Blood Oath (#3, Mystic Wolves) (12 page)

We came across a smaller set of stairs—ones
that looked like it would take us to a cellar or basement. The
feeling of Mason grew stronger so placing one foot in front of the
other, we began our descent.

I tried to tell myself I had nothing to worry
about, and I felt the reassurance come from my wolf. She was alert,
watching closely to see what would happen. Using the handrail to
keep my balance, I finally reached the bottom and found there was a
doorway leading.

There was a loud crash from the floor above,
and the sound of voices shouting. Devlin reached for his boot,
pulling out a dagger, and moving back toward the stairs, he ordered
me to find somewhere to hide.

“Don’t come out until I return for you,” he
called over his shoulder, and taking two steps at a time, I quickly
lost sight of him.

Not knowing where to go, I turned around to
the door behind me. Pushing it carefully, I cringed as I heard the
creaking of rusted hinges, and I waited to see if anything would
jump out.

The room was dark, but the tug around my
heart grew stronger. I fumbled for the light switch. The bulb
flickered on, fading somewhat before surging to full capacity, and
I found myself standing in storeroom where the owners kept food and
other household items.

It was a large room filled with row after row
shelves, and I walked in further, looking for a place to hide.
Coming around one of the shelves, I gasped.

Mason was manacled to the wall, a blank
expression on his face.

I gave into my first instinct, racing over to
him, feeling for injuries while trying to figure out how to break
him free of the cuffs around his wrists. They held his arms out
straight, and I could only imagine the pressure it was placing on
his shoulders. I whispered words of love, asking him to hold on.
Reaching for the restraints, I recoiled back instantly the second
my skin came in contact with the metal.

Silver. Avery was holding Mason hostage with
the one substance known to burn a werewolf, as well as draining
their strength, and preventing from shifting. As I looked closer,
tears filled my eyes to see the angry red skin and blisters weeping
on his wrists. I knew they had to hurt, but he didn’t utter a
single sound.

I took hold of his face, moving it back and
forth, and noticed his eyes didn’t follow me. I spoke loudly,
calling his name, but his expression remained empty.

“He is compelled, sweet Darcy, and completely
under my control. I could not have him run off and spoil the party,
now could I? Where would the fun be if you were not here to
watch?”

Avery stepped out from around one of the
shelves, smiling widely at my surprise. He looked pleased with
himself, and I released a low growl of warning.

“Oh, come now, there is no need for that.
Your beloved Alpha is still alive, maybe a little worse for wear,
but still breathing.” He chuckled as he glanced over at the body
hanging on the opposite wall. “I rather like my new
decoration.”

“Let him go. There’s no need to keep him like
this. There was no need for any of this.”

“Oh, there definitely was, my beauty. You
see, after I took you home, I had a change of heart, an epiphany if
you will. I discovered I do not really need your Mason as much as I
thought I did.” He began pacing slowly before me, a look of
determination on his face, and I placed myself in front of Mason as
a shield.

My wolf began to howl, sensing danger, and we
both watched as Avery paused. He seemed to be waiting for
something—listening—and with a small sigh he began to shake his
head. “Once again, our time is cut short. Oh well, I will do what I
must.”

A sense of relief brushed over me as I hoped
Devlin was returning. I expected him to burst through the door at
any moment, and was disappointed when he didn’t appear.

“No one is coming, my dear—at least not who
you are wanting. If I am right, whoever came with you is now
engaged with my guards and I have trained them well.” He looked at
his fingernails, feigning boredom

“So where were we? Ah … yes.” He moved
quickly, a gust of air revealing his speed, and I found myself
staring deep into his eyes. I closed mine, fighting the urge,
knowing if I looked I would be under his influence again.

“Look at me, or I will kill your lover.” His
tone was serious and cold, removing all doubt to his sincerity.

Glaring back, I slowly raised my eyelids. “I
hate you,” I uttered.

“You have not begun to hate me, Darcy, but do
not worry. In a few seconds, you will forget and all you will know
is that my touch brings you pleasure.”

