Chapter Twenty
She’d left her bag in the car, the bag she hadn’t let out of her sight, the one she took everywhere. Why that bothered him so much, he couldn’t say. It would only get in the way during a fight. It was smarter to leave it behind for safekeeping.
The blue dress clung to her breasts and hips, emphasizing her curves. Chin tilted up, she met his gaze, turned, and headed into the woods. The surrounding trees blocked the worst of the storm.
It was impossible to smell anything beyond the ozone in the air, pungent earth, and tangy pine and fir trees. The wind rustled the leaves, sending debris skittering in front of them. A normal wolf would be running blind, his senses blocked by the force of the storm, but he was a lone wolf.
He caught Onyx by the arm, stopping her headlong rush toward the mansion. Her hair was plastered to her head. The rain had smeared her eye makeup, giving her a bedraggled appearance. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. It went beyond her looks to the compassionate, determined, intelligent woman beneath.
Leaning in to be heard above the storm without yelling, he told her, “I’m going to shift.”
She shook her head, sending droplets scattering. “I’m not sure that’s wise.”
“The storm is inhibiting my sensory abilities.” Releasing her, he grabbed the hem of his shirt. It was soaked through and clung to his skin. He peeled it off and tossed it aside. While there was no guarantee shifting would help, it couldn’t hurt.
When Onyx shivered, hunching against the chilly wind, he hurriedly removed his boots and shucked his jeans, dumping the damp denim next to the shirt. He’d purposely not worn socks or underwear in case he had to shift in a hurry.
Lightning flashed, illuminating the area around them. Their gazes met and locked. He could not only hear her heartbeat but feel it inside him. The marking on his chest began to glow, throbbing in tandem with the rhythm of her heart.
“What’s happening?” Reaching out, she pressed her hand over the marking.
“What do you feel?”
“You.” Her lips parted, her eyes widening in wonder. “I feel the wildness of your wolf.”
He pressed his hand over her. “You should leave.” The need to put her safety above his own and that of the other lone wolves grew the closer they got to their destiny.
She shook her head and slipped her hand away. “We’re in this together, until the end.”
“Until the end.” Stepping back, he embraced the change. Unlike other wolves, it was instantaneous. The man was gone; the giant wolf remained. He shook his fur to settle it.
“You’re magnificent.” She stroked his jaw. When he lowered his head, she pressed her forehead against his. “I’ll protect you.”
His chest constricted to the point of pain, heart hammering so hard it was a wonder it didn’t burst. A flood of warmth followed, soothing the ache. The wolf, adept at detecting liars, heard nothing but truth. Duty warred with the instinct to protect. As always, duty won.
He stepped back and turned toward their destination.
There was no path but they made their way unerringly through the woods. A stately brick home with wide steps in the front and impeccable landscaping loomed before them. It would look right at home in the English countryside.
There was no one around. That bothered him. He twisted his head to the right and nudged Onyx. The trees and vegetation were all dead in one section of the garden. The destruction carried the scent of blood.
“That’s where she did it. That’s where she cast the calling spell. She doesn’t care who or what she destroys, as long as she gets what she wants.” Turning away from the carnage, she led him around to the back of the building. “This way.”
He sensed Solange’s presence before she stepped into view. Evil often wore the face of beauty, but hers was cold and brittle. She stood tall, her red hair pulled back in a bun, her green eyes filled with malicious delight.
“Hello, girl.”
“My name is Onyx.” Feet shoulder-width apart, she faced the woman who’d given birth to her. This close, he could see a vague resemblance in the height and red hair, although Onyx’s was streaked with black. It was all surface. The two couldn’t be more different. One repelled, the other drew him.
He stepped up alongside her, a reminder she wasn’t alone. Lightning momentarily blinded them. He took that split-second to shift.
Solange ran her gaze up and down his naked body. “You’re faster than the others. The true lone wolf.”
His wolf bristled, wanting to attack. He had to yank the beast under control. That was the main reason he’d shifted back to his human form. This was no normal prey. She would not go down easy or without a fight.
Onyx waved toward the dead area of the garden. “You leave a wake of destruction in your path. You’ve killed countless people and for what?”
Solange’s laughter was tinged with a hint of madness. “For what? For immortality. It’s worth any price. Every great achievement requires sacrifice. That’s something you never understood because you’re weak. Look at you. You brought the black wolf right to me. Didn’t offer any resistance.”
Being back here had to be messing with Onyx’s head. “We’re here.” He held his arms out by his sides, drawing the mage’s attention to him. “I’m surprised it’s just you. I thought you had a partner, or did you cut him out?”
Her smile faltered and seemed strained. Interesting. It might be a weakness he could exploit. There was no sign of any obvious traps, but the hum of magic was everywhere. What was she up to?
Rather than answer the question, she went on the attack. “How did it feel to kill your brother, girl?”
It irritated him that she continued to refer to Onyx in that way.
“Theo welcomed death.” Onyx canted her head to one side, studying the other mage. “Anything was better than coming back to you.”
“Liar. You were jealous of him. You always were.”
