Destiny: A Hunter's Novel, Book 3

by Lilly, Felicite

  “If you ever touch that book again, I’ll kill you myself.”

  I could feel her tears on my shoulder. Had I not, I still would’ve known her relief through our connection. I patted her arm, too tired to deal with too many feelings at once. She came around the couch, and sat next to me again.

  “What’ve I missed?”

  “You mean other than Az remembering who you are again?”

  I felt a wave of relief, only coming from me this time.

  “I got that when I woke up in bed with him.”

  Someone’s feet pounded down the stairs. Az came into view and plopped down in the arm chair next to the couch where Anie and I sat. He clasped his hands together over his eyes.

  “I can’t take much more of this.”

  “It’s your own fault, you challenged me.”

  Az blew out a breath in response. I knew he was stressed. I was drained. And, well, I couldn’t get a read on Anie.

  “What’s going on with you Anie? What’s wrong?”

  “You and your damn powers. Fitz is gone. Haven’t seen him in a few days.”

  “What happened?”

  “We got in a…disagreement about if you were going to come out of your little magical coma. He left to go to his father’s pack to confront him. I couldn’t stop him –”

  Her voice broke and I knew if he died a piece of her would too. A bigger piece than I realized.

  If he wanted to challenge someone, it should’ve been me. I was the pack leader. What was he doing? I opened the door the protection spell had made between me and Fitz. I could feel his emotions were high. Pain was at the forefront. I tried to pull him to me but I was weak, so when he pushed me away from him, I went.

  “I can’t get to him. He won’t let me,” I said.

  “You’re not the only one.” Anie’s voice was defeated. Apparently, a lot had happened while I’d been out.

  I got up from the couch on steady but weak legs.

  “I’ll go for him. But I can’t right now. Besides, he’s challenging the wrong person for leader of the pack.”

  If he was going to pull that kind of crap, he needed to challenge me. I wished I had the time to deal with Fitz and the pack right now, but the most I could do was hope the pack didn’t kill him or try to use him against me. At least in that scenario, I had enough time to go and deal with them all.

  “I am starving. I’ll be right back.” I left Anie and Az sitting in the living room. I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. There was a loaf of bread, milk, and a couple containers that had unidentifiable substances in them. I grabbed the bread and searched the cabinets. I wanted a peanut butter sandwich badly. I had spat in the face of death, or I’d felt like I had, I thought I deserved it.

  Air suddenly encompassed the room, pressurizing it as though I was on a plane. I heard a pop and Angel magic sluiced over me.

  “You’re alive.”

  I turned and Serafine was wringing her hands together, in a maternal agitation. Maybe it wasn’t a maternal agitation, maybe I just thought of her that way because of her connection to my Mother.

  “I am alive. And starving. I want peanut butter.”

  I smelled the sandwich before I saw it. It lay on a white plate on the kitchen table, toasted and melty. My mouth watered and I had it opened before my hands even picked up the sandwich. I had half of it down before Serafine said anything.

  “Are you prepared?”

  “For what?”

  “For Mastema?”

  “You mean Tema?”

  “He hasn’t been Tema in a long time.”

  “That may be true. But…” I studied her for a moment. Appreciating the sacrifices she made for me. I was willing to return the favor as much as I could. “what if he could be Tema again?”

  “How?”

  The disbelief on her face was a well worn look, one I was used to seeing. There had been enough disbelieving looks passed out to me over the years.

  “I found a spell. It wouldn’t heal what you know, or Mastema, but I could give you back to each other and it would heal his soul enough where he could become the man you fell in love with again, your Mate – Tema.”

  “Is this why you made the deal with Traugott?”

  “Heard about that already?”

  “I put my petition in to leave, and he immediately accepted. He told me what you’d done.”

  “So will you help me?”

  “As much as I can.”

  “I can explain some of it, but some of it I don’t even know what’s going to happen. We’re going to have to wing it at the end.”

