Wolf Tales 12 (9 page)

But she was also Chanku, an alpha by nature, amazingly intelligent. Her magic was undeniably strong. He had to learn to trust his child’s instincts. And, as Eve said, accept the fact her magic was even more powerful than his.

Accept the fact his daughter was already shifting. That alone terrified him. Was he ready for that? Were any of them?

“I can let you see her, but not speak to her, and only if you promise me you will not try to go after her. I know you will recognize the place she’s gone—it’s where you yourself went in search of answers. If you can’t promise me, I won’t be able to give you even this much.”

He closed his eyes and searched himself. Could he truly promise not to try to rescue his daughter? He would have to. For all her youth, Lily was no fool. He’d always known she would test him—he just hadn’t thought it would start so soon.

Solemnly, with a mind filled with doubt, Anton nodded. “I promise, Eve, though you have to know this is the most difficult thing you’ve ever asked of me.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I hope you realize it probably won’t be the last. She’s an amazing child, Anton. Your child, with your strengths and your magic, and Keisha’s beauty, style”—she laughed—“and attitude. Don’t expect it to be easy, to be blessed with a child like Lily. She is a tremendous responsibility.”

He laughed but at the same time closed his eyes against the sting of unshed tears. “Blessed? Or cursed, perhaps?”

“It’s up to you whether you see her as a blessing or a curse. I don’t have any doubt in your ability to realize just how blessed you and Keisha are. Now look, but keep your thoughts to yourself. We must not let her know we’re watching.”

She waved her hand, and where it passed through the air, a shimmer of light followed. The shimmer spread, took on form and substance, and slowly, like the aperture of an old-fashioned camera lens, brought a most amazing scene into focus.

Lily sat at a long stone table in what appeared to be a large underground cavern. She was surrounded by men wearing robes the color of red dirt. Anton shoved his palm across his lips to keep from crying out.

Tibet? How the hell did six-year-old Lily find her way to Tibet, to the cavern with the monks and the secret scrolls of the Chanku? He blinked, unable to stem the flow of tears. They fell freely as he heard Lily’s clear, childish voice, asking for the monks’ help to find the missing Chanku.

The men listened reverently, nodding and talking quietly among themselves. Anton didn’t understand their language, but it was obvious Lily could. She replied in English, and they answered in their unknown tongue, yet there appeared to be no language barrier as they conversed.

He wanted to reach for Lily, to call out how much he loved her, but Anton fought the impulse and held his silence. Eve was right. Lily was obviously in no danger. She’d somehow managed to unlock an ancient mystery and travel halfway around the world. And now she sat with this group of ancient, learned men, and she held them in the palm of her hand. It was more than obvious that each and every one of them was enthralled by her innocence, her intelligence, her very presence.

And it came to him then, how truly special she was. This child of his loins, this perfect creature who had taken all the best he and Keisha had to offer and turned it into magic.

Lily was magic. More powerful than anything Anton had ever aspired to, yet for her the magic was as natural as breathing, as easy as the smile that so rarely left her face.

He couldn’t see her anymore. He wasn’t sure when the blur of his tears had been eclipsed by the closure of Eve’s window into Lily’s experience, but he sat beside the Goddess with his face buried in his hands and cried. Great, gulping sobs of relief and fear that Lily’s journey had taken her so far away, that the innocent child he loved would so quickly surpass her parents.

He felt Eve’s arms around him, her warm hug a comfort he hadn’t expected. “She’s going to be all right, Anton. She’s an amazing child, and I believe she’ll find answers no one else has been able to discover.”

He grabbed a clean handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his eyes, blew his nose, reached for whatever sense of composure he had left. “Who are those men? The monks? Why do they hold our history? I recognize one of them. He’s not changed since I was there, so many years ago.”

Eve’s eyes swirled in that mystical blend of gray to green to amber. “They are the last of the first. The only survivors of that long-ago journey from a dying world. They are the keepers of the records, the ones who hold the knowledge of an entire civilization. They are your ancestors, Anton. Ancient beyond belief, immortals protected by the Mother. The Ancient Ones will watch over Lily. The Mother has sworn to me they will keep your daughter safe. She will return to you when her quest has ended.”

