by Tara West
Annie and Amara shielded the babies. Eilea lurched in front of them, anger turning to shock, then horror when she saw that Albert’s gray skin was covered with patches of matted fur. His legs and arms extended past the small cot, his ribcage was as wide as a barrel, and his face contorted in a mixture of human and beast.
He was turning into a werewolf.
“Tell us!” she demanded, instinctively unsheathing her claws, her voice dropping several octaves.
“Well, look who has claws,” Nakomi snarled. “You suddenly sprout fangs and call me the witch?”
“The goddess changed me.”
“How kind of her,” Nakomi said with a bitter laugh.
“Are you going to tell us or what? I’ve seen your eyes turn red. If you’re not a witch, then you’re possessed.” She refused to let the bitch get to her. They had more pressing matters.
“I am neither witch nor demon.”
“Then what the hell are you?”
They engaged in a tense stare-down, Eilea’s veins pumping wildly as she waited for Nakomi to strike. She wouldn’t get away with it this time. If she so much as raised a claw, Eilea would attack. Much to her surprise, Nakomi backed down.
“I’ve never been demon-burned before.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “My birth mother was human.”
“I didn’t know that,” Amara said.
Nakomi’s eyes sharpened. “You didn’t know because it’s none of your business. She was an American doctor, and she looked too much like you.” She pointed at Eilea. “The Ancients bewitched her and my father in order to create an abomination.”
Nakomi’s hatred for Eilea suddenly made sense.
They all stared at each other for several stressful heartbeats until Amara’s babies broke the silence by crying.
“You are not an abomination, Nakomi.” Amara said with pity.
Nakomi looked from Amara to Eilea. “Then why did my mother leave me?”
“I-I don’t know,” Eilea answered, feeling an odd sense of guilt for a crime she didn’t commit. “I imagine she was scared.”
“She left me to a life of misery.” The hurt in her eyes revealed the lonely, abandoned child she must have once been. “My stepmother called me a cursed child. She resented me for having to hide the secret of my birth.”
“I’m sorry,” Amara said. “I know what it’s like to have a stepmother hate you. Mine was the same way.”
“But did she raise you?” Tears spilled from her eyes. “Did she beat you for the slightest offense?”
Amara shook her head. “My birth mother abused me. Now look at what my stepmother has done to all of us.”
“My grandparents didn’t want me. Nobody did.” Nakomi sank onto Loki’s cot, casting a woeful glance at her sick mates. “I never knew love until I found my mates.”
“It’s safe to say we’ve all had shitty lives,” Annie crossed her arms. “Maybe yours was harder than others, but that’s no excuse not to close the portal.”
“If you don’t, we’ll all die.” Amara said. “Is that really what you want?”
Nakomi threw up her hands. “How many times must I tell you I am not a witch?”
“Then what is your power?” Amara demanded. “Annie can read minds. I can heal. The Ancients said those of us with a lot of human blood have special abilities.”
Whatever it was, Eilea knew red eyes had something to do with it.
Nakomi pulled back her shoulders, reminding Eilea once again of that regal African queen. “I can shift into more than just a wolf.”
“What do you mean?” Annie asked.
“An elk, a cougar, a protector.” Nakomi shrugged. “I can become any animal. Some of my birds have red eyes.” She gave Eilea a look, challenging her to refute her story.
“Wow.” Amara breathed. “I’d like to see that.”
Nakomi’s eyes narrowed to slits. “But I am not a witch. I do not know spells, only ancient prayers.”
Annie patted Alexi’s back when he snuggled against her. “So who is the witch?”
Eilea was at a loss. She wracked her brain, trying to recall what the goddess had told her.
The witch isn’t dead. You can save them.
She heard a familiar voice in her head. It wasn’t the goddess. It was old, scratchy, but sweet. Her grandmother. Memories washed over her. The line of sick people at her grandmother’s door every morning. The chants her grandmother sang to cleanse their home before each full moon. Everyone in their small Louisiana town had called her a kurioso, a witch. She’d healed them with potions and spells, an ancient magic she’d taught Eilea. A magic she suddenly remembered. All of it. Every recipe and chant flooded back.
