Her eyes glistened, and I thumbed her eyelashes tenderly as her nose began to turn red. “I am scared for them…I do not like being scared, but…I cannot help it. I have offered to put them to sleep – to give them good dreams – but they will not agree. They do not understand how dangerous Bareiijnr will be.”
“Is that why you’ve been down, or is it because they don’t understand how dangerous you are, Linne?” I asked, as understanding washed over me like an ocean wave, and my mate sniffled in answer.
Pursing my lips tightly, I held back a sigh at how much of a toll this whole experience had on her. Not only was the threat of Bareiijnr constantly against her shoulders, but she cared about people. What’s worse, she cared about people that she perceived as defenseless.
For the first time, Linne was experiencing what it felt like to have loved ones in peril – and she wasn’t managing it very well.
“Baby, what happened with Muss won’t happen with the humans. He lied to you for months, and then he pushed you over your limit while you were in a very unstable state of mind. It’s his own fault that he tipped you over the edge. The fact that he disappeared just means he’s feeling guilty.”
I paused, waiting for my words to take effect.
“Personally, I think the humans are stupid. I think you should just do it without their consent. It wouldn’t be like what Faro and Muss did to you because you know they’re in danger. You know that Bareiijnr will kill everyone around you just to mess with you. That’s very different than just lying because you think it’s best.”
“I think I might have no choice but to do it… I will apologize and hope that they forgive me. That way, I will not be scared. I will not feel these things.”
I nodded in understanding. With this scenario moving into its final act, it was hard to remember how much even I had changed in the past year, and what lengths I was now willing to go to, to keep my loved ones safe.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Linne
Holding my breath behind the lump lodged inside my throat, I watched my co-workers exchange worried, serious looks around the human Chad’s office.
I held my wings taut, and clenched and released my fists by my side as the seconds ticked by on pins and needles. Finally, they seemed to really begin to understand me, and with that, hope blossomed in my chest, squeezing my lungs against my ribs.
“If you think it’s that important, Linne…then I believe you.” Kristy spoke up first, breaking the silence into a million tiny, irreparable pieces.
Smiling broadly, I nodded furiously, and her own lips twitched before they parted again.
“So, where are we going to stay while we’re sleeping? You can make us dream of anything, right?” she asked.
“Yes – yes! I can! I will. Alpha Jackson has had his doctor set up a room in the basement – where you will be safe.” Clapping my hands together, my wings ruffled loudly as a shiver of relief shot down my spine. “We must go, now. I do not know when Bareiijnr will come through the Veil. You will have the doctor watching over you at all times.”
“I’m not going.” Air rushed from my lungs as my heart stuttered, and my eyes flew to Jon to widen at his serious expression. “I can help you. This isn’t just your fight, Linne – your life isn’t the only one at stake, here.”
“But – ” Holding up his hand to cut me off, Jon pushed himself off the edge of the human Chad’s desk to grimace deeply.
“Everyone else can go, but I won’t. You need me. I can do things those shifters can’t. Shifters don’t generally know how to operate a gun, let alone be a sniper. Plus, Bar-whatever-the-fuck doesn’t know anything about this realm. It’ll give you the advantage of surprise – at least a little bit.”
Sucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I hesitated to acknowledge the solid points Jon presented. He was right, of course, but I didn’t like it. He was still human, after all.
As if sensing my thoughts, his grimace grew into a scowl. “I know I’m a human, but don’t forget that humans have become experts at killing each other. We don’t do anything better than destruction. Even if it’s just one bullet, it’ll be enough. Psychological warfare is just as important as physical warfare.”
“…Okay…” Reluctance seeped into my muscles to drag them down, and Jon nodded curtly before my gaze flickered to the other humans in the room. “But no one else. It is too dangerous.”
“Let’s go, then.” The human Chad was not happy; that much was evident in his voice before he stalked to the front door of his office. Sweeping past me, he shoved his hands into his pockets as his expression darkened. “I better get compensation for all the jobs we won’t be doing.”
