly trio calmly playing poker.
Ian marched over and lifted Melanie by her waist to his eye level. “You are in so much trouble,” he growled. “You two were told to stay home.”
Melanie patted his cheek like a child getting a greeting from a favorite aunt. “I don’t remember the word ‘obey’ in our vows.”
“Dammit Melanie!” Ian’s frustration with his mate boiled over into resignation.
Rafe stood glaring at Lisa, not saying a word.
“Oh, get over it, big boy. You had to know we’d be here to back Olivia up.” Lisa sat down at the ghosts’ table.
Rafe looked up at the ceiling and complained. “Just once I’d like to feel like I am in charge of this pack!”
Ian slapped him on the back in sympathy. “You’re in charge of the pack, just not the women. It’s a sad day when our women don’t fear us.”
Melanie pfft’d as she sat by Lisa. “We’re a team, no one gets left behind.” She grinned up at her mate.
Ian sighed, “Great, now she’s Special Ops.”
The ladies stared at the spirits in awe.
“I’m Lisa and this is Melanie. I’ve met many different beings since I mated Rafe, but you’re the first ghosts. Nice to meet you.”
The ghosts inclined their heads, almost simultaneously.
“Ma’am.”
A shrill whistle pierced the room. They saw Olivia with two fingers in her mouth. “Could we get back to the reason we’re here?” Olivia moved her hands to her hips and glared at them all. “This is not a party.”
Devlin put his arm around her, calming her. He knew she was strung tight and needed her to relax a little. “Neat trick baby, although I think you deafened all of us.”
Devlin sat and pulled her onto his lap as he gently massaged her shoulders. He knew the waiting was what had her so tense.
Elnen had given Olivia the key to bringing Willie to them this time, instead of entering the death realm. Supposedly the door really was thinner between the worlds in the dea
d of night. Devlin had wondered why ghost hunter shows waited for nightfall. He’d always thought it was kind of stupid to go hiking through some strange house at nighttime when daylight brought out every nook and cranny and shadows could be seen. Now he understood why those hunters were night stalkers.
“It’s time baby,” he whispered in her ear while hating what they were about to do. Actually calling Willie to them and putting his mate at risk went against everything ingrained into his DNA.
Olivia slowly stood and looked at her cohorts as she felt Devlin stand up behind her. Rafe and Ian immediately moved to protect their mates while her ghostly friends disappeared from their table and reappeared in front of her.
Just as she was about to commence with her summoning, another figure appeared in the bar.
“Jack!” Olivia shouted as she rushed to embrace him and slid to an embarrassed halt as she remembered he had no substance. “Oh Jack, I’ve been so worried about you. Where have you been?”
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. You know I have no memories of where I’ve been before I reappear, but since I met you, I always show up wherever you are. Maybe we were married in another life.”
Devlin growled and got in Jack’s face, “I don’t think so cowboy.”
Olivia pushed against Devlin, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. “Let it go baby. Can’t you see he’s teasing you?” She turned her attention back to Jack. “Really Jack? WTF?”
“Sorry Olivia, he reminds me of my little brother and I live to smack him down.” Jack’s jaw dropped in astonishment as he realized what he’d said. “I have a brother!” He dropped into a chair and started rubbing his forehead.
“That’s wonderful Jack! Do you know who you are now?” Olivia asked him breathlessly.
He slowly shook his head and tried to smile, but his lips barely turned up. “No, when I try to push it, my head feels like it’s going to explode.”
“It’ll be alright; at least you’re starting to get some memories back. You know you’re always welcome to hang with me whenever you’re around,” Olivia said as she elbowed Devlin when he mumbled his displeasure.
“Why are we in the bar again, and especially you, Olivia? I do remember the times I’m with you, and you should not be here.” Jack stated adamantly.
Once Jack was brought up to date, Olivia once again began her summoning.
“Wait!” Lisa shouted.
Olivia growled this time as her long nails strummed against her hips in frustration. She didn’t say a word as she glared at Lisa.
“Just bear with me. I did some quick studying after you guys left and I want to make a containment circle.” Lisa went behind the bar and grabbed some salt. Making a circle with the salt on the dance floor, she stood back to inspect her work. She was muttering to herself as everyone watched.
“Now I need a spell and I’m not good at this part. Y’all give me a rhyme I can work with,” Lisa said.
Melanie started singing, “Little Willie, Willie won’t, go home.”
Olivia walked up to Devlin and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “Your family is crazy. She’s singing an old pop song. Please, just kill me now.”
The singing stopped as she looked over to see Ian’s hand over Melanie’s mouth.
Ned walked around the circle before speaking. “South, North, West, East, lock this circle, contain the beast.”
They all stared at him in astonishment.
“I saw a shaman perform this ritual before.” Ned shrugged. “Directions said backwards lock it up tight once he enters the circle.”
“Um, okay. I didn’t get that far in my reading of spells so I think we’ll work with yours,” Lisa said.
Lisa repeated Ned’s words as she walked the circle, adding a bit of magic to her words. She brushed her hands off when done. “I’m done, your turn Olivia.”
