Sorcha's Wolf (25 page)

“We can’t leave him, Alex!”

Alex forced her to face him and after only a second, a determined look she knew pasted over his strong features. With a snarled curse, he turned, punched Agni in the face, and hit him again, then again, each blow landing on his temple with a sickening sound. She covered her mouth to hold in the scream, comprehending what he was doing—knocking the witch out—but not liking it. The demon barely suffered, but the witch gasped then fell backwards after another powerful blow to Agni’s temple.

“Fuck, man, can’t you hit harder than that?” Agni complained with a grimace at the witch.

Alex snorted and glared at Agni. “Can you break free now?”

Agni closed his eyes and clenched his fists tight, but after only a second or two, he opened his eyes and shook his head. “No.”

“Shit!” Sorcha glared at the witch, recognising her from the cabin.
So the teenager thought to control a demon?
She’d learn that Agni was no mere demon, but one of the few breeds that had earned their forgiveness for following Lucifer in his battle to rule the world. If the witch didn’t follow an honourable path, Agni would be able to cut through her spell like butter and when he did, he’d probably gut her.

“Gather her up then, this shit is over,” Alex growled. “If he knows where we are that easily then reaching safety isn’t going to—”

“Travel! I can try to spell us free,” Sorcha cut in, excitement and hope suddenly filling her.

Alex shook his head hard. “Those kinds of spells cost you, witch, and I’m not willing to drain you to get us free. He could simply follow us, couldn’t he?”

“What? He can’t follow me. Didn’t we just have this conversation, Alex? Believe me, I’m strong enough to whip your butt with one hand and make pancakes with the other. Besides, what choice do we have? Agni can’t mist.”

Alex simply shook his head stubbornly. “We have others coming—”

“It’s too late, Alex!” she yelled, startling him she saw when he lifted his eyebrows. “We can’t defeat Rage. Not now, but we will. We have to. But now we move. You promised me.”

He frowned immediately, but instead of arguing, he said, “Then we go, but not by magic. We run, Sorcha. Agni, keep that damn witch out and down.”

“Love to,” Agni growled.

Sorcha gripped Agni’s arm before he could pick the girl witch up. “I’m sorry.”

He squeezed her hand and gave her his panty-dropping grin. “Hell, woman, I’ve been in worse. Just hoof it. I have the witch. We will break her spell when we get the hell out of here.”

Sorcha agreed. Breaking the spell was the least of their problems. Ahead of them, she heard running feet and worse, the only path ahead of them was narrowing to a downward slope that would be difficult to defend.

Alex growled low in his throat, manoeuvring her behind him with a determined look that said if she didn’t stay back, he’d not be pleased.

She shivered, suddenly realising the worst was yet to come. Bridget’s warning still sounded in her ears. This was too easy. Leaving here, without facing Rage or having to make a choice, wasn’t what Bridget had warned.

Go save your mate, but remember, this time you must let this mage go, or else you will lose Alex forever. The choice will not be easy, Sorcha, but you make a decision no matter the cost.

Goddess, please aid us.

Chapter Twenty-Six

“I hope this means you are almost fully healed because we have a demon to save now, not just Alex and Sorcha.”

Markee stared at Bethany—Blood Moon—and swallowed his mouthful of dinner in surprise. He’d not seen her in years, but standing with her sword out, her long, black hair tied back in a complicated pattern of woven braids, he knew her. He’d recognised her in the storm when they’d saved Sorcha, but now, she stood proud and tall in his hotel room, looking ready for war. Heck, she’d been a little kid the last time he’d seen her and now, she had to be at least in her twenties, possibly older.

The hotel room spun a little when he moved too quickly, but he could feel his bones and burns healing as he struggled from the bed. Most had completely healed. He swallowed another mouthful of his steak and set the plate aside already feeling more like himself.

“Say that again?” he asked, surely having misheard her. “And how about a hello and an explanation for being all fucking grown up?”

“You heard me, Markee. We have a demon to save.” She grimaced and shrugged a shoulder when he glared at her. “I’m all grown up,” she muttered, “Because I moved to the Fay realm for a few centuries.”

“Holy hell. A few…” He cut off and rubbed his chest, testing the wound he’d taken there. “That’s insane.”

“Maybe, but that’s what happened. Time flows—”

“Yeah, differently there. I know that, Bethany—”

“Moon.”

He narrowed his eyes. She had power. His wolf though, acknowledged her power and that settled things. A pack member had asked for help. He couldn’t—and wouldn’t—deny her. “So we have to free a demon, huh?”

“It seems that way.” She tipped her head to the side and a slow grin spread over her face. “If you’re real good, I might just aid you in finding yours.”

Shocked, he fisted his hands to hold in his excitement. If Moon knew of Sabin, his lost mate, she could aid him in ways he’d never considered. Moon was a witch, after all. The smirk on her face though, pissed him off. “What! Does everyone know that Sabin lives?”