Taking advantage of the distraction, Dagen eased to the right.
Solange’s head snapped toward him. She raised her hands and began to chant in an unknown language. Symbols appeared on the lawn, glowing golden. All the fine hairs on his body rose.
“No!” Onyx slammed into him, trying to shove him back, but he dug in his feet, not moving. Brilliant light shot up from each symbol, circling over them until they were encased in a dome of immense power.
The rain stopped. The lightning and thunder ceased. Did she need all her energy to put it into the barrier?
“You wolves are predictable.” Solange circled the outside. He turned with her, keeping her in view. “So animalistic. Link a woman to you with blood and you’ll do anything for her.”
Onyx went down on her knees and pressed her hands against the ground. Something began to stir in the air around her. To distract the mage from what she was doing, he canted his head to one side and smiled. “I’m always the hunter, never the hunted. I used her to track you.” The lie was bitter in his mouth, maybe because there was a grain of truth in it, but he sold it. He locked down all his emotions. A clear head and decisive action were needed if he hoped to win.
Onyx jerked but kept working.
Solange threw back her head and laughed. “So arrogant. You only think you’re the hunter. That’s what makes it so delightful. You wolves always come to me.” She pointed at Onyx. “Look at her. Pathetic. Weak. Barely a hint of magic. I blame her father. I picked an excellent genetic candidate, but at the end of the day, he was a normal human. She carries my blood and yours. That connection can’t be broken. I own you.”
She drew the fingers of her right hand into a fist and slammed it downward. Dagen was yanked toward the ground by an unseen hand. The muscles in his legs burned, but he remained upright. Sweat beaded his body. Shit, she was powerful.
Solange licked her lips. “You’re stronger than the others. I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”
Worry niggled at the back of his brain. This wasn’t a fight he could win with strength alone or even superior intellect. It was impossible to battle what he couldn’t see. He lifted a hand toward the barrier. Time to test it.
“Stop!” Onyx didn’t raise her head or change position.
“What’s this? Taking orders from the girl now, are you, wolf? You don’t think she can actually defeat me, do you? Her skills are rudimentary, at best.”
Trust wasn’t something that came easy. When it came down to it, he ignored his intellect and went with instinct. He withdrew his hand.
Onyx raised her head. It was impossible to tell her pupils from her irises, her eyes a sea of fathomless black. The knowledge of the ages seemed to reside in them. “Blood to blood. From thee to me.” Using the sharp edge of her bracelets, she slashed both hands, opening deep gashes. Blood poured from the wounds, pooling on the ground. “It is the key to set us free.”
The ground sizzled where the blood hit. She pushed upright and reached for him.
“What are you doing?” Solange demanded.
Without her having to tell him, Dagen understood what she needed him to do. He ran his palm over the jagged edge of her bracelet. When blood beaded, he grabbed her hand, letting it mingle with hers. All three of them were connected—him to Onyx, Onyx to Solange. The energy of their mystical prison would, hopefully, “recognize” her as part of Solange and him as a part of her, and not harm them. In theory.
Smiling, Onyx raised her other hand and pressed it against the barrier. Sparks flew like a fireworks display. With a loud, sonic boom, the barrier collapsed. The resulting blast wave flung all three of them in different directions.
His head slammed against the ground. The ringing in his ears momentarily deafened him to all else before the cells of his body healed. Holy shit, it worked. Onyx had used the genetic link with Solange to access the magic of the barrier. He rolled to his feet, but Solange was faster and scrambled over to Onyx. Grabbing her hair, she yanked her head back and held a knife to her throat.
“Attack me and she dies. What are you going to do, wolf?” She hauled her prisoner to her feet and dragged her to an open door and down a set of stairs. Onyx appeared stunned—likely from the backlash of power—and offered no resistance.
He ignored the sickening dread in the pit of his stomach, the chill enveloping his chest. Nothing could stand in the way of defeating Solange. Nothing or no one. They’d both understood and accepted the risks. He was an assassin. It was time to do the job. He shifted into his wolf and followed them down the stone stairs.
…
It worked!
Ears ringing and head spinning from the blast of combined magic, Onyx’s celebration was rudely interrupted. Solange dragged her to her feet and down the stairs to her lab, a knife held against her neck.
“You think you’re clever, don’t you? That was nothing more than a parlor trick.”
Off balance, Onyx stumbled and the blade nicked her neck. “I won. The wolf is free.” Relief made her knees weak. Dagen could regroup and fight another day.
“Silly girl.” Solange shifted her iron grip to Onyx’s braid and brutally dragged her head back until she had to clench her jaw against the pain. “The wolf can’t leave you. The blood link won’t allow it. He’ll follow you into my lair where I’m most powerful.”
Her stomach lurched. “No!” Solange flung her toward the center of the space. She landed hard on her hands and knees before skidding to a halt. Horror filled her as a massive black wolf stalked down the stairs. “Get away, Dagen. Go!” The warning came too late. A massive titanium gate slammed down, shutting off the exit. They were well and truly prisoners.
