Hour of the Wolf

by Bell, Dana Marie

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Noah’s uppercut put the last of the human guards on his ass, knocking him out cold. He turned to Gideon as he shook out his hand. The human had a harder head than he’d thought, and now his knuckles ached. “It’s done.”

  Clearing out PB’s old hidden base in Baltimore had been harder than he’d thought. After Greer’s raid it should have been emptied, but surprisingly the Van Helsings had held on to the place. That had turned out to be a positive thing for the Maggie’s Grove crew. Using PB’s old base meant that the place was saturated with his energies. Gideon had assured him that not only would PB feel them preparing the spell there, his energies would make their spell easier to cast on the demon.

  “Good.” Gideon finished preparing the largest fucking circle Noah had ever seen, and recently he’d seen quite a few thanks to Obiagos. The thing covered most of the floor, the only spaces open occupied by either spell casters or their defenders. “We’re done here too. Once he’s in the circle, all we have to do is activate it and ensure he remains inside while we cast the spell.”

  “Will it affect me if I step inside to obliterate him?” Vasile asked in his deep, accented voice. There was a slight hiss to it, a hint of his dragon peeking through his otherwise calm facade.

  “Nope,” replied a young witch with blond hair and hazel eyes. Noah couldn’t remember her name, but her scent was familiar. One of Paisley’s cousins, maybe? “The spell is designed to go after demons, not us.”

  “Hope it’s that easy,” Noah muttered. He sighed deeply. Leaving Iva behind to battle on her own field had him ready to tear open the door between this world and the next and join her. That wasn’t possible without Selena there. No matter how strong, how fast he might be, there were things he couldn’t do and that was one of them.

  It was frustrating the hell out of him, but he had to trust that Iva could handle herself or he’d go mad. He should have sent some of his wolves with her, but by the time he thought of it, it was too late. They’d already split up, and turning around to order some of his wolves into a ceremony Selena was already preparing for couldn’t happen. There was too much distance between them. They’d never get there in time.

  “She’s going to be fine.” Mollie put her hand on Noah’s arm and winked at him. “Greer’s with her.”

  “That actually makes me worry more,” Noah replied. Greer might be deadly, but he had to be serious in order to take out his enemies. If he decided to play he’d be a hindrance rather than a help. And Parker might be willing to put his life on the line for Amara and Brian, but would he worry about Iva?

  “Pfft. I’ll kick his ass if anyone gets hurt.” She flexed her fingers, and for a moment Noah was actually afraid of her. Memories of burning in a basement almost overwhelmed him before he remembered that Mollie was the one who’d saved his ass. “He’s more afraid of me than any demon.”

  “I believe you.” He wouldn’t take a step back. He. Would. Not. He was a fucking alpha prime, damn it. No tiny little redheaded fire elemental would force him back, no matter how scary her expression.

  The burns on his chest and face itched, reminding him of how terrifying facing fire elementals could be.

  “Noah, c’mere.” Gideon called him over, pointing to a particular spot.

  Noah moved quickly, ignoring Mollie’s snickering. He wasn’t running away. He was obeying the team lead. That was completely different.

  “You’ll stand here and represent the wolves.” Gideon pointed to the dybbuk box not that far away. “You and the others will also be our primary defense in case the demon breaks free.”

  “Understood.” Noah took his place, standing right where Gideon indicated. “How long until he shows up?” He watched as other witches directed Mollie, Rock, Mina, Dragos, Lore, Vasile, and Trajan to their respective spots. He found himself right across from Mollie, who kept grinning at him. He’d swear there was literal fire in her eye. He glanced over at Gideon. “Can you move her?”

  Gideon laughed at him, the rat bastard. “Nope. She’s our defense against his fire, remember?”

  “Shit.” Noah slouched, putting his hands in his pockets. “Get him in here, then, before I go full-on furry on her.”

  Gideon’s eyes went wide before he choked on a laugh. “Okay, since I’m pretty sure that wasn’t a reference to furry culture I’ll get things started.”

  Furry culture? What the hell was Gideon talking about?

