Chapter 26 – Laithe #2
Arsyn laughs, smacking Emerson’s ass. She’s leaning in close to his side while they walk. My nose twitches with...something.
I’m old, so it’s highly unusual for me not to place a scent. It’s like nothing and something all at once.
“I’ll be back,” I say to Arsyn and Emerson, before zipping away to check the area. I make a quick circle around the parking lot. Nothing stands out.
Heading down the street, I circle the side of the building, where I encounter twenty or more wolves.
Fuck, they’re using scent blockers. It’s the only way I could have missed their smell.
Apparently, the mutt has decided tonight would be a good time to make his move. As I pause, working on a plan of action, the wolves attack.
I break the neck of the wolf that lunges at my face and slide to the side as another takes a chunk out of my side. He roars as he realizes my fist is now firmly wrapped around his heart. I feel not an ounce of remorse as I remove the organ and toss it away with little care.
Several other mongrels try their luck while I continue to formulate a plan. Dread and Ryktus are our two strongest fighters, and they’re both inside The Den. I lick the wolf blood from my claws as my eyes turn fully white.
I’m a fool.
The alpha fuck isn’t among these wolves, and that’s a very bad sign.
Meena told me to stick close to Emerson’s side.
My patience wears thin as I rip through the remaining wolves. Unfortunately for them, I am not Ryktus. I couldn’t give a shit whether they’re acting under orders.
The final wolf provides me enough of a top off of blood that my side no longer gushes from an open wound.
“Leifton,” Arsyn bellows, using my original name.
My blood runs colder than it ever has.
I’m in motion before the thought has even fully crossed my mind. I round the corner of the building with my monster fully in control.
Two heavy thumps fill the air as the shifter’s bodies land.
I release their hearts a millisecond later.
My hands are bloody, but I wipe a good bit of it off on the next wolf who tries his luck. I sever his spinal cord and wipe my still-dripping hands on his fur.
I’m slightly concerned Emerson will be afraid of me when she spots me.
Still, I don’t hesitate in completing each ruthless kill. There is no mercy to be found tonight on this battlefield.
I make a straight shot for Emerson but stumble several steps when I spot Arsyn being held by two shifters in human form. He’s in full demon form, but his skin is bubbling and oozing from multiple wounds. Only one thing can cause that—an entire vat of holy water.
I can’t process the agony he must be feeling. Drops of holy water cause a reaction similar to spilling acid on a human.
Fury pounds through my system when I spot Carson with an arm wrapped around Meena. The old witch is holding Ember cradled to her chest. The girl is in wolf form and she’s whining and desperately trying to escape from Meena’s gentle hold.
Arsyn’s pitch-black eyes get even darker, like he's creating an absence of space.
Fuck , I know what that means.
Emerson is mostly limp in Alpha Brayden's arms, and for a second, I think he's drugged her. Until the truth clicks. Arsyn is fighting his need to pull energy from her to heal himself.
Mates can't harm each other, but the nature of their relationship allows him to draw energy from her. In his majorly fucked-up state, it's likely he'll drain her to unconsciousness. It wouldn't hurt her, but she would be out for hours.
“I don't think it's likely we'll make it back to the van,” Brayden says in a strangely excited tone. “Your keys would be nice. Or I'll have my brother break the old witch's neck.”
Emerson gasps, clutching at Brayden's arm, which is wrapped firmly around her middle.
I hiss in response. My monster isn’t exactly verbal at the moment. I just slaughtered several packs worth of wolves, and my beast isn't in the mood to negotiate.
The monstrous part of me is high on death and vengeance. And we crave the alpha wolf who thinks he can touch our beloved.
“You won't be able to hide from us,” Arsyn snarls. “Wherever you take them, I'll hunt you down and devour your fucking soul.”
Right, maybe now would be a good time to dial back the threats.
“You can try, but you'll be risking both their lives,” Carson says, chuckling derisively.
