Chapter 1 #2
“Hey, we all have our ups and downs. I’m not judging you,” Rafe lied. Yes, I am judging… all day long, every day. Rafe simply shrugged without revealing what he’d learned about her duplicitous background with the Acadian Wolves beta, Dimitri.
He’d heard the stories of the great high priestess. She’d once ruled over New Orleans but had conjured dark magick one too many times which landed her in Hell. To be fair, the entire town of New Orleans knew she’d crushed hard on him, invoking demonic dark magick to destroy his wolf.
“Like your maker, I feel you within me. The struggle. The pain. Perhaps not in the way you feel with Viktor, but it was my blood inside you. I suppose it makes me weak, but what’s done is done.
And so.” Ilsbeth dabbed the corners of her mouth with the white embroidered cloth napkin.
“We must fix this unnatural war inside you.”
“That’s nice of you, but what’s done is done. Besides, I don’t think about it…” The lie sat in his stomach like a bitter pill. I hate it. “I don’t think it’s healthy to go backwards. I’ve adjusted. I’m controlling it.”
“What if you didn’t have to control it? What if one day, the vampire was simply gone?”
“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Rafe shook his head. He couldn’t afford to go back to hoping for something that would never happen. He’d learned to feed, learned to control himself, learned to run with an Alpha. He’d made too much progress to indulge in a foolish fantasy.
“It’s possible to be free again,” she promised.
“Look, Ilsbeth. I appreciate the offer and the lift back to the states. Nice trick by the way. But I’m not drinking whatever black magick you’re serving up.
” He sighed. “I didn’t want to go there but we might as well be honest with each other.
I know what happened. I know about Dimitri.
I’m not going down that road. Besides, I’ve come to terms with the situation.
” Liar. “I can’t afford to get my hopes up just to end up in Hell. Nah, I’m good.”
Ilsbeth straightened her spine and stared at him, her expression impassive. “I’m not talking about dark magick—”
“Demons, though?” Rafe raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
“I’m not suggesting anything like that. I just want to help you.”
“Hey, you wouldn’t have flashed my phone here too, would you? Maybe I can call Greyson and get a ride back.”
“Back where, dear wolf?” Ilsbeth shot him a knowing smile.
“For your information, I was thinking about heading out west for a while. You know. A road trip.” He shrugged.
“You don’t like New Orleans?”
“I love New Orleans, but my sister is out of town. And Logan doesn’t need any unnecessary problems right now, so yeah, I’ll check in with Viktor and then hit the road.”
“You’re not a problem, dear boy.”
“My vampire is a problem for most packs. Like Logan’s.
And Hunter’s. And besides, Julian’s technically my Alpha now.
We kind of have this three-person pack going on.
But he’s off with his mate for a while. It doesn’t matter.
Just trust me on this one. I don’t want to cause any trouble for Logan by overstaying my welcome or trying to run with Acadian wolves.
Not everyone is going to like it. I’m part vampire.
It’s not gonna work.” Rafe’s lips tightened, grief settling in his chest. “I can’t be with wolves right now.
You of all people should know what it’s like.
One minute you’re surrounded by family. In your case, your coven. And the next…. it’s all over.”
Rafe glided a fingertip over the rim of the teacup. Fucking demons. Fucking vampires. “Your family is gone. Your life is gone. And nothing will ever be the same.”
“Such melancholy, such drama. It doesn’t need to be like this,” she said with conviction.
“It’s reality.” Rafe lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Sometimes you can’t go back.”
“But what if you could? What if…” She held a finger to the air. “You just needed the right spell?”
“Didn’t playing with dark magick teach you anything? No disrespect of course.” A corner of his lip turned upward.
“None taken. What happened with Dimitri…we simply had an affair. My desire took me down a path perhaps I shouldn’t have taken.
It was difficult.” Her expression fell flat.
“You dance with the devil.” She reached for her cup and brought it to her lips and blew gently onto her tea.
“You might get burnt. But life goes on.”
“The pack won’t forgive you. Logan won’t forgive you.”
“Who said I’m seeking forgiveness? I am, however, changed. As are you. For good or for bad is yet to be determined.”
“What happened to me was completely different. I was defending my pack. Besides I never asked Viktor to turn me. I never asked you to help him. And now?” Rafe shook his head, anger curling in his stomach. “I’m a freak.”
Ilsbeth took a deep breath and released it. “I can feel your energy all around me. It’s lighter than before, but you struggle.”
