Pure Blooded (18 page)

“What are you talking about, Jess?” my brother asked. “What does the magic have to do with anything?”

“I think he’s in the same state I was in a few minutes ago—but only because we both had Marinette’s signature inside us when I defeated her. The whole theory of magic being, it has to go somewhere.”

Naomi shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s just a hunch, but if Danny was
alive
when I took Marinette’s soul it means I caused his current state by killing her”—I gestured down at his limp body—“but if he was already dead, I don’t think I can save him,” I answered truthfully.

“So you think you blew up Marinette’s magic inside his body?” Ray asked.

I nodded. “Something like that. The curse was eating him alive when I defeated her, and when it exploded, this might have happened. Maybe he’s in a form of stasis from the shock?” My voice rose in excitement. “Marcy said I blew up the wards, which were hers. Well, the magic in his body must have done something equally as big. Now I just have to figure out what—and try to undo it.”

“
Oui
,” Naomi replied, a hesitant smile on her face. “If there is life inside him, I know you can find it.”

I buried my hands firmly in Danny’s fur and murmured, “Come on, Daniel Walker. Let’s do this.” I grabbed on to my magic and began to push it inside him, careful to go slow. My magic felt strong and heady, and once it hit Danny’s system, it took off on its own, rushing through his body too quickly for me to control.
We have to pull it back!
I shouted at my wolf.
It’s too much—

It hit something.

I watched in awe as my golden signature broke apart, each color bursting alive at the junction of his brain and spine.
What is it doing?
I asked. Each piece of magic seemed to have a different task to do. The base of the neck was a key connection point for all wolves. One that decided life and death. A broken neck meant
there was no communication from the brain to the body.
Is that Marinette’s signature lingering there?
It was hard to tell because it was so faint. It was possible when the curse exploded inside him that it had done major damage to his spine—damage Danny couldn’t repair because the connection points had been too badly injured. But if the tiniest bit of her residual magic had hung on, he had a chance. It had kept him from dying completely.

As my magic separated, it began to try to heal the damage. All at once there was a popping sound and Danny’s body thrummed below mine. I fed him continuous magic until I swayed.

“Jessica,” Rourke said. “It’s time to pull back.”

“Yeah,” Ray added. “Easy does it, tiger.”

When I let go of him, I felt drained, my magic snapping back into my body in a rush. I fell to the side, exhausted by the effort. “Danny, I hope that was enough.”

Then I closed my eyes.

A moment later, a wet tongue lashed up my face. My eyes sprung open. I was so relieved to see Danny awake I threw my arms around his neck. He began to shift back into human form immediately and Rourke helped me up. We all took a few steps back to give Danny some space.

Except Naomi.

She remained locked into place beside him. She wasn’t going to leave him easily.

“Let’s give them some room,” Ray said, ushering us backward. “They’re going to need some privacy so they can… you know… bond or something.”

“They’re not going to bond right here,” Marcy tsked. “But I agree. Let’s give them some space. Hey, speaking of mates, has anyone seen mine?”

“I’m sorry, Marcy. I forgot to let you know. I left him in charge of keeping things clear on the outside. We didn’t know what we would find in here or if this bokor had called in backup,” my father
answered. “I just summoned him. He should be here shortly, and he’ll be very happy to see you unharmed.”

“That’s good to know. And you don’t fool me one bit, Callum. He would’ve been of no use to you in here if I were in trouble. It’s smart to keep us apart if you want your second in command to act like a second. I wholeheartedly agree with your choices and hope you keep it that way. But now I need a little mate fix.” Marcy dusted off her hands. “It’s been a hell of a day.”

Instead of being offended, my father tossed his head back and laughed. “You’ve got a good head on you, witch. James is a lucky man.”

I turned to walk away and give Naomi and Danny some space, but she rose and moved forward, grabbing my hand. Her eyes were filled with emotion. I swallowed as she said, “I had no doubt that you could help him if it was within your power. I thank you from the bottom of my soul. I am grateful I am going to get a chance to get to know my… mate, and it happened because of you.”

“There’s absolutely no need to thank me, Naomi,” I replied. “If any one of us could’ve saved him, we would have. We love Danny and we’re all happy to see the two of you together.” Naomi had a yearning in her eyes I’d never seen. Danny was almost done shifting, most likely needing more time since he’d just been on the brink of death. “Go be with him, Naomi.” I nudged her forward. “You two deserve it. But you’ll only have moments before we have to leave.”