Grasping Amara’s forearm, she slowly lowered herself onto a chair. “Holy shit! I think I’m the witch.”
She recalled the chant her grandmother had used to drive away spirits and knew without a doubt, she had the power to close the portal.
Amara knelt beside her. “Eilea, what are you saying?”
She smiled when Baby Hrod wrapped his fingers around hers, giving her a look that was wise beyond his years. “My grandmother was a kurioso.”
“A what?” Annie asked.
“People used to come to her for potions and spells when they couldn’t afford a doctor. She considered herself a spiritual healer. She practiced brua, a Caribbean witchcraft. She taught me her spells when I was young, but I rebelled against them because they weren’t science-based. I was ashamed of her.” She regretted the way she’d rejected her grandmother. “I thought I’d forgotten them, but they suddenly came back to me.”
Amara said excitedly, “Do you know a spell to close the portal?”
She nodded enthusiastically.
Albert thrashed, letting out a howl.
Nakomi screamed. “No, my love!”
Eilea hurried to his side, placed a hand on his brow, and muttered a sleeping spell. He fell quiet, eyes closing. She released a shaky breath. “Take me to the portal.”
“At once.” Annie handed Hrod to Nakomi.
“You two are going alone?” Amara asked.
Annie nodded. “Who else are we going to take? Drasko needs to stay here in case....” She glanced at Albert, whose snores filled the room, his chest rising and falling with disturbing violence. His snout had elongated to a crooked point. Eilea didn’t know how long the sleeping spell would last, but Annie was right. Drasko would need to deal with him and the others should they turn.
Amara grabbed Nakomi’s wrist. “I’m sorry, but I need to get my children out of here.”
Nakomi solemnly handed Hrod to Amara and looked at Eilea pleadingly. “Please hurry before it’s too late.”
“I’ll do my best.” She grabbed Annie’s arm. “Drasko will try to stop us.”
“I know.” Annie grimaced, then patted her pocket. “But I still have the keys to his truck. We’ll go out the back way.”
As Eilea followed her, the reality of her situation sank to her gut like a brick. They were going out into the wilderness to close a portal to the afterworld. Assailed with the memory of the time Katarina’s spirit had brutally choked her, Eilea shuddered. Never mind the potential werewolves that threatened to kill them. She was more worried about the vengeance of a jealous, vindictive ghost. She sent a silent prayer to the goddess, asking her to infuse her with the strength she needed to battle this spirit. Otherwise the Amaroki were doomed.
Chapter Seventeen
JIMMY’S HANDS ACHED so badly, he couldn’t think to reason.
Damn that bitch. I’ll kill her and all those fucking dogs.
Cradling damaged hands, he stumbled down the road, forcing his legs to propel him forward, though he was beyond exhausted and had to keep stopping to pull up his pants. It took all his willpower not to collapse face-first in the dirt. As soon as he made it to safety, he would get his revenge. There was an outpost at the edge of the reservation. He’d phone Headquarters and report a massive werewolf outbreak. His government would nuke every last m
ongrel.
Maniacal laughter bubbled in his throat. That stuck-up bitch would regret ever fucking with him.
He paused at a rustle in the overgrown bushes beside him. Odd. He hadn’t heard a peep in this forest for hours. He moved faster. Only a few more hours, and he’d be safe.
A low whimper made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “Whatever the fuck is out there better back off!” he hollered. “I’m a goddamn federal agent!”
The bushes rattled again.
“I’m warning you! My government will skin your hide if you lay a fucking finger on me.”
Grunting, he stumbled over a rock and tumbled into the dirt. Swearing, he clutched his throbbing arms and rolled on his side. A silent scream died on his lips when he found himself looking into the blood-red eyes of the most frightening creature he’d ever seen. It had a distended, pointy snout and razor-sharp teeth dripping with green goo that sizzled when it hit the ground. The creature loomed over him, one long, crooked arm raised as if to strike.