“You’re fooling yourself.” I called on my
wolf instantly, trying to bring her to the surface. Before I could
shift, Avery grabbed onto me roughly. I wasn’t able to finish the
change as he spoke a few words, the compulsion cutting me off
completely.

I felt all resistance to him melt away, and
it was replaced with the sudden urge to wrap myself up in him. I
couldn’t keep my hands from reaching out and stroking him, each
time I did, it felt like electricity traveling through my body,
covering me with tingles.

I wanted him—needed him—and as I began to rub
myself against his body, he whipped me around so my back was
against his chest.

“Calm yourself, I’m not ready for you to
become so playful. We do not have our audience yet.” Leaning
forward, he uttered more words, and a surge of energy burst through
Mason. His roar of fury bounced off the walls until it was almost
deafening.

He strained against the manacles binding him,
but they held firm, the clasps refusing to open.

I was worried and began to argue for his
release, but a finger brushed down the side of my neck, causing
goose bumps to cover my skin. I was lost in a moment of bliss.

My voice was screaming inside my head to
ignore his touch, quickly realizing it was the contact which made
me lose my reason. I was grateful he hadn’t removed my ability to
think and I tried to focus, hoping to find a way around the
compulsion.

“Let us go, Avery. Whatever you’re planning,
you can’t expect it to work. Regardless of what you do to us, Zane
will never abdicate to you. He’ll crush you without a moment’s
thought. The people love him and will follow him. You can’t
possibly win.”

“But I told you I had a new plan, one that
involves you.” He brushed his lips against my neck, and before I
could gag, I convulsed with desire. My body rebelled against me,
and no matter what I willed it to do, it wouldn’t listening.

“I’m the one you want,” Mason shouted, his
eyes never leaving me as he watched me in the embrace of another.
“You have no need for Darcy. Release her, and I’ll do what you
ask.” He sounded every inch the Alpha as he hung there defenseless,
his head held high.

“But I do not want you. As I mentioned
earlier, I have changed my mind and it’s all because of your future
mate here. Ever since I saw her last, I have had the taste of her
in my mouth. It made me realize … why have an Alpha under my
control when I could sire the perfect weapon.”

I felt his fangs graze against my pulse, his
breath heating my already fevered skin. I moaned, breaking contact
with Mason because I was too embarrassed by my reaction.

He saw my intentions and whispered my name.
Looking back up, he mouthed the words to be strong and I nodded. He
needed me to keep focused and not get lost in my head. I instantly
stopped moaning, refusing to give Avery the satisfaction of hearing
me.

“You mean to turn her? Is that your master
plan?” Mason sounded unbelieving.

Fear quickly replaced whatever desire I was
feeling. I didn’t want to become a vampire. I loved being a
werewolf, and I began to struggle against the vampire holding me.
But it lasted a brief moment before the contact sent me straight
back into pleasure and I writhed.

“Of course I am, only a fool would pass by
the opportunity to tap into her power. She will be the weapon I use
to crush Zane and take over, the people flocking to follow her
cause after she reveals how her beloved mate was slaughtered by the
vampire king.”

“You’re mad,” he bellowed, tugging again on
his restraints. “You greatly overestimate the influence I hold.
Again, killing me will only fuel her anger, ensuring she’ll never
help you—sire or not. You may be able to compel her mind, but you
will never govern her heart.”

“Enough!” It was the only warning I had
before I felt razor sharp teeth pierce my skin, latching onto my
neck, and the immediate draw of blood from my artery.

Avery’s body hardened and I soon found myself
lost in the erotic sensation of his feeding. I tried not to moan,
but it only made me sound louder. I tried not to let my hands
wander, but I found myself reaching behind for any part of him I
could.

I felt myself growing weaker, and made one
more attempt to break free, knowing it was my last chance,
Remembering Daniel’s instruction I slammed my head back, hitting
Avery with such a force, it broke his connection with my neck,
causing him to temporarily let me go.

Dropping to the floor, I let my wolf rip
free, rushing to the forefront. Fur rippled over me as I rose on
all fours. There was no joy in the change, no sense of wonder at
the prospect of a run under the moon.