“Yes – yes.” One by one, my friends filed out of the room until only Jon and I were left, and I rubbed my fingertips together as anxiety curdled my blood. “I do not want you to die, Jon.”
“It won’t matter to me either way…but this is my place, too. If there is one thing I can feel, it’s selfishness.” Breezing past me with just those parting words, Jon followed the rest of the humans out into the warehouse, and I heaved a gust of a sigh.
Flexing my cramping wings, I rolled my shoulders and forced the knots in the pit of my stomach to relax.
“So, how does this work, exactly? You just cast a spell on us, or…?” Piled into the bed of a pick-up truck while Jon drove, I glanced over at Maddy as she posed her question.
The vehicle roared to life, and I nodded firmly as I pondered the best way to explain.
“Essentially, yes… I will cast a spell on you to separate your conscious mind from your body. Do not fear – I have done this many more times than I care to count. It is one of my specialties. You only have to tell me what you want to experience, and I will make you experience it.”
“Can it be anything even if you haven’t done it before?” Speaking up for the first time since being called to the human Chad’s office, Kevin visibly perked up when I nodded again. “Sweet! I want you to make my dream an org – ”
“Shut up, Kevin.” Thwacking his nephew in the back of the head, the human Chad scowled deeply as the truck began to beep loudly. Clearing his throat, he turned his eyes to mine to stare at me with an intensity that bordered on glaring. “Linne, you can make us dream anything that’s convenient for you.”
The ride to the clinic was short, and Jon pulled into the small parking lot to be greeted by Alpha Jackson, as well as several doctors and over a dozen nurses.
Surprise widened my eyes as I jumped from the bed of the truck; the entire staff must’ve been called for this. Glancing around, I pursed my lips tightly when Derek didn’t come into view, but there was no time for me to think on this, as I heard Alpha Jackson speaking up.
“Since we’ve never done anything like this before, I called the whole clinic up. It’ll make the setup quicker, too. Are you sure that what happened last time won’t happen this time, Linne?” Frowning deeply at the male wolf, I nodded firmly.
He let out a tired sigh. “Let’s get you humans into the basement, then.”
“Linne.” Whirling around at the call, I stiffened as Faro came striding across the small lot from the training fields. “Savannah is here. We need your help…containing her. Melinda has ensured that her entourage will assist us.”
Glancing around, I frowned at the uncertainty flickering on the humans’ faces, and I rolled my lips between my teeth absently. Holding up my palms in front of me, magic swept through my veins as I spread my wings wide. The action was so quick – almost too quick – and only when it was done did everyone around me tense in preparation.
Humans are so fragile.
“It is done. Savannah has been pacified.” Gasps sounded from Maddy and Kristy, and I forced a smile of reassurance. “It does not hurt, and it is quick. All you must do is lay down and get comfortable.”
“I’m gunna go get my guns. I’ll be back in an hour.” Jon sped off with a squeal, and I pursed my lips tightly as I watched him take a tight corner. Unease spread
through my chest, and my palms tingled as anxiety nibbled my gut. I could’ve just put him to sleep, but his words from earlier sprang to the forefront of my mind.
He had skills that no one else had. Bareiijnr might try to trick us, too. Jon is better at spotting lies than I am.
Rolling my shoulders wearily, I heaved a sigh and reached to rub my face roughly. The only thing I didn’t have to worry about was Derek; he was always a relief – never a burden. He had grasped at his magic with both hands and strangled it into submission.
My mate was magnificent in every way, and I palmed the space above my heart with a small, content sigh.
“Linne?” Twisting at Alpha Jackson’s call, my wings twitched and ruffled at the sudden weight of so many eyes on me. “We’re ready.”
“We need you as soon as you’re done, too, Linne,” Faro informed me, as I rolled my lips between my teeth, gnawing on them absently, turning to him.
There is so much to do.
