“We don’t have any plans for the Were-wolf yet, but keeping a pregnant woman locked up?” Sami shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with the idea and Tierney patted his arm. They all understood he’d be extra sympathetic, with having a pregnant wife and ex-lover.
“You can’t let her go,” Soroyan said.
“We’re aware,” Jax said and the disgust was clear in his voice.
Finally Raven spoke up. “I saw her last night,” she admitted.
“What did she say?” Tierney asked, gaze sharp on her aunt.
Raven sighed. “That only Zander can break his spell,” she said, sounding furious.
“Fantastic!” Tierney said sarcastically. Then she sighed. “Maybe he and Chloe?” she asked, glancing around hopefully.
Raven took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m not sure. I think they like each other, but your dad already found and lost his soul mate.”
“Yeah,” Tierney said, sounding sad. Then her gaze sharpened on her aunt. “I never understood why they never bonded.”
Raven sighed, feeling her own guilt surface. “Your mom refused in case one of them died, she wanted one of them to live in order to care for you and your brother.”
Tierney’s face fell at the mention of her lost brother.
Soroyan frowned. “Did you ever try to find him again with those?” he asked, nodding at the soul stone choker around her neck.
“I did, and whatever I picked up before is gone.” Tierney fingered the amethyst rocks around her neck before looking back at him wistfully. “But I haven’t given up, I try to connect to Cristoz every day.”
Soroyan nodded, trying not to think of what it meant to bond with someone and then have them die.
“Well, we know Amelis is too dangerous to just let go, and she’d disappear with Dad’s baby, if it’s Dad’s,” Tierney said.
“And she can’t be let loose here, so I guess just try to make sure she is comfortable is all we can do,” Jax said, glancing around. There were some heavy sighs, but everyone agreed.
Soroyan got up and without looking at anyone, went to his room where he stood under the shower and let the cold water run over him until he started to shake. Still, he stayed under a little longer.
When he stepped out of the bathroom and into his bedroom, he found his brother waiting for him.
“Kyrian, is everything all right?” he asked and then glanced at his brother when he received no reply.
Soroyan grabbed his clothes and began to dress as Kyrian stood and walked around the room, like he was getting ready to give Soroyan some bad news.
“No, everything is not all right,” he finally said, his gaze coming to rest on Soroyan.
“I’m heading back to where they tried to capture me, see if I can find their stronghold,” he said, feeling his brother’s doubt that they would find his son.
“We are running out of time,” Kyrian said heavily, meaning the Raizarch wolves were running out of time.
Soroyan took a deep breath, “I will find Toren.”
Kyrian took a deep breath and met his gaze. Soroyan tried not to flinch at the haunted expression in his brother’s eyes.
“I know you do not want the kingship, but—”
Soroyan cut him off angrily. “No. I have never wanted it and I still refuse.”
“You may have no choice,” Kyrian said, looking at him with pleading eyes. Soroyan turned away for a moment and then turned back to his brother. “It doesn’t matter anyway—” he began.
This time Kyrian cut him off. “I am going after Lucian. I have to. If we don’t find Toren in time, we may need other options, and this is all that we have left,” Kyrian said.
Soroyan felt like he’d been gut punched. “Where will you look? You don’t know where he is any more than we know where Toren is.”
Kyrian shook his head. “I am sorry, brother, I have always known where Luce is.”
Soroyan gaped at his brother, stunned. He hated the pity he saw in Kyrian’s eyes. Then his brother walked over to the door and turned back. “I really hope with all my heart that you find my son. Either way, I will be back tomorrow.”
Soroyan took a deep breath in, let it slowly out and sat down heavily on the bed. After all this time, Kyrian had known and never told him. Though really, he had no one to blame other than himself.
Brain almost numb, he contemplated what his brother had said along with his whole life until a knock at his door roused him. Soroyan caught the scent of Mark on the other side. He stood up and grabbing his jacket, opened the door.
“I got something out of our prisoner,” Mark said.
“What is it?” he asked and Mark waved a piece of paper with a phone number. “That idiot doesn’t know where they took Toren and my three pack mates, but he gave up Eric’s number.”
Soroyan raised an eyebrow and Mark nodded. “Eric was the driver, he knows where they were dropped off.”
Soroyan snatched the paper from Mark’s hand and hurried down the hallway to the great room where he found Jax. “I need to use your phone,” he said and Mark told Jax what he’d learned.
Jax slid his phone from his pocket, but as he was about to hand it to Soroyan, he pulled it away. “Wait, you can’t just call the guy and expect to get the information you need,” he said and while Soroyan growled, he knew his friend spoke the truth.
With a frustrated sigh, he ran a hand through his hair.
“No, though I think I have an idea of how to get the idiot downstairs to make the call,” Mark said.
“How?” Soroyan asked, feeling like he was so close, yet so far away.
Mark looked at Jax. “I’ve seen you use your compulsion.”
Understanding dawned and Jax pursed his lips. Soroyan could feel his reluctance. “I don’t know, that recently backfired,” he began, but Sami, who’d joined them, shook his head.