Another dropped from the ceiling, this one circular, trapping both of them inside. It would take more than magic to destroy this one. What have I done? In trying to save him, she might have signed his death warrant. A wolf drew strength from the natural elements and he was surrounded by cold metal—floor, ceiling, walls, and cage. It had been stone when she’d lived here. These were new additions, specifically tailored to hold a lone wolf.
The huge beast stood beside her, its gaze on Solange.
“This is too perfect.” Solange walked to a tall altar. With a wave of her hand, two black candles flared to life, and she opened an ornate leather book that sat between them. She briefly closed her eyes, centering herself.
Onyx studied their prison, searching for a weakness to exploit. The magic she’d suppressed her entire life began to burn in her chest.
Solange’s eyes opened, the green flashing like living gems. Her voice filled the space. “All will yield to my iron will. I will have my due, have my fill.” Symbols began to glow on the iron cage, adding another layer of protection. “The price has been paid in blood and bone. It belongs to me and me alone.” The symbols began to swirl, moving counterclockwise so rapidly, Onyx began to get nauseous.
Solange lifted a silver knife with a bloodstone pommel and walked to the edge of the cage. “I’d always planned to slay the beast myself. That’s the only way to release the essence of the lone wolf. It won’t get past the warding on these walls. I’ll be the strongest available host.”
“What have you done?” Horrified, Onyx watched as images flickered to life on the walls. They’d been etched in the blood of wolves, mages, and humans. Evil tainted the entire space. The souls of the damned screamed for release, for it was not only their blood she’d stolen, but their spirits.
“What needed doing.” Solange held the knife up before her. “And you’re going to help me. You owe me your very life. You’re going to slay the black wolf. With your connection, he’s powerless to hurt you.”
Solange might believe that, but Onyx didn’t. Their relationship wasn’t like that of the other lone wolves and their women. They weren’t mates, but they were partners.
“Why would I do that?”
“I’ll set you free if you do.”
Onyx heard the lie but inclined her head, as if considering the proposition. Her mind worked furiously to find a solution, a way out. “How can I trust you?”
Solange shrugged. “It’s your only option. Otherwise, I’ll offer it to him.” She walked toward Dagen. “Wouldn’t you like to be released from the bond you share with such a weak creature? Rip out her throat and you’ll be free. Maybe you’ll have a chance to defeat me without her hanging like a weight around your neck.” Laughing, she tossed the knife through the bars of the cage. The silver blade flashed before landing with a metallic clang on the floor.
Onyx dove, grabbed the handle, and rolled up onto her knees on the opposite side of the cage.
“Do it,” Solange prodded, hurrying back to the altar. “Slay him and live.”
The black wolf padded over to sit in front of her, his dark eyes curiously blank.
“I told you he couldn’t harm you.” Solange lit a bundle of pungent herbs.
The blood-soaked symbols flickered on the walls, ceiling, and floor. Those that covered the cage continued to glow. The negative energy threatened to crush her. It pulsed like a living, breathing monster, waiting to devour her whole.
Her hands were damp with blood and sweat. One at a time, she wiped them on her dress. A sense of detachment fell over her, slowing her heartbeat and steadying her. You can do this , a soft voice whispered. Curiously, it seemed to come from outside her, yet was familiar. Was it the spirit of Annalisa—her mage and ancestor—or one of the lost souls imprisoned here? Was it something else entirely? It wasn’t contaminated with malevolence. Quite the opposite. Her fingers tightened around the blade.
“Do it!” Solange screamed. Candlelight flickered on her skin, the reddish flames giving her a macabre appearance.
She stared into the wolf’s black eyes, losing herself in their dark depths. The room fell away until only the two of them existed. He tilted his head to the side. Did he truly expect her to kill him to save herself? When she did nothing, he leaned in until the blade rested against his neck.
Love for him exploded, the warmth of it driving away the lingering chill of fear. Every scrap of magic she’d hoarded and stockpiled stirred deep within her, ready to burst from her skin. Every sacrifice, every painful experience, all the lonely years had all been in preparation for this moment. For this man.
“Do it!” An unseen presence shoved at Onyx’s hand. Solange was using their genetic link to try to control her.
Gripping the handle tight, she raised her arm in the air.
“Yes! Now. Do it!”
“What I kept inside of me, release it now. Set it free.” Magic burst from within her, spinning wildly around them. She was more alive than she’d ever been. All the secrets of the universe were at her fingertips. All she had to do was reach out and take them. It would be so easy. This was who she was, a perfect melding of every part of her. She was magic and power.
And if she followed that path, her lover would die.
Meeting Dagen’s gaze, she whispered, “I love you.” She slammed the weapon downward. Pain exploded in her chest as the blade drove deep. Love, the blood vow, and magic combined with the potency of an atomic bomb.
A howl split the air. Solange screamed. Onyx smiled, unconcerned for her wolf’s safety. Her magic would never harm him, would only protect. It was his chance to end this once and for all.
Lying on her side, she closed her eyes and wrapped her fingers around the wolf pendant he’d given her.