Muss was still missing, but I needed him; all of this craziness would subside if he was around. Whether it was about the witches or the humans, Kaslni refused to help with any of the preparations. Meanwhile, Faro was busy helping Derek.
My mind was spinning, and I shook my head trying to calm the chaos. One thing at a time.
Turning, I laid my attention back to the issue at hand, eyes settling on my human friends. “Brace yourselves,” I told them, and then, without further preamble, I flung out my arm towards my coworkers as magic sizzled in my veins.
The clinic workers rushed to catch them as they fell, while the sensation of betrayal stung at my eyes.
No – it wasn’t the sensation at being betrayed…but being the betrayer.
Squeezing my eyelids tightly shut, I dug into their brains to make sure nothing had gone awry; their senses were totally shut down, and their minds were listless and wandering.
My chest tightened, heart thundering to drown out every other sound in my ears, as they pounded with blood, and I took a moment to inhale as deeply as the tightness in my lungs would allow. Exhaling shakily, my brows drew together in concentration.
“Let us go, Faro.” Shaking my head wildly, a dark shiver slid down my spine as I forced open my eyes. Casting one, final look at the human Chad, Kristy, and the others, I struggled not to frown sadly. Saying I would do such a thing without their consent, and actually doing it – those two were very different things.
Callused, familiar hands gripped my shoulders, and I tore my eyes off my friends to catch Faro’s small, comforting smile. He rubbed my arms, and I shored up my courage before finding the strength to walk away.
“They’re good friends, Linne. I’m happy for you.” Jerkily nodding, I sucked in a sharp breath as we made our way to the clan’s central house. “It is good to feel these things with them. This is not a situation you will ever encounter again.”
“I know. Has Melinda been able to find Muss, yet?” My probing earned me a solemn shake of a head, and Faro grimaced out of the corner of my eye.
“She has not. There is a possibility he has gone back through the Veil by himself. If not, he has hidden himself from her. She is not very adept at scrying.”
Pausing at the end of the walkway, Faro turned to me to stare intensely from under knitted brows. “Linne, I must warn you. I think Kaslni is plotting something dangerous. She has every intention to go back, and she will not let anyone stop her. I fear that she will turn on us.”
“You’re not going back?” Shaking his head, Faro smiled fondly at me, and my heart fluttered.
I didn’t dare to even think about Kaslni adding complications to this already insane plan, and the thought she may screw us all over, made me grind my teeth together.
Reaching to cup my cheek, Faro’s palm radiated heat and comfort, and he pressed his forehead against mine. “When this is over, I will remove my wings and live a life without magic. It is one of the few things I have never experienced in my long, many years.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Derek
“You’re fucked if this goes wrong, Melinda. You don’t owe Linne and I anything.” Crossing my arms over my chest as Melinda shook her head, I grimaced at the serenity that shimmered in her eyes. She still felt guilty about the whole mate bond incident, but it was just annoyingly dogged at this point. “You’re willing to die for this whole thing even though we don’t even know if it’ll definitely work…”
“Derek, when you’ve lived as long as I have, there comes a point when death is the only experience left. I’ve lost the love of my life, and I’ve done all the things I’ve wanted to do. All I have left is this. I’ll gladly risk my life for this final adventure.” Melinda smiled slightly, a hollow upturn of her lips, and my grimace deepened as regret pounded against my chest.
“My life is taking its toll on me. I know the chances of this failing are pretty much one hundred to one, and I accept it. I’ve been in exile since the Council learned of my involvement with Linne. As much as I like you shifters…I don’t belong here anymore.”
“You talk like you know it’s definitely going to fail,” I retorted, as Melinda’s smile widened some, but she stayed silent.
Reaching to swipe my palms heavily down my face, I let out a groan as my inner beast grumbled. He liked Melinda well enough, and it was disturbing how much she seemed to want to die.
Things were getting real fucked up, real fast.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I twisted just as Linne slipped into the room. Thick bags hung under her puffy, reddened eyes, and her expression was dragged downwards in exhaustion.