“Ya think?” Rafe shot her a look of annoyance. He grew bored of the witch’s enigmatic words.
“Heed my advice. I have lived much longer than you. Patience is a virtue, they say, and it’s true. When I was indisposed in Hell, I spent days being tortured and nights seeking an escape. I never gave up though. You must be strong to get through these times. And you are. But consider my offer.”
“I don’t want anything having to do with demons or Hell.” Rafe shook his head in frustration.
“Please. Imagine a magick that could reverse your vampire.” The pad of her finger rimmed the teacup as she pinned him with an intense stare. “Imagine a life without thirst, without fangs. Without blood. Imagine your entire life transforming. Imagine freedom.”
Her words struck him like a punch in the gut, old memories of better days washing over him.
He recalled happy times, running with Hunter and his pack through the Teton mountains and Slough Creek.
Family. Nature. Pack. Until one moment changed everything, an unfortunate set of circumstances ending it all.
While fighting to protect his pack, his family, his life was forever changed.
He shook his head and stared into the black tea. “I don’t need to imagine it. I know what I’ve lost. It’s gone, and there’s no way to go back.”
“Ah but there is.” She countered, a sly grin on her face.
“I’m good. I told you, I don’t mess with demons. Or black magick.”
“There is always a price for freedom. You know this.” She sighed. “Besides, I don’t like the dangers Viktor and Julian put you in while you transition, like what just happened in Japan. The demon? Kellan?” Ilsbeth rolled her eyes. “I know what you did. I had to get you out.”
“Your powers have grown, I see,” Rafe changed the subject.
“Well, yes. I’m a high priestess after all. Hell was a bother but I’m better than ever. And without the responsibility of a coven.”
“I’m happy for you, Ilsbeth. I am. And I appreciate you worrying about me, but I can handle myself. I’m not your responsibility forever. I’ve accepted what’s happened. Life’s not fair. It is what it is.”
She cocked her head to the side. “But is it?”
“You’re under no obligation to continue to save me. It’s been a while. After a few hundred years, I’ll get used to being a vampire.”
“But will you? Maybe yes. Maybe no. I am extending an offer to you, Rafe. I promise you there is no black magick involved per se. But there is something I must have to do the spell.”
“No demon shit?” Rafe laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I know you can hear me quite well. I just told you. No black magick. No demons.”
“What’s the catch?” Rafe didn’t dare give himself hope, yet his curiosity got the best of him.
“It is a special spell, of course. But I need your help finding it. Once you get it for me, we can do the spell.”
“Why don’t you have it now?”
“I just don’t have it,” she hedged.
“Maybe you need to check a different library? You’ve got a couple of homes.
Maybe it’s under the bed.” Rafe shoved out of his chair and looked around the room which had begun to morph back into the garden.
He patted his chest, now wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt.
He glanced down to the Brunello Cucinelli on his feet.
“Nice kicks but I would’ve been good with a pair of Vans. ”
“I enjoy luxury. I make no apologies for my good taste.” She shrugged with an elegant indifference.
“I appreciate your hospitality. Phone?”
“In your back pocket. Greyson brought it. He does seem to care about you. Viktor on the other hand?” Ilsbeth rolled her eyes. “He works on my nerves.”
“Don’t be too hard on the vamp. He’s busy with his bonded mate. Probably off on his yacht somewhere.”
“Rafe.” Ilsbeth stood wearing a somber expression. “Please consider my offer.”
The wolf sized up the witch. With the power of an Alpha, her power hummed in the air. The strength of her blood pulsed through him, and it was almost as if he could sense her next words.
“When you are ready, come to me. Life doesn’t need to be this hard.” She smiled and handed him a white rose.
“Thanks for the lunch. You be careful.” Rafe studied the petite witch. Her magick flowed as easily as she breathed, and he wondered if they were even outside or in a different realm altogether.
Ilsbeth raised a bud to her nose and sniffed. “Embrace the magick in your veins. Just remember how strong the rose is.”
Rafe sighed, too damn tired to argue with the witch. “Yeah, okay, sure thing. So hey, I’m gonna go now.”
“Your ride is waiting. Call me when you’re ready, wolf.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll—” Rafe sucked a breath as he dematerialized. Fucking ancients. As he reemerged in his human form, he grunted. “Fuck, me.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be happening. Get in the car, wolf. Let’s go get a drink.”
Rafe squinted as the bright afternoon sun blinded him, the familiar voice instantly recognizable. Greyson.