A Curse Unbroken (36 page)

Aric escorted me into a small parlor when he sensed my rising anger. He knew damn well that after everything that happened, and all that my sisters and I had discovered, my tigress and I needed space to keep from attacking Uri, that witch, and anyone else who had the nerve to question my loyalty.

He shut the door for privacy and led me across the room and out to a small terrace. “It’s okay, sweetness. They’re just angry because they never had the opportunity to use Shah for their own selfish gains.” His deep timbre remained calm, yet I could sense his angered beast looming within.

I knew he was right, but his warmth and support did little to settle the frustration tearing its way through me. I was about to ask him to take us home when someone entered the room.

Makawee carefully shut the door behind her and walked toward us, her steps causing only a whisper of sound. She stopped just in front of me, the edges of her deep brown eyes crinkling when her thin lips curved into a smile. “What did you wish for?” she asked me quietly.

Her question surprised me. “Makawee, I’m telling the truth, I didn’t ask Shah for anything.”

Her stare traveled down the length of my body before returning to fix on my face. “May I?” she asked, extending her hand.

I hesitated before nodding, unclear and wary of her intentions. She placed her hand tenderly over my belly, barely grazing the surface of my blouse. Her gentle smile widened the longer her hand remained in place. “You may not have asked him, Celia, but in exchange for showing Shah kindness, he gave you what you most wanted.”

Aric’s grip to my hip tightened, otherwise he failed to move. I couldn’t move at all.

Makawee nodded. “You’re pregnant, Celia. You’re carrying Aric’s child.”

Epilogue

The feel of the powdered sand between my toes brought me a sense of calm, as did the aroma of the salty sea air and the spray of roses and Fijian flowers that made up my bouquet. “It’s time, Ceel,” Shayna said, her eyes and those of my sisters shiny with tears.

When Bren began to thrum the first chords of “Into the Mystic” on his guitar, I knew she was right. One by one, my sisters left me to walk down our makeshift aisle, looking stunning in their simple slip dresses that matched the turquoise ocean water.

In the bright clear sky, werehawks and wereeagles patrolled, beating their powerful wings against the current in a majestic aerial dance. Heidi was in charge of security and had arranged to have weredolphins and weresharks patrol the waters. I never knew any sort of
were
marine life existed. And although I found it bizarre, I refused to complain. If it took Flipper the Dolphin and friends to ensure that Aric and I could exchange vows without chaos and bloodshed, I’d gladly accept their help.

My hand stroked my belly. I thought the simple appliqué of rosettes cascading from the bodice and to the A-line skirt of my strapless wedding gown would camouflage my pregnancy, but although I was certain that I wasn’t far along, my scars had vanished and I’d begun to show.

Only two weeks had passed since learning that Aric and I had conceived, but he refused to wait any longer to marry me and that was fine by me.

Bren’s deep voice reached a crescendo, my cue to step out from the small stand of palm trees and onto the beach. The small group assembled rose, temporarily obstructing my view of the groomsmen: Bren, Danny, Koda, and Gemini, the best man. But as much as I adored them, there was one wolf in particular I couldn’t wait to see.

The breeze swept my long hair and my cathedral-length veil behind me in time for me to catch my first view of my groom.

Aric wore light tan tuxedo pants with a crisp white shirt and nothing else. He didn’t need anything else. I didn’t think it was possible for any male to look more spectacular. His eyes were smoldering, his body strong, his face handsome.

And he had chosen to be mine.

As I smiled at my mate, all the fierceness he normally carried as a Leader of his kind couldn’t compare to how he watched me then. He held my gaze as if my life and that of our child depended on it. I wanted to run into his arms and never release him.

Aric was my destiny; more than ever, I was sure of it then.

He bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his nose as I neared. When he looked up at me again, a single tear streaked down his face. I smiled through my own tears when I reached him.

“Hi, sweetness,” he said quietly.

“Hi, wolf.”

I passed my flowers to Taran, allowing Aric to take my hands in his.

Makawee stepped forward. “You may begin your vows,” she said.

Aric grinned, the gesture lighting his magnificent eyes. “The first words I ever spoke to you were in the form of a question. I asked you what you were.” He laughed. “You growled at me and made it clear that you didn’t owe me an explanation.”

Those in attendance busted out laughing. “Not my Celia,” Bren muttered.

My cheeks reddened, although I held on to my smile as he continued. “What you should have told me was that you were my sun that rises in the morning and the moon that makes me howl at night. That you were more than I ever wanted, needed, or desired in a mate.” His deep voice lowered. “That you would take my heart every time you’d leave my side, and that your smile would bring me to my knees. That’s what you should have told me, because that’s precisely what I’ve known from the first moment I saw your beautiful face. I love you, Celia. And I will love you for eternity.”

Tears slid down Aric’s face. He’d stolen my breath with his words, but somehow I managed to speak from my heart.

“You weren’t supposed to love me,” I told him, my voice shaking. “You were never supposed to come into my life. Demons,
weres,
vampires, and traitors aside, you have turned my world upside down from the first moment I met your gaze.” I tried to steady my breath. “You catch me when I fall, and have risen with me from the ashes of death and despair. With a touch of your fingers, the scent of your being, a look from your eyes, I am whole. You weren’t supposed to love me,” I said again, my own tears falling. “But I am blessed because you do. I love you, Aric, and I will love you for eternity.”

We finished our vows as the sun began to set. Aric bent to meet my lips, one hand curled around my waist, the other traveled to my belly. In his kiss and gentle hold, he swore to protect me and our child from harm. As I realized the fate that awaited our little one, I prayed we would both be enough.

Something was coming. And the world was counting on our baby to save it.

