Chapter 5
“Oh, my creator. I think he got wasted last night,” Caleb grumbled.
“He never gets drunk,” Frank snorted.
“Well, he’s buck naked asleep by the lake,” Daniel chuckled.
“I told you Adam was acting weird. I heard his howl last night from the ridge,” Gideon snapped. “But oh no, no one believes me.”
“Will you guys just shut up and let me think,” Ben snarled.
“There’s nothing to think about,” Ethan stated and then gave a swift kick, which landed in Adam’s ribs, and he woke up grabbing his side with a grunt.
Adam bolted upright and saw all his brothers towering over, him looking highly confused. He glanced around quickly and realized that Aoife was no longer with him.
“Where’s Aoife?” he growled, jumping to his feet.
“Put some clothes on, dude. Seriously,” Caleb groused and handed him a pair of jeans.
Adam snatched them from him and pulled them on, for the sake of modesty. Not that Sasquatches were ever that modest before. Stupid realm laws.
“Where is Aoife?” Adam demanded again.
“Not here,” Ben stated. “You were alone when we found you. Gideon said you went ape last night.”
“He did. He was howling, clapping and shrieking into the night. I haven’t heard that ever. Dad used to say it was common during the raids to get human female brides.”
“Bushman cometh, ladies,” Daniel teased.
“Don’t joke about that shit.” Ethan kicked Daniel, the two of them baring their teeth and snarling.
“Idiots!” Ben groused.
Adam grunted and tied back his hair. He did go ape last night. When he kept thinking about Prince Ivar touching Aoife, his mate, he just lost all control. He wanted to claim her, that primitive side to him just took over and there was no stopping it. It was all primal urges then.
He blacked out as he chased her through the woods and then caught her down by the lake. It was like a frenzy. He heard about those moments, but had never experienced that call of the wild. All he could think about was burying his cock in her cunt and filling her with his seed. It was after he mated with her, he realized what had happened. He was relieved he didn’t scare her. That she wanted it and was excited by it. Having her in his arms, everything felt right. She was his. The last thing he recalled was her curled up next to him and falling asleep with her. Now, she was gone. He couldn’t even smell her scent.
Panic seized him and his head felt full, like he had been put under glamour or a spell. He was terrified that Prince Ivar had found them last night and stolen her, but how? Her scent was well masked by his and Prince Ivar wouldn’t just steal her back and leave. His brothers and he were still here.
“There’s been no sign of anyone out of the normal in our woods?” Adam asked.
Ben looked a bit skittish. “Nope.”
Adam could smell the deception. “You’re lying.”
“No, nothing…” Ben took a step back.
“You’re hiding something,” Adam growled. “And it better not be Aoife.”
“You think I would be that stupid to steal my brother’s mate?” Ben snarled.
“You were stupid enough to be fucking a human last night,” Adam growled, puffing up his chest.
The other brothers started to grumble and growl.
“Ben, seriously? Humans are off-limits. They don’t know about this realm,” Gideon stated.
“We’re going to have the elf army in our woods, sending all of us to their brainwashing camps,” Daniel said, carefully. “Aoife’s presence here has basically solidified that fact.”
“What’s wrong?”
Adam spun around to see Aoife standing a few feet away from them. She reeked of fish, but not like lake fish. Something else, but he didn’t care. He took two steps and pulled her close against him, holding her tight and breathing her in.
Mine.
Then he set her on the ground. “Where were you?”
Aoife worried her bottom lip. “White River. I had to do something.”
“What?” Adam asked.
“Something I’m not particularly proud of.” She looked away. “I did it to protect you. All of you.”
Adam took a deep breath and looked his brothers to let them silently know that this was a private matter.
Ben actually looked relieved. “Come on. Let’s go back to work.”
There were some complaints and muttering, but his brothers disappeared back into the trees. There was still something up with Ben, but Adam really couldn’t worry about that right now.
“Aoife, what happened?” Adam asked.
She sighed. “I was recognized by a mermaid in the bar and I had to do a little job for her in order to ensure that she didn’t let Prince Ivar’s soldiers know who I was with. I was doing it to protect you.”