I turned to join Rourke and Tyler and we started to walk to where the boats were waiting. “What’s up?” I asked Tyler, whose face was lined with worry, as I linked one arm through his elbow and one through Rourke’s. It felt so good to have my family back, and for the next five seconds not feel like the world was going to crumble.

“I’ve been close to Danny since the day I turned into a wolf,” Tyler answered. “He’s been my friend and mentor all this time. But it never crossed my mind he could die—or that any of us could die, for that matter. We’re
supernatural
. This is not supposed to happen.” He turned to meet my gaze. “Honestly, Jess, I miss the lake. I miss my home. I miss running through the woods not thinking about anything other than the freedom to run as long as I want.” He ran his free hand around the back of his neck. “This battle is going to be tough and sometimes it feels like no matter how long we keep fighting, we’re never going to get back to normal.”

“I hear you, Tyler,” I said, understanding his position completely. What he didn’t realize was that while he might be able to go back to normal—and I was desperately hoping that was going to happen for him—my old normal was no longer an option for me. “I think all the wolves will get back to normal eventually, but for me, I’d settle for a new normal that didn’t include being under constant attack or running from the next threat.”

Rourke slid his hand around my waist. “I’d settle for getting the hell out of the Everglades. My beast is restless. We circled this island no less than twenty times and couldn’t find a way in. I want us as far away from here as possible.”

“We’re almost to the boats,” Tyler said. “I hear the motors.”

We picked our way through the trees. Marcy was in front of us, my father and a few of his wolves in front of her. My father stopped short and turned. “We’ll head back to our camp first before we depart this place,” he called. “I want to go over what happened in detail. It looks as though you killed the remaining rabid wolves. I’m leaving a few of my wolves behind to make sure their bodies are destroyed. Once my wolves arrive back at camp, we leave.”

I said, “Did you see the wolf the bokor sacrificed for the ceremony? We stopped her before she could steal Naomi’s magic and place it in a fetish, but we were too late to save him.”

“We have him,” my father said gruffly. “Two of my wolves have already taken him away. I’ll send another airboat once we get back. That particular wolf was from the Southern Territories. I didn’t know him that well, but he was loyal to me in the short time he was part of my Pack. When I killed Redman Martin, a few of his wolves joined us—very few, since most of them were traitorous, just like their Alpha. But this wolf was decent. I’ll make sure he’s given a proper burial.”

If I never saw another cypress, I’d be a happy girl. “I’m glad Redman is gone. I’m assuming the wolves of his who chose not to assimilate with your Pack went to the fracture pack and were dealt with.”

My father stopped ahead of us, reaching the channel. “Yes. The fracture pack is no more. There wasn’t a strong wolf among them.”

The airboats were a welcome sight.

“We’re getting out of here as soon as possible,” Rourke said in my ear. “I think the safest plan we have is to head home and search for Juanita. If she’s there, she’ll have answers.”

“I have a lot to tell you, but Marinette, the powerful spirit I battled, called Juanita a Hag. We’d only guessed before, but now we have confirmation.”

My father turned to me. “Are you positive?”

I nodded once. “Yes.”

Tyler was the first one to hop into an airboat and gestured us down. “I never would’ve guessed it, Jess,” he mused. “Juanita was so… normal. And she had no signature whatsoever, at least that I ever detected, and that’s saying something because I can pick up on almost anything with this.” Tyler touched his nose. He did have a killer sense of smell.

“Hags are among the most powerful of any supernatural,” Rourke said as he helped me into one of the boats. “She would be able to cloak herself well. I’ve never met her, so I don’t know if I would’ve picked up on it or not, but I’d like to think I would have.” He grinned. “But it’s unlikely.”

“You’re going to love her,” I said. “She’s a piece of work in the best way possible.”

“James!” Marcy shrieked.

James emerged from the trees and made his way along the edge of the channel at top speed. Marcy’s face was bright with happiness, and I knew the feeling. She rushed toward him and he growled his greeting. It must have killed him to stay out here, but my father had been smart.

I sat down in the front seat of the boat, Rourke next to me. My father was in the row behind with two of his wolves.

“We’re not waiting for the lovebirds,” Tyler said as he took the driver’s seat. “They can wait for Naomi and Danny.” Tyler shouted a command to another wolf to wait for the two couples and we took off.

As we sped away, I glanced back. The dead trees, which were revealed once the wards came down, stood in stark contrast to the green ones around us. “Did anyone see what happened to the old cabin?”

