Chapter Six
Onyx’s mouth was dry and her hands were shaking, a combination of nerves and the release of magic. What she was about to share might unravel everything. Her life was already at risk, but this could turn Dagen into an enemy rather than an ally.
“Your book contained marketing lists and recipes.” She was curious about that. If she was alive when this was done, she planned to ask him for it.
“Yes.” His body remained almost unnaturally still. There was no tapping of fingers on the table, no jiggling of limbs. This was the lone wolf with the scent of the hunt.
She sipped her coffee and made a face. It had gone cold. “Makes sense since the alchemist was a woman.”
Not by as much as a twitch did he betray any emotion. “You’re certain?”
She flipped open the cover to the first page. The script flowed across the page and was a combination of Latin, French, English, Spanish, Sanskrit, and several obscure languages. The woman had been extremely well educated. Even after the words were translated into English, they had to be decoded.
“Her name was Annalisa. She doesn’t give her exact age, but if she was telling the truth, she was a thousand years old.” Onyx stared into his eyes, a dark mirror of her own. “She was immortal.”
“Impossible.”
“Is it? That’s shortsighted coming from you.”
He shook his head. “You know what I mean. Was she a dark mage like Solange?”
“No!” When his eyes widened at her outburst, she yanked her wayward emotions under control. It made no sense to be protective of someone she’d never met, even if she had devoured every page and studied the nuance of each word. Onyx was logical and precise in everything she did. Training as a mage demanded it, as did survival. But all that went out the window where the journal was concerned.
She’d cried tears for Annalisa, the woman’s heartbreak becoming her own. She’d cheered minor triumphs and laughed at the glimpses of a sly sense of humor she’d found on the written pages. The connection she’d experienced to the woman was undeniable. They could have been friends.
“Like you, immortality was thrust upon her.” The hardships of surviving century after century had taken a toll. Onyx flipped to the final page, lightly tracing the swirling script. “She writes here about her plan to hide her work, marking it so the right person would find it.” Here’s where she hedged the truth slightly. “A person with a connection to the lone wolf.”
Dagen pushed back from the table and slowly stood. For a second, the image of a wolf was superimposed on his face. He shook himself and it vanished. Onyx got to her feet and gently pulled on her magic, gathering it in case she needed to protect herself. The stones on her jewelry began to glow.
“You want to repeat that?” His voice was so low it was almost guttural. It was impossible to look away.
The sensible part of her brain screamed, “Run away!” The sane part understood that would be a huge mistake. Dagen was a predator at his core. Anything less than confidence on her part could have disastrous consequences. Not that she thought he’d hurt her on purpose, but she had no idea how good his control was. He might lash out and be sorry for it later, but it would be too late to undo any damage. Getting mauled by an angry wolf was not something she ever wanted to experience.
“Annalisa had a connection to the first lone wolf. He was her husband.”
That bombshell sent him staggering back a step before he righted himself. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.” He stared at the journal like it was something evil. Onyx snatched it up, holding it to her chest, unwilling to let him destroy it.
She hurried to finish the tragic tale. “He was a wolf. She was a human. Not a mage as we know them. More a shaman or wise woman, learned in the ways of natural magic.” Onyx had sensed gentleness from the woman, and a weariness of soul. “When her husband understood the extent of his powers and realized she’d die within decades while he faced eternity alone, he became frantic. They traveled the world searching for every scrap of knowledge from the most learned people, trying to find a way for him to share his gift with her.”
He snorted in disbelief. “I’d bet money that she encouraged his actions. Everyone wants to live forever.”
“She begged him to stop.”
“Yeah, right. You’ve only got her word for that. Excuse me if I don’t trust the word of a mage when it comes to immortality.” He held up his hand before she could object. “Shaman or witch or mage. It’s all the same thing.”
His cynical attitude made her want to shake him until his teeth rattled. “It’s not the same thing,” she snapped. She would not be put in the same category as Solange and those like her. Nor would she allow him to put Annalisa there.
“What else does she say?”
“They were on a mountain pass when they were set on by a group of bandits. The lone wolf killed them all, but not before one of them seriously injured Annalisa. According to what she wrote, in his desperation to save her, he performed some kind of ceremony based on what they’d learned and gave her his blood. There was a huge explosion. In the end, he was dead and she lived. Heartbroken, she drove her knife into her heart, only to discover she couldn’t die.” The despair had bled onto the page until Onyx’s tears had mingled with the ink, smudging it in places.