“That’s not entirely true. Chloe’s husband started doing what he did long before you interfered.”
Jax glared at his brother for a moment.
“Tierney told me of your little visit,” Sami added, talking about when they had gone to speak with Chloe’s husband who was awaiting trial for killing a bunch of young blonde women.
“I need this information,” Soroyan said and after a moment, Jax nodded.
With Jax’s help, they got their Were-wolf prisoner to call his buddy and ask where he’d taken Toren and the other three Were-wolves. Mark snarled and had to turn away at the thought of how he and his pack mates had been betrayed by their alpha.
“He was told to wait there for someone to come collect Toren and the other three,” their prisoner said when he’d hung up.
“That is close to where they tried to capture you,” Jax said, looking at Soroyan.
“I will go check the place out,” Soroyan said, noticing that Amelis was absently rubbing the pendant that hung around her neck. He held up a hand as Jax and Mark both started to object. “I will just check the place out,” he said.
“Fine,” Jax agreed.
As they started out of the room, Soroyan paused outside of Amelis’s cell. She was still rubbing the pendant, but now she was mumbling under her breath as well. “What is she doing?” he asked. Kyrian had warded the whole room, preventing her from casting any spells. Still, he didn’t want to take any chances.
“No idea,” Mark said. Amelis didn’t even seem aware of them.
Soroyan unlocked the door. “I’ll take care of it.”
“You sure?” Jax asked.
Soroyan listened to the woman. It sounded like she was singing. “Yeah.”
“All right.” Jax nodded and he and Mark walked out, leaving Soroyan with the two warriors who were on guard duty.
Soroyan entered the cell. “What are you doing?” Amelis didn’t acknowledge him in any way. “What is that?” He moved closer to where she sat on the bed.
He hadn’t paid any attention to her pendant before. It was about two inches in diameter with a pentagram and in the center of tha
t was an eye. In the eye, were wavy stripes like a zebra or tiger.
“The Bengalisoonum,” she whispered rubbing the strange piece.
“What does that mean?” he asked.
She stopped and a frown furrowed her brow as she scowled down at the pendant in her hand. Then she looked up at him. “What do you mean? What was I doing?”
Soroyan arched a brow in question. “What does that do?” Amelis just seemed confused. Soroyan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The song you were singing, it sounded like a young child’s lullaby.”
Amelis’s scowl grew deeper. “I wasn’t singing, and I don’t know any lullabies.”
Perplexed with the woman, Soroyan let himself out of her cell and locked it back up. “Keep an eye on her,” he told the guards before leaving the room.
Stressed and impatient to get going and check out the area their prisoner’s pack mate told them about, he made his way through the house, glad that no one stopped him. He knew they didn’t think he should go alone, but really just needed to get away, to be alone.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Raven asked as he stepped outside onto the front porch step.
Lost in his own world that was falling apart around him, Soroyan blinked. She was dressed as if she were heading out as well. It took him a moment to answer. “The Were-wolf we captured contacted someone who gave us a location. I’m going to check it out,” he said, sounding a little gruffer than he meant. He didn’t want to contemplate that he may not find anything.
He refused to accept it. For to do so, was to admit defeat, and if he did that, he may as well lay down and give up. Which he planned to do soon enough, but first he had to find Toren and apologize to the one Kyrian went to retrieve.
“Well, that is as good an idea as any,” Raven said and followed him over to Tierney’s car.
“What?” he asked, frowning at her.
Raven grinned. “I said, I’m coming with you.”
When he opened his mouth to object, she shook her head. “Save it, I need something to do, can’t just sit here.”
Soroyan closed his mouth and nodded. As much as he wanted to be alone, he didn’t mind her company, even if it was tense and all he could think about was what they’d done the other night. On top of it, he completely understood how frustrating it was to do nothing.
They drove listening to the radio again until they were almost there, when Raven sat up and shut the music off. He could feel her gaze on him, but kept his eyes on the road.
“I’m sorry for invading your privacy last night,” she said quietly. Soroyan wasn’t sure what she was talking about for a moment, he was so far away in his own mind.
Then it came back to him and he fought not to squirm under her gaze. “It’s fine,” he said, looking back at the road.
Raven was silent for a moment, and he could feel her studying him. “No, it’s not. I sense that something else is wrong. What is it?” she asked.
Startled, he studied Raven. She really was astute. He couldn’t help but wonder if she felt as connected to him as he did to her? Once again, he wished that he were whole and able to love her like she deserved. Then he snorted inwardly. He wasn’t and he never would be, so there was no use wishing for things that wouldn’t be.
He had a plan; he needed to stick to it.
Chapter Forty-Two
C4?
Raven studied Soroyan. He’d been stiff and tense since they left. She could feel how twisted his emotions were and he was hurting more than ever. Normally, she would have her shields up so that she didn’t feel this depth of emotion from anyone. For some reason, around this big bad wolf, she couldn’t keep them up. She also never let anyone bother her so much, but the fact that he was in so much pain, did hurt.
She didn’t think he was going to answer her question, so it surprised her when he started to talk.
“I am the oldest, not Kyrian,” he said.