Reader’s Guide to the Magical World of the Weird Girls Series

acute bloodlust
A condition that occurs when a vampire goes too long without consuming blood. Increases the vampire’s thirst to lethal levels. It is remedied by feeding the vampire.

call
The ability of one supernatural creature to reach out to another, through either thoughts or sounds. A vampire can pass his or her
call
by transferring a bit of magic into the receiving being’s skin.

change
To transform from one being to another, typically from human to beast, and back again.

chronic
bloodlust
A condition caused by a curse placed on a vampire. It makes the vampire’s thirst for blood insatiable and drives the vampire to insanity. The vampire grows in size from gluttony and assumes deformed features. There is no cure.

claim
The method by which a werebeast consummates the union with his or her mate.

clan
A group of werebeasts led by an Alpha. The types of clans differ depending on species. Werewolf clans are called “packs.” Werelions belong to “prides.”

creatura
The offspring of a demon lord and a werebeast.

dantem animam
A soul giver. A rare being capable of returning a master vampire’s soul. A master with a soul is more powerful than any other vampire in existence, as he or she is balancing life and death at once.

dark ones
Creatures considered to be pure evil, such as shape-shifters or demons.

demon
A creature residing in hell. Only the strongest demons may leave to stalk on earth, but their time is limited; the power of good compels them to return.

demon child
The spawn of a demon lord and a mortal female. Demon children are of limited intelligence and rely predominantly on their predatory instincts.

demon lords (
demonkin
)
The offspring of a witch mother and a demon. Powerful, cunning, and deadly. Unlike demons, whose time on earth is limited, demon lords may remain on earth indefinitely.

Den
A school where young werebeasts train and learn to fight in order to help protect the earth from mystical evil.

Elder
One of the governors of a werebeast clan. Each clan is led by three Elders: an Alpha, a Beta, and an Omega. The Alpha is the supreme leader. The Beta is the second in command. The Omega settles disputes between them and has the ability to calm by releasing bits of his or her harmonized soul, or through a sense of humor muddled with magic. He possesses rare gifts and is often volatile, selfish, and of questionable loyalty.

force
Emme Wird’s ability to move objects with her mind.

gold
The metallic element; it was cursed long ago and has damaging effects on werebeasts, vampires, and the dark ones. Supernatural creatures cannot hold gold without feeling the poisonous effects of the curse. A bullet dipped in gold will explode a supernatural creature’s heart like a bomb. Gold against open skin has a searing effect.

grandmaster
The master of a master vampire. Grandmasters are among the earth’s most powerful creatures. Grandmasters can recognize whether the human he or she
turned
is a master upon creation. Grandmasters usually kill any master vampires they create to consume their power. Some choose to let the masters live until they become a threat, or until they’ve gained greater strength and therefore more consumable power.

keep
Beings a master vampire controls and is responsible for, such as those he or she has
turned
vampire, or a human he or she regularly feeds from. One master can acquire another’s keep by destroying the master the keep belongs to.

Leader
A pureblood werebeast in charge of delegating and planning attacks against the evils that threaten the earth.

lone
A werebeast who doesn’t belong to a clan, and therefore is not obligated to protect the earth from supernatural evil. Considered of lower class by those with clans.

master vampire
A vampire with the ability to
turn
a human vampire. Upon their creation, masters are usually killed by their grandmaster for power. Masters are immune to fire and to sunlight born of magic, and typically carry tremendous power. Only a master or another lethal preternatural can kill a master vampire. If one master kills another, the surviving vampire acquires his or her power, wealth, and keep.

mate
The being a werebeast will love and share a soul with for eternity.

misericordia
A plea for mercy in a duel.

moon sickness
The werebeast equivalent of bloodlust. Brought on by a curse from a powerful enchantress. Causes excruciating pain. Attacks a werebeast’s central nervous system, making the werebeast stronger and violent, and driving the werebeast to kill. No known cure exists.

mortem provocatio
A fight to the death.

North
American
Were
Council
The governing body of
weres
in North America, led by a president and several council members.

potestatem bonum
“The power of good.” That which encloses the earth and keeps demons from remaining among the living.

purebloods
(aka
pures
)
Werebeasts from generations of
were
-only family members. Considered royalty among werebeasts, they carry the responsibilities of their species. The mating between two purebloods is the only way to guarantee the conception of a
were
child.

shape-shifter
Evil, immortal creatures who can take any form. They are born witches, then spend years seeking innocents to sacrifice to a dark deity. When the deity deems the offerings sufficient, the witch casts a baneful spell to surrender his or her magic and humanity in exchange for immortality and the power of hell at their fingertips. Shape-shifters can command any form and are the deadliest and strongest of all mystical creatures.

shift
Celia’s ability to break down her body into minute particles. Her gift allows her to travel beneath and across soil, concrete, and rock. Celia can also
shift
a limited number of beings. Disadvantages include not being able to breathe or see until she surfaces.

solis natus magicae
The proper term for sunlight born of magic, created by a wielder of spells. Considered “pure” light. Capable of destroying non-master vampires and demons. In large quantities may also kill shape-shifters. Renders the wielder helpless once fired.

surface
Celia’s ability to reemerge from a shift.

susceptor animae
A being capable of taking one’s soul, such as a vampire.

Trudhilde
Radinka
(aka Destiny)
A female born once every century from the union of two witches who possesses rare talents and the aptitude to predict the future. Considered among the elite of the mystical world.

turn
To transform a human into a werebeast or vampire. Werebeasts
turn
by piercing the heart of a human with their fangs and transferring a part of their essence. Vampires pierce through the skull and into the brain to transfer a taste of their magic. Werebeasts risk their lives during the
turning
process, as they are gifting a part of their souls. Should the transfer fail, both the werebeast and human die. Vampires risk nothing since they’re not losing their souls, but rather taking another’s and releasing it from the human’s body.