The raven screeched, again.
Followed closely but the echoing call of a bear, but this time it was her left.
Brailynn struggled to get to her feet, fighting off the wave of nausea. Tears rolled down her cheeks. It was obvious to her that the animals didn’t want her there. She glanced up the mountainside and debated turning back. Even though Boanna had said that she needed Andrej’s help, Brailynn didn’t want to believe it. Not now.
“Calm yourself, child,” Boanna told her. “They are only trying to offer help.”
“That doesn’t sound like help!” Brailynn argued. “Does this look like help?”
“Calm!” Boanna bellowed in her head.
Brailynn covered her ear, hoping to drown out some of the sounds, but it was impossible considering Boanna’s voice was literally – in her head.
“Listen, Brailynn,” Boanna ordered. “Hear them.”
“How?” Brailynn asked. “I don’t speak to animals.”
“Listen with the heart of Mother Earth,” Boanna replied.
Brailynn had no idea how to do that. She wasn’t an earth-bound witch. The only element she could call upon was water.
“I am here, my child,” another voice entered Brailynn’s head. “Open your heart to me and you shall receive my gift.”
“Who… Who are you?” Brailynn asked, astonished, and fearful. Did she hit her head?
Around her, the forest went silent. Even the raven no longer made a sound. Back home that would have meant something bigger, more dangerous, was lurking close by, and she had a feeling it meant the same thing there.
“I am Gaia,” the voice said. “Goddess Mother of Earth.”
Brailynn stomach turned with nervous excitement. Her heart beat against her breast bone. She knew of the Goddess Mother. Every Wiccan did. She was the creator of all. Without her, none of the other Goddesses would exist. Heck, without her our planet would even exist. And while Gaia may have not been the original, she was the current. You see, legend tells it, that when the Goddess of Earth is ready to move on to the next life, she will, bestow her soul, knowledge, and powers to the next in line. That person will inherit the Earth, becoming the life force for all.
The honor of having the Goddess Mother in her presence was not lost on her. Brailynn knew she was being blessed with greatness. She closed her eyes and tried to block out everything else. “I am listening, Goddess Mother,” she said.
Immediately, she felt the soft wind brush against her skin as a warmth seemed to blossom in her middle, then spread out as if it were flowing through her veins. However, the moment the sensation hit her heart, it was like the entire forest had come alive.
She heard all the animals, big and small. But instead of hearing the sounds that each animal made, Brailynn heard their words. She understood the crickets and frogs. She heard the bees and butterflies as they fluttered past. And as the raven’s screech echoed across the valley Brailynn understood it, too.
“Now, go forth, my child,” Gaia said. “Live life and flourish with the gift of a mother’s heart.”
Brailynn stood up and recollected her bearings. She couldn’t believe the Goddess Mother had given her a gift. It was something she would always cherish.
Dusting off her backside, she took a deep breath to steady herself. She needed to get down the mountain. For whatever reason, the Fates determined she needed Andrej for her next task. So, Brailynn would respect that and follow their led.
She looked up to see the raven sitting high up in the tree. “Maybe next time,” she called up to it, “a little more warning. Yeah?”
“I am sorry,” the bird squawked.
Brailynn nodded.
“And the same for you too, Mr. Bear!” she called out. “A little less aggressive sounding would have been nice.”
“Yeah, sure.” She heard the deep voice rumble. “I’m a fucking bear, not a damn koala.”
“Wow,” Brailynn replied. “Cranky much?”
“Wait,” the bear said. “Can she understand me?”
“Yes,” she answered dryly. “She can.”
“Who is this witch?” he asked.
She assumed the question wasn’t directed at her. But she answered anyway. “I am Brailynn Wallachia. Daughter of Harriet and Oscar Wallachia. I am from the Petrova Coven and I am seeking a word with Andrej.”
The raven swooped down toward her and on instinct, Brailynn raised her hands protectively. She waited for the feel of the birds' sharp talons, but it never came.
“You can put your arms down.” She immediately recognized the voice. It belonged to the man that her mate had called Wallace.
She slowly lowered her arms away from her face and she watched as the blackbird shifted, midflight, into a man. He was tall with dark-skin and piercing emerald eyes; however, it was his kind smile that instantly put her at ease.
“I am, Wallace.” He bowed at the waist. “Please, allow me to escort you safely down the mountainside.” He held out a hand for her.
“Thank you,” she replied taking the offered hand.
“Slow and steady.” Wallace’s accent made her smile.
“Europe.”
“I’m sorry?” He looked confused by her random outburst.
“You’re from somewhere in Europe,” Brailynn clarified.
“Oh.” His smile grew wider. “Yes. I’m from London.”
“How long have you been in America?”
“About twenty years,” he admitted.
“No way!” She was surprised by the answer. “Your accent is still so vivid.”
Wallace chuckled. “That makes me happy.”
She returned his grin.
They slowly worked their way down toward the house. And with Wallace’s help, Brailynn was able to maneuver her way from tree to tree, and from one rock to the next. But as they continued the journey, the pain in her ankle became more prominent and noticeable.