“You acted as a harbinger last night?” he asked, knowing that she didn’t want to be like that. She didn’t like using her banshee powers in that way.
“Not a full-on wail, but enough to scare the crap out of someone. He paid the mermaid the owed debt and now you’re safe.”
“And if this mermaid double-crosses us?” Adam asked, because he didn’t trust a mermaid who obviously had criminal ties.
“She won’t. If she does, I’ll have her voice. She’s not a fool. I just don’t like being blackmailed.”
Adam pulled her close, to hold her. He ran his hand over her silken locks. “You don’t need to protect us. If I could get my hands on the prince, I could snap him like a twig.”
Aoife chuckled softly, her fingers tangling into his chest hair. “I know, but I had to do something. If I hadn’t of stumbled into your woods, you wouldn’t be involved. It’s not fair.”
“Thank you,” he responded. “It’s what I’d do for my mate.”
Aoife froze and pushed herself out of his arms, pulling her cloak tight around her. “Your…what?”
“Mate.”
“It’s just a love spell. I know you guys give off crazy pheromones.”
“I think it’s more than that,” Adam said, huskily. “I think it’s more than just some kind of Sasquatch banshee love spell pheromone thing. I care for you. I want to keep you safe.”
Her breath caught in her throat, her dark eyes went a bit pale, her body shimmering. “Yeah, maybe you’re right, because I do care about you. So much.”
His heart skipped a beat hearing her admit it. There was no denying it, he was falling for his little banshee witch.
Completely.
Adam pulled her back into his arms, holding her while she clung to him.
“No one has ever really cared for me before. Not really. They just wanted to use me,” she murmured against his chest, and he could feel her tears on his forearm.
“They’re idiots, then. I don’t care who you are or what you are. I would never use you.”
She looked up at him, smiling. “I feel the same and I’ll protect you and your brothers from harm. I will keep you all safe.”
Adam ran his thumb over her cheek and then bent over, kissing her gently on the forehead. No one had ever offered to protect him or his family before; it was usually just up to him and it was a burden he gladly bore.
It was nice to have someone else in his corner.
And he was honored that Aoife wanted to take care of them, but he also wanted to protect her, and it wasn’t fair that he kept his brothers locked away in the woods. He would have to face Prince Ivar and let him know that Aoife would not be his.
The prince had to find another banshee to breed with.
“What’re you thinking?” Aoife asked.
“What?” Adam replied.
Aoife’s brow furrowed. “It was like you were in some kind of trance. You were far away, I could sense it.”
“Just thinking about…” he trailed off, because he didn’t want her to know what he was thinking about. It was time someone stood up to that Prince and the King.
“You’re thinking about facing Prince Ivar, aren’t you?” she asked, horrified.
“I want to protect you.”
“That”s sweet, but it’s not smart. You know what he’ll do to you.”
“That’s all rumors. He’s not supposed to have that Sasquatch army and I don’t want to have to restrict my brothers’ movements or mine because we’re living in fear, always having to look over our shoulder. Or even have someone recognize us, like that mermaid and have them blackmail us to do their bidding. I don’t want to live a life like that. Do you?”
Aoife sighed. “No, but that’s been my life.”
“I need to confront him and let him know that you’re my mate.” A chill ran down his spine as he said that and the woods around him became silent as if the very trees were listening.
Aoife’s eyes turned white and she shimmered as it seemed the forest around them grew darker. The surface of the lake was dark, still, like a mirror. The clouds black, like a storm approaching. All the sunlight was sucked out of the morning sky. It was eerily quiet.
A prickly sensation ran over his body and a growl rumbled deep in his chest.
“Adam,” Aoife stated, her voice hollow. “Death.”
“I sense it.”
“Stay behind me.” She levitated off the ground as black misty tendrils crept along the forest floor.
Adam crouched down low, focused on the mist gathering.
He wasn’t sure if it was Tuatha Order members, but he didn’t think that witches or warlocks could control the environment like this. It definitely wasn’t Prince Ivar or any one of the Fae realms. This was something sinister.