“When? I can’t go back to Keisha and tell her our daughter is alive and well in Tibet, but we can’t bring her home.” He shook his head slowly. Physically and emotionally drained, he had no idea how to face his mate, his beloved wife.

Not without Lily.

Eve’s fingers brushed his shoulder. “It won’t be long, even by my time. Keisha loves you and trusts you. She also has a mother’s understanding of her daughter. I believe it is easier for Keisha to accept Lily’s abilities than it is for you.”

Smiling, she leaned close and kissed him. “Be patient, my friend. When Lily has the knowledge she seeks, she’ll return to you through the gateway to the cavern. Tell Keisha I give my word not only as the Goddess, but as friend and lover to both of you.”

It was the best he could hope for. He’d seen Lily, sitting at that same stone table where he and Oliver had been, holding court as if royal blood coursed through her veins. She wore her princess nightgown with the silver sparkles and her pink satin ballet slippers, and her dark curls cascaded over her shoulders in soft ringlets that fell to her waist. She was beautiful beyond belief, and it was more than obvious, by the look of pure bliss on the faces of the men around her, that Lily held their hearts and souls in her hands.

It was only right they should adore her. His little girl knew exactly how a princess should behave. Pushing himself to his feet, Anton slowly looked about him. He was in the meadow, the one he and Stefan had gone to in search of Matt Rodgers when he’d been kidnapped by the goddess Liana, but this place felt different, now. Warmer, more natural. As if Liana’s loneliness and anger had been swept away by Eve’s loving nature.

He smiled warmly at Eve. “Liana and Adam are expecting their third child. A girl. They’re going to call her Olivia.”

“After Oliver?” Eve smiled. “I knew Liana was pregnant. Eve Elizabeth talks to me sometimes. I feel as if she’s my own child.” She laughed this time. “Motherhood without the swollen ankles and stretch marks—or diapers.”

Anton noted Eve’s broad smile and gazed steadily into her mesmerizing eyes. “Are you truly happy, Eve? Living here, apart from all of us? Apart from the real world? Don’t you miss love?”

“Oh, Anton. I have love.” She took his hands in hers and held them tightly. “It’s hard to explain, but the love you feel for your family, your friends—I feel that same love. When Adam and Liana find time away from the children and make love to one another, I feel every touch, every kiss. I see every smile, feel each caress. It’s like that with all of you, as if I am every one of you and more. I feel the connection to the Mother of us all, to the world, to the astral plane and all who move upon it.

“I feel your magic.” She laughed, and the sound was musical in Anton’s ears. “I really feel Lily’s! Don’t ever pity me, Anton. I have more than any woman alive. I have what all of you have and more.”

She kissed him quickly, stepped back, and linked her hands over her flat belly. “Go now. Before too many hours pass. Keisha grows worried and you are exhausted. Lily will come home to you soon, when her quest has ended. I promise to return her safely to her mother and father, her brothers and her beautiful sister.”

He bowed his head, a quick acknowledgment of Eve’s power, of her generosity in always responding to their requests. She’d never held herself apart from her people, though there were times, like now, where her help wasn’t exactly what Anton wanted.

“One more thing.” Her fingers circled his forearm. Anton’s entire body jerked from the powerful shock of her touch, but she was smiling and shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I almost forgot there was something I need to tell you, and I did forget to tone down my power. Anton, there is something I want you to consider. Have you thought of calling all the packs home to Montana? Not just for a visit, but permanently?”

He cocked his head and stared at her. He and Keisha had discussed it off and on over the years, the fact that they were so much stronger when they were all together, that they missed the ones who were not with them. He nodded. “Keisha and I have talked of it, but we’ve never pursued the idea. The packs are all strong and healthy. I fear they might not want to live in a single community.”

“You fear battles for dominance, don’t you?”

He nodded again. Though their human nature proved to be the stronger, the occasional feral posturing when they were in wolf form had once been a problem. He hated to risk bringing that behavior back by living too close. “I think I’m afraid of change more than anything. What’s the saying? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?”

