Lords of the Were (24 page)

I can’t live like that. I won’t.”

“It’s our duty to protect you.” Rafe stood to face her, but Duncan came up beside them.

“And you’ll do your duty whether she stays hidden here at home or follows her heart—and her Lady—to the stone circle. She is stronger than you know and just coming into her power. You diminish her if you do not let her grow.”

“My cousin’s right,” Betina said softly, commanding all attention to her seated and bundled form. “Allie needs to do this. She needs to establish herself and her power, and she needs you to let her do it, boys.

I know it goes against your nature, but you’re alphas. You’re stronger than your instincts. You can do this and by doing this, you will all grow and excel.”

“If we don’t all die first, that is.” Tim’s expression was guarded as he stood next to his twin, facing Allie. He ignored Duncan, focusing solely on his mate. “I don’t like this plan at all.” Allie took both of their hands and brought them to her heart. “I know.

And I know how hard it will be for you to see me in danger, but I know in my heart this is right. It’s the only way we have to draw Vabian out into the open. If he follows me into the circle, you can spring the trap. You’ll be with me every step of the way.”

“You bet your ass we’ll be with you,” Rafe swore. “There’s no way we’d let you go alone into the woods with no protection. We’ll be at your side or we’re not doing this at all.”

She knew in that moment she’d won. They were willing to let her test her wings and she loved them all the more for it. Something inside her blossomed and swelled. It was love and it was something more—a power the likes of which she’d only felt once before, when she’d called on the Lady to heal Betina. It was vast, ancient and benevolent. And it was filling her with strength.

She reached up and kissed Rafe and then Tim on the cheek, smiling as bright as the sun. Her men would see her through. They could fight their natures to allow her this freedom, and she could let them dominate her in the bedroom. It was important to know their dominance was controllable, though she had no desire to change anything about their love life. No, she enjoyed letting them order her around in the bedroom too much to want to change a single thing about that. It was just in everyday life where she needed a little bit more freedom and she loved them even more for giving it to her.

“The three of us will lead him into the trap. Together,” she promised them.

“And I’ll be waiting in the stone circle to spring it,” Duncan added from beside them.

Dante moved to their other side. “And I’ll be watching from above to warn you of danger. You’ll be guarded at all times.” The crackling energy of the Elspian Ring comforted Patrick Vabian as he watched the little house on the edge of the woods from a far-off vantage point. The were couldn’t sense him though they prowled close at times, but his borrowed magic stood strong against them.

He’d seen that bastard vampire go into the house through his high-powered binoculars and cursed. The blasted bloodletter was working on their side now, but no matter. None of them could stand up to Patrick Vabian. He’d prove himself and bathe in their blood before taking his rightful place among the Priori of the Venifucus.

There was another with them now though, that he couldn’t place.

He’d been with Dante in the truck and walked into the house with him, welcomed by the were, but he wasn’t were. Vabian wasn’t quite sure what the newcomer was. Perhaps he was only human, though why supernaturals would be associating with a mere human escaped him.

Still, he couldn’t sense anything about the newcomer, so perhaps there really was nothing to sense. Or perhaps the man was hiding even more power than any of the others.

That thought gave him pause.

But his course was set. Vabian would heal up just a bit more, and then he would make his move. He had to get to the priestess. Only killing her would cement his place in the ranks of the Priori. He would kill her or die trying.

And Patrick Vabian didn’t plan on dying anytime soon. Or at all, for that matter.

Everything was in place. Duncan and a contingent of were folk waited in and around the stone circle. Dante was already circling above in the form of a midnight black raven, his eyes sharp in the early evening dark, looking for any trace of the Elspian Ring as Duncan had taught him.

Betina was well guarded back at the house and Tim and Rafe had silent escorts following their path as they walked with Allie, quickly and quietly through the forest to their destination.

This was the tricky part, Allie knew. Getting to the stone circle was the most vulnerable point of their plan. Once she was there, she’d be protected by the circle itself. It was a sacred place where few could harm her—a consecrated servant of the Lady. But the plan depended on getting her there in one piece, then luring Vabian after her into the circle where he could be trapped, questioned and punished. The power of the place was such that he would not be able to escape, even using such dark magic as the Elspian Ring.

