“Oh gosh,” I say a few minutes later. “Does this mean we can have all the sex now?” I ask, while collapsed against Shaun’s chest.
“That’s a negative, Princess,” he says.
I can barely control my desire to pout, “But ... what did you have in my ass then?”
“That was a toy. We just needed to make sure you’re fully prepared for this weekend.”
“Why haven’t we been using toys for the front of me, too?”
“We know you can take our cocks. We don’t need to check that,” Marcus retorts with a chuckle.
“Hey, guys. We need to go over the other reason we called her in here?” Justin, ever the adult, tells us, breaking the post-orgasm bubble.
“Okay, Giles. What else did you call us in here for besides my spanking?” I say with a sigh.
He opens his mouth to speak, but I interrupt him.
“By the way, if all of my spankings are gonna be like that, I plan on misbehaving way more. So, you guys suck at deterrents,” I say while I wiggle my butt for emphasis.
Shaun growls and smacks my ass. “Oh, yes. Please do it again,” I tease.
“You’re right, she is hopeless, Justin.”
“I’m not hopeless. I’m an alpha, and you don’t run me,” I add with mock indignation.
“Guys, this is serious, and we’re getting off subject.”
“What is it, Justin?” His voice is shrill and a bit frantic, so I stop messing around.
“Abby, I found out why the Elders destroyed all the books on Aether magic.”
I sit up and stare at him. “Why?” I breathe out.
“They didn’t want anyone to know what this elemental power can actually do, but I found it, in your families’ older grimoires. I think most of what we know about the Elders is a total lie.”
“Wait, if this is gonna be a serious conversation, I need clothes. Marcus and Shaun keep staring at my boobs, and the twins need to be here. Where are they anyway?”
“They went out on a run, but they should be back soon.”
“We’re here now, and we missed out on some fun, which means we’re sleeping in your bed tonight, sexy!” Kaden calls as he struts into the room.
“Okay, Justin, where’s the fire? What’s going on? I’m hungry and extremely pissed I missed out on sexy fun times.”
“I’ll feed you once the professor lets us know what the big issue is,” Marcus answers.
“We’ve all been lied to,” Justin just drops that knocked bomb, and it lands in the air as we all try to process it.
Well, that’s one way to say it I guess.
“Everything our alphas have told us about the Elders is wrong, and Abby is in danger.”
The room erupts in a cacophony of voices, but softly I ask, “What does that mean?”
“Our power is tied to the Elders, but their powers are also tied to us. The ceremonies we perform keep them going, and we aren’t the only ones that are dying out. They are, too.”
“So, what does this have to do with me being in danger?”
“You have Aether magic. With it, you can become a vessel. The void side of your magic can allow you to take on the excess magic from the ceremony and store it.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because there’s a revolution brewing. Packs are turning against the Elders.”
“And you want us to join this revolution, Justin?”
“Don’t you? Do you really want to stay under the thumb of the people responsible for our race dying out?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask him, wondering why he’s so confident about all of this.
“Alright … so, I read those files you stole from Nathaniel’s office, and then after the twins came back from their mission I got curious, so I hacked into our alpha’s files.”
“They know. The alphas all know why we’re not having children. The Elders are taking too much; they’re stealing more and more of our power with each cycle, and the more they take, the harder it is for us to have children! The fault is theirs,” Justin seethes, his face turning red as the information spills from his lips.
“How will my taking the power of the Blood Moon ceremony help?”
“I haven’t worked out the logistics exactly, but I think we can find a way to bypass the Elders completely, and take the advancement of our race into our own hands.”
“And start a war with the most ancient beings on the planet while we’re at it? That sounds really fucking stupid, Justin,” Shaun says.
They lock eyes, and I wonder if they’re going to go at it. I growl a warning low in my throat, and their attention snaps back to me.
“Is it stupid? Or is it stupid to keep blindly following tradition and giving the Elders all of this magic? And for what?” His eyes flick from ice to cobalt, and he speaks with a passion usually reserved for discussions about the latest first-edition he’s discovered.
“What do you mean?” I ask and look at Justin pointedly.
“We can’t give the Elders all this power. I’m sorry, but it just can’t happen.”
“Why the fuck not? That’s literally the entire point of the whole ceremony,” Kaden bites out.
“I just … I feel like it’s the wrong idea, so I think we should let Abby take all of it on herself instead.”
“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I glare at him.
“I’m sorry, but you have to trust me. I’ve been doing some reading, and this is the best option.”
“Stealing the power that we’re meant to give to the Elders seems like a good idea to you?”
“I know it’s scary and insane, but I know what I’m doing.”
“You fucking better,” Marcus growls.
“I’m really uncomfortable about this,” I say, and stare at him expectantly.
“We don’t have long until the ceremony this weekend, and we’ll need some very specific items to perform it.” The fact that he isn’t giving me more details does nothing to ease the knot in my stomach.
Trust him.
“Okay, get what you need for the ceremony, and give me those books. I want to read up on what’s going to happen,” I say with trepidation.