“You wouldn’t da—” Jimmy rumbled right before the creature sliced through his eyes with claws like blades.
Blinded by blood and pain, Jimmy screeched and kicked the creature between the legs with all his strength. The beast grunted and fell on top of him. Jimmy frantically pushed him off, gagging on the monster’s putrid breath. Mewling in agony, he stumbled to his feet and fled.
A roar behind him prodded him to move faster, fumbling through branches and undergrowth. A howl chased him deeper into the woods moments before his back was ripped open. He lunged forward and rolled like a ball until landing with a bone-sickening crunch.
Curled in a fetal position, Jimmy moaned as his lifeblood drained into the forest floor.
THE DRIVE DOWN THE dark winding road was filled with a deafening silence. Annie, who was driving, stayed alert, watching for signs of the ghost. Eilea alternated between marveling at the claws that extended and retracted from her fingers at will, and thinking about Geri. Had he gone with Katarina because he missed his dead mate or had he sacrificed himself in hopes that she would close the portal? If so, was it too late to get him out? Because Eilea refused to close the portal without trying to save him.
“I wish I knew what you were thinking.”
Sheathing her wondrous claws, she recalled Uncle Joe telling her Annie was a telepath. “I thought you could read minds.”
“I can, but my powers have failed me.”
What if she lost her spell-casting powers? She summoned the words to the banishing spell, quietly reciting them to herself. She remembered her grandmother’s memory spell and recited the words, hoping the chant was enough to preserve her spells.
“Well, Dr. Johnson?” Annie prodded. “What are you thinking?”
She decided it was best not to mention her concern about losing the spells. “I’m worried about trapping Geri in the portal.”
“I knew it.” Annie smacked the wheel. “You’re going in after him, aren’t you?”
“I have to try.”
“What if you both get stuck there?”
That thought had crossed her mind, but she did her best to subdue her fear. “I won’t let that happen.”
Annie side-eyed Eilea. “Do you know what happens to your mind in the portal?”
“No.”
“You completely lose it—your memories, everything.”
Aw, shit. She murmured the memory spell again.
“What are you doing?” Annie asked.
“Reciting a memory spell,” Eilea told her.
“You’d better pray it works.”
She continued her incantations. The spell had to work. She refused to fail the Amaroki.
PLACING LUC’S HAND over her abdomen, Amara whispered, “You must recover for your child, my love.” She choked back a sob and gently brushed her lips across his feverish forehead. “And for me.”
He responded with an eyelid twitch, nothing more. She didn’t even know if he could hear her. She moved over to Rone, checking his fluids and bed pad. Taking care of her sick family and keeping her babies fed and happy was the hardest thing she’d ever done. She had no time for sleep when so many needed her, but she considered herself fortunate. Other families had no nurses, so they languished with no one to help them. She wanted to offer assistance to those families, but she was spread too thin with her family. Raz turned out to be a miracle nurse, moving from pack to pack with amazing alacrity for an octogenarian. If it hadn’t been for her, the weakest shifters would’ve succumbed to dehydration.
Amara resented the government’s reaction to their plight. The humans had dropped supplies but not sent help. Jimmy was nowhere to be found. If they survived this ordeal, she was going to file a formal complaint with Agent Johnson.
She moved to her in-laws and wiped vomit off Mihaela, looking up with a start when the massive lodge doors slammed open for Drasko as a big, intimidating protector, eyes blazing gold. Agent Johnson was behind him. Hrod and Alexi howled, startled by the noise.
“Shh, babies.” She hurried to their playpen, which was positioned between Luc and Rone’s beds, and leaned over them. Annoyed, she handed Alexi his bottle and Hrod his sippy; she’d just put them to sleep.
Chest heaving, Drasko pointed an axe at her. “Time to go.”
Ignoring him, she swaddled her boys, attempting to soothe them back to sleep. “I already said I’m not leaving.”
Drasko stomped down the steps three at a time. “I’m not arguing with you.”
Amara’s heart sank. She couldn’t fight a massive wall of muscle and fur. “Give Eilea a chance to close the portal.”