They were almost there when Dante cried a warning from above. Tim and Rafe threw themselves at Allie as a surge of power knocked her off her feet and briefly into another dimension. When they emerged from the magical storm, they were miles away from the clearing where the circle of stones waited, clear on the other side of the mountain from their house, near a cave formation that was dark, dank and reeked of death.

Patrick Vabian greeted them with a sinister smile, but Allie refused to show her fear.

“It takes strong magic to transport us so far so fast. You have my compliments.” Allie put on a brave smile, facing the man. She kept Tim and Rafe slightly behind her as she called on the vast resources now available to her. The shield she put between Vabian and herself extended to cover Rafe and Tim easily this time.

“I see you brought your two watchdogs with you. Pity, I really only wanted you.”

Vabian sent off some magical bolts that would have hit her men if she hadn’t been shielding. She felt the power slide off her newly strengthened shield and down into the earth to be reabsorbed. She also felt Vabian’s consternation.

“Where she goes, we go,” Tim said with some anger as he stepped to her side. Rafe did the same and she grabbed their wrists to keep them from leaving the safety of her shield.

Under her hands she felt them both shift half-way, preparing for battle. They had to keep Vabian occupied until their friends could find them. Dante could cover a lot of ground as a bird and Duncan could travel magically, just as Vabian had done. She just prayed they would find them quickly. Vabian was stronger than all of them, dangerous and powerful.

“Don’t,” she pleaded with her men. “Give them time.” She couldn’t say more with Vabian present.

“Our plan is shot to shit,” Rafe said softly. “Now we just have to make the best of it. Remember I love you. I always will.” The half-wolf monster looked back at her with Rafe’s eyes but she felt no fear. She knew it was her lover behind the fierce mask. She kissed his furry cheek, then turned to kiss Tim just before she let go of their hands.

“I love you too.”

Duncan cursed as he felt the surge of magical power a split second after he heard Dante’s warning.

“Son of a bitch!” One of the were cougars nearby shouted, throwing off his clothing as he shifted to cat form and raced off through the forest, searching for them.

“Dante!” Duncan emerged from the stone circle to the spot where Rafe, Tim and Allie had just disappeared. The vampire floated down through the trees, now in human form, his silver eyes angry. “How strong is your connection with Tim? Can you sense him?” Dante’s eyes went blank as he searched inside, then triumph flared.

“They’re not far.”

“Were folk!” Duncan sounded the battlecry as the were creatures in the woods rallied to his call. “Follow us!” Dante shifted to wolf form as he bounded through the forest, the fey knight moving faster than any human could, right behind him. Around them was a small army of were in various forms, all angry and ready for battle. Patrick Vabian wouldn’t know what hit him. If they could just get there in time.

Dante arrived at the cave mouth first, taking in the raging battle with one quick glance before launching himself into the fray. Allie stood back, shielding herself and her men as best she could while Rafe and Tim stalked the mage. He threw fire and directed killing blows with the silver knife that even yet dripped with blood while Allie did all she could to counter the blows before they struck home.

She was good, but not fast enough. Every once in a while a particularly vicious blow would get through her guard to hurt her or one of her mates. They were fading fast, the were wolves bleeding from nasty gashes even as Vabian clutched his own battered and bloodied arms close to his sides.

Dante saw his opening and went for it. Sweeping in from the side, he bit clean through the mage’s wrist, taking the hand and the blade it held with him as he landed hard on the forest floor beyond. The mage’s blood tasted sweet in his mouth, but the stink of evil from the silver blade made him drop the bloody trophy in the dirt. A moment later, he shifted back to his human form.

Vabian howled in pain and tried to run now that his most powerful weapon was gone, but the were wolves had him pinned.

“Patrick Vabian.” Duncan stepped into the clearing, his voice strong, his appearance followed by dozens of were in all shapes and sizes. The mage’s eyes widened in horror. “For the crimes you’ve committed against priestesses of the Lady, you are condemned. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Vabian began to chant, but it was a dark, evil thing, and Duncan cut him off with a gesture. The half-fey warrior sealed the mage’s lips with powerful magic, even as Tim choked off the man’s air supply. Tim’s huge, half-wolven hand nearly crushed Vabian’s throat.

