“It’s almost like a magnet, some enormous magnet, keeps pulling me to you, and I don’t think it’s unnatural. I think it could be…but, I’m afraid to say it. I don’t even dare to imagine it,” Reyland rasped, speaking faster now.
“I have no wolf, and you, you are connected to a mystical one.”
“But, I’m…I seem to be…” he paused, looking away for the first time. He turned back to Marian and edged forward, toward her.
“I am affected by your blood.”
“Different from how your father’s affects me.”
Marian stood abruptly, pushing her chair back by over six feet. The only reason it did not go further was the wall it slammed against.
“What?” Marian growled, her eyes flashing.
Reyland stared up at her, open-mouthed, as he had been cut off mid-sentence.
He exhaled, his chest slumping, his lips still parted.
Tobias paused, an inscrutable expression on his face.Then, his brow relaxed.“Take my Seer, his people will bring whatever is needed. I want nothing from you. If I see you again, Father, one of us will surely die,” he declared flatly, calmly, his volume loud enough for all, including his hidden forces, to hear.With that, Tobias spun around and he and his people melted into the night.Jorak stood alone in the clearing, trembling, as he watched his Alpha leave.King Asher smiled down at him.“Come, Jorak! You have work to do! And I wish to hear more of your father. Talk with me as we head back,” the King said pleasantly, placing a hand on Jorak’s trembling shoulder.In seconds, the shifter calmed. He gazed up at the King wide-eyed.“What? Surely you of all people know that such is the least of my capabilities,” the King droned.“Tha..thank you, King Alpha,” Jorak brea
“We need the blood of a fire wolf to complete the potion,” Jorak rasped.Silence.“How long will it take to make it?” a small voice inquired breathily.Jorak’s head bowed. He remained facing Alpha Tobias.“Two nights. We have already started it. So, this night and tomorrow night. It will be ready.”“How much blood is required?” the same voice asked again.Jorak turned on his knees, facing the source of the questions.“A very small amount, ancient one, very small indeed,” he replied nervouslyMarian nodded at him, her face pale.Somehow, she understood. Even before he said it.“From…from the heart, ancient one,” Jorak stammered in conclusion.Marian smiled.It was the saddest smile in the world.Marian would have laughed, but she could not even stand.Misha stroked her back. She gazed up at him as he sta
Dax went down on one forearm, still on his knees, halfway to lying prostrate on his office floor.“I gave YOU to her, not the other way around, young one,” the King retorted casually.The door burst open.“Father, please!” a shrill voice cried out.In less than a second, Luna Diane was on her knees before the King, her palms together as she gazed up at her father, her face pale and covered in tears.The door swung shut behind her.In the brief moment it took for the door to close, no eyes of the shifters outside the door dared to look upon the scene unfolding inside Dax’s office.From the first strike from the Alpha King, Dax had cut off his connection to his pack.Once that had happened, his Luna had found his last location and had hurried over.Dax fell forward, gasping as the weight disappeared.He struggled upright but didn’t quite make it, instead falling backward and sitti
Every shifter, Marian included, growled.They all turned to find the Alpha King stepping toward the gathered group.All Bloodrayne wolves immediately surrounded their Alpha and his Successor. Eaden also formed part of the protective circle.Alpha Tobais gasped as he locked eyes with the Alpha King.Before anyone could steady their minds, a single word filled the space between the trees.“Father.”==========Moments after Marian had left Lightmoon with Misha, the Alpha King had summoned Dax. The King was seated in Dax’s office, behind Dax’s desk, on Dax’s chair.He was alone.“Where is your shadow?” Alpha King Asher asked calmly in his soft voice as Dax entered, the door closing quietly behind him with no one following behind.“He has things to attend,” Dax replied evenly, his eyes on the desk as he stood before the King, his hands placed one over the other in f
“My mind was heavy at first, but once I shifted to human form, my mind cleared. It felt like a weight had been removed.”“I wanted to take him back with us. We tried to take him down.”“Aren bit him on the arm, bit down, holding on to him, but he shook Aren like he was made of paper!”“He did something to Zanel, and he fell. It looked like his eyes and ears were bleeding, but I didn’t get a good look.”“He kept looking at his Gamma, like some babe lost in the woods.”Misha sat forward, his eyes on his father.“So, we went for the Gamma. He was strong, as I’ve said, but it was the only option.”“It was when that Gamma of his went down that he went wild,” he explained, his eyes shifting to the spellcaster.He leaned forward more, his forearm resting on his father’s knee as he spoke directly to the older shifter.It was at this point that Marian’s eyes left the fire.This was a part she had missed. Jackson’s view had been blocked by his many attackers. She had not been able to see what h
Misha smiled, then leaned against his father, whispering in his ear.Marian did not hear what he said as she gazed between the two men.As Misha spoke, Tobias’ brow rose.“Oh?” he breathed, then smiled a wicked smile.Even with his injury, the Alpha of Bloodrayne was still striking.“There is another one…,” Tobias droned.“Well, it doesn’t seem fair that Lightmoon should have all the rare gems in the world,” Tobias remarked casually.“You want to help your Wild one?” he stated evenly, “Then I will oblige. If you will do one thing –” he continued slowly.“I have brought your son back to you. Is that not enough?” Marian cut in again.“Dear child, my son’s return has bought your Alpha and his pet my forgiveness, for the moment. For your Alpha’s son, well now, that will require something extra,” he retorted breezily.“What is your request?” Marian asked evenly.Tobias stepped forward and lifted Marian’s chin with one finger.“You, ancient one. I want you.”==========“Tell me what you kno