Eve laughed. “The benefits would outweigh the problems. Think about it. Ask them how they feel about living together. You’ve increased your holdings, so overcrowding wouldn’t be an issue. You’re all going to gather when Liana gives birth, aren’t you? Ask them. See what they say. It’s not a frivolous suggestion on my part, my friend. Change is coming. Changes I want all of you prepared to face. You’re stronger together.”

“I will.” He turned away quickly, his mind spinning with her enigmatic comment. Change? He’d sensed change for the past few weeks, but he also knew Eve wouldn’t say anything else. Not until it was time.

He had to go now, before he found more reasons to question Eve, to beg for Lily’s return. He wanted to question her reasons for suggesting all the packs combine, to come to Montana and make this beautiful country their home. Why would she ask him now? When Lily was missing and he had failed in his quest to bring his daughter home?

It was the most difficult thing he’d done today, but he thought of the cavern and blinked, and Eve and the meadow were gone. He stepped out onto the dry, sandy floor of the cave. The lights still burned. Oliver sat nearby, leaning against the curved wall, smiling at him. “About time you got back,” he said. Then he frowned. “Where’s Lily? Is she okay?” He stood up and strode toward Anton, his dark face creased with concern.

“How long has it been? When did she disappear?”

Oliver shook his head. “Not long. Last night sometime. You’ve only been gone a short time. Stefan asked me to come down and wait in case you needed help.” He held up his book. “I only read a couple of pages.”

“Good. I was afraid . . .” He shrugged. “You know how time is on the astral.”

“Lily?” Oliver raised one eyebrow.

Anton didn’t think he could tell this story more than once without falling apart. “Let’s go up. I want to tell it once. I hardly believe this myself.” He slung an arm around Oliver’s shoulders. “Remember that cavern in Tibet where we sat at the long stone table and looked through the ancient scrolls?”

Oliver nodded.

“Picture this—my six-year-old daughter is currently sitting at that same table, holding court with half a dozen immortal monks, learning how to find the lost Chanku.”

After a moment of stunned silence, Oliver chuckled. Then he burst out laughing. He was still giggling as they headed through the cellar and up the stairs to the kitchen. He paused at the doorway, turned, and grinned at Anton. “This, my friend, is a story I think we all need to hear. Why is it, though, that I doubt any of us will find it hard to believe?”

He raised one eyebrow. “We’re talking about my first-born, Oliver. Need I say more?”

“Nope. Not at all.”

Oliver led him into a kitchen filled with their packmates. Many of the adults, a few of the older children—everyone waiting to hear word of his daughter. He sensed their concern, their anxiety and love, but most of all, Anton felt the connection—almost visible links holding all of them together.

This was his pack. His family. It was Lily’s family.

All of them here, waiting for word of the one who was lost. Eve was wrong. She didn’t have more love. They all shared it—that same connection that bound them tighter than chains, bound them more fiercely than anything Anton had ever imagined. They were family—linked by DNA, but even more, connected by love.

Was that why Eve had made her suggestion that he bring the rest of the packs together? Was it time to reunite a people who had been splintered for eons, time to bring together the ones they knew? Later. He’d have to weigh the pros and cons, consider the logistics of adding so many people to his Montana holdings.

They’d need to build more housing, an infrastructure to serve so many more Chanku, but the children would grow up with others like them, the adults would have the support of more packmates. He’d talk to Keisha. To Stefan and Xandi. Oliver . . . He bit back a smile. This was a decision for the entire pack to make. Later. After Lily was home.

He walked through the silent group, knelt down, and hugged Gabe and Mac. His sons clung to him, then to their mother’s legs, unsure of what had happened to their sister, but knowing enough to be afraid. Anton stood and, careful of his infant daughter asleep in Keisha’s arms, gently hugged his wife.
Don’t worry, my love. Our daughter is safe and well. She won’t be home right away, but she is having a most amazing adventure.

Keisha’s trust humbled him. There were no tears. She didn’t rail at him for failing to bring Lily home. No, she merely smiled, leaned her head against his chest, and waited for Anton to tell all of them what was going on.

With his arm wrapped tightly around Lily’s mother, Anton faced his pack. “I’ve been to see the Goddess,” he said. “I’ve seen Lily. She is safe. And I’ve heard an unbelievable story.”