“Most of it is written in some pretty archaic language, but the gist of it I can tell you. If we let you become the vessel for the power of this ceremony, you can give it to the alphas, without the Elders’ influence. The alphas need the power the most, and with it, you can restore our ability to have children.”
“Um, maybe not all the alphas? We should have some sort of screening process before we start handing out power-ups to douchebags,” Kaleb interjects.
“That’s a good point,” I shake my head nodding in agreement.
“Well, yes. I think we can all agree on that, but we can worry about the logistics later. Look at this.”
Justin grabs an ancient book and brings it to me. I scan the words under his finger, and I can see what he’s talking about. The passage explains that Aethers can be a vessel for power and give that power to others as needed.
I grab the books and head to my room, my mind in hyperdrive. There is so much to consider. I know Justin doesn’t do things without considering the repercussions, but this feels like a heavyweight decision. When I make it to my room, I shower. My ass is feeling a tad sore from use, but it gives me a little rush to remember how it got that way. After my shower, I dress and spread out on my bed.
I’m so fucked.
I can barely understand half of what these texts say, so how in the hell am I supposed to become an expert on the subject?
Abby
I’m sitting on the marble countertop in the kitchen watching Marcus stir something in a stainless steel pot. I don’t ask what it is and instead, choose to just enjoy the scent wafting over to me as I drink a cold glass of white sangria. This has become my favorite place to be, whether he wants me here or not.
Marcus has finally allowed me to stay in here most of the time without issues, though he does most of th
e cooking, relegating me to sous chef duties. He holds a spoon to my lips, and I blow on it then take a tentative sip. The flavors tantalize my tongue, and I do a little happy dance on the counter.
“God, Marcus. That’s amazing!”
When he replaces the spoon with his lips, I grumble appreciatively and return the kiss with relish, sliding my tongue along his and pulling a groan from deep in this throat. Things get hot and heavy as he places a trail of kisses to my breasts. He sucks one bud into his mouth over my shirt leaving a wet spot. The fabrics rough texture adds an extra layer of sensation to my already sensitive nipples. The sound of water boiling over and hitting the stove with a hiss breaks into our make out session.
“Shit!” he bites and runs over to the stove to stop the pot that’s splattering all over the stove.
I watch Marcus add a bit of pasta to what I now know is Alfredo sauce and then drain the rest of the pasta in the colander over the sink. I open my mouth to say something when Kaden pops into the kitchen.
“Goddess damn, Marcus. What are you making? It smells divine.”
I watch with amusement when Kaden winks at him, “Between that red hair and your skills in the kitchen, you are a catch. It’s a good thing Abby had the good sense to snatch you up. I know you’d be my first choice.”
“Kaden, stop making Marcus blush, you flirt,” Kaleb jabs as he walks into the kitchen and nestles himself between my legs before giving me a leisurely kiss.
“Now, what’s this I’m overhearing? Marcus is the one you’d choose if you’re going to be with one of the guys?” Kaleb gives Marcus a slow once over, his eyes gliding up and down his form with a heated gaze. “I can see where you’re coming from, but I think I’d choose Justin. He’s got some demons I could exorcize.”
“Wait! Are you guys bisexual?” I ask.
They shrug identically. “No, not exactly,” Kaden answers. “We’re just free spirits.”
“If anything we’re pansexual,” Kaleb adds. “Love is love, and when you’re twins, you get a lot of offers thrown at you. Some were pretty fun, and some we’d never do again.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, as I think about how I feel about some of my guys getting it on with each other. My mind and wolf entertain me with some very sexy scenes that have me hoping something more happens.
“Don’t worry. We’re not gonna hit on anyone … much. But it’s fun to see them blush. He’d never do anything without your permission anyway.”
“You guys are horrible flirts; you know that?”
“Guilty as charged,” Kaden admits with a laugh. “Maybe you can punish me for it later,” he says, and an image is put in my mind of me with a paddle.
Fuck, it’s fun to be the alpha!
Chapter Twenty-Six
David
“Elder David, the High Priestess requests your presence in the Temple room,” an acolyte emerges from nowhere.
I barely restrain the desire to roll my eyes. As usual, she can’t be without me for long. I enter the room, and glance at the seat to the right of her, but decide against it. I can usually tell her mood, but her erratic temperament lately makes it harder to do. I choose to remain standing in front of her and await her latest command. The council was never supposed to be a dictatorship, and when I was first selected, it wasn’t. Now, I can barely remember what those times were like.
“I am not happy with the updates we’ve been getting from Sacha. She’s been getting harder to stay in contact with. I want you to go to the Dama de Noches and personally ensure that this ceremony goes as Megan promised.” The High Priestess says, her eyes flashing.
“Maeve, I don’t think that’s a great idea. You know how Megan feels about me, and Abigail doesn’t even know that I exist.”
“Do you have a point?”
“I just mean, wouldn’t it be wiser to send a different Elder to oversee this situation?”