I snarled—my lips curling back from my teeth,
and I felt my hackles rise. My ears flattened against my head, and
a strand of saliva dripped from my jaw. I lunged forward, aiming
for the vampire’s jugular.

Using his supernatural reflexes, he dodged my
attack, and with a disappointed tone, chastised me. “Come now,
there’s no need for this. Be a good doggy and change back.”

I paced, looking for a weakness to take
advantage of, all the while never giving him access to my mate. We
tested each opening I found, but the vampire was strong and not
easily fooled. Knowing time was of the essence, we faked a leap to
the left, twisting at the last moment, and caught his shoulder in
between my teeth. The bitter taste of his blood flooded my taste
buds and I clamped down hard, shaking my head back and forth as
chunks of flesh came away in my mouth.

This caused a reaction from my enemy, his
fangs fully descending, and he flew at my, his hands curled into
claw like weapons.

I was ready though, springing off my hind
legs, and we collided in midair. I could hear Mason yelling, trying
to distract Avery.

Sharp fingernails gouged into my side, and I
felt my blood begin to flow. I didn’t focus on the pain though, and
instead snapped harder with my own fangs, narrowly missing his
throat.

He tried to wrap his arm around my center,
but I twisted and turned again, wrestling him onto the floor where
I finally got him pinned, and moved in for the kill.

I saw something move out of the corner of my
eye, and noticed of Avery’s minions had entered the room.

My focus shifted, and seizing the
opportunity, Avery lunged forward. He latched back onto my throat,
drinking in mouthfuls of blood, intent on continuing my
transition.

I felt myself divide from my wolf, and could
hear her howl from the looming weakness. We couldn’t keep united
and I changed back.

I raised my hands up and try to pry Avery off
me. Lifting my knee, I tried to connect with his body. I hit him
and he paused for a moment. I drew in a steadying breath and
commanded myself to stay awake. If I could distract him from
feeding more, I’d be able to heal and replenish—not completely, but
enough to keep fighting.

Worried about the new arrival, I glanced in
his direction just in time to see him disintegrate before my eyes.
Without warning, the weight holding my body down disappeared, and I
suddenly showered with ashes. I screamed, finding myself free, and
I scrambled to protect myself from the new threat.

But there was no threat.

Devlin, bloodied and barely able to keep
himself standing, threw me a weary grin before he dropped to his
knees, a makeshift stake clattering to the floor beside him. A
quick glance over his body told me he was already starting to heal,
but the blood loss was making it a slow process.

Tearing at my wrist, blood beginning to drip,
I knelt beside my friend and protector to offer him freely what he
needed. I begged him to drink but he stubbornly refused, muttering
about blood oaths and honor. I tried holding the gash over his
mouth, but he turned his head, still too weak to move and sit
up.

I looked over at Mason, concerned. I had a
vampire on the verge of passing out from blood loss, and a werewolf
chained to the wall by silver. I couldn’t help either, and I
slumped back on to think.

It was Mason’s weary voice that offered the
solution. “Have him remove the chains, Darcy. They’re vampire
created so he can break the spell on the locks. Then drag him over
here so I can feed him. With the silver no longer touching my skin,
I’ll heal quickly.”

As I went to move, I heard Devlin begin to
chant the needed words, and the manacles holding Mason popped open,
allowing him to drop to the ground.

I rushed over to the weakened vampire, and
dragged his heavy body over to where Mason lay.

Mason moved slowly, and I helped him with
Devlin’s dagger when he had difficulty ripping his skin. Placing
his wrist over Devlin’s open mouth, he leaned in and whispered his
gratitude. The sharing of blood with supernatural being of extreme
power was not usually done because it provided the receiver with a
potent boost in abilities.

This wasn’t a gift given lightly. I knew
Mason felt bound to honor the one who had saved my life, and in
turn saved his.

As we to watched Devlin, he lashed out
suddenly and took a death grip on the offered wrist. I could see
the giant gulps of blood he was taking. Mason lay down completely,
and I worried the feeding was going too far.