Evil.
A figure formed as the mist collected and solidified, becoming a hooded figure with pale skin which glowed through the blackness.
He was dressed all in leather and as he pushed the hood off his head, a mane of ebony hair similar to Aoife’s, was braided over his shoulder. His eyes were black, like Aoife. He smiled at Adam’s mate with a smirk of satisfaction.
Aoife settled back to the ground, her body turning solid again, her eyes returning to their black color instead of white.
“Who are you,” Adam snarled.
The man looked at him and another shudder of dread passed through him.
“Aoife, tell your sabe to take a step back please. I’m not going to hurt you,” the man drawled.
Aoife snorted. “It’s okay, Adam. This is my half brother. A wraith. His name is Cillian.”
Cillian tsked under his breath. “Now, Aoife you know I prefer the term reaper.”
“You’re her brother?” Adam asked.
Cillian smiled. “Her half brother. Same father, different mothers. Although, I guess I’m technically your great-great-great uncle too. We have the same grand sire. My mother is a full-on banshee and has a taste for mortal men.”
Aoife was completely triggeredwhen she felt the presence of a wraith, but she wasn’t sure if it was a member of her extended family or someone else. Someone sent by Prince Ivar. Not that wraiths were particularly loyal. They did what they did for money or blood or whatever the hell they wanted.
However, they were loyal to family.
Just not reliable.
Cillian was okay as half brothers go. He was a bit shady and completely narcissistic and totally unreliable. She really had no idea why he was here. She knew he wasn’t hunting her down, because no matter how diabolical he was, it was just written into the DNA of wraiths that they couldn’t betray their own blood.
Even if they wanted to.
She didn’t have that, being a banshee.
Just a wraith trait.
“Was that you who I sensed in Thunder Bay?” Aoife asked, crossing her arms.
Cillian smiled, clearly pleased. “I wondered if you sensed me.”
“I saw your misty trail,” she snorted.
“I’m keeping my eye on you. I heard you bolted from the Tuatha Order. I was so proud of you.” Cillian took a seat on a nearby rock.
“Oh, I finally made you proud, eh?” Aoife asked in derision.
“Did I not just say that?” Cillian replied.
“What do you want?” Adam growled.
Cillian’s dark eyes narrowed on Adam, and Aoife took a step in front of him. Cillian could, if he wanted to, kill Adam so easily. Reap his soul and send it to the netherworld, so she wanted to make it quite clear to him that Adam was hers.
“I’ve come to warn you, ape,” Cillian snarled and then he looked at Aoife. “Both of you.”
“Warn us about what?” Aoife asked.
“That the Order is closing in. Your dear old Mommy is not giving up on you. The Tuatha’s army is coming to fetch you back for your wedding.”
“I’m not going back,” Aoife stated.
“I know and you shouldn’t. There”s a few…let’s call them princes of the netherworld…who aren’t too happy with Prince Ivar at the moment.” Cillian leapt down from the rock, his eyes burning like hellfire. “Banshee blood should not be used to breed for military purposes.”
A shudder travelled down her spine. “So it is true.”
“The Order is trying to grab hold of power over the magical realm. There’s been too much restriction. Too many rules,” Cillian stated.
“Since when did wraiths and the princes of the netherworld care about rules?” Aoife asked.
“We don’t. Not usually, but Prince Ivar is trying to control it all. He’s trying to overthrow his father. His realm, the mortal realm, the netherworld. Your mother knows this and she wants to ally herself with the Prince. King Tiene is old and blinded by his son. She wants control of the netherworld. She wants the dark powers to herself. You were just a commodity.” Cillian crossed his arms. “I’m not one for sharing secrets, but this involves all of us. Your mother does not deserve what she’s after. She’s playing with damnation.”
“I know. You don’t have to remind me.” Aoife swallowed a lump in her throat. “Why don’t the princes do anything?”
“It’s not their place. They can’t interfere.”
“So why tell me this?”
“If Prince Ivar impregnates you, your mother will gain power the princes cannot fight.”