  She nodded. I knew she would.

  ~XI~

  “Misplaced trust in old friends, Never counting regrets, By the grace of God I do not rest at all.”

  -Ron Pope, A Drop in the Ocean

  After I’d explained, loosely, what my plan concerning Mastema was, Serafine left. She seemed to think my plan might work, since she’d agreed to it.

  I sat at the kitchen table, quietly letting the world around me settle. Not to mention the sandwich in my stomach was not going down well. I hadn’t eaten in a while and even then I hadn’t been eating much, the book taking up most of my time and mind.

  I had lost enough weight that when I reached down and touched my rib cage I could feel the bones protruding. My stomach was gurgling when Az found me running my hand over the bone under my shirt.

  “I feel like I’m waking up. I could see everything I did, but now it doesn’t feel like me. You didn’t say anything to me when I walked up to you smoking. Looking back, I’m shocked you didn’t say anything to me, Laney.” Az shook his head. I could tell he was still trying to wrap his head around everything.

  “I couldn’t risk saying something and losing you forever. It’s always harder to do the right thing.”

  “Truer words were never spoken.” He sat at the table with me. He pulled the chair closer to me, getting as close to me as possible without sitting on my lap. “I overheard part of what you told Serafine. If it goes as you plan, it’ll work. He will do anything to get her back. And kill you.”

  I knew Mastema hated me. No one needed to tell me what his plan would be when he saw me: Kill on site.

  “I hope I can put my plan into play before he kills me.”

  “He’ll have to kill me first.”

  “I know.”

  It was odd. The feeling of peace at what we would all have to do. To live, survive, die. If Mastema killed Az, though, I would kill him. I would take his place and wouldn’t think twice about my decision. My soul would already be dark and darken further, just as Mastema’s had at the loss of his Mate.

  I ran my hand over the side of Az’s face, taking what he gave so freely now that the spell was broken.

  “I’m going upstairs to get a shower and change. Wanna join me?”

  How I wished I had the strength to join him. But I was still weak.

  “I’ll be up in a minute.”

  Az kissed me and then went upstairs. I heard his footfalls as he left and was comforted by the fact he was in the same house as me. My heart swelled. I would always have something on my plate, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t have Az, too. I was lucky.

  A small light appeared in front of my face and momentarily thought about smacking it away. I just wanted to be left alone for five minutes. I guess I technically had been left alone for the time I’d been out in my “magical coma”. The light got bigger and I saw his wide smile before I saw the rest of him shimmer into existence.

  “Our little Prophecy lives. Wonderful.”

  “Yes. Good to see you Kai.”

  “It is good to see you as well, Laney.”

  “You’re rather happy.”

  “And you are not.”

  “I’m still finding my footing.”

  “Well, I am rightfully happy. I knew everything would work out for the best. Your Az came back to you with a sacrifice he gave freely for you. Not to mention you also have enough knowled
ge from the book to unseat Mastema.”

  I wondered to what length he had planned everything. I had a feeling that it all had worked out exactly the way he had wanted it to – the protection spell, me working on the book, everything. He knew the book would and had attached to me, and did nothing to stop it, and it would seem all because he wanted the Devil out.

  “So you allowed me to almost die because you wanted me to translate the book?”

  “Well, not exactly. You worked much quicker than I had expected. I thought Az would be enough of a distraction to slow you down so you got through just enough.”

  “What?”

  I felt like he was speaking another language, he was talking so fast.

  “I only wanted you to get so far. You went much deeper than I anticipated.”

  “Is the protection spell still in place?”

  “Yes. It is weakened, but I have kept the ward strong for you.”

  He sat in front of me as though he wanted a pat on the back and a gold star. I wanted to smack that happy smirk right off his face. I was almost ready for Mastema, but I needed a few more things in place before that happened.

  “Fuck you, Kai.”

  “I was simply doing what needed to be done.”

  “Says who? You?”

