Chapter 5 - Dani #2
Lavinia had said he would tear apart mountains. Dani wasn’t sure about that, but she knew enough about alpha males to know that when their emotions ran high, their humanity waned, the gaps left filled with wild instinct. Mate and cub.
Her heart lurched at the thought.
The shifters escorting them paused abruptly, looking at each other with uncertainty as a small, dark-haired woman, heavily pregnant, elbowed her way past without so much as a murmured apology.
Stranger still, the shifters let her, moving aside with something close to deference.
Dani didn’t know her.
But she recognized her.
Layla. Dominic’s mate.
The woman the coven had whispered about.
Layla took one look at Dani, then at Aurelia, then at the witches behind her. Her face softened, and she extended her hand.
“You must be Dani,” she said, voice warm.
Dani blinked. “I…yes.”
Layla’s smile deepened. “Welcome back to Skymist. Truly. I’m glad you’re here.”
Dani nearly laughed. “I’m glad someone is.”
Layla glanced pointedly past her at Arthur, still hovering behind his guards like a storm waiting to break. Her lips pressed together, and something unreadable passed across her face. But then she turned back with a large, bright smile. “Let me guess, they’re taking you to the Nordan Compound?”
“I guess,” Dani said, shuddering at the memory of the Nordan stronghold. Even when she had been officially part of the pack, she had hated it there. She’d never been able to find her place amongst her people, and it just served as an ugly reminder of both her parents and her isolation.
“The rest of the witches are to come with us, Luna,” a male said, stepping forwards. He wore the customary red and black of the Volkhov, close enough to mountain gear to pass undetected amongst the humans. “The Salem Coven shall be staying in Thistlehouse.”
“Oh, good,” said Layla, her smile brightening as she turned to Lavinia, nodding her head in deference. “That’s one of the Volkhov houses near The Anchor, you’ll be close to us. And I believe the Juneau Coven will be next door at Marigold Cottage.”
Lavinia nodded. “My thanks, Luna. But may I ask about the Nordan Compound?”
“It’s the other side of town from The Anchor,” Dani said quickly, with a nervous smile. “Nordan half of the town. The Anchor is a Volkhov bar.”
“But it’s not so far away,” said Layla soothingly. “Allow me to accompany you. Our alliance with the Nordan does not limit our comings and goings, I’m pleased to say.”
“To a point,” one of the Nordan guards sneered under his breath. Layla stiffened.
A rumbling growl behind her sent shivers running down her spine, and she felt more than heard the heavy footsteps of the male coming to stand beside her.
“Something to say, whelp?”
The Nordan guard trembled, bowing his head. “No, Alpha.”
“Aye, I thought so. Show the Luna of the Volkhov the respect she deserves.”
The guard gave a clumsy half-bow, stammering an apology under his breath.
Arthur grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. “And that goes for the witches, too, boy. They’re under the protection of the Volkhov and…
and the Nordan. So long as they are here in Skymist, I will not tolerate insults. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” the guard said, straightening. Dani didn’t miss the pull at the corner of his lips, the tension in his muscles.
She pulled Aurelia closer to her. The wolves would not be happy about these new orders. Not at all.
Arthur stiffened at her motion, his face clouded with anger. Without so much as looking at her, he turned on his heel. “Matthew, Conrad, with me. We have preparations to make.”
He stalked away, as much as a male of his size could stalk, his wolves following after him in steady, fast strides.
Layla sighed, giving a rueful smile. “Come on, let’s get you into the warmth. The Volkhov will watch over your sisters.”
“Are we permitted at the ceremony tonight?” Lavinia asked, in a tone that conveyed she would only tolerate one answer.
Layla hesitated. “I’m sorry, High Sister, I’m not sure. The Nordan ceremonies are different from those of the Volkhov, I’m sure I can—”
“No,” Dani interrupted, throat tight, “you won’t be. Only the…only the couple to be married and mated and a priest of Lunarion are permitted. It’s tradition.”
Lavinia’s voice was steelier than it ever had been before. “Traditions can be changed, child. If you wish it, I will be at your side.”
Despite everything, Dani felt a rush of affection for the High Sister. Completely illogical, and rather irritating, but in her current haze of barely-concealed panic and whiplash confusion, she would take any ounce of goodwill given to her.
“Thank you,” she said, “but I’d actually prefer if you stayed with Aurelia. Kept her safe. Kept her…”
Lavinia nodded instantly. “Of course.”
“I’ll have guards posted at every entrance to the house, and up and down the street,” said Layla. “She will be safe. You all will be.”
Dani knelt, taking Aurelia into her arms, hugging her tight. “You be good for the High Sister now, okay?”
Aurelia clung to her in a way she hadn’t since she was small, and had grazed her knee chasing butterflies in the garden. “Mommy….”
“It’s okay,” Dani whispered, “this is just one big adventure, okay? I’ll be back to see you first thing in the morning.”
Aurelia nodded, glancing at Layla with wary eyes. Layla smiled softly, reaching a hand out to Aurelia, slow, respectful, careful.
“Nice to meet you, Aurelia,” she said gently. “You look very brave.”
Aurelia ducked shyly. “Mom says bravery is just doing the hard thing even when you’re scared.”
Layla’s smile softened. “She’s right.”
Dani swallowed around the sudden knot in her throat.
“Come,” Layla murmured. “It’s time to go.”
***
The room Layla took them to was warm, filled with quilts and soft lantern light.
The door closed firmly behind them, sealing out the noise.
They had chatted lightly on the way to the compound, both ignoring the small battalion of guards flanking them and the weight of everything that had happened hovering over them.
Dani was grateful for it. She didn’t think she’d manage a serious conversation without crying.