“She stole his immortality.”
“That’s not the way it happened. She dedicated her life to trying to reverse what had been done to her.” The book gave off a sense of weariness that had impacted her as she’d read it.
He pointed at the book. “Are the details of how she took the power of the lone wolf in there?”
“Partially, but it’s incomplete. And she didn’t take anything or the line of the lone wolves would have ended there and then. It’s sort of like what Solange did. The energy fractured. Annalisa got some but she was human and became immortal. The rest found a home in a wolf. That wolf became the lone wolf. No one realized what had happened to her. She disappeared—something much easier to do in those days—and continued searching for a way to reverse what had been done to her. Whatever happened to her, she eventually died, either by her own hand or that of another.”
He held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
She shook her head and hugged it tighter. “You don’t understand. Given more time to study this I think I can find a way to counteract any spell Solange might cast, send it ricocheting back on her.” There was always a price when wielding dark magic.
“It’s too dangerous. If she gets her hands on it, we’re all screwed. Solange has dedicated decades of her life to this. She’s had two attempts already with the white and gray wolf. That”—he pointed at the book—“might be all she needs to succeed. Then you, I, the other wolves, and their mates all die.” He made a curling motion with his fingers. “I won’t ask again.”
…
Dagen was sick to his stomach. The original lone wolf had been betrayed by the woman he loved. And for what? Immortality. He didn’t buy the “the wolf did it for love” argument. They only had the alchemist’s word for that. History was always written—and skewed—by the victor.
Hardening his heart against the pleading in Onyx’s eyes, he held his ground. The book had to be destroyed.
She has a copy.
He had to get his hands on it. Otherwise, he and his brethren would never be safe. Solange wasn’t the only one who’d kill to gain access to it. The world was filled with people, paranormal and human types, who’d do anything for that knowledge. Immortality was sought by many who didn’t understand the terrible price paid for it.
She knows the secrets.
Goose bumps raced down his arms, his blood turning to ice in his veins. Why hadn’t she attempted the spell? His gaze narrowed as he studied her. Several strands of hair had escaped her braid and fell against her face. The locks of black mixed with the red gave her an exotic look which suited her. Her dark and mysterious eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, were filled with concern and resignation and a tinge of sadness.
Onyx needs to be destroyed. It was the only way to ensure the safety of the other lone wolves. Pain slashed at his heart. The tattoo on his chest began to burn, his entire body rebelling. His wolf howled long and low inside him, unhappy with the train of thought.
It’s incomplete.
The relief almost sent him to his knees. His wolf calmed but continued to growl, as if telling him off for even entertaining the idea for a single second. He and Onyx shared a connection. It might not be of their making but it was strong and growing each passing day.
Outwardly, he appeared unmoved. There was nothing to indicate he’d been through the emotional ringer while they’d remained locked in a battle of wills. No external sign of the brief war he’d waged with himself as he’d contemplated ending her life. Of how close she’d come to death.
“There’s no other way, is there?” Resignation filled her voice. She hugged the book tighter.
This was more than disappointment over not being able to study the information inside. It was as if he was asking her to destroy something precious and personal. It made no sense. Except maybe it did, in a strange way. She’d only had it in her possession for months, but as a mage, she’d have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It was a character trait that drove her kind to explore and study the world.
The wise understood that was where true power resided.
Hell, he trafficked in information daily. He’d built an empire and amassed a fortune using it. In that way, he wasn’t that different from her. The revelation was disconcerting.
“I’m sorry.” And he truly was. Not for destroying the book—that had to be done—but for hurting her. Some might think him disingenuous, considering he’d been contemplating ending her life seconds before, but there was no pleasure in causing her pain. Her death would have irrevocably marked him. He would never have recovered, but that wouldn’t have stopped him if he’d deemed it necessary.
Being the lone wolf meant making difficult decisions. Like giving your life to save your mate. He shook off the stray thought. That was no more than a fairy tale woven by a woman who might have regretted her choices later in life. There was no way the wolf willingly mated a mage or alchemist or whatever Annalisa chose to call herself and then died for her.
Love wasn’t real; it was fickle and fleeting. Loyalty was what mattered. Commitment. That was the most anyone could hope for, and even those traits were incredibly rare in the world.
