Chapter 12
Caster made his way to his study, baffled by what he’d just experienced. He was used to some level of a submissive’s discomfort in his presence, but this was beyond the pale. Mark seemed more than uncomfortable. It was a good thing he was so obedient, or he would have passed out.
That he was attracted to the Prime Alpha’s brother was not in question.
Caster was never one to deny his desires, but he had little intention of doing anything about it.
As beautiful as he was, there was something fragile about Mark, and Caster didn’t do emotional entanglements.
Still, the desire to ease his distress earlier had been damn near impossible to resist. He couldn’t recall ever feeling that way about any submissive he played with.
The need to exert his control, to direct their every move, was present, but never a desire to ease their pain.
A single rap on the door drew him away from his ill-placed thoughts, and Riley, Damien, and Dean walked in. Working with these three would be much easier than dealing with the council’s politics.
“Riley tells me we have a plan?” Dean was never one to waste time, as he’d demonstrated on the battlefield so many times before.
“Well… I don’t know if you’ll like it, but it seems it’s our only hope.” Caster hoped the Prime Alpha would be agreeable. They’d tried everything else, and still, the witch remained out of reach.
Riley sat on one of the couches lining the left wall of the study, the only one without the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that were the room’s main feature. “I think I can enhance your tracking abilities with magic.”
To his credit, the Prime Alpha didn’t react, at least not the way Caster had expected. Instead, he crossed his massive arms over his chest. “That’s not going to go down too well.” He shook his head. “Not with Mark.”
“He doesn’t have to do it. We don’t need all of you.” Damien sat next to Riley.
The Prime Alpha chuckled, a sound that held little humor. “Then you don’t know my brother at all.” He sighed. “How will you do it?”
“It’s a simple enhancement spell,” Riley said. “Once done, you should track her scent with increased accuracy.”
Dean nodded. “But don’t we still need to have an idea of her location? We are good trackers, but not that good.”
“One of my locator spells has narrowed down her location to a few thousand miles.”
“Oh, that sounds doable.”
Caster needed him to understand. “You’ll have to be in wolf-form to track her, right?”
Dean nodded, still towering over them. “Of course.”
“It’s a good thing she is surrounded by thick forest cover.
We don’t want humans reporting wolf sightings where there have been none for centuries.
” Damien’s concern is something non-human species have learned to live with.
So far, not enough humans believed vampires, werewolves, and witches were even possible, which was great for everyone.
It was safer for them all if they remained cloaked in myth, legends, and stories.
“You want to do this tonight?” Dean asked.
“I assumed you wanted to gather more wolves. The three of you are not enough, I don’t think.” Caster wished the animosity between the two species could go away, but knew it would take time.
“We can handle it. And it’s two. Only Mikey and I will do the tracking.”
The Prime Alpha chose to conceal something, but as the leader of his people, he was entitled to his secrets. But why wouldn’t his brother want to join the hunt? He seemed capable enough.
Caster forced his attention back to the conversation at hand, lest his mind wander to the effect the Prime Alpha’s brother had on him.
“Then we should do it tonight,” Damien said. “The sooner we put all of this behind us, the better it will be for everyone.”
Caster rose from his seat, the sudden need for blood clawing at him. “Then tonight it is. If you’ll excuse me…”
Damien and Riley knew him well enough to look concerned, but Dean said something about arrangements to be made and walked out in the direction of his room.
Caster ignored both Damien and Riley and reached for his phone.
Perhaps Nicholas from the other night was free for some playtime.
He wasn’t in the habit of using the same partner twice, but he didn’t have time to go hunting before they needed to leave.
§
“They have an idea of where she could be, but they’ve narrowed it down to about 1000 miles.” Dean’s explanation sounded reasonable enough. Still, Mark knew he held something back, and he wouldn’t like it.
Too exhausted to think straight, Mark had retreated to his room, careful to avoid all vampires, one in particular, as he made his way back. Less than an hour later, his brother had come barging in claiming to have a plan.
“Tracking her over such large distances will take more than you and Mikey.” His heart ached at the implication that his inability to transform would once again render him useless.
Dean paced the length of the sitting area. “Not if Riley enhances our senses.”
Mark shot out of his seat, ready to unleash his full anger, but the look on his brother’s face stopped him.
“I know what you’re going to say. But think about it, Mark. Without magic, we’d need at least a hundred wolves patrolling the area for days to find her. This way, one night is all we need.”
Mark sighed. His brother had a point. Still… “Is it safe?”
Dean rubbed the back of his head, the bashful expression on his face the answer Mark didn’t need.
“You didn’t ask?”
“I don’t need to.” He raised a hand when Mark opened his mouth to argue. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I trust Riley and Caster. If they say it’s safe, it is. Plus is only temporary.”
Mark crossed his arms over his chest. “They told you that?”
Dean closed his eyes in response.
“Dean…”
“OK. Why don’t you go ask all the questions you need to get comfortable with the idea? But it is happening. If we want to get this witch, we’ll have to play ball, and this is it.”
Mark held his brother’s gaze. “I will, and I am coming with you.”
Dean sighed. “I thought you’d want to. But how will you explain…”
Anger pricked his already irritated mind. “I don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
Dean turned and walked towards the door. He opened it but didn’t leave, instead turning toward Mark. “Go get your answers. Be quick about it. This has to be done before dawn. I’ll go find Mikey.”
Mark walked further into the bedroom, needing to change and a plan, but Dean’s voice stopped him as he approached the closet.
“Hey…”
He met his brother’s unwavering gaze.
“Tonight, that witch pays for everything.”
Mark nodded. He was so close to the end now. Perhaps his heart would find some reprieve when he held hers in his hand.