“Are you alright?” Wallace asked.
“I twisted my ankle when I fell, but I’ll be fine,” she replied as she tried to ignore it.
Her only thought was to get down the mountain and onto the safety of the flat ground.
“Why don’t we stop and rest for a moment?” Wallace suggested.
“No, it’s okay,” she argued.
“Miss.” Wallace stopped. “Please.” He extended his arm out to indicate for her to sit.
Brailynn sighed and gave in, sitting on top of a large, flat rock.
“This is going to take forever.”
“He has to let her rest. If Andrej finds out he ran her like a mule, he’d be furious.”
She glanced behind them toward the sound of the other voices. Higher up on the ridge, maybe fifty yards away, sat two bears, one with a squirrel on its back, along with a wolf, cougar, and an owl sitting high in a tree.
Brailynn tried her best to hide her amusement. She cleared her throat several times. But she couldn’t stop the giggle that worked its way out of her throat.
“What’s so funny?” the owl asked from above.
“Nothing.” She continued to giggle.
“Humph,” said the owl.
But as she looked at them, she couldn’t help the enjoyment that bubbled up at the sight. And if anyone happened to come upon them, it would have looked like something straight out of a new age Sleeping Beauty movie. Except, Brailynn wasn’t sleeping. And they weren’t her friends.
“We should probably get going,” Wallace said to her, offering his hand again. “If you’re ready?”
“Okay. Yes.” She smiled at him and turned back to continue their journey.
The rest of the trip down the mountainside was just filled with small talk, here and there. Wallace told her about London, and she popped in with things about back home.
He was nice to talk to she decided.
However, as they got closer to the house, and the last rays of the sun held in the sky, the pit in her stomach seemed to return. She almost doubled over from the pain.
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath and tried to push away the feeling. “Just feeling a bit… Unsettled, all of a sudden.”
“Well, we’ll be there soon,” he told her. “Maybe it would do you well to lie down for a moment.”
“Maybe,” Brailynn said absently.
But she honestly didn’t know if that would help. Everything felt weird. Off. She had no idea what was happening to her. One minute she had been fine, the next she was feeling anxious and excited.
Then angry.
Then delighted.
Then murderous.
Her feelings didn’t seem to be… well, hers.
They almost felt foreign. As if they were coming from someone else. Realistically, Brailynn knew she had no reason to feel any of those things, aside from maybe excited and anxious. But the negative feelings? They didn’t make sense.
“Boanna, what’s going on?” Brailynn called out.
“It will be okay,” Boanna replied instantly. “Everything will be understood soon.”
Brailynn was getting really tired of all the cryptic wordings and having no control over her own life. How hard was it to speak a few words to let someone else know what was going on? Sometimes, especially lately, she felt like she was going crazy. And the emotional tug-o-war was wearing her down.
“Please, just give me strength,” she called out to whoever was there to listen.
“You will be fine, my child,” Boanna answered. “Soon, all your dreams and wishes will come true. All of them.”
Brailynn didn’t know what to think of Boanna’s sudden change in tone. It was like her annoyance has suddenly shifted to excitement. And that left Brailynn feeling even more unsettled.
“Are you alright?” Wallace asked, obviously concerned.
“I… I don’t know.”
Wallace held her hand a bit tighter. “Let’s hurry and get you home. I’m sure it’s probably just the exhaustion from the journey.”
Again, Brailynn wasn’t so sure. But instead of saying that, she nodded. “Thank you.”
Her nervousness continued to get the better of her as she struggled to maintain some type of control. In a few short moments, everything in her life would change. Was she ready for that?
“I’ll be right back,” Wallace told her as he released her hand.
Standing there, in front of the house, she felt the heat start to build in her face. Was she blushing? Having a hot flash? Dying? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was it wasn’t helping her current mental health.
Then, just as suddenly as all the other changes, a wave of white-hot anger, unlike anything she’d ever felt before, hit here square in the gut. The impact caused her to stumble. These emotions weren’t hers. They couldn’t be.
Well, who else would they belong to, idiot!
But Brailynn didn’t have an answer.
Unless… But that was impossible. They hadn’t even met each other, yet.
The only time she’d known of mates feeling each other’s emotions, was when strong bonds were created. However, that wasn’t them. Brailynn didn’t even know him, and he definitely didn’t know her.
Then where was the anger coming from? she wondered. The anxious, nervous energy – that was definitely all hers. But the anger and murderous rage, that continued to get mixed in was something completely foreign to her. And then there was the lust. The raw need. It all had Brailynn’s head spinning. Each powerful emotion rolled into the next. It nearly took her breath away. She inhaled deeply, then slowly release it as she tried to breathe through it; but the emotions were starting to drown her.
Her head spun crazily fast.
Her hearing seemed to fade in and out.
The world went fuzzy as it tipped on its axis.
Then, just as everything went black, Brailynn heard the most demonic growl of her life.
Chapter Four
Andrej
Awaken from his slumber by Wallace’s frantic call, he paced back and forth in front of the window. Andrej’s need to have her near was overwhelming. He wanted to go to her, but he couldn’t. She was right there, and he was stuck inside. For the first time in all his years, he hated being a vampire. He hated that he couldn’t step into the sun, that he couldn’t save her from the dangers of the mountain.
