It was like a weight on him, the knowledge—the darkness. It held him down and began to suffocate all that hope he’d held so dear. It seemed as if the witch would get her way after all. She wanted him without hope and it was quickly becoming the state of affairs.
Still, he wasn’t just going to lay down and die. He was armed with venom of the bad flower, his own magic, and the powerful Calavari Three.
He’d sent word ahead to request a meeting with the witches and they were expecting him and Victoria to come to their permanent rooms at The Alchymist Hotel.
He’d been to Prague a hundred times, stayed at the Alchymist almost as many. He didn’t know if Victoria had, but upon their arrival, she was sleeping so soundly, he couldn’t bear to wake her. He’d let her sleep just a little more.
The car stopped in front of the baroque-style building and the click of the door opening caused her to wake up. “Are we here?”
“We have an audience in ten minutes.”
She stretched. “Let me wash my face. I don’t want to meet Nicola, Maria, and Anna looking road weary.”
“Okay. I’m going to do a security sweep. Marvin will bring you to the secret passage when you’ve finished.” He indicated to the driver.
He didn’t wait for her response, but instead, scoped out the security, the exits, and looked around just to see who was watching. It was his business to know these things, and above all, this was something he could do. Something actionable.
Something he could control.
Armand found nothing unusual, and made a full route through and around the hotel before meeting back at the secret passage.
Marvin was to stay and guard the door and they were admitted to a lift, the inside of which boasted every luxury, gilded mirrors and velvet settees, bottles of Cristal and caviar. They availed themselves of none of the pleasures.
Instead, Armand was focused on one thing and one thing alone.
Armed wizard guards stood at the entrance to the lift when it opened and escorted them to even more opulent quarters. Large white and gold double doors opened into a sitting room where the Calavari Three received visitors.
Slave girls rubbed the witches’ feet, massaged their hands and manicured their nails. They made for a strange picture, one large, wide body with three heads, three breasts, two arms, and four legs. They were almost like a giant pampered spider.
An array of treats had been laid out before them, all manner of delicacies and the instant his mind could conceive of it, it appeared on the table.
“Do indulge with us. It’s so rarely we get such interesting and elusive company,” the middle head, Nicola said.
“Mmm. Elusive.” The right head nodded. “We tried and tried for your attention last time you were in Prague.”
The left head agreed. “But soundly rebuffed, we were.”
Armand slid into his court presence. He could play the diplomat as well as the hardass Alpha. Years of doing business for his father. “Ladies, my apologies. I wasn’t on my own time then. I was working for Antony Rommulus. You know how he likes things done.”
Nicola knew his manner were pretty and affected. “I see your magic has bloomed.”
“I’ve claimed my place as the Ardennes Alpha.”
“And,” Anna said, “You seek to break the Curse.”
“I do.”
“What will you give us to break it?” Maria asked.
“Can you break it?” Victoria interjected.
Nicola laughed. “No, but now you’ve spoiled our game.”
He could feel Victoria’s ire rising. “You’ll have to forgive my mate,” he began, letting the knowledge sink in.
Nicola rolled her eyes. “Now it’s really a rainy day. Our Armand went and found a mate. I do hope you’ve brought us something lovely for our time.”
He knew exactly what Victoria was thinking and it wasn’t nice.
“Oh, I did. Indeed. I brought you something that no one else has. Except maybe the Woolven Witch.”
All three heads perked with interest. “And what is that?” They asked in unison.
“First, I think we must come to accord, you and me.”
“What do you want?” The arms crossed.
“A story. The history of the Curse and possible ways to break it.”
Anna pouted. “Darling, if there was a way to break the curse, we’d have done it long ago for Luc. He was a good friend to us.”
“Perhaps the story then.”
“First, what have you brought us?” Maria asked.
“Venom of the Malfleur,” he answered, holding the vial aloft.
Nicola’s eyes sparkled with dark power. “We accept.”
He handed them the vial.
“Come to us, pretty.” Maria nodded to Victoria.
Victoria approached them slowly and allowed the Calavari to take her hand. “Victoria Ardennes,” they spoke. “We could take your darkness, if you wish.”
“What?” she stumbled backwards, away from them.
“We can’t break your curse. But your wolf, your dark shadow. We could take it from you. Your mate has given us a great gift that bears more repayment than a simple story. Think on it.”
Armand tried to process what they’d offer, to tear out her demon. But she wouldn’t be a wolf anymore. No matter how dark things were, how corrupted, he didn’t think he could bear to live without his beast.
“And now,” Nicola said, “Your story.”
They motioned for him to sit and he did, like a child at his grandmother’s knee listening to fairy stories of dark things. Victoria sat next to him, her hand in his an anchor. He could feel her confusion, her indecision.
“Once upon a time there was a witch who lived in the Ardennes forest. Her name was Melissande. The Ardennes Beta caught scent of her one day when he was running the woods and decided he must have her, by scent and scent alone. The Ardennes Beta was fair of heart and fair of face, so when he presented his offer, she accepted. Along with the coveted position of pack witch,” Nicola began.