I'm going to pull out that piece of shit's spine and have it mounted on the wall in the dungeon I intend to build to house anyone who ever looks at Emerson or Ember the wrong way again. I should have started construction already.
I add that to my to-do list.
“Did you come here specifically to die?” Arsyn asks, frowning. “I can't seem to comprehend why else you would come here, unless you're ready to be slaughtered.”
“Which one do you intend to save?” Brayden asks, slapping a hand over Emerson's mouth. He brings his other clawed hand up to her throat and barely breaks the skin. “You won't be able to keep both of them alive. Which one do you choose?”
Emerson fights against his hold, and her eyes plead with me. I know her answer the second her eyes cut to Ember.
“The children,” Meena says.
I frown at the old witch. Now is a terrible time for her to lose her faculties.
“Any mother will always save her child.” Meena gives me a nod, but she looks at Emerson.
I give her a look that indicates she should start making some fucking sense.
Brayden's claws dig farther into Emerson's throat, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.
Ember finally wiggles herself free and falls to the concrete. She lets out a tiny grunt and bolts for the back door of The Den.
I stop standing dumbfounded once the pup is safe and aim for Meena.
I break Carson's neck as Arsyn releases the most chilling sound I've ever heard in all my thousand years of life.
His eyes are voids as he begins to suck the life out of Alpha Brayden and the two wolves holding him.
It's an extremely dangerous way for an incubus to feed.
I ignore him and advance on Brayden.
Emerson falls to the ground in a heap as blood pours from her throat.
The wolf attempts to shift, but I careen into him with the force of a freight train. His body slams into the parked car behind him as his claws dig into my chest. He gets very close to my heart before I sever his head from his body.
He really didn't need to come here tonight.
None of this makes any sense.
Carson will rise again, and that motherfucker will suffer a thousand deaths at my hand.
He thinks what his brother did was torture?
He has no clue the suffering coming his way.
I gorge on the alpha wolf until I can hold no more. All of this occurs within seconds.
The back door of The Den slams open, and Dread growls a sound that fucking terrifies me. But I don't pay attention to him.
“Oh, Gods,” Aline sobs from somewhere behind me.
I fall to my knees, and Arsyn already has Emerson's head in his lap. The pup is lying on her belly at her mother's side, licking her inner wrist, and I barely hold back a sob.
I'm very close to murdering the old witch as I pull my wrist to my mouth. Her wrinkled hands are glowing, but she's got them over Emerson's stomach. The crazy old bat has lost the plot, because the woman I love is currently bleeding out from practically being decapitated.
“You can't turn her,” Meena says in barely more than a whisper.
“Of fucking course, I can,” I snarl, shoving my wrist to Emerson's mouth. Arsyn helpfully holds it open.
Good, the incubus is in agreement.
He can live.
Anyone who tries to stop me will die.
“She's carrying a baby,” Meena says, continuing to force her magic into Emerson's womb.
“What?” Ryk whispers, appearing behind the witch.
“Save her no matter what,” Dread snarls, picking up Ember and cradling her protectively to his chest. “Ember can't lose her mother.”
“She's truly with child?” Aline asks, falling to her knees at my side. She tilts her head, studying Meena.
“She is,” the witch replies. “And I'm not sure why, but the baby has a future that's extremely important.”
“How do we save it and Emerson?” Arsyn asks. His skin is still red and broken in places.
“That part, I don't know,” Meena says, but her eyes cut to Aline.
She does know; she's just unwilling to force the issue. Unfortunately for Aline, I am not so tactful.
“They'll find me,” Aline says, grimacing. Her pinkish-blonde hair falls around her as her shoulders pull back. “You're sure?”
“Yes, she's definitely pregnant,” Meena says, staring into Aline's eyes.
My blood continues to pour into Emerson's mouth while Arsyn massages her throat. I have to slice my wound with a claw repeatedly to keep it flowing.
“Children are always a gift,” Aline says, ripping the bracelet off her wrist. It has huge bubble beads in soft pastel colors. Her finger carefully slides over each one. The string holding them together is severed, but they don't fall off.