“My niece went to close the portal?” Alarmed, Johnson rushed down the stairs. “Is she insane?”
Amara held her ground. “She’s the witch.”
Drasko’s heavy jowls fell. “You’re not making sense.”
“The goddess turned her into a shifter, and she has magical powers.”
“Turned her into a shifter?” The wrinkles around Johnson’s eyes deepened. “How?”
“Eilea drank the blood of the Ancients.”
Johnson had a look akin to horror in his eyes. “My niece drank shifter blood?”
“Yeah,” Amara huffed. “Now she’s got our cooties.”
Johnson rubbed a hand over his buzzed, gray hair, looking as if he was waking from a dream. “I-I didn’t mean offense. This just caught me off guard. I don’t understand how this means she can close the portal.”
“She remembered her grandmother’s spells,” Amara answered plainly, as if drinking Ancient wolf blood and suddenly recalling witchcraft was an everyday occurrence.
“Those spells weren’t real.”
Amara snickered. “The spells work for Eilea. I watched her put Albert to sleep with one.”
Drasko’s eyes bulged. “Albert woke up?”
Amara froze. Fuck, what had she done? “It’s fine. He’s asleep now.”
Drasko latched onto her shoulder with a bruising grip. “Did he turn into a werewolf?”
She struggled to shake him off. “He’s sleeping. He can’t hurt anyone. As soon as the portal is closed, I can heal him.”
Glowering, Drasko pushed her aside and stomped down the stairs.
“Drasko, wait!”
But he’d already reached the bottom step and was heading for the hall that led to the Strongpaw’s private room. Johnson followed him, a hand on his holster.
She tried to catch them, but fatigue slowed her movements.
She faltered when an ear-piercing scream rent the air. Heart beating double time, she finally reached their room, breathless and dizzy.
Drasko leaned over Albert Strongpaw’s bed, axe raised.
Nakomi was sprawled across her sleeping mate, glaring at Drasko with distended fangs. “You lay a paw on him, and I will rip your throat out!”
“I don’t want to, Nakomi, but he’s a threat to all of us.”
“He’s a threat to none of us,” Nakomi hissed.
Amara peered around Agent Johnson. Great Ancients, Albert looked even worse. He had fully transformed, snout jutting like a beak, fingers curved into massive claws. And the stench! She covered her nose, stomach turning over. He smelled worse than week-old roadkill. His brothers also appeared to be changing, their skin a deathly gray, noses twisting and eyes sunk in their sockets.
She understood Drasko’s reaction, but she didn’t want him to kill them yet. They were so close. Eilea had it in her to save them.
Pushing ahead of Johnson, Amara said, “Let Eilea close the portal, then I can heal him. All I’m asking is for you to give him the same chance I gave you,” she pleaded.”
He turned, a low rumble rising from his chest. “I told you to kill me then, Amara.”
“You did, and we wouldn’t have Alexi if I’d listened.” She held out her hands. “Lower your axe, sweetheart. Give Eilea a chance.”
“Please,” Nakomi cried.
Agent Johnson stood in the hall, gun in one hand, phone in the other. “I have to call this in.”
“You do, and we all die.” Amara said. “Your niece included.”
Johnson pocketed his phone with reluctance. “If he wakes, you have to kill him,” he said to Drasko.
“I will.” Drasko lowered his weapon. “You have my word.”
“You will have to kill me first,” Nakomi shrieked.
“If that’s what it takes.” Drasko grimaced. “I’m not putting my family or my people at risk.”
Ignoring Nakomi’s angry gasp, he ushered Amara out of the room. “One hour. If the portal isn’t closed by then, you’re leaving and I’m taking care of Albert and the rest of them. Do you understand me, Amara?”
She nodded. Great Ancients, please guide Eilea.
“KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for werewolves,” Annie said as she slammed the door.
Eilea clutched a hatchet, digging into the wood until her knuckles ached. “And ghosts,” she said breathlessly, scanning the canopy.
How odd the air was here—even more stifling than at the lodge. It was as if a vortex had sucked out all life, and they were moving through a painting.