  “Yes.”

  I saw an ageless sternness on his face that spoke of places the likes I had never seen and hopefully never would.

  “Why do you want Mastema out?”

  “He doesn’t know balance.”

  Little did Kai know, I had a plan to give him back his balance: Serafine.

  “You’re not welcome here.”

  My Granddad and I had been working on the witchcraft part of my magical makeup. He had taught me a little over the time we’d worked on the craft. Some of the essentials and how to work certain spells with words and a dusting of magic. The words I’d just spoken would push out any unwanted presence out of my Granddad’s house.

  Kai clung to where he stood, though, always trying to control everything. He was powerful, I could feel his magic gathering, but he was in a house that had been spelled by me and my Granddad, so two against one. Not good odds.

  “Are you going to unseat him?” Kai’s feet were now off the ground as he was being drug away by unseen magic.

  “You’ll have to wait and see, like everyone else. Now won’t you?”

  I molded the words in my mind again, speaking them silently. I pushed as hard as I could at Kai with the magic I had in me. There was a moment of surprise when Kai disappeared completely out of the door.

  An enemy I had thought was a friend. I should’ve known better than to allow myself to think of Kai as anything but a Fairy.

  I blew out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I stomped my way upstairs. I didn’t want to wait for anything anymore. There was more at play than I could anticipate or see. I needed to take life as it came to me, the good with the bad.

  I swung the bedroom door open and pulled my clothes off as I made my way into the bathroom. It was steamed up with hot water. I pulled the curtain open and found Az rinsing out his hair. The water tracked down his muscled curves to a very happy part of his body. I met his eyes, eyebrow lifted.

  “What? You told me you’d join me and I haven’t had any action but my hand since that spell.”

  “Poor baby.”

  I smiled and dropped to my knees, taking his substantial length into my mouth. I couldn’t get all of him in, but I ran my tongue, hands and teeth over him enough to drive him to the edge. I stopped just as he tightened.

  “Come on!”

  “I know you’re dying to,” I said with a wink.

  I stood up. Before I could decide what I wanted to do next, he picked me up and hitched my legs around his hips, holding me up with no effort. He pushed me up against the wall and slid his hand between us, finding my clit and rubbing circles. I was moaning as he kissed my neck, the water from the shower splashing between us without apology. I was about to explode and he stopped.

  “Turnabout’s fair play, Laney.”

  “All is fair in love and war?”

  “When it’s us, it’s only love.”

  I knew what he was saying: there was only love between us. The rest of our lives could be complete chaos and conflict, but the world we put ourselves in would be nothing but love. My eyes filled with tears of bliss.

  “Only love,” I whispered as he slammed into me in one swift move.

  His eyes never left mine as he continued to thrust, his love for me shining through in rays almost too bright to look at. He pushed me over the edge with a movement of his hand and hips. I cried out and went lifeless. Az finished while I was still screaming his name.

  Without ever letting me go, he turned the shower off, grabbed a towel wrapping it around us, and made his way to the bed. He laid me on my back, pulling out of me at the same time. I was still tired but weaker with pleasure than exhaustion. Az laid down on the bed next to me, pulling my body in front of his.

  “You’ve lost too much weight.”

  “Blame the book. It took up every available neuron in my brain toward the end. Eating wasn’t high on my priorities then.”

  “You need to eat.”

  “Serafine made me a peanut butter sandwich.”

  “I’ll make you dinner.” I nodded. He and I both knew I couldn’t cook for crap, so if he was offering I wasn’t going to turn him down. “There are other ways of putting weight on you.”

  My head snapped over my shoulder to see Az, smirking. He had to be joking.

  “You want to knock me up?”

  “Something like that.”

  Woah. Woah. Was he serious? I was in no shape to be a mother.

  “Can we table this conversation? Talk about it when the Devil isn’t breathing down our necks?”

  “Do you truly believe that our lives will ever be calm enough?”

