Chapter 57
Alaric rolled over and stared at Heidara, eyes closed, hair draped over her bare shoulders, looking like an absolute angel next to him.
He pushed a strand of hair out of her face and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
He could stay like this forever, lying in bed, staring at her. This was all he’d ever wanted in life.
Alaric stood to walk to his window and allow just a bit of fresh air. He knew this was different scenery for her, but at least she could hear the night sounds with the window open, and feel the cool night breeze slip through.
A click of the latch and a push to feel the wind brush against his bare chest and face. It felt like it had been searching for him endlessly. But when it caressed his body in an embrace, he stilled.
Someone needed help. No, that wasn’t it. Was it?
Heidara groaned. “Come back over here. It’s cold.”
The wind grew stronger and whipped against his face. Like it was trying to slap him awake. Listen to me, it seemed to say. So he closed his eyes and forced himself to listen.
“Alaric?” she whispered from the bed.
He couldn’t answer, couldn’t move. He was stuck in place and the air passed through him like he was a tunnel. The coldness reminded him of the creature who once tore into his body, pulled him under a deep cold pool of black, and almost ruined his life.
Flashback after flashback crashed through him. The words it hissed over and over again.
Get the alpha to the tree. Get the alpha to the source.
The source. Yes. I cannot fail. The alpha. The tree.
They pounded into him until he began swaying on his feet.
Alaric shoved out an arm to brace himself against the wall and a hand touched his back to steady him.
Images of a male’s hands on the roots, drawing power that surged through his large, strong body.
Black eyes. A white wolf to rule the thralls. His thralls.
He was seeing something. A puzzle of some sort, or a story perhaps.
“Alaric, look at me.” Heidara’s hand smacked against his cheek. The sting brought him back to her.
He remembered everything. The way the demon inside him cowered at the vibrations of power that ran through his body. It was frightened because it knew it was being watched. Knew its plan had been compromised.
Alaric now understood it all.
And they were doomed.
“We can’t let him near the tree.”
“Okay…” Heidara nodded and rubbed his back. “Who?”
Alaric swallowed, breathing heavily as he tried to gain his stability. “The alpha. Kaldrek. He can’t summon from it or he’ll…”
He was going down.
THUMP.
“Oh gods, Alaric! You just hit your head. Let me get you some water.”
No, he was fine. He just needed to put all of his damn thoughts together without making his head spin.
Heidara grabbed a large sheet and wrapped it around herself as she went to gather him water from the corner table.
“Drink.”
Alaric sipped slowly, then began gulping it down.
“There. Better?”
He could only nod as he sat up to look at her.
“Heidara. We need to—”
Heidara stilled, and her eyes flew open wide, shifting back and forth as if reading a message.
“Kaldrek needs me. I have to go.”
“Wait!” He reached out. “Please wait.”
“I’m so sorry, but I have to.” She was already heading for the door, desperate to help her alpha. She turned and frowned. “You know I can’t stay.”
“I’m not asking you to stay. I just need you to make sure he doesn’t go to the grove,” he panted. “It’s been their plan this whole time. They can’t draw power from the tree. They need him to.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I just saw my first vision. And he’s going to kill us all.” He stood slowly to approach her. “Please believe me. Tell the others, do what you need, just don’t let Kaldrek…”
She grabbed his face and kissed him. “I believe you. I promise.”
And then the beautiful female he had just made love to, confessed everything to, would die for, was gone.
***
He needed to do something. Anything. But Alaric did not know where to begin. He dressed and made his way to his father’s study, surprised to find him still awake behind his desk.
Alaric knocked before entering.
“You have felt something, I gather?” his father asked.
Alaric’s brows rose. “I…” He cleared his throat. “Yes.”
“Your mother told me to wait for you here an hour ago before she retired. Said it was important.” Gaviel leaned back slightly. “So here I am. And here you are.”
His mother had known. Alaric could not help wondering how often this had happened throughout his life while he had been too blind to notice.
“There is something coming for us,” he said. “All of us. And I do not know if there is anything we can do to stop it.”
He lowered himself into the chair across from his father’s desk, careful in case another wave of dizziness struck.
“I am new to this sight,” he continued. “Part of me hopes I am wrong, but I fear that if we do not have enough people to fight, the land we call home will become a graveyard.”
Or worse, a feeding ground for the Noskari. But he would not say that aloud.
“These creatures,” Gaviel said calmly. “They are strong?”
“Incredibly.”
“I have been gathering men and pulling them from their posts. Some from Shaw and Duskwood as well. Good fighters. Well trained with pistols.”
Alaric thought of how little a pistol would matter if it was not already loaded. They would need speed. Blades. Skill he doubted most of them had.
“That will not be enough,” he murmured.
“Lord and Lady Shaw mentioned the covens are preparing as well. We must all remain on high alert.”
His father did not understand the weight of it. How could he? He had never seen a Noskari tear through a man’s chest with a single strike. Alaric had, but he kept that memory to himself.
“I am glad there has been some preparation,” Alaric said carefully. “Please have them ready. I fear…” He stopped, then shook his head. “Just tell them to be ready.”
“That is the plan, son.”
Alaric stood slowly and started toward the door. Then he paused.
“Father?”
Gaviel looked up, brows raised.
“Keep Mother safe. Do not let her beyond these walls.”
Alaric left the study and stepped out into the night. Unsure what else to do, he sat on the stone steps leading to the front path, closed his eyes, and listened again.
“Tell me what to do,” he whispered, placing his head in his hands.
He sat there until the silence became unbearable. Just as he moved to stand, a pulse trembled beneath the stone at his feet, and a faint cry carried on the breeze.
Alaric shot upright.
The men were needed now.