  Before Noah could question him further, a loud, floor-rattling boom sounded through the room. The blast nearly took him off his feet, but he held fast, digging his feet into the ground the way Rock had shown them. Gideon had been afraid that Peter Bradley might make his appearance either dramatic or quiet, so they’d prepared for both.

  Thank goodness they’d just finished their preparations. Bradley wasn’t going to allow them to get much further. A few minutes earlier and they would have been caught with their magical pants down.

  “I see I’m expected.” A tall, blond man with damn near perfect features stepped in the doorway, appearing both sleek and powerful. He exuded a dark power that drew all eyes to him. He was made to command people, and it showed in the arrogant way he moved. Even Gideon seemed a bit in awe as Peter Bradley stepped into their circle. “Ah, a dybbuk box.” He kicked at it with his toe, as if it were a meaningless trinket cast aside on the floor. “This was your grand plan, coven master?” Familiar blood-red eyes turned to Mollie, the same eyes as the shadow-man, the creature that had haunted Selena and almost killed Mina and Greer. Noah gritted his teeth as Bradley nodded a greeting to Mollie. “Little fire elemental.” The coldest smile he’d ever seen flashed across Bradley’s face. “I’ve been hoping to taste you again.”

  Mollie glared at him but didn’t respond.

  “Your plot failed, coven master.” Bradley straightened his tie. “Your friends are dead in the in-between spaces. They’ll find neither heaven nor hell nor home ever again.”

  Gideon’s brows rose. “You think so?”

  “Of course. I was there, after all.” Bradley’s gaze flashed to Noah. “Iva was so sweet as she begged for her life.”

  Noah grinned, because Yew was still whispering, still giving him strength. “If she were dead I’d feel it, so piss off.”

  “Would you?” Bradley scrutinized him with a sneer. “She hasn’t claimed you yet, has she?”

  Noah shook his head, amused at the demon’s attempt to unnerve him. His faith in Iva would not be shaken by something like Peter Bradley. Besides, Yew was whispering to him of Iva’s triumph in the spirit realm. “Poor thing. Nobody loves you, so you have no idea what it’s like, do you?”

  Bradley made a move, but found his feet stuck to the floor as the witches began their sonorous chant. “You’re really going to try this, aren’t you?” He huffed, flipping his fingers up as they lit on fire. “You’re fools.”

  Fire raced from Bradley’s fingertips toward Noah. Noah dodged, careful not to hit the witch behind him. That would break the circle, allowing Bradley an escape route.

  For better or worse Noah and the others were trapped in the circle with the demon.

  The fire whipped to the edge of the circle and stopped as if it hit a wall, spreading but not burning through. The circle glowed brighter. It was like watching iron heating in a forge, the magic absorbing the fire but not redirecting it.

  The witches were beginning to sweat, their voices rising and falling in an eerie chant Noah had no time to follow. He had to focus on the man currently trying to kill him. He partially shifted, giving himself elongated fangs and claws. He wanted to continue communicating with, and distracting, PB for as long as possible. “I’m going to rip out your heart.”

  Bradley laughed. “You can try.” He dodged Rock’s fist. While Noah had been posturing, the earth elemental had been sneaking up on Bradley. Unfortunately, the demon seemed to be aware of whe
re all of them were. “Ass. Don’t bother trying to sneak up on me. I’m far too powerful for that.”

  Noah scoffed. “I doubt that. You’re not exactly an archduke of hell, are you?”

  Bradley’s expression became dark for only a split second, but Noah caught it. He’d hit a sore spot for the demon. “You think you’ve got me, but you’re wrong.” He shivered as darkness flowed from him, obscuring the circle. “You’re nothing but a dog.”

  There was a distinct scent to the darkness streaming from Bradley. It covered his ankles but went no higher, making Noah wonder exactly what it was supposed to do.

  Mina cried out as the darkness touched her, hopping away from it as if it had bitten her.

  Mollie threw her fire at it, burning it away before it could touch her. “It’s acidic!”

  Shit. Noah thought about the drawn diagrams. Could it be burning the runes away? Worse, could Mollie’s fire be doing the same?

  Bradley lunged, not at Noah, but at Mina, who was still reacting to the acidic mist. Before she could raise her sword Dragos was there, blocking Bradley’s blow against the queen. His blood red scales kept the hit from drawing blood. Dragos’s eyes had become draconic, red and glowing with his vampiric hunger. “I don’t think sssso.”