Her movements were slow and jerky, as though her body was fighting her instructions, but she held out the journal. He gripped it and pulled. It took several tugs before she released it. She took a shuffling step back and sat down on her chair. “What will you do with it?”
There was no point in prolonging this. He walked to the stove, turned on the gas and the fan, and then touched the cover to the flame.
Onyx made a sound of pain, her fingers twisted together so tightly her knuckles were white. He’d half expected her to make a lunge for it, but she didn’t try to stop him. She has a copy. He hadn’t forgotten and would get to that as soon as this was done.
The leather smoldered but didn’t catch. Frowning, he opened the book and shoved the paper into the fire. “What the hell?” Like the cover, it smoked but remained undamaged.
“What is it?” She joined him at the stove, appearing perplexed. “It’s not burning.”
“Is it magic? Did you do something to protect it?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s more likely Annalisa did. Fire would have been a huge concern in the time she lived. Electric lights are a modern convenience.”
That made sense. “Can you remove whatever is keeping it from burning?” Would she, even if she could?
She chewed her bottom lip and nodded. “I think so. Maybe. I have to hold it.”
Now it was his turn for his fingers to tighten around the object in question. Handing it back was more difficult than it should have been. He wasn’t in the habit of giving over power to someone else, especially someone who might eventually become an enemy. There was no telling how things would shake out before all this was done.
It was also a test of loyalty. If she honestly wanted them to work together, she’d do this. He placed it in her hand and canted his head toward the flame.
“What did you do?” She wasn’t talking to him, all her focus on the book. No, she was talking to the alchemist. She turned the journal over in her hands, rubbing her fingers over the cover, the gesture almost sensual.
His skin tightened over his large body. Spellbound, he couldn’t look away.
“You’re a clever lady, aren’t you?” It was odd to listen to her talking to a woman long dead as though she could hear her. Maybe she could. While he grasped the basics of magic, only those who studied were privy to the secrets. “It’s her blood.”
He made the connection quickly. “She was immortal. The blood is infused into the ink, paper, and leather, repairing it the same way it does my body when I’m hurt.” It was ingenious and showed a level of skill that outpaced even Solange.
“Yes. To destroy it, it has to trust me.” She tilted her head to one side, studying the object. Then she glanced at him and nodded. “I think I have it.” Closing her eyes, she began to chant under her breath.
He heard the words but didn’t understand the language. The air crackled with energy, his skin electrified, as it always was in the presence of magic. Onyx seemed to grow taller. Her skin took on a luminous glow. Her hair appeared more lush, her body riper.
Arousal slammed into him hard and fast, his dick punching against the zipper of his jeans. A growl escaped him, but she didn’t seem to notice. Gently, she ran her finger along the leather. His cock jerked as a featherlight caress seemed to stroke over it.
What the fuck?
Whatever she was doing was affecting him far more than it should. It would be smart to step away until she was done. His feet remained glued to the floor.
“It’s okay, Annalisa,” she whispered. “You did what you set out to do. I’ll save the lone wolf. I promise.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as she jabbed a sharp end of her bracelet into her skin, drawing blood. Several drops dripped onto the cover and were absorbed into the leather.
This time when the notebook was held to the stove, it caught. The fire licked up the pages, destroying the writing and consuming the information. The flames were reflected in Onyx’s eyes. She appeared enthralled by the burning book.
He kept waiting for her to toss it in the nearby sink. The blaze grew, creeping perilously close to her hand. “Onyx.” No acknowledgment. It was as though she couldn’t hear him. When her skin began to redden, he lunged forward and grabbed the torch, because that’s what it had become, and tossed it into the sink.
She cried out, cradling her hand to her chest. Her eyes filled but no tears escaped.
“Are you okay?” Leaving the fire to burn itself out, he gently lifted her hand. “Why didn’t you let go of the damn thing?”
The smoke detector began to blare. Swearing under his breath, he reached overhead with his free hand to yank it down, but it went silent before he touched it. When he glanced down at Onyx, she had a tiny smile on her face. “My way is quicker.”
Shaking his head, he studied the burn. “It’s not serious.”
“It’s nothing.” She tried to pull away, but he kept hold of her hand.
“What did you do?” It had taken her no time to figure out how to get past the safeguards. He wasn’t 100 percent certain she hadn’t set them herself.