She lifted a delicate black eyebrow but merely shrugged. He stalked towards her, but she held up hand. “I didn’t know her name, but you’ve not lost a mate, Markee. You should know that—if you’d lost her for good, you’d not be as strong as you are now.”

“What? How—?”

“We can discuss this as we go. Agni’s in trouble and for once the demon might not be able to beat or smooth talk his way out of it. Besides”—her smile turned into something much more cunning—“saving his arrogant ass might just make my century.”

“Shit.” He shoved his sword over his head into his scabbard, secured his guns, making sure that he had enough extra ammo to slow even the most powerful immortals, and turned to face her again. His shoulder burnt, the muscles still knitting together, but he stretched the arm once more and felt almost as good as new. “I might just feel sorry for him, you know?”

But hope stirred in his chest. If Bethany—Moon—aided him, perhaps he could find Sabin. And when he did, then he’d discover why she’d run.

“Don’t. He more than deserves it.”

The way she’d said that set his mind to spinning out a few reasons for her ‘centuries’ in the Fay realm. None pleasant. Had Agni done something to her as a child? He doubted that immediately. Agni was many things, but he’d never hurt a child. Samantha, Moon’s wicked cool sister, and his uncle, Derrick’s mate, would skin the demon.

“Ready?” she asked.

He dismissed the questions and settled his mind on the task at hand. She’d tell him her story if she chose—just as he’d spill his if he wanted. “Yes, we’d better go. It’s been hours and Alex swore to check in before now. Things went wrong.”

Moon narrowed her eyes. “Things always go wrong. Who did he have you call?”

Markee exhaled wearily at the question. “Trouble.”

Moon choked on a laugh. “Oy! That must have been a fun conversation.” She had the nerve to grin at him, clearly finding it funny that he’d had to call and inform the craziest witch that he knew that not only had he known where her sister was this whole time, but that she was in trouble.

“Didn’t the Fay teach you manners?”

“They tried, but you and I both know that was a lost battle. So when is she—?”

“
What the fuck!”
Trouble shouted before she’d even fully materialised in the hotel room. She was dressed in black leather from the top of her bosom to her toes and looked like some deadly but sexy pin up girl.

Moon simply tossed the witch a salute. “Well, hi to you too, Circerran—”

“Trouble, and who the fuck are…?” Trouble stalled midsentence and frowned from him to Moon as if he’d somehow kidnapped her too.

“It’s me, Moon, but you knew me as Bethany—”

Trouble snorted at Moon and glared at him. “I recognise you, Bethany. Did you steal her—?”

“No, he didn’t. And it’s Moon. Look, I’ve been in the Fay Realm, but right now isn’t the time for another catch-up-on-Bethany’s-life. We have to hit the road and save an arrogant demon.”

“
Demon?
Excuse me? I came here because that pup called to say Alex had Sorcha. Alex, the cold-blooded, daft bastard I’m going to split in two.”

“Uh, well, okay, but Sorcha may not be too pleased, since, you know, they are bonded,” Moon said in the most deadpan voice he’d ever heard.

Damn woman was going to get
him
split in two.

“What!” Trouble froze halfway to reaching their side and Markee watched her disbelief melt away, replaced by an oddly fearful look. She frowned at him and pointed a finger. He held his breath, ready to feel a spell, but nothing more than her finger waggling under his nose occurred. “You knew this? You knew Sorcha and Alex were off on a honeymoon this whole time?”

“Hell no. He kidnapped her, I mean,” he stalled out at her outraged look and hurried on to pacify her, feeling as if he’d entered a battle no one had prepped him for. “He and Sorcha are in trouble—right now trying to kill Zith, a warlock you know as Rage.”

The flush drained from her cheeks and her arm fell to her side.

“Aye, and worse, Agni is now chained to some witch, unable to aid them,” Moon interjected.

“How do you know that?” he demanded, at the same time as Trouble said, “What?”

Moon shrugged and looked away but muttered something about peeking in on him. “Look it’s not important but I know time is running out. We go now, or we get there too late, got it? Is this all you brought with you? Your sword and you?”

Trouble jerked back like Bethany had spat in front of her instead of questioning her skills. “Do I
need
more?”

“Yeah, a coven full of witches and warlocks would be good. Rage utilises the dark magic in addition to several mages and witches he has under his control—both living and dead. That means he’s—”

“One powerful piece of shit, but not impossible to kill, right?” Trouble winked and drew her long blades. Like Samantha and Star, she had twin swords, which she had fashioned into two parts of a whole. Both fitted into her sheath and when separate could slice the head off an immortal like a knife through warm butter.

“He’s not our mission. Getting Sorcha, Alex and Agni out, is,” Markee said. His instincts warned that more would kill them and not in a nice, easy way. “We go in, get them and get out. Moon understands this, see that you do as well.”

Both women turned to look at him, but he pulled his own sword, letting the feel of the leather hilt reassure him that his way was the right choice. His wolf agreed and flashed through his system, lending him strength.