Victoria tightened her grip on his hand. “This is the part where she loses everything.”
“Yes.” Maria nodded and continued the story. “Almost. They are married and mated. For a time, peace reigns in the Ardennes. The pack is sated and secure, the village thriving, and all is well. But a secret darkness brewed oily and toxic. Georges, the Alpha, decided he wanted the witch for his own. He needed her. But there had always been a darkness in Georges, a need for power that Florentin, his Beta and brother had never had. He was content to serve. Florentin wanted nothing more in the world than what was already his.”
Anna picked up the story. “Georges attempted to seduce Melissande with offers of gold, position, anything she desired. But all she desired was Florentin and the baby that was now growing beneath her heart. She begged Florentin to leave. But Beta or Alpha wolves don’t go rogue. They’re just not wired that way. Even when Melissande begged him.”
Nicola spoke again. “Florentin believed she was simply overwrought and had imagined that Georges intentions were anything more than familial. Isn’t that what we teach our packs? That the Alpha can do no wrong?”
“Not Armand,” Victoria added softly. “I argue with him constantly.”
“Then maybe there is a chance for you,” Nicola said. “Florentin was not of the same mind. So when Georges took Melissande for his own, Florentin did not stop him. Could not stop him. When his brother demanded his present his throat, Florentin did so. And Georges took his head with a pair of silver blades and did the same to the child she carried.”
Armand’s gut twisted with his disgust and bile rose in his throat.
“And so,” Maria spoke again. “With her dying breath, Melissande wrought the Curse on Georges and all of his descendants. When all hope is gone, that is when her vengeance shall be satisfied.”
Victoria snarled. “What gives her the right?” Her voice was deep, and it was her beast so close to the surface. “Just because she has
magic it’s within her purview to ruin a species? To cast a curse that could wipe out the human population? Fuck her. I did nothing to her. I hope she’s in pain. I hope she suffers with every Ardennes. Just yesterday, we took a good woman’s head because the darkness consumed her. A woman who did nothing but give of herself. A woman who had nothing to do with Melissande. I hate her so much, it burns.” Her bones began to crack, and break, in preparation for the Change.
“Don’t do that inside.” Nicola flicked her wrist and Victoria was bound by some kind of magic that kept her from Changing, even though her eyes flashed red and rage consumed her.
“That’s part of the Curse too, this hate for her. Because she hates herself for what’s she done. She does suffer. She’s trapped on this plane in suspended animation until the last Ardennes dies or the Curse is broken.”
“Victoria saw her and she said when all hope was gone. That I had to sacrifice what meant the most to me to save my pack.”
“Then is seems, our dearest Armand, that she’s given you all of the tools you need to break the Curse.” Nicola gave him a wan smile.
“I still don’t understand.”
“You will,” Maria said. “I’ve seen the portents. It will happen soon. Now, come. Give us sugar.”
Armand bent and dutifully kissed both cheeks of each witch. “And as to that other business. The tonic?”
“It’s already in your stores, dearest.” Nicola smiled a predator’s grin. “We should like to visit Malfleur. You know, barring the apocalypse your mate seems to think is imminent.”
“One always thinks their own demise means the rest of the world won’t go on,” Anna said.
He cocked his head to the side. “Oh, no. It really is as serious as she’s said. I’m infected.”
“You’re the Alpha that makes sense. The hunters are going to be melting down so much silver. What a shame.” Maria sighed.
He laughed then and dropped his glamour, showing the witches his scars, his silver eyes, and his silver razor sharp claws. “I’m immune to silver. If the darkness takes me, if I do lose all hope like Melissande wants, what I don’t devour will rise. Like me. Unstoppable. Unkillable. And really fucking hungry.”
He felt an odd sensation at the back of his head, like claws trying to reach inside his spine, but could get no further than his skin.
“I can’t pull out his darkness,” Nicola whispered.
“And that’s a problem.” Armand winked. “So, thank you for your time. Your words and your wisdom.”
Victoria sank to the ground slowly and her eyes returned to their natural blue. “I’m sorry. I seem to get so angry, I can’t help it.”
“Do you want us to take that from you?” Nicola asked. “We can.”
Victoria exhaled heavily and squared her shoulders. “No. Where my pack goes, I go.”
“As you like it.” The Calavari shrugged. “May the Goddess bless and keep you.”
“And you as well,” Victoria returned the sentiment.
As they exited, they both heard Nicola say, “Well, I don’t hate her. I thought I would.”
“No, no. They’ll have beautiful children.”
“Would it be wrong to wish one them to be an earthly incarnation of Cerberus? Three heads, you know.”
Armand shook his head. “I don’t feel like we’re any closer than we were before.”
“Oh, I don’t know. We know that you can break the Curse.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What?” Victoria did a double take. “What do you mean?”
“I’m with you and the pack, no matter what happens. I’ll keep trying, but I’m sorry for giving you false hope.”
“You do not get to do this now. That shit is unacceptable. Not after you made me want this. Not after you told me I could have it. Now you’re going to take it away from me? No, if we go down, it’ll be fighting.”
“Of course we’ll fight.”