Mate. Claim. Mate Claim.
Inside, Andrej raged. His blood lust caused his stomach to roll violently.
Help mate. Claim mate.
Seeing her struggle to get down the mountain was tearing him apart. When he’d seen her fall, Andrej had nearly lost it. The only thing that had stopped him was Harriet and Oscar standing in his way, and Wallace’s promise to see to her safety.
Andrej looked back up toward the sky. He still had another twenty minutes before he could even think about stepping outside, and about forty-five minutes until he would be completely safe. Neither was preferable.
“Wallace will get her down safely,” Harriet said. “Try to calm yourself.”
“Calm?” he roared. “How am I supposed to be calm? She’s hurt!”
“She is alive and well,” Oscar replied. “That is reason enough.”
Andrej growled in frustration. “And what about you two? You aren’t worried about how she will react when she learns that you’re both alive?”
Harriet’s eyes dropped to the floor as she started to wring her hands. Oscar’s face lost some of its color, but neither of them spoke another word.
He knew he was being rude. Harriet and Oscar had given him several years of friends, nearly two decades, and they deserved better from him. However, their lack of concern irritated him. They hadn’t seen their daughter in fifteen years, yet they showed little to no emotion for her wellbeing. Andrej didn’t and couldn’t understand it.
His stomach rolled in torment as he looked back out the window, ignoring Brailynn’s parents, and witnessed Wallace take her hand, again.
Kill him. Nobody should touch our mate.
Inside, the beast hungered for Wallace’s blood. Brailynn was his and only his hands should ever feel the softness of her skin. His eyes narrowed as he watched them slowly creep down the slope.
With each step that she took, his need for her grew stronger. Calm down, he reminded himself. She knows nothing about you. Don’t scare her off.
The beast grumbled.
While he’d known about her since she was a child, she knew nothing about him. He tried to settle the monster down, the only way he knew how. He allowed his mind to drift back to a time that he had forced himself to disassociate from – to the day when he had first seen her…
Seven years ago…
Andrej was running through the forests of upstate New York. A group of Hunters was following closely behind him. His body ached from all the miles he had covered, and his arm burned from where he’d been hit with a poisonous arrow. It felt as if a fire was licking up and down his arm. There was only one thing that could such a reaction – dragon’s blood.
Not only could it kill him, but the blood had prevented him from accessing all his powers. It was almost like a binding agent. Under normal circumstances, Andrej could easily cover hundreds of miles in a matter of minutes. But with the dragon’s blood in his system, he was more like a mortal man, inching his way to safety.
As he stumbled through the woods, the poison started to work its way through his body. He bounced off one tree, only to slam into another. He lost track of where he was and which direction he was going.
And that’s when he heard it.
The soft laughter. It called to him.
He looked behind him, the Hunters so far, were nowhere to be seen. He didn’t know if they had finally given up the chase or if they would pounce on him at any second. Andrej knew he needed to keep running, but he had to see her. At least once before he died.
Using the trees for support, he moved closer to the sound. It called to him like a Siren’s song, pulling him in. She was just on t
he other side of the small brush. His excitement caused his blood to race. The poison ran through him even faster. Andrej felt his energy begin to wane. With shaking hands, he’d spread the limbs of the bushes and his mouth dropped open.
She was a child.
Andrej couldn’t believe it. He stumbled backward.
What kind of cruel joke were the Gods playing on him? A child. A mere teenager. As his destined mate? Were they mad?
He felt disgusted. The mere idea made his skin crawl.
With every ounce of energy that Andrej had left, he ran. Even though her blood was calling out to him, even when he knew it would cure him – he ran. His soul begging to be whole again, but he ignored it all. Fate had played another trick on him.
A cruel, mean trick...
He came back to the present.
Brailynn… Her name whispered across his mind.
She was finally there.
Andrej watched her walk across his lawn. Her lawn, now. She was heading straight for his home. No, not his home. Their home.
There would be no turning back this time. Once she crossed the threshold and enter his domain, she would forever be his.
And his alone. Andrej wouldn’t be able to let her go a second time.
Ours. Mate. Claim. Forever.
He heard their footsteps on the front porch. He only had a few seconds before the door would open. Andrej fussed over his appearance. He straightened his already perfect shirt. Swiped his hands down his tight black tee, and made sure there was nothing, not even a speck of lint on his pants. Glancing in the mirror, he ensured that not a single hair was out of place.
“Wait here,” he heard Wallace say.
A second later, the front door opened, and his oldest friend walked through. Andrej caught the barest glimpse of his destined before it closed again.
“We found her on the cliffside,” Wallace told him. “She’s a feisty thing, but very nice.”
“Good.” Andrej smiled.
“She can talk to animals.”
“What?” Harriet asked. “That’s not possible.” Oscar looked just as confused as his wife.
“Interesting,” Andrej replied to Wallace.
Brailynn (A Rogue Enforcers Novel) Page 5