A shudder ran down her spine. The magic of elf, banshee, and witch would be powerful. She never thought of that side.
She was a harbinger descended from Death.
Her mother was playing a risky game. “So, you’ve come here to warn me about the Tuatha Order closing in.”
“They’ll kill the Sasquatches.” Cillian’s gaze flickered to Adam. “You are my blood and I’m bound to warn you.”
“Mother is your blood as well,” Aoife said. “How do I know you’re not working with her?”
Cillian snorted and his eyes flashed red. “Diluted blood. Sure, she’s a great-great niece, but she”s never been kind or loyal to me. You at least talk to me. I’ll protect you over someone who wants to overthrow the princes of darkness. I won’t have Prince Ivar in control of all the realms. I won’t.”
“So you’re warning, but you won’t help me fight them?”
“Sadly, I cannot get involved to that level. You know that. All I can do is warn you.” Then he grinned, taking a step closer to her. It was a smile that sent a shiver of dread through her. “You may have to reap their souls, little sister. Call out and wail. Kill them.”
There was a level of glee in his voice as he said that.
Cillian was enjoying it, because he knew how she felt about that. She had never done the wail of death.
Never.
She glanced over her shoulder at Adam and her stomach knotted. The thought of the Order coming here to kill him and his brothers, it was too much. So, if she had to do it, she would. She would reap her mother’s soul.
“When?” she asked.
“I would put up enchantment and protection wards. That will alert you, but I saw them gathering outside of Thunder Bay. Under the falls. There’s a portal there. Not well used, but they had permission to use it.”
Aoife took a deep breath. “Well, thank you for letting me know.”
Cillian shrugged. “You know I had to. Blood. Bound by blood to protect you in my own way, little sister.”
Cillian pulled on his hood and began to slowly disappear. As he vanished, the forest began to waken, the dark clouds dissipated, and the lake rippled with life again. The sun illuminated the darkness and it was day again.
“He sucked all the life out of the forest,” Adam muttered.
“In a way.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I have to put up the protective charms.”
“I don’t like that there’s a secret portal,” Adam stated. “The magical beings in Thunder Bay should know.”
“They should,” Aoife agreed. “If what Cillian said is true, Prince Ivar wants to not only control our realm, but the mortals and the netherworld. He wants to overthrow his father, the king. The demons will not be happy about that.”
“It’s bad enough what the elves do to our realm. All the rules. Why do we let the elves rule over us all? Who decided that?”
“Lore said it was to protect the humans, centuries ago. When magic both dark and light still ran amok in that world. Why do you think Arthurian legend talks about dragons, lions, and other mythical beings and then suddenly, it all stopped?” Aoife asked.
“Men became religious. There were witch hunts,” Adam stated. “Even my own kind had to fade away.”
“Exactly. So we let the elves rule over us and help us disappear behind a wall of glamour. Those that skirt the rules are punished, but it’s become too much.” She looked up at him and thought about how his species was so restricted that they couldn’t even breed anymore.
There were castes in the magical realm, when it hadn’t been that way before. All the realms merged and magic was everywhere, like it belonged.
It was wrong.
And she wouldn’t be that piece to tie together Tuatha and Prince Ivar to rule it all.
“What should we do?” Adam asked.
“Call your brothers in closer. And any other magical beings in these woods. I’m going to set wards and I need everyone inside the protection bubble. That’s the first step. Then we’ll figure out the rest.”
Adam nodded. He scooped her up and then kissed her forehead before setting her down on the ground. She touched her forehead and she wished it was her lips. It softened her to know he respected her; he was the only one who ever did. “Be careful while I’m gone.”
“I will. And you be careful too.”
Adam nodded. “I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll prepare my spells. I’m ready to put an end to this.”
“So am I.” Adam disappeared into the forest, she could hear his claps and his calls as he summoned those in the forest.
Aoife wandered down to the water and stuck her hand in, calling for Coraliane, because the rest of the realm needed to know what was going on and Coraliane could get the word out fast enough.
Although she couldn’t really trust a mermaid, she had no choice.
The others needed to know what was coming.
And they needed to know now.