Olivia took a deep breath and directed everyone to stand around the circle. Closing her eyes, she went to that place inside herself seeking the bright light, which would direct her intentions. Although she trusted Elnen’s instructions and trusted her own intuition, her heart beat increased with the memories of her last encounter with Willie.
By Elnen’s edict, she should be able to pull Willie from his dimension and into hers where he would, supposedly, be weaker.
She found the light easily and directed it as another barrier of protection surrounding all of them. Next, she sent tendrils of light throughout the death realm, seeking the darkest corners with the most evil intent as her target. There! She had him. She’d felt that slimy essence before. Wrapping her light around him like coils of rope, she held on and felt him struggle.
“You’re not getting loose, mother fucker,” Olivia muttered as she tightened her bonds.
Devlin stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders and could feel the tension of everyone in the room. His brothers were in the same position as him, hands on the shoulders of their mates, and he could tell they did not like their mates being so close to the circle.
Both Lisa and Melanie’s eyes were closed too and they were muttering their own incantations. Jack stood with his peers looking on helplessly, not sure as to what their contribution would be.
Olivia made sure she had Willie secure as possible and then yanked, hard. She felt him pass from his dimension to hers and opened her eyes to see him lying in the circle in front of her.
“Stand up,” she ordered as she released her bindings.
Willie scrambled to his feet and looked around at the bar and its inhabitants. He grinned evilly. “Well, looky here. I’ve been invited to a party.” He started forward and lifted his boot to step over the salt. Willie did a complete 360 degree backflip, landing on his knees in the center of the circle.
He grunted from the force of his landing, not comprehending what had occurred. Pushing off the floor with his hands, he stood again and studied his enclosure, ignoring the people inspecting him.
They watched in awe, surprised at how well the circle worked.
Devlin squeezed Olivia’s shoulders. “You’d better do what you need to do before he finds a way out of there.”
“Okay, I need to call…,” Olivia paused as she watched Willie pick something off the floor and toss it toward the barrier.
The small object, possibly a penny; shot off the barrier and rolled to a stop. Willie reached down and picked it up again, rolling it between his fingers. When he looked again at Olivia, the fury in his eyes had her stepping back and into Devlin. He steadied her and stopped her retreat.
“Baby, I would be happy to take you out of here right now and let someone else handle this,” Devlin growled low in her ear.
Olivia stiffened, shutting off her instinct to run. Her flight or fight reflex was screaming flight, but she knew she had to stay and fight.
“No,” she said simply, keeping her eye on Willie.
She cleared her throat and opened her senses, calling on the power she had been born with. A maelstrom began inside the circle, whipping Willie’s hair and clothes around in a violent display of strength. She felt all powerful, almost giddy in her exuberance. She heard Willie shout in anger as she gathered her forces.
“No!” Willie’s fist clenched in anger. He would not let this girl take everything from him. He roared as he felt his essence being sucked into a place he did not want to go.
Using everything he had left inside him, he threw a blast of power toward Olivia, hoping to exterminate her where she stood.
Devlin saw the moment Willie released his power and feared the barrier would not hold. Jerking Olivia behind him, he took the brunt of the hit in his chest and bent over from the pain. Collapsing to the ground, he stared up at the ceiling as what felt like a million lightning bolts bounced through his body. He heard screaming and watched his mate step over his body to block him from another hit. Devlin wanted to get up but couldn’t make his body work. He started screaming in his head for his brothers to protect his mate.
“Move Rafe, he’s mine,” Olivia growled at Rafe, her anger making her entire body shake.
He didn’t budge so she stepped around him to see her ghostly friends trying to slide through the barrier. They could not get past the magic holding Willie inside.
Olivia was so furious she didn’t even remember to call on Elnen for help. She took the power from the light inside her and blasted Willie across the circle. His body flew through the air as she blasted him again. She paced around the outside and hit him again and again, as if throwing a ball against the wall only to swat it every time it got close. As soon as he landed on his feet, she’d knock him down again. Willie was like a rag doll being slung around without care.
Olivia felt someone’s arms wrap around her waist. “It’s done baby, send him on,” Devlin said in a raspy voice.
As she came back into herself, she saw Willie lying in a heap on the floor. She felt no remorse or compassion for him. He deserved whatever came next for his soul.
She turned in Devlin’s arms and hugged him tight. “I thought he’d killed you,” she sobbed. “I was so scared I’d lost you. God, don’t ever do that again!”
Devlin simply hugged and rocked her against his body. He wasn’t about to throw his own grief back at her when he’d thought she’d died.
“Hey guys,” Melanie stuttered as she got their attention. She was pointing at Willie in horror.
He was changing into something seen in a horror flick. His body was still there, but something was overlaying his skin. His flesh was now yellow and bumpy, with wart sized lumps pushing their way out. Curled horns formed on his head while wings unfurled from his shoulders. His feet were huge with long talons, as he stood crouched on the bended joints at his knees. Fangs erupted from his mouth showing saliva dripping from their tips.