  “Maybe that should be my argument to not have a baby then.”

  “You don’t want to have a baby?”

  I turned my head so I didn’t have to see the reaction on his face to my words.

  “Right now? No.”

  He didn’t say anything for so long I was almost sure he would get out of bed and leave without another word.

  “Then you and I will have to be enough.”

  Az then pushed up out of bed suddenly, holding the sides of his head as though his brain was trying to make an escape.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Az was seeing something I couldn’t, his eyes tracked to me.

  “It’s Alewar.”

  “Alewar is dead. Your Hellhound died.”

  “It would seem he is back in Hell. But I can only see what he’s seeing. I can’t communicate with him.”

  “How?”

  Az’s eyes were as round as saucers.

  “Mastema, it’s the only possibility.”

  ~XII~

  “I’ve come to know the friends around you, Are all you’ll always have.”

  -Ben Gibbard, Old Pine

  We were sitting at an extended version of my Granddad’s kitchen table. He had expanded the room and table with some magic, not wanting me to be anywhere near the book for a while. I didn’t argue. I didn’t want to be near the book ever again.

  Az sat next to me. My Dad and Cade sat opposite us, with Anie. My Granddad finally sat down next to me, after he had finished pacing.

  “So what does this mean?” He asked Az.

  “It means Mastema has a plan. He does everything with purpose. He’s methodical. There is a reason I can’t hear Alewar. And I can’t teleport to him or pull him to me. We need to be ready.”

  “Maybe he’s doing it to throw us off,” Cade said.

  “Maybe, but doubtful.” Az allowed.

  “Why do you say that?” I asked.

  “Mastema, who hasn’t allowed Alewar his ability to speak to me, only see what he sees, allowed me to see Mastema. Mastema wants us to know he’s brought Alewar back.�
�

  “I think it’s best if we’re ready. Now that you are okay, Honey, it makes sense.” My Dad was a sweet man, even when he was instructing me to prepare for battle.

  “I agree. I’ll get in touch with Serafine and we’ll start working. Az will work with us. Dad, Cade can you make sure the Hunters are prepared in case I’m not successful?” In case I die.

  “We’re prepared. We’ve been prepping since you brought me and your Dad here,” Cade answered.

  Of course he had. We couldn’t be caught off guard. We all knew Mastema was unstable. If this went south the Hunter’s had to be ready for the overspill. Cade had done what I would’ve done in his situation.

  “Anie,” Her head snapped up from the table, bringing her back to reality. “any word from Fitz?”

  “Nothing. But he’s still alive.”

  I knew a Werewolf Mate could tell when the other was still living after they’d gone through the Mating ceremony. I thought it could only be conducted by another Werewolf and wondered who’d been the one to perform Anie and Fitz’s, if that is how she knew – or maybe she was trying to talk herself into that reality.

  “Granddad, any word from the Witches?”

  “Nothing. Been quiet, Lass.”

  “Will any of them fight with us?”

  “I think if you asked they might.”

  “Can you call a town meeting?”

  “I can call to those who want to come. No one is forced here.”

  I was struck with the difference from this town’s reality from everywhere else in my world. Hunter, Drover, Were, Fairy, Vamp, even my group, there were rules and leaders, none of them were really a democracy.

  Humans were lucky in that sense; they chose who led them by majority. Most of who led the supernatural groups were either the oldest, most feared by the group, or feared by others.

  “Sounds good.”

  My Dad stood up from the table and came around to me. I hadn’t gotten the chance to speak with Cade, Dad or my Granddad, yet. I had personally called everyone together but hadn’t seen them until then.

  He pulled me up from my chair and held me at arm’s length. Looking at me with wetness on his eyelashes, he heaved me into a bone crushing hug. One I returned just as hard. He finally released me, a tear falling, tracking unapologetically down his cheek. I could feel my own emotions beginning their burn and escape. I smiled, so he could see I was okay.