But now they were inside, led through familiar hallways and blessedly empty halls, and Dani knew she could not keep herself together for long. She sat stiffly on the bed, trembling.
Layla moved around the room with practiced ease, lighting candles, setting out clothes, pulling a trunk from the wall.
“You don’t have to help me,” Dani whispered.
“Yes,” Layla said, “I do.”
That answer startled her.
Layla sat beside her. “I know what it feels like to walk into something like this alone. To have every eye on you. To be…hunted by expectation. I was in a Volkhov pack meeting when Dominic announced I was to be his mate. I wanted to kill him.”
Dani looked at her in surprise, mouth opening. “Really? But…but you…”
Layla shrugged, hands cradling her pregnant belly with a soft smile. “Dominic’s like a dragon. Vicious to everybody he comes across, including me, once upon a time. Until he decided I was a treasure he wanted to hoard.”
Dani wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound very…”
With a sigh, Layla sat down next to her, tucking her hair behind her ear. “They’re shifters, Dani. Alpha males. But that doesn’t mean they’re cruel.”
“Dominic didn’t seem cruel.”
“Yes, well,” Layla said, “we’ve been working on that.”
They sat in silence for a while, Dani picking the side of her nail, her heart rate increasing with every breath.
In a matter of hours, she would be married and mated to Arthur. She would be Luna of the Nordan.
“How the hell did I get here?” she breathed, clenching her hands together so hard that her knuckles shone white.
Layla laid a hand over them. “I asked myself the same thing. But Lunarion works in mysterious ways, Dani. I know you have a past with Arthur, and that can’t be easy, but…something brought you here. Maybe it would be best to trust it?”
“Lunarion?” Dani asked, turning to her, eyebrows drawing together. “You worship Lunarion?”
Layla raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure worship is the right word.”
“No, I mean…not Gaia?”
Layla paused. “I’ve lived my whole life as a member of the Volkhov. We follow Lunarion’s ways.”
“Yes, but aren’t you…”
“Aren’t I what?”
“You know?’ Dani gestured at herself. “A witch?”
With a groan, Layla’s head fell back. “It really does seem to be the worst-kept secret in the whole paranormal world.”
Despite herself, Dani chuckled. “Yes, Lavinia told me you were one of us. Does Dominic know?”
“Of course he does,” said Layla, chewing her lip. “As does my brother Theodore, his second-in-command. Julian was first to work it out.”
Dani’s eyebrows lifted. “Julian Rook? He was the one who wrote to us in the first place.”
“And he’s one of the reasons the rest of the Volkhov, and the Nordan for that matter, still believe my gifts are just…a blessing from Lunarion.”
“I’m not sure they do, you know,” Dani said, remembering the sneer of the Nordan guard.
Layla huffed, “Believe me, I know. But Dominic wants to wait until after the summit to go public with it. He wants a treaty signed. He thinks it’ll make it safer for me.”
“I don’t think witches can ever be safe in Skymist.”
Layla tilted her head. “What makes you so sure?”
“Arthur,” Dani said instantly, “he’s always been traditional. Always believed that we are…evil incarnate. And he doesn’t change his mind.”
“And yet,” Layla said, “he’s mating you.”
Dani bared her teeth, springing up to pace the room, her fists curled at her sides. “He’s only doing that because he’s got it into his head that I’m his true mate.”
“Yes, he has rather always been enchanted with the idea.”
“I know him. He’ll go to any lengths necessary to protect his pack. If I’m his true mate, then he’ll be blessed by Lunarion, just like Dominic was. We all heard the story of Voskresen. Thing is, Arthur doesn’t care who he hurts so long as his pack is safe.”
“And will this hurt you?” Layla asked, brown eyes warm.
Dani stopped short, hands trembling. “Yes. And it won’t be the first time he’s hurt me, either.”
Layla tilted her head, but she didn’t push.
Barking a laugh, Dani sank to the floor in defeat, hugging her knees to her chest, “The ironic thing is, last time it was rejecting me. ‘For the good of the pack,’” she mocked his low, gruff voice.
Layla didn’t laugh. She just maneuvered down, her actions awkward around her pregnancy, and reached out to take her hand.
“You don’t have to forgive him,” she said, “but you do deserve safety. And choice.”
Dani swallowed. “I don’t have a choice.”
Layla’s expression turned razor-sharp suddenly. “Lavinia maneuvered this,” she murmured. “A mate bond forces the Nordan to protect you. And if the coven wants leverage here, you are the perfect path.”
Dani’s stomach twisted. “So I’m a pawn.”
“No,” Layla said firmly. “You don’t have to be. It’s up to you, Dani. If you want to leave, I’ll help you. And I’ll make sure your sisters and your daughter are safe too.”
Dani blinked at her. “And the summit?”
Layla paused, her expression growing slightly pained, her eyes unfocusing slightly as she looked past Dani into the fire.
“I won’t lie to you. It was my idea to invite the witch covens.
Dominic originally just wanted to gather a few of the packs.
But I…I can see things. Visions of the future.
And I know that whatever threat is growing out there, shifters alone cannot face it. ”
“So you need us,” Dani said, her voice wooden.
Layla squeezed her hands tighter. “Just because we do, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a choice. Arthur is a good male. You’ll be safe here, you and your daughter. You might even grow to be happy. But it is your choice, Dani.”
Dani turned, looking into the fire.
If only Layla’s words were true. If she ran, she would lose her coven.
Lose safety for her daughter. Potentially damn their world to war.
And if she stayed, she’d be giving up her freedom.
Her right to practice her craft in peace.
She would be breaking every promise she’d made to herself in the last ten years.
No matter what she chose, she would be damned.
She thought of Aurelia. What would be best for her.
In the end, the decision was simple.