Holding out my arms for her, I pursed my lips tightly as she drifted wordlessly to me. This was the final stretch, and so many people were involved.
“We’re all ready when you are. To lower the risk of being recognized, you all are going to have to stay out here.”
Tensing at the Melinda’s announcement, both Linne and I turned to her, and my eyes narrowed into slits. She knew something we didn’t, I realized. There was a wisdom hidden deep within her eyes, almost as if she knew what was about to happen, and I caught a hint of it as it flashed across her otherwise dull eyes.
“We’ll send someone out when we’re done,” she told us, sensing my reluctance to leave.
Backing away into the anteroom that had been set up for the séance, Melinda left Faro, my mate, and I in apprehensive silence. For a long moment, no one dared to move – to even breathe – and I squeezed Linne to my chest. Foreboding lodged in my heart, and I stared through narrowed slits at the closed barrier between the witches and us.
“Something is wrong, Derek the Lion...” Faro’s mumble was loud in the empty room, and I nodded curtly. “We should stop them.”
“We can’t.” The words rolled off my tongue like acid, and I clenched my jaw hard.
Against my chest, Linne shuddered, and she buried her face in my shirt to take shaky breaths. My mind whirred, but there were no concrete answers that formed.
Irritation built up in my throat, and I shook my head roughly. “Melinda knows what she’s doing. She’ll see it through until she can’t anymore.”
“…She’s not going to bring someone through, Derek the Lion. She’s going through herself. Humans cannot withstand the Veil,” Faro said, frowning as he reached the same conclusion I had, and I tightened my grip on my mate as she gasped in horror.
I bit down hard on my lip. “She’s the real sacrifice.”
“Why would she do that? Does she not want to live?” The question dribbled from Linne’s trembling lips, and I kissed the crown of her head firmly. “I do not understand…”
“You will never understand, Linne.” Darkness of a dangerous kind seeped from Faro’s tone, and I glanced over at him as he ruffled his feathers and rolled his shoulders. “Longevity has its drawbacks. Our loved ones are all dead. There is no relief. There are no experiences left. There is nothing but death. Like Melinda, I have yearned for it – sometimes, stronger than other time
s. She is giving her life to protect her friends, and when she dies from the toll of going through the Veil – she will be with her lover, and she will tell him all the stories she has gathered since his passing.”
The Unseelie echoed what Melinda had only just said to me minutes ago, and Linne sunk deeper into my chest. My beast rumbled deeply, comfortingly, and I inhaled her scent to take it into the bowels of my being. Her smell calmed my demons, and she sniffled slightly before tilting her head to speak up.
“I want to say…‘goodbye’…” she quivered.
My mate… She was due for one serious mental breakdown, that was for sure.
Hugging her tightly, I glanced over at Faro to find him staring at me with flashing eyes. Pursing my lips tightly, my inner beast bristled and snarled at the words orbiting his pupils. Melinda was literally going to die to help us, while Kaslni…she was nowhere to be found.
She was hiding out somewhere, ensuring that she’d be in the least amount of danger – because she’s a little fucking bitch.
“We will avenge her, my mate.” No amount of assurance or revenge would bring Melinda back, and Linne knew this, and only nodded dully as I released a growl. “Have you heard back from Kaslni, yet?”
Thankfully, Kaslni wasn’t really a part of this plan; even Jackson realized over the past months that she wasn’t reliable.
I scoffed, face turning stormy. She thought she was important – that everyone should protect her – that she was worth more than the rest of us.
But this was all her fucking fault in the first place.
“No…I hope she does not make a fuss. I am not the person I was when I came to this realm.” Linne’s own words seemed to hit her hard, and she sniffled viciously before stepping out of my arms.
Throwing her shoulders back, her wings flexed and feathers ruffled as she jutted her chin out. Watching her collect herself was almost awe-inspiring, and her eyes glittered with a remorselessness that brought me back to when we’d first met.
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