Aline rips off a light pink bead, and the others slide together like there was never any damage to the jewelry.
“Be prepared to fight,” she whispers, blanching. “The hunters will come for me as soon as I use my magic. I can get away with small amounts. But anything this large will cause a disruption they'll be able to track. I need a head start.”
“Understood,” Ryktus says.
Dread passes the pup to Arsyn and rolls his shoulders back like he's preparing to fight to the death.
Aline crushes the orb between her fingers and shoves my hand aside. She spills half into Emerson's mouth and pushes it closed.
“There are no guarantees this will work,” Aline says. She blows the rest over Emerson's body and the powder immediately dissolves into nothing.
Meena continues to hold her illuminated hands over Emerson's womb.
“I'm going to continue with the blood,” I say to no one in particular.
It's probably a terrible time to admit that I've definitely given her enough to turn her.
If she truly is pregnant, I have no idea what effect it might have.
“No, no more,” Aline says. Her tone is strained, and she looks like she’s in pure agony. Her magic glows in her eyes. “She is truly blessed.”
A strange discomfort slips through my system. Aline is a friend and has been for many years. She’s always been on her own. It’s very clear now that she yearns for what Emerson has.
The echoing pop of a portal being opened radiates through the parking lot.
“Fuck,” Aline hisses.
Dread snarls, stepping between us and the glowing opening that leads to another realm or, possibly, somewhere in this one.
“Ali,” a deep male voice says. The white light that streams around him makes it impossible to differentiate any features.
“Shit,” Aline whispers. She seems very stuck on one-word curses.
Emerson's heart beats an erratic thump, and my eyes fly to hers.
The wound on her neck is completely sealed. Several long seconds pass without any additional heartbeats.
Emerson's eyes pop open, and she sits straight up.
The fully white irises that stare back at me take my breath away.
“Shit,” I echo Aline's earlier statement.
My eyes fly to Meena. She told me not to turn her, but I'm pretty sure...
“Shit, indeed,” the old witch mutters.
“Ember,” Emerson sobs. She pulls the pup into her chest before I can stop her. I briefly wonder if I'll have to prevent her from trying to drain her dry.
I'll subdue Emerson, if I have to. She'd never forgive me if I didn't.
Emerson surprises all of us by burying her face in the pup's fur and sobbing blood-red tears.
“Are you hungry, sweet mate?” Arsyn asks, running his hands down Emerson's arms.
“No,” she says, shaking her head.
“I'm glad you're okay,” Aline tells Emerson. “I've got to go.”
“Alinelle, don't you goddamn think of running from me again,” the unknown says.
“Thank you,” Emerson says to Aline.
“You'll die before you drag her back to Faere,” Dread says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Get all the females inside.” He tosses the last bit over his shoulder.
“Drag her back? That's my fucking wife ,” the voice snarls.
“Mine, too,” another voice adds as the massive man steps through the portal.
“Double shit.” Aline sighs.
Emerson manages to push herself off the ground from lying down without a lick of help from the rest of us.
“Where are you going?” Arsyn asks. He's still covered in Emerson's blood.
“My mate said to head inside, and I, for one, intend to listen.” Her blonde hair is soaked in blood and falls around her shoulders as she bolts for the back door of The Den with Ember in her arms.
“What the fuck is she?” I whisper.
“I have no idea,” Meena says.
“A hybrid?” Aline suggests. “Possibly? Honestly, I have no clue, either.”
“She's magnificent.” Arsyn pops up and follows Emerson.
“You created another abomination,” the first unknown voice says. “Ali, when will you learn?”
Arsyn goes stiff. He spins around, rolling his shoulders back. “Someone needs to top me off,” he says, glancing at me. “Devouring souls actually sucks energy rather than feeding me.”
That shocks me into action. I forgot he killed the two shifters holding him, and he does look terrible.
I push myself up, smack a kiss on the sex demon's lips, and prepare to do battle with Aline's supposed husbands.
“That was hardly enough,” Arsyn grumbles.