89. Leviathan
LEVIATHAN
Cold water splashed across my face, ripping me out of unconsciousness. Gasping, I lurched up, trying to wipe my face, but my hands were tied behind my back.
“Well, well, well. Look who decided to wakey-wakey,” Carlton said. “On your feet, Cross.”
My head throbbed, and the spot on my side ached like the devil. The cold air seeped into me, made worse by the fact that I was now soaked. When I didn’t respond immediately, rough hands grabbed me by my armpits and dragged me up from the ground.
Blinking the water from my eyes, I glanced around, finding myself surrounded by Red Maw members, all glaring or smirking.
The looks of victory. I wanted to ask if the rest of our war party had gotten away, but I wouldn’t get a straight answer.
Instead, I glanced left and right, trying to catch sight of any other possible prisoners, but all I could see was the wall of men standing around me.
Carlton walked ahead of me. After a few yards, he stepped aside, revealing Desdemona standing in a circle of her men.
Behind her, at the inner edge of the circle, Anders and Eugenia stood, satisfied smiles on their faces.
I growled and jerked, trying to free myself to go after them, but the hands that held me were strong, and I was weakened by the injuries.
“Calm down, Leviathan,” Desdemona said, her voice light, as if we were talking over a cup of coffee rather than as prisoner and captor.
“What do you want?” I snarled through gritted teeth. “If you want surrender, you can go to hell.”
“Oh, I know surrender isn’t in your vocabulary.” She laughed lightly as she waved at the men who held me.
They released me and pushed me down on my knees. My head still pounded in agony, but I managed to keep my eyes on her.
“Levi, it’s time to tell you a little secret,” she said. “It’s one I think that’ll intrigue you.”
As she walked closer to me, I saw Carlton stiffen and take a step forward, but he didn’t intervene. Desdemona came right up to me and knelt before me, smiling sadly.
I frowned in bewilderment as she caressed my cheek. I was so surprised and confused, I couldn’t even flinch away.
“My love. It’s been so long. I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice soft and loving.
Now I did yank my head from her touch. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“It’s hard, I know,” she said. “Don’t you recognize me? Deep down? It’s me. Naphele.”
It was like someone had slammed a hundred-pound bag of sand onto my chest. I sat back on my heels, sagging under the weight of her words.
“Excuse me?” I muttered.
“You heard me,” Desdemona said. “You remember all the times we had. The day you gifted me my necklace? Making love at the overlook? The way we handled Hugo Boucher? It’s all come back to me.
It started the day I met you. When you and your friend found our camp.
From that day on, the memories came flooding back. It’s me, Levi. I still love you.”
My brain short-circuited, sparks spasming in the depths of my mind. The things she was saying, the words—it made no sense. How could she know those things? Unless…
“Stop!” I shouted, shaking my head as if trying to throw off some sort of hypnosis. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not,” she said, and there was a strange combination of kindness and simmering malice in her words. “You know it’s true. Look at me. Think of Naphele. You can see the resemblance in who we are. Perhaps not physically, but in our spirit.”
That was true. Desdemona reminded me of Naphele’s warrior spirit.
Her power and strength. As to that part, yes, Desdemona was correct.
Also, there were all these men who followed her.
The respect she earned from them was impressive, and something I knew Naphele could have achieved.
But my long-lost mate had been kind and good-natured, a person who veered toward diplomacy rather than war unless there was no other option.
Could she ever reincarnate in a woman like this?
“Here is my offer, Levi,” Desdemona said.
“Join me, as I asked before, become my mate. This time, it won’t just be me you’ll be binding your life to, but Naphele also.
Do this and follow me and my men into battle against the alliance of packs.
With you at my side, we will be unstoppable.
The Red Maw will roll over them, and in a week, you and I will be the alphas of the largest pack within a thousand miles.
After that? The sky is the limit. Come, join me,” she said and extended a hand toward me.
Carlton moved forward and cut the rope binding my wrists.
As he did so, I glanced behind Desdemona, catching sight of Anders.
He and Eugenia were both looking on with eager and anticipatory looks on their faces.
Before that, I’d almost been ready to believe what Desdemona was telling me, but why would Anders be looking so happy?
If I took Desdemona up on her offer, he had to know his life would be miserable.
He knew I’d never allow him to remain. Something was off about all this.
I didn’t know how Anders could have known enough to feed Desdemona the information about Naphele, but this whole thing stank of a trap.
Some sort of long con that they were trying to fold me into.
There was no way Naphele would allow her soul to embody itself in a person as cold and calculating as the woman who stood before me.
I rubbed at my wrists, buying time. Did I spit in her face and tell her to go to hell?
Die a martyr, but with my reputation and conscience intact?
Or, did I play my own con? The choice was easy.
Letting my arms sag to my side, I forced up what I thought was a rather impressive and realistic sob.
“Naphele? You’re really in there?” I said, collapsing forward on my hands and knees.
Desdemona’s face broke into a triumphant smile. “Yes, my love.” She straightened, holding both of her hands out to me now. “Rise, an alpha mate, and once more be at my side.”
Reaching forward, I placed my hands in hers and allowed her to help me to my feet.
She pulled me close and pressed her lips to mine.
The men of the Red Maw cheered. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to rip my mouth from hers.
My wolf gave a revolted and horrified shudder, and that alone told me all I needed to know.
This woman was no more the embodiment of Naphele than I was.
I managed to keep my emotions under control until the kiss was over.
When she lifted my hand and another thunderous roar of approval erupted from the men, I smiled, wide and toothy, wondering what they’d all think when I turned on them.