“This is just the dark part of the story. This is where we have to believe.” She lifted her chin in defiance of the odds, the Curse, and anything that could come between them and the happy ever after he’d mistakenly promised her.
“You’re an amazing Beta, and a mate any wolf would be proud to claim.”
“And you are the Alpha, the likes of which they write stories about and sing them into the long night of eternity.”
“Come here, woman. Let’s enjoy whatever is left to us, for however long it’s ours.”
Chapter 8
They made love and slept and ate most of the way home. Even though it was only twelve hours, hours they could’ve spent in the lap of luxury at the Alchymist, somehow, being hidden in the back of the Escalade was better.
Victoria never thought she could feel this.
Never knew that she could imagine a future with someone. No matter how short it might be.
For the first time in a long time, things were good. Life wasn’t perfect, and there were some real shit things on their plate. But they had these moments.
Too bad they couldn’t last forever.
The witches said they’d seen something coming, but she’d known all along she was on a ticking clock.
When the Escalade suddenly swerved and slammed to an abrupt stop, the sounds of shattered glass and crunching metal echoed in her ears and Victoria knew the hands on that clock had just struck midnight.
The ball was over.
“Are you okay?” His voice seemed to be coming from far away.
Victoria knew she hit her head. Something warm ran into her eyes, and she brought her hand to her forehead and drew back her fingers to see blood.
Armand shifted instantly to his warrior form, but pulled back down to human. “Can you speak, Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Stay here.”
“Like hell.” She crawled out behind him through the gaping hole in the metal where he’d torn the door off to get them free. “I’m not just your mate. I’m your Beta. Where you go, so do I.”
“Nice to see you again, Victoria.” A rough voice scraped against her awareness.
She looked up to see Peter Breslin looking much too pleased with himself.
“I’ve come to offer you something.”
Why wasn’t he speaking to Armand? Where had Armand gone? He’d been there one minute, the next, he’d disappeared. She knew in her bones that her mate hadn’t left her to face him alone. He wouldn’t abandon her.
She trusted in him.
She believed.
She hoped.
“You got my father killed. What could you possibly offer me?”
“Freedom. Immortality.” He walked around the wreckage of the car, pausing to look at the driver, Marvin. He was dead. Silver arrow through the heart and head. “Immunity to silver.” He swiped at the blood and brought it to his lips, inhaling the scent of it as if it were some fine wine.
“Not unless you can break the Curse.”
“Your Curse is a beautiful thing. Masterful. Powerful. Can you imagine the great cleansing of this planet should it be unleashed? I’d rather think it’s civilization ending.” He slowly brought his fingers to his lips.
“If you do that, if you taste it, you’ll be infected.”
“I know.” He smiled, revealing teeth that were too big for his mouth.
“Don’t you want to be cognizant of the great destruction you’ve wrought? How will you know if you’ve achieved your goals?”
“I suppose I won’t. But neither will I be trapped in a body with a beast. This humanity will fade and all that’s left will be meat and hunger.”
“What about when you’re the one being eaten?”
“It won’t much matter by then.” He popped his finger in his mouth and suckled the blood. “I saw you went to see the Calavari. Did they tell you they could break your little Curse?”
“No.”
“You’re unmarked, aren’t you? Your mate won’t bite you. But I will.” His voice was all devil silk and promises.
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“I don’t want an immunity to silver. I want to die when it’s my time.”
“Even if your time is right now?”
She didn’t answer him, instead, she surrendered to her darkness.
* * *
Armand hadn’t left her.
He’d gone to assess the threat and found himself trapped, suspended in some in between place where he couldn’t affect the world around him.
He felt the presence of the witch without seeing her.
“What have you done to me?”
“Taking away your hope. So you can see.”
“I don’t need to lose hope to see. I’m sorry for your pain. For your wrongs. But this doesn’t make it right. Victoria doesn’t deserve to suffer for what Georges did.”
He saw enough already. He saw that Victoria had surrendered to her beast to fight Peter Breslin because Armand wasn’t there to protect her. He knew that Breslin would tire of playing with her, then he’d take her head.
No, that wasn’t what he’d do at all.
He’d bite her, and if she survived the bite, she’d be just like them. Immune to silver, and only a vessel for the darkness.
She’d begged him to destroy her before that happened. To let her feel the bite of her mate—Goddess, but he’d thought they’d have had a little more time.
“What do you want from me?” he asked the air around him.
When no response came, he spoke again. “You have to know I’d trade my life for hers. My magic. I’ll take her place. I’ll take your place. Anything. Just let go of this hate.”
“It’s not only my hate,” the witch finally answered. “It began as my rage, my fear, but it blossomed into so much more. I planted seeds of darkness and now is the reaping.”
He finally understood.
He had to find a way to love the beast that took away his Victoria. He had to find a way to forgive the witch—they all did. They had to accept the darkness as part of them, swallow down the poison and drink it with joy.
This was why hope wouldn’t serve him.
It wasn’t what the witch wanted, it was just how things were. A universal law.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
The Ardennes Curse (The Woolven Secret) Page 6