  Oh, Dragos was pissed. He rarely let his draconic side free. Undoubtedly, he’d let loose the moment the acid touched his mate, causing her pain.

  Noah could understand. Not only did he want Bradley dead, he wanted him to hurt for what he and his people had done to Iva.

  Bradley moved again, not even acknowledging Dragos as the demon attempted to take a chunk out of Rock. Rock merely laughed, surprising Noah. A stone fist hit Bradley in the head, making him stumble back.

  “You’re never going to get past me, so don’t even try.” Rock glanced back at Noah. “Use your abilities, alpha. Take him down.”

  Noah grunted. The acid was a concern. He’d return to Iva with even more burn marks on him, but if it was the only way to keep Bradley from escaping or, worse, killing one of his friends then he’d wear those burn scars with pride.

  Vasile stepped toward Bradley, blowing fire at him. Trajan flanked him, also blowing fire, but not at the demon possessed Van Helsing. No, he aimed his fire at the ground around him, clearing a space for Vasile and Noah to fight.

  Noah took Trajan up on his invitation to the dance. Leaping across the dark fog into the open space, he clawed at Bradley’s stomach. Prepared for a gush of dark blood, the fact that Bradley dodged irritated him. “Hold still so I can kill you.”

  “Tch, before the ssspell’sss done?” Trajan blew more fire, keeping Bradley’s cloud at bay. “I think not.”

  “Good point.” Gideon had told them that he would signal them once the spell was complete. Noah wasn’t certain how, but he’d keep eyes, ears and nose open.

  Bradley swirled acid around him, forcing Noah to take a step back. Trajan and Vasile, seemingly unaffected, both took swings at the demon-infested man. Vasile’s claws connected, blood spraying in an arc across the symbols.

  “Watch it!” Mollie held out her hands, flames devouring the droplets of black blood that had begun to move across the floor.

  “Thanks.” Noah saluted her before stepping toward Bradley once more. Without allowing himself to hesitate Noah began slashing at him, joining Trajan and Vasile in their vicious attacks. Mollie kept the blood they shed from getting anywhere near them, her control over her powers astonishing. Flickers of fire met droplets of blood with the precision of a master marksman, obliterating the dark liquid before it could land.

  An arrow landed in Bradley’s back, forcing him to stumble forward onto Vasile’s claws. Mina had recovered from the attack on her and begun to take her revenge.

  Soft, rustling whispers invaded his thoughts, a language so ancient, so familiar it made his wolf howl in glee. Iva’s yew spoke to him, warned him of what was to come and what Noah must do to end this. He would suffer, but the ends justified what he would be forced to do. The voice whispered its secret to him, of Noah’s partial immunity thanks to his connection to Iva. The vaccine he’d taken would also help, keeping Noah far safer than any of his friends and colleagues would be if they attempted the same thing.

  When the signal came, Noah would be ready.

  Bradley roared, disturbing Noah’s concentration on Yew’s instructions. A wave of energy threw them all back, including Rock, who’d planted his feet into the wood of the floor. A thudding sound echoed through the air as more than one body hit the ground. Noah grunted at the impact. Whatever that had been had been strong, almost flinging Noah into the wall encircling the spell area.

  Noah knelt, one foot on the floor, ready to spring into battle. The collision had shaken him but not enough to stop him from flinging himself once more at Bradley.

  Once close to him, Noah noticed that Bradley seemed completely healed from the damage that had been inflicted upon him. The release of energy and the escape from Vasile, Trajan, and Noah had allowed the demon a split-second to deal with the slashes and cuts left behind by their blows.

  Rock called to Mollie and, for a brief moment, the fear in the earth elemental’s voice almost took his attention from Bradley. He couldn’t afford the distraction. He’d have to let others worry about whatever was wrong with Mollie.

  Bradley was smiling again.

  Another thrum of energy pushed Noah back. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Vasile knocked off his feet once more. The dybbuk box was nowhere to be seen, possibly blown out of the circle. If so, they were fucked on almost every level.

  If not, he’d need to find it once more.

