Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
C ade and Peyton were both back in the library. Cade was sitting on the other side of the desk Peyton had commandeered and was writing out everything he could remember being told about fated mates in his family, while Peyton was working. He’d have to contact some family members and see if they remembered anything he’d missed. He couldn’t wait to share the news that their curse, or whatever it was, was being looked into and could finally be broken.
The library door opened and Dane walked in, carrying his laptop and lots of paper. He looked startled to see anyone else in there. “Sorry, the library is usually empty at this time of day. I’ll find somewhere else to work.”
“Don’t do that, there’s more than enough room in here,” Peyton told him.
“Thanks. I love this library. I’m secretly hoping winter comes early so I can light the fire,” Dane said, walking to another table and putting his things down.
“I love wood fires,” Cade said, leaning back in his chair. “There’s something about the crackle and smell.”
Peyton laughed. “I can always light it now.”
“Then I think we would all melt,” Dane replied with a laugh, sitting down.
“Yeah, you could be right,” Peyton agreed.
“Can I just say, you two look a lot happier, especially you, Cade,” Dane commented.
“Yeah, we’re close to sorting my issues out so we can mate, Your Highness.”
“Gah, call me Dane. Now I’m away from the gargoyle palace, I can just be Dane, Regent of the Gargoyle King.”
“Got it, Dane, Regent of the Gargoyle King,” Cade repeated with a laugh.
“I would have stuck with Your Highness, it’s shorter,” Peyton added.
“Oh yeah, we three are gonna be friends,“ Dane announced.
“We are,” Peyton agreed. “We have to find you a mate now.”
The smile fell off Dane’s face. “I fear I’m destined to travel my life path alone.”
“How do you know that?” Cade asked.
“Everyone has a mate out there,” Peyton said.
“I met my mate years ago, but she died before I could claim her. I’ve resigned myself to not having a mate.”
“But you could still fall in love with someone and bond with them,” Peyton pointed out.
“I could, but for the moment I have too much work to do to go out looking for someone.”
“You might not have to look far. Don’t forget there are a lot of people here, with more on the way,” Peyton reminded him.
Dane nodded. “True, but for now, I need to do work stuff.”
“Us, too,” Peyton said.
“Then let’s do work stuff until dinner,” Cade added.
And they did.
Upstairs, Phil gave a loud sigh and woke up. He looked around the unfamiliar room and saw Clara lying on the bed next to him. He touched a hand to her face before he sat up and stretched, then got shakily to his feet and walked out of the room, each step becoming easier.
Phil walked along the corridor, looking around and taking note of everything. He found the main staircase and walked down them. Even from the little he had seen, this house looked impressive. He stopped in the large hallway for a moment and was looking around when he saw two men walking out of a room.
“Ash, Nick,” Phil said in surprise.
They both stopped walking and stared at him before breaking into wide grins and rushing him. Both took a turn pulling him into a hug.
“You’re awake! How?” Ash asked happily, pulling back and sending a message to Blake and Jason through the pack link.
“I just woke up. I’ve no idea where I am, so I’m glad you two are the first people I’ve seen.”
“You’re in the Fortuna pack house, Blake is our Alpha. You’re not going to believe everything that’s happened lately,” Nick told him.
Just then, Blake and Jason hurried into the hall.
“Phil!” they both exclaimed.
Ash and Nick moved out the way while Blake and Jason pulled Phil into another hug, laughing.
“It’s so good to see you up and about. What about Clara?” Blake asked, pulling back.
“Still sleeping,” Phil replied.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” Jason asked him.
“I don’t think so,” Phil said. “But I’ll let you know when I’ve been awake for longer than a few minutes.”
“Come outside and meet our mates. Nancy is outside having lessons with the other children,” Jason said. “You can meet my son.”
Phil stared at him, gobsmacked. “You have a son?”
Jason laughed. “Come on outside with us and see.”
Blake put his arm around Phil’s shoulder and led him through the kitchen, which for once was empty, and out through the back door and into the garden, leading him a little way from the house.
Phil stopped and stared, blinking hard. “You’ve a large pack. Just how long was I asleep?”
Blake laughed, looking around and seeing dragon and gargoyle guards plus his pack.
“Not that long, a lot’s happened. We have so much to explain,” Blake told him. He saw Baylan and Alex walking towards them.
“That’s my mate on the left,” Blake said, nodding towards the twins.
“Congratulations,” Phil said. “Where’s your son, Jason?”
Before he could reply there was a shout.
“Daddy!” Nancy shouted, spying her dad and running towards him.
Quick as a flash, Ares was standing in front of them. Demi caught Nancy and picked her up.
“Let me go, Demi, that’s my dad,” she said struggling.
Demi whispered something to Nancy and she stopped her struggling.
“Babe?” Jason queried looking at Ares. He noticed that Puff and Tudor as well as Baylan and Alex were close, and their other pack mates were coming closer, surrounding them.
“Guys, I need you all to step away from that man,” Ares said, looking serious.
“This is our friend, Phil,” Blake said, looking confused but stepping away. “He just woke up from his stasis sleep.”
Ares shook his head. “That might be your friend’s body, but there’s dark magic inside of him.”
The friends turned to look at Phil. They gasped when blackness started coating his eyes. A sinister smile appeared and he suddenly looked very un-Phil-like.
“What are you?” Ashton gasped in horror.
Phil ignored Ash and looked at Ares. “How did you realise? No one should have figured it out so soon.”
“I’m a god. I can see the darkness inside of you. Are you a present from Barnabus? Let me guess, you were to be used to spy on everyone.”
“Spy or kill, either was an option,” Not-Phil said, with a shrug.
Ares sprang forward, slamming his hand down on Phil’s head. “Be gone,” he demanded.
They watch as the blackness bled out of his eyes, going back to their original colour, before closing. Phil slumped to the ground.
“Phil!” Blake exclaimed, dropping to his knees and checking his pulse. “We should call Ajax, his pulse is very weak.” Saying that he sent a message to Ajax via the pack link.
Ares knelt down next to him, the friends surrounding Phil, their mates coming to stand by them.
“I’m afraid there is very little of your friend left inside of him. Whatever was done to him before has basically killed him,” Ares said gently.
“What of Clara?” Ash asked.
Paris put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.
Ares was silent for a moment. “The same for Clara.” Ares took Jason’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
“So, what do we do?” Blake asked, pushing some of Phil’s hair off his face. “Do we just leave them lying on the bed until they die?”
“I can help them,” Hades said, suddenly appearing beside them, Frederick at his side.