Chapter 40
Andrew
I’m not a good man.
If I can’t allow my packmates to maintain their privacy, then doesn’t that make me an unworthy Alpha? Unworthy of being a part of this family group?
Before we all left the facility, Zephyr insisted on watching the freed prisoners destroy the building and everything in it.
In a rain of flashing lights and even falling meteors, the building was pummeled to the ground, rendered to dust. Only the sub-basement remained when they’d finished.
After some deliberation amongst them all, they’d approached Zephyr, spoken to him, and he’d used his power to suck the remains of the facility into the void.
There was much hugging afterward.
We split up from there, and in the chopper to a private airfield, Zephyr told us through our headsets, “Once they’re all healed, they want to go to the academy. Help us fight and rebuild.” He pauses. “And I want to help them work through what they were subjected to.”
I had taken his hand in mine and smiled at him. “I’m very proud of you.”
His smile was nowhere near as bright as it used to be, and that was when I’d made a very selfish decision.
Now, Zephyr and Nyxeris are curled up together on the luxurious seats they chose on the private jet that’s taking us directly to Keflavik, Iceland, where we’ll be catching a chopper back to the academy.
The pilots are a couple of ours, the flight quiet and peaceful.
And it’s while looking at the two Omegas I love more than life that I pry my way into their minds, diving in to see what had transpired while they were missing with Arlowe.
Once I drop into their dreams, witnessing what they’d done and where they’d gone, I regret my actions.
The private moment between them, building their bond and gaining strength from one another, was not for me to see.
But the mention of fate, and what I can only guess is reincarnation, has me utterly intrigued.
If what Nyxeris’ being said was true, this opens up so many possibilities to us all.
This is information that needs to be shared, researched.
Which means I absolutely must confess to invading their sleeping minds.
“He wants to talk to you.” A tablet is handed to me before Erich takes the seat beside me at the window, leans back and closes his eyes with a long, exhausted exhale.
I rise to my feet and travel to the back so as not to disturb my sleeping pack, just as Erich had done.
Rodrigo’s face takes up the screen. “Laurant. The academy is about to receive a large injection of residents.” His face is replaced by silenced news broadcasts, video footage of unrest in cities across the globe, news anchors in heated debates, politicians being whisked off to safety.
“What does this all mean?”
“It means the general population is pissed and the government is on the run.” His face returns.
“There were a lot of Cursed hiding in plain sight, many of them shielded by their families. As we’d assumed, finding out the truth has stirred up a lot of civil unrest. And not only among Cursed in hiding.
Non-Cursed of all designations are outraged.
” The screen swaps to a written message in a window.
“The information we sent out across the globe told everyone they were welcome to join our cause at the academy.”
“Is that wise?”
Rodrigo fills the screen again. “The GBE already knows we’ve taken both academies. We’re prepared to defend our base locations.”
“And from within? You already said there was a mole you hadn’t caught, and now we’re about to add who knows how many unknowns.”
His brow rises. “Are you saying you won’t be able to tell if someone is being untruthful during their intake interviews?”
I frown. “I suppose this is my recruitment?”
“You and all our empaths will be the first line of screening.” He’s silent, expression contemplative.
“What is it?”
He lets out a sigh, rubs his face with his palm and leans back heavily in his seat. “The data you all pulled from the mainframe. Lucas and I just started weeding through it all. It’s not good. Not that we expected it to be sunshine and rainbows.”
“Define ‘not good.’”
“The GBE is creating some kind of weapon. A big one. Something that supposedly only affects Cursed.”
“This is true.”
Rodrigo gazes off to the side at the sound of a deep voice with a heavy Russian accent.
“I have seen this. It was not complete yet when I defected, but the Russian Empire has been working with the East Asian Empire on a terrible weapon for many years.”
“Do you know where this weapon is?”
“The EAE. There is a massive facility in Japan. Lots of experimenting. Many weapons.” A huff. “The Russian Empire did not want to house such a threat. They have the most indentured Cursed in the world.”
Rodrigo looks like he needs a long sleep when he looks back at the screen. “Make sure you check in with Willow and Jory when you get back. They’ll have more information for you.”
“You’re not returning to the academy?”
He frowns. “Apparently, we’re heading for the EAE.”
“And Lowe is with them?” Nyxeris is a ball of worried energy as she speaks with a calm, smiling Willow.
“Yes, dear. They’ll be gone for quite some time. But I assure you that she is surrounded by Alphas who would protect her with their lives.”
I wince at that remark. It was only a day ago that one of our Omegas sacrificed himself to save our other Omega.
What a fine pair of Alpha protectors Erich and I had been. Zephyr being back with us doesn’t change how incompetent I feel. And I sense from Erich similar feelings.
Mira loops her arm with Nyxeris’ and this relaxes her. “She’ll be okay, Nyx. And this could be a good thing for her on a personal level, spending time with her Alphas. Maybe it will change her mind about the situation.”
The two Omegas share a look before bursting out into laughter that I don’t understand.
“Laurant.” Willow looks me over with a knowing look that unnerves me. “You said you had something you wanted to discuss?”
I clear my throat, my eyes snapping to Nyxeris, then the Zephyr beside Erich. “First, I need to confess something.”
“You invaded our dreams on the jet. We know.”
I gape at Zephyr, turn to Nyxeris’ raised brow and narrowed eyes. “If you can see us in our dreams, we can see you. Just like the night we mated.”
Well, shit. I hadn’t considered that.
“I don’t understand what’s happening here, but perhaps you all should discuss it privately before—”
“It’s come to our attention that fated mates may in fact be bound through the ages.”
All attention is on Zephyr.
“And what makes you believe something so fantastical?”
“I think we Cursed all have a certain… being… inside of us.” Nyxeris looks around the room, her free hand coming up to grasp her sternum, the rest of us absently following suit. “Well, Zeph and I had a little talk through ours.”
“Through the creatures?” Willow looks dumbfounded.
“Yes. Nyx’s was the one that divulged this bombshell, though not in great detail. It said something about finding each other again and again through the ages. That we’re not always successful.”
Nyxeris leaves Mira’s side to join Zephyr, who embraces her in a very protective stance, as though we’re still in a battle and she needs the security he provides.
“This is…” Willow blinks and shakes her head. “This would change everything. Again.”
“We’ll need to research.” Jory picks up his tablet from the nearby table. “Nyx, do you think that you could get your entity to speak through you again?”
“I’d like to try. We need to know the truth.” She peers up at Zephyr. “If you’re okay with it.” She looks to Erich and then me. “All of you, actually. I think it would be easier to achieve as a pack.”
“Of course.” I don’t even have to consider it.
“We’ll be there.” Erich doesn’t either. “I always wanted to know more about it.”
It’s Zephyr who sighs and closes his eyes, hugs Nyxeris tighter. “I’ll be your strength.” His words are like air.
And then something unbelievable happens.
Zephyr begins to purr.