Raven wasn’t sure what he was talking about. Then she got it. “So, you should be king of the Okami, not him?”
Soroyan kept his eyes trained on the road. “That was half of the pack’s opinion and what my grandfather groomed me for.”
“Let me guess. You never wanted to be king?” she said, and a tic started in his jaw.
“No. I never wanted it, and still don’t.”
That didn’t surprise her. Still, she sensed there was more to it. Raven studied him. “Why only half?”
“My mother was not of the Okami, she was a dark witch wolf. There were those in the pack who disagreed with my father for mating with her. When she died, my father took another mate and when Kyrian was born, those pack members were thrilled,” he said and she suddenly understood.
“Well, you didn’t want to be king, and your brother is, so, what’s changed?” she asked.
Soroyan gripped the steering wheel harder. “My brother has gone to find someone, and if he does, all that might change.”
“How?” she asked. He didn’t answer. “Your father and grandfather are dead?” she asked instead.
Soroyan nodded. “Yes. Fenrir died when I was just a pup, and Loki raised me, he too died a long time ago.”
“I can’t imagine losing a parent or grandparent is easy,” she said.
Soroyan shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal. “You don’t …” he stopped speaking, clearly uncomfortable.
Raven smiled, understanding what he meant. “I have a father, but a mother? No,” she said, then shifted the subject back to him. “So, if Kyrian finds this … person, then things might change, you might have to take the kingship?”
“Wolf, he’s an Okami.” Soroyan took a deep breath and let it out. “I have to find Toren, so that doesn’t happen,” he said.
Raven figured there was something she was missing. “Would it really be so bad?”
“Yes, it is not in my plans,” he bit out with finality.
Raven studied him for a moment longer, not liking the look in his eyes. The way he kept himself apart from everyone, her included, made her wonder what exactly those plans were and the feeling in her gut wasn’t good.
Soroyan pulled off the road and put it into park, but left it running. “This is where the Were-wolf said he was told to wait,” he said, opening his door and climbing out.
Raven scoped out their surroundings. They were on a dirt road, surrounded by forest. She got out of the car as well, and took a deep breath, inhaling the refreshing scent of pine and the outdoors. Nature.
Earth was lucky; it was still intact and not yet destroyed. She wondered if all the humans knew how lucky they were. Likely not. They never did until it was too late.
A light dusting of snow had fallen the night before, but now there was no sign of it, other than the ground being damp.
Soroyan studied their surroundings as well. “This is close to where they attempted to capture me,” he said.
Raven summoned her power and let it loose, searching for anything that would let her know they were close. She got nothing in return.
They got in the car and drove another mile down the road, then got out again. This time Raven caught the faintest touch of magic hovering in the air, but it wasn’t close.
Eventually, they narrowed it down to an area down a beaten path and walked in on foot. It wasn’t until after the sun went down that they both finally felt it. Soroyan looked at her and she grinned. “I think we are here.”
Soroyan didn’t say anything as they crept closer. There was definitely something there. It was pushing at them to leave. “It is warded to keep everyone away,” he said and she could hear the frustration in his voice. From what Tierney had told her, with his powers, Soroyan would have been able to destroy the wards, letting them see what was really here.
They spent another hour walking around the area until they pinpointed the strongest point. “This has to be an entrance,” she said and he agreed.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asked, for no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t push p
ast that particular spot.
Soroyan thought about it for a minute, then sighed. “We come back tomorrow with Genna and some C4.”
Raven raised an eyebrow at him and Soroyan smirked.
Raven blinked, stunned. “Did you almost smile?”
Soroyan sighed, making her laugh.
“You did! I saw you. So, how is that little crazy girl going to help us and what is C4?”
“C’mon, I’ll tell you as we walk to the car,” he said.
“All right, I’m waiting, spill the beans.”
Soroyan snorted. “Genna might be crazy, but she just might be crazy enough to help us, have you seen anything she can do?” he asked.
Raven shook her head. “I know she’s one of the Genesis Dracones. Both Zandy and Tierney said she has some pretty wicked powers, but really?”
Soroyan nodded. “I’ve seen her do some pretty strange stuff.”
“Like shoot fire from her hands?” she asked, glancing at him.
“That, and she can teleport, she can fly in a half-form, and seems to see, or know things,” he said.
Raven thought about it for a moment. “I heard she saved Hellfire and Sami’s babies’ lives.”
“Yes, Kyrian told me that as well,” he said, then shook his head. “With her, if you don’t ask, you won’t know what she knows or can do.”
“Yeah, I got that impression. Still, she seems to be pretty messed up, being raised in a cell by the Ilyium,” Raven said.
“Yeah,” he said softly, making her glance at him.
“So, what is C4?” she asked.
“It’s an explosive, for blowing things up,” he said and there was a slight grin on his face.
“Where did you learn to blow things up?” she asked.
“We had a pack mate who spent a long time in the human world, he became a SEAL,” he said.
“A SEAL? One of those things that swim in the sea here?” she asked, completely confused.
“No, it is what they call one of their highly trained humans who go to fight for their country here in the USA,” he explained.
“Right, this is the USA,” she muttered.
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