Her smile grew. “I have you to thank for the idea. I did the same thing you did when you entered the bathroom earlier. I convinced the magic to recognize and accept me. Once it did, I persuaded it to allow me to destroy it.”
“You’re talking about it like it’s alive.” That wasn’t creepy, not at all. It was why sane people stayed away from mages.
“In a way it was. There’s power in words, both spoken and written. Every religion or movement since the dawn of time has its basis in one or the other or both. Entire civilizations have risen and fallen on the strength of words.”
She wasn’t wrong. “What was that at the end? The promise to protect the lone wolf?” That didn’t sit well with him. He was the one who protected. It was bred into his very blood and bones. It was who he was. “And the blood. What was that about?” It disturbed him to watch her give up her precious life force. Whatever the basis for their connection, there was no denying it.
“It was nothing.” She glanced to the side and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
His stomach dropped, and he clutched her shoulders, careful not to hold her too tight considering all he wanted to do was howl. “You’re lying.” It was a first. She’d always told the truth, no matter how painful, or evaded the question. It hurt more than it should. Anyone else and he would have expected it. Somehow, Onyx had slipped under his guard. Not completely, but enough for this to leave him feeling like he’d taken a hard punch to the gut.
“Can’t you let it go?”
Ignoring the pleading in her eyes, he hardened his heart. “No.”
“Stubborn as a mule.” Most people would flee in fear of his anger. She took a step closer until their toes were practically touching. Her chest brushed his, fracturing his attention for the briefest of seconds.
“I’m waiting.” The revelation of the secrets from the book, coupled with the use of magic and her nearness, had him physically aroused and emotionally on edge. He needed some space before he did something they might both regret, but he couldn’t go anywhere until he got answers.
“Fine, it was a blood vow.”
The fist in his gut tightened. That didn’t sound ominous, not at all. “What exactly is a blood vow?”
She put her hands on his chest and tried to take a step back. He slid his palms down her back, locking his fingers around her waist. Sighing, she leaned forward and rested her forehead against him.
She’s tired. He was used to going until he dropped, drawing on energy reserves from his wolf. She didn’t have that. While she was a mage, she was still human and it had been a long, difficult day.
“Tell me.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. When she hesitated, he knew he wouldn’t like what she was about to say. “Onyx?”
“I promised to keep the lone wolf safe. Regardless of what you believe, she loved her husband and wanted nothing more than to protect him. To destroy the journal, I had to promise to protect the lone wolf. In this case, that’s you. It had to be a blood vow, because that’s binding. If I break it, I’ll pay a price.”
His arms flexed, tightening around her. “What price?”
She gave a careless shrug, belied by the worry in her eyes. “I might lose my magic. Maybe be physically hurt.” She swallowed heavily. “The most likely scenario is I’ll die.”
Every cell in his body roared in protest. “Why the hell would you do such a thing?”
“You wanted the book destroyed. It was the only way. Besides, our lives are already linked. Solange will never give up until either she’s dead or we are. The blood vow doesn’t change anything.”
The matter-of-fact way she spoke of dying bothered him. It sounded too much like the voice in his head. He’d long ago lost any fear of dying. What he did fear was dying and leaving those he was responsible for vulnerable. It was his job to destroy the threat.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
Her chin kicked up. “What needed doing.”
“If I have to die to stop Solange, I will. I can’t worry about what that means for you.” It was cruel, but it was reality. The cords of his neck tightened as he suppressed the urge to yell at her for what she’d done. Guilt lay heavy on his shoulders. She’d done it because he’d wanted the book destroyed.
The sad smile she gave him added fuel to the storm growing inside him. “I know.” Her easy acceptance made him want to smash his fist through a wall. It was as though she saw herself as disposable.
Solange had joined their lives together to give him a weakness. She’d succeed far more than she realized. Onyx was no longer a mysterious woman he’d chased halfway around the world, a stimulating adversary, a woman whose beauty and courage drew him. She was the flesh and blood woman in his arms, the one who’d made a binding vow to protect him no matter the cost, the one who haunted his dreams and fired his fantasies.
The attraction between them was undeniable. It simmered and sparked whenever they were close. He’d fought it, but if they were going to pay the ultimate cost it made no sense to deny themselves the pleasure.
He fisted her braid in his hand and slammed his mouth down on hers.