My father grunted. “The swamp has already taken it. I’m not worried that humans will venture in here to investigate any time soon. The pall of evil and malice will linger for a while. It will only clear up once new growth and animals start to inhabit the space again.”

“Speaking of evil and animals,” I said. “What about her snakes and gators? I hope they all disappeared.”

“They’re all gone,” Tyler called over the fan. “When you blew the place up, I watched one wither away instantly. It was cool as
hell, like a slo-mo video, nothing but old, rotted bones left over. There are, however, lots of gators lingering on the outside of her boundary, attracted by the noise and action. But they were real, not possessed.”

It was funny to me that we’d be happy to see live gators after all this. But it was the truth.

I woke, gasping.

The dream had been so real. Marinette stood on another rocky crag, her face full of anger and rage, and as I watched, she turned to face me, morphing slowly into Lili, her hair changing, growing longer, her gold dress becoming the one Lili had worn in the Underworld. The one with demon glyphs that shimmered when she moved. On top of her head a crown, covered in serpents, appeared. Lili’s eyes were alight with pain. She said four words to me: “It will be you.”

“What is it?” Rourke was up next to me instantly, his arms pulling me tightly against his chest. His heart was beating fast, no doubt wondering if I was going to disappear on him again.

We’d all been up late, talking into the night. We’d gone over the implications of everything that had happened to me—both in the Underworld and with Marinette. I told them the loa had been our maker, the patron goddess of werewolves, who had been killed, but her spirit had endured, holding on with half a soul. It’d been a shock for everyone to hear, but once I explained what she’d told me about her connection to my wolf, and how she’d made her, it had been easier for everyone to digest.

What was done was done. There was no going back now.

We were leaving this place at first light and I couldn’t wait.

“I’m okay.” I rubbed my fingers over his beautiful tattoos.
“I just had a very realistic dream about the evil ladies in my life. I guess when you become a killer, you have to deal with the fallout. No getting around it.” I snuggled deeper into his body for warmth. “Having blood on my hands is not easy for me. It still feels very strange. I know ending Lili’s life was necessary, and my job moving forward with the Coalition will require me to do things like that, but it’s going to take me some time to adjust. Marinette didn’t even have a body, but knowing I ended her existence makes it tough.”

He kissed my temple. “It gets easier,” he murmured, sliding his lips down my neck. “You have to look at it as a necessary evil or it plays with your mind. What you did when you killed Lili saved thousands of lives, possibly hundreds of thousands. Lili was a threat to the human race, as well as the supernatural. It had to be done. But you spared Selene, so I believe you’re already finding a balance. I think with you, there will always be balance and we’re luckier for it.”

“I can only hope,” I said. “As the Enforcer, my job criteria will only get more intense, but I’m glad I have you by my side. There is no one better to help me through it than you.”

He turned me in his arms so I faced him. “Jessica”—he leaned in for a lingering kiss—“I will happily take whatever burdens I can from you. That’s my primary focus from now on—that and protecting you, which has been hard to do when you keep disappearing,” he growled. “But you don’t have to do all the enforcing on your own. You have a team behind you, one that will stay by your side every step of this journey. No one is going anywhere.”

I knew my team would go with me, but I didn’t want to gyp them out of a normal life. “Do you think we have to live somewhere special once I take a seat on the Coalition?” I asked. “Like a remote castle built on an impenetrable fjord?”

Rourke tilted his head back and laughed. “No, I think with modern technology the remote castle on the fjord is no longer a requirement. Though the members do need solid protection. But I think this rebirth will be different. There’s no way to keep the identity of the new members a secret. Times have changed too much for that, and I think it’s for the best. That will allow us to rally around you openly and use your Pack for position and power. Every Sect will know where you belong, and if they mess with you, they mess with all of us. That will erase many threats before they even develop.”

“You make it sound easy, like taking a corporate job at a firm. It’s not going to be that smooth and you know it.” I leaned up to nip his chin. “You’re just trying to make sure I don’t implode or have some serious PTSD once things get rolling.”

“There might be some of that,” he admitted, “but I don’t think it’s going to be harder than what we’ve gone through thus far. Think of it like this. You’ve been in a Coalition boot camp, so to speak, and once you take your official seat, you’ll be ready. We’ll look at this like a new job. We’ll be together, you’ll have your friends and family around you, and each step will bring us closer to our main goal—”