  “Noah.” Lore’s shout caught his attention. “I’m on that. You take care of Bradley.”

  Noah responded with a nod. Lore would find it, using his telekinesis to have it in place when the time was right. How he realized Noah was worried about it when he wasn’t a telepath was something Noah would worry about later. Right now, there were more important things to focus on.

  Bradley’s eyes were bloodshot-red, the whites obliterated by the color, the irises darkened. He’d grown tall and thin, his chin ending in a point, his cheekbones high and hollow. His skin took on a grayish hue, his lips dark and wet. His blond hair grew dark and long, hanging in dank strands across his shoulders. The beast had taken over the man completely, revealing dark-stained teeth in a wide grin. Noah wanted to wipe it off his face. “Not many can force me to the surface like this. You’re to be commended, alpha.”

  Hmph. The man thought Noah was in charge, when the real leader was still chanting, taking his people to the edge of exhaustion.

  Soon, Yew whispered in his thoughts. Soon.

  Lore let out a startled gasp but Noah ignored it. Instead he returned Bradley’s smile, his own sharp and toothy. “You have no power over me, demon.”

  Bradley’s gaze sharpened. “You think your dead mate can protect you?”

  Yew’s whispered reassurances kept him from attempting to tear out Bradley’s throat. Iva was fine. Tired, but looking forward to seeing him. Everything had gone well on her end. They’d killed Bradley’s shadow, just as intended, weakening the demon until he could grow it back.

  Energy flared from Bradley and bodies flew again. Noah found himself once more on his back, his ears ringing and his vision dimmed. He’d hit his head pretty damn hard. Bradley was doing an excellent job of keeping them off his ass. If this kept up they wouldn’t be able to rip the demon away and lock it in the box.

  Rip it away.

  Could it be something so simple?

  Only one way to find out. Noah stood, throwing himself at Bradley. He wrapped his arms around the demon, squeezing him tightly. “Rock!”

  Rock stumbled forward, holding his head.

  “Take hold of this bastard!” Noah struggled to hold on, but Bradley was strong, tougher than he’d thought.

&
nbsp; Rock did as asked, his arms encircling Bradley. Noah jumped back as Rock’s body hardened to diamond. Rock grinned, the grinding sound of stone on stone unnerving. “Get out of this, asshole.”

  Bradley struggled, using his power to throw everyone but Rock off him. Rock’s stance remained strong, his arms enfolding the struggling demon. In fact, diamond began to grow up the man’s legs, first covering his feet as the pale, crystalline structure began to envelope him.

  Bradley began to hum, the sound vibrating up Noah’s spine. He saw Rock scowl and begin to quickly shift forms. Shit, the demon must have realized the best way to set himself free was to crack the crystalline structure and then break it along the crack. Rock was doing his best to respond, changing his form to oppose the strident hum.

  Trajan, Dragos and Vasile were now trapped by the acidic miasma Noah had ignored. Their fire kept them free but it grew and grew, not allowing them to take a step forward. Mollie, too, was trapped, using her fire to defend Lore just as Dragos defended Mina. None of them were in their original positions, but since there’d been no protest from Gideon he had to assume their movements were fine.

  A cry of pain sounded behind him. Whirling at the noise, he was startled to find that some of the miasma had broken through the protective circle to touch one of the witches conducting the spell. The witch fell over, writhing and howling in agony as the acid dissolved him alive.

  Bradley’s triumphant roar returned Noah’s attention back to him. Bradley was almost free. Rock’s arms had cracks in them. The expression of pain on Rock’s face had Noah moving swiftly to relieve the elemental. “Let him go, Rock.”

  Rock sighed and did as told, his body reverting to skin. He was bleeding profusely from wounds all up and down his arms, shoulders and back where the acid had eaten away skin. He’d be lucky to come out of this unscarred.

  Bradley used that fucking push power of his to once more knock everyone over, but this time he included a circle of flame around him. The fire burned so hot it was blue. “This, alpha, is the hour of my triumph. Your spell is broken, your elementals are down and the witches will fall before me. Your people will feed my hunger.” The demon licked its blackened lips. “I’m sure you’ll be especially tasty steeped in despair.”