Duncan stepped right up to the man and motioned Tim away. The were wolf complied grudgingly.

“I will make your end easy if you will but tell me who taught you of the Elspian Ring.”

Vabian laughed almost hysterically. “She will destroy you all!” Rafe started forward, pressing his claws into the man. “She?”

“Elspeth. The Mater Priori. She’s coming for you and she’ll send you all to your deaths!”

Duncan went pale, but Dante caught his friend from behind, shoring him up. Whatever this fool was blabbing about, it had to be some serious shit to make the fey warrior react so strongly.

“Courage, mon ami, ” he whispered to the knight in the language they had once shared, centuries before.

Seeing the glint of the silver blade on the ground, Duncan went over to it. The blood of were, vampire and priestess alike stained its surface and it fairly glowed with the evil intent of its wielder. It must be destroyed.

Summoning his power, Duncan sent a flash of magical energy into the blade, shielding it at the last minute lest any of his companions be hit with even a trace of the deadly silver. He sent the energy of the blade back into the earth to be dispersed as he did the silver itself, disintegrating it with his power and embedding each molecule into the rock deep down under the earth where it could harm none ever again.

Were and vampire alike breathed a sigh of relief when the poisonous weapon was gone. Duncan noted their reactions as he turned back to the mage. The two alpha were wolves were at his throat once more.

“You threatened our mate,” Rafe said in a growly, half-human voice.

“For that alone, you die.”

“Let the Lady cleanse him.” The soft, feminine voice came from behind the gathered men, silencing them. “Bring him to the stone circle.”

“It’s too far away,” Rafe said softly, turning to her, but she only smiled.

“Duncan can take him there in the blink of an eye.” She held out her hands to her two mates. “And I can take you.”

“You can?” Tim asked uncertainly.

Allie nodded at him. “I can now that I’ve felt how it’s done. Trust me, my loves. This is what’s meant to be.” She grasped their hands in hers and in a vast blink of her power, they were gone, along with many of the were folk.

Duncan realized she’d taken as many as she could, lightening his load considerably. Still, as a knight of faerie, he had power to spare.

Taking a tight hold on the villain, Duncan used his power to transport him directly to the center of the stone circle.

The ancient, living stones groaned at the presence of such evil, but Duncan sent out a wave of his calming power to quiet them. He was relieved to see Allie and her mates as well as the were folk there before him. She’d already begun consecrating the circle, just waiting for their arrival to seal it. He felt it close with a lash of her power, impressive now that she was finally coming into her own.

He let go of Vabian, sure the man could not escape. He was sealed within the circle, just as surely as they were, but just to be sure, he stayed nearby. He noticed Dante took up position on one side of the mage, while he guarded the other. The alpha twins guarded their mate who faced the mage across the stone altar. Assorted were eyes watched from all around the circle, witnessing and guarding.

“Patrick Vabian, you stand for your crimes before the Lady now. She will be your judge, jury and executioner, if She so wills.” Allie’s voice carried across the clearing, ringing through the stones that welcomed her fresh, new power with joy.

“Do you repent of your evil ways?” Duncan prodded the man.

“I serve the Mater Priori. She will defeat your Lady.”

“You are so wrong.” Allie shook her head. “So misguided. You could have had Her compassion and love. Instead you chose evil.” She stepped up to the middle of the stone altar and Rafe and Tim stood at either end beside her. Allie raised her hands and rainbows of light filtered down through the night air as her beautiful voice lifted in a pure, clear chant, ringing across the stones. The power intensified as Vabian staggered to his knees in the center of the ring, covering his ears.

Still, Duncan stood guard, as did Dante, seemingly unafraid of the swirling magic. Duncan was proud of the little woman who had grown so fast into her amazing power. He didn’t know if she was finished evolving yet, but even so, her strength was amazing. She called on the earth, the forest and sky, but most of all she called on the goodness of the Lady she