“No, I don’t think so. I think you’re a perfect choice.”
“But…”
“David, you should be thanking me. For years you’ve been begging to meet your daughter, so use the opportunity to get to know your child. Maybe her mother’s ridiculous decision to lie to her daughter and tell her that you were dead will work in your favor.”
“She lied to Abigail because she was directed to do so. Don’t you remember?”
She stares at me unblinkingly.
“You told her that she couldn’t breathe a word of what happened to anyone,” I remind her. I have to remind her about a lot of things.
The memory lapse side effects of the tonic are clearly affecting her. She doesn’t remember barring Megan from telling anyone how Abigail was really conceived. She doesn’t remember forcing me to separate from my mate.
“Watch your tone, David, and remember who you’re speaking to. I’m still the High Priestess!” she snaps. I take an involuntary step back at her words, not wanting her to lash out at me.
“Yes, of course, High Priestess. I am so grateful for the chance to meet my daughter,” I say with false gratitude. “It just feels like showing up days before the ceremony and revealing myself is a bad decision.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing it’s not your decision,” she spits out, and her eyes flash onyx for a brief second before returning to their amethyst hue. “You will go, and you will make sure no one tries anything. I will have your daughter’s power as promised, or I will take her life.”
My face shows no emotion. Inside, while I am elated that I can finally meet my daughter, I am enraged that she so casually mentioned taking her life. In a way, I should be thankful. Not knowing my daughter should have made the fact that she may die in a few days easier to bear. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. I want to know her desperately.
I may not know my daughter, but I will not let anyone kill her. I just hope I can convince Megan of that. She hates me, just as I want her to, but it doesn’t make the pain of not having her in my life any less. If she only knew what life is like living under Maeve’s thumb.
I shake my head, knowing this is not the time to feel sorry for myself.
“Oh, and, David?” she calls out, tapping a black nail against matching black lips, “If anything does go wrong, I want you to kill Megan and Abigail. I bind you by the Council of Thirteen to perform this task.”
I can do nothing as the amethyst and onyx of her magic wraps around me. The words she speaks will tighten around me like a boa constrictor until I agree. I have two choices, die or make an unbreakable pact to kill my daughter and my mate if they betray the Elders. I don’t know if I can even fight her anymore. I’ve been hiding my true amount of power, but I wonder if I have the strength to even do it. Maeve has been getting stronger when she should be fading. I can only guess she’s found a way to supplement her power.
I hang my head in shame and agree begrudgingly. “If Abby or Megan betray the Elders, I will kill them.”
The threads of power lessen, and I can breathe again. I keep my breaths shallow so she can’t see how close I was to choosing death over her edict.
“You’re dismissed, David, but I expect you to make sure this power transfer is successful.”
I bow and leave the room, then head to my own bedroom to pack. I honestly don’t need much, but I haven’t been allowed to leave the Overrealm in so long. I will not squander this opportunity. I may have been forced into a pact I don’t want, but she never said I had to return to the Temple.
A small smile breaks across my face, she’s slipping, and I have a loophole I can work with now.
I need to go back to the library and do some more research.
I hurry towards the library. I know I won’t have long because she doesn’t truly trust me. Which means I never have a lot of time to myself. When I’m not catering to her every whim, I’m by her side praising her, advising her, and despising her.
I’m in my room pouring over the latest ancient text I’ve pilfered from the temple library. Something is seriously fucked up with Maeve, and I plan to figure out
exactly what that is.
Days ago, I watched her taking some sort of potion during one of our walks around the temple. The liquid glowed and was completely unfamiliar to me. She was always taking one thing or another for the practically debilitating migraines she has. Ones that had been getting worse over the years. The thing is, I have a photographic memory, so I have a working knowledge of just about every potion in the book. As we walked, my senses tingled as I scrolled through my mind trying to remember something I’d read before that talked about a potion quite similar to that. My focus is split between responding at the appropriate time, while I access the files of eidetic memory.
Moments later I found the right information. I would need to visit the temple library for a book from the restricted section.
Years ago I read a book titled “Blood Magic and Dark Potions.” Most of the spells in the book are strongly advised against. It’s not that as Elders we lack the skills to perform them, but that most of the spells in the book have no good purpose. We try to stay on the white side of magic, but there’s no law against dark magic. Blood magic, however, is where things get iffy. Basically, the spells are there for knowledge and not use. Skimming the page, I locate the description of a potion that sounds like it’s correct. The High Priestess was drinking Dawn’s Tonic. The luminescent liquid granted its name because it mimics the exact shades of that magic moment as the sun begins to peak over the hills. The potion is mesmerizing in its beauty and very dangerous. It is known for its ability to increase one’s power but is also known to cause memory lapses, mood shifts, and violent outbursts. Maeve did not need help with violence. Her ability to be cruel has always been in direct opposition with her title as the protector and mother of our race.
I know what the potion is, but I don’t know why she’s taking it.
Blood Moon Magic Page 30