Moon nodded first and after only a second more, Trouble agreed as well. “I have Torque, Beauty, Tabithia and Aeros on it. They should be here within minutes.”

“We don’t have minutes,” Moon warned.

Markee agreed. His wolf paced, clearly anxious. From Moon’s concerned look, he gathered she felt the same.

“Well, fuck all. We go in, grab and go, then. I’ll call the posse off. Sweet.” With a very unsettling smile, Trouble laughed. “Can you shift yet, Bethany?”

“Gladly,
Circerran
,” Moon said in a sickly sweet voice better reserved for small children and ancients.

He held in the laugh at the dig and watched as Trouble huffed.

“Fine, then, hold on to one of us, pup, and get that sword ready. Make for the top of Braeriach. You know the place,
Moon
?” Trouble demanded.

Moon took hold of his hand with a strong, sure grip. He squeezed her fingers reassuringly. She glanced at him and a soft smile filtered over her face, but anxiety shown in her eyes, making him settle his own wolf to a manageable level.

They had little time, he knew. Alex, Sorcha and Agni were in trouble. His wolf whined, agreeing that his pack mate faced too much danger alone.

Would they get there in time though, he worried as the warm hotel room disappeared, replaced by the cold darkness of Moon’s shift through space.

* * * *

Alex caught hold of Sorcha’s cold fingers and pressed her back to the rocks, soothing her with a quick kiss to her temple. Things were going to get worse, he could tell. His wolf practically flooded him with strength, but under the power, Alex sensed worry and that caused his own to skyrocket.

“Agni, how can you break that spell?”

“I can’t. Not on my own. When she does something evil, then I can. No one evil can hold me for long, but her spell will be tight until she shows her true self. Right now though, I’m more of a liability than any aid.”

The statement surprised Alex and he snorted. “Hell, you still have your fists don’t you? Use them.”

“He’s tied to a witch, Alex,” Sorcha said with some heat.

But Agni’s shoulders went back. “I can still fight. Get your power up, I sense mages with this bunch,” Agni warned.

Sorcha shoved gently at him. “Move off me, Alex. He’s right. Trust me now, and try to remember who just saved your butt.”

He kissed her with more passion than he should be feeling at a time like this, but inside he felt like this might be his last time, his last chance to have her close. “I love you, Sorcha. Get hurt and I will still paddle your ass.”

The shocked expression on her face would have been comical if what sounded like a troop of the enemy wasn’t closing in on them. She suddenly squealed and hugged him tight, kissing his face all over and making him feel like he could conquer the world.

“I love you too, Alex. So much, so
very, very much
.”

Her choked whisper did odd things to his chest and he struggled with too many emotions at one time.

“Come on you love birds, eye on the problem here, would ya?”

Sorcha wiped her wrist under her eyes and sniffed, sending his heart to aching all over again. Suddenly she froze and looked at him with too wide eyes.

 
“Alex! What are we
doing
? Turn, go up, up. There’s a gate, a gate up there!”

“What? Are you certain?” he demanded.

“Yes, of course I’m certain! I was running to it when I tossed you off that mountain! Go, turn, Agni, come on! Come on!” She looked so excited he couldn’t grumble at her for telling Agni she’d done such a thing.

“Lead then, we’ll make sure the back is clear, run, run,” he shouted.

 
She did, taking off at a fast clip upwards. He still felt the chill of warning but mixed with it now was hope.
Could this end? Not until Rage lay dead, but for now, could it be over so easily?
Behind him, as if in answer to his silent question he heard Agni grunt and fell into him.

“Go, go, run fool!” Agni groaned as if in pain and stumbled against the side of the tunnel.

“No! Alex, we can’t leave him!” Sorcha spun and from her hands green glowed and she struck out, the spell so powerful he felt it whiz by his head before it found its mark and the mountain shuddered. From behind them, he heard a shout followed by what sounded like half the rocks above them falling down. When the dust had settled, he barely had time to register that she’d closed off the pass before a slow, eerie black mist rose from the rubble.

“Shit! Go, go,” Agni shouted.

Alex shoved Agni behind him, and felt Sorcha step beside him.

“Oh, that is not good,” she muttered.

Her hands still glowed and her eyes showed that electric green he knew meant power surged through her, but as he turned, he caught a blow from invisible fists.

“Oh, shit that is so not good. Run, Agni, run damn it!”

Another invisible blow landed, this time knocking him sideways. Sorcha screamed something in a language he didn’t know and the black mist solidified into a massive demon tattooed in blue and green swirls.

“No!” Sorcha shouted.

Alex felt the demon fly over his head, directly towards Sorcha. She jerked her arms crossways over her head and spread her fingers. The demon hung above her. She murmured faster and faster in her ancient language. The demon struggled to reach her, snarling and swinging his head like a bull sighting red. Another black mist caught his eye, then another, each becoming more solid as the seconds ticked by.