Mystery looked up from her tablet. “So am I. I’m just glad we could help Rebecca with her problem. We may want to save this for later, but there are some holes being punched into the validity of this prophecy.”
“There are always naysayers.” Catherine pushed the teens out of the altar room. “Now, let’s see if we can find Rebecca, and force her to wear this charm.”
“Do you think she’ll put up a fuss?” Miracle asked curiously.
Hunter snorted. “Absolutely, this is Rebecca we’re talking about. She has to be the most pig-headed person I know.”
“You just don’t know Mysti very well,” Mira giggled as they made their way through the house.
“I am right here.” Mystery poked her head back into the tablet.
“Did you find anything of use about the prophecy?” Savannah asked.
“Only that I think we’re barking up the wrong tree. We don’t have a sixth sibling, and the likelihood of finding a missing one in time to help us with the trial is like winning the lottery.”
“Good point. So we’ll just need to figure out how to take down the guilty Authority members on our own.” Savannah frowned. It wasn’t a task she was looking forward to, but she couldn’t let Violet receive the true death when she was innocent.
“I think we can continue this conversation later,” Hunter interjected. “We need to get this to Rebecca.”
They all agreed, and searched the house for their sister.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Rebecca
HUNTER, CATHERINE, SAVANNAH, MIRACLE, MYSTERY, and Lucky were waiting at the door when Rebecca prepared to leave for the agreed upon duel location. They formed a human barricade effectively trapping her in the house. “I don’t want to hear anymore…”
Savannah silenced her with a hug. “We’re here for you, sis. If this is something you’re insisting on doing, we’re here to support you.”
Hunter handed Rebecca the magically imbued amulet. “We are literally with you in this battle. Just like you can syphon energy from your wolf pack, you can also syphon energy from us using this.”
“I can’t do that.” Rebecca shook her head. She had the ghost witch amulet, and the protection talisman from Catherine. She didn’t need to take her siblings’ powers. If she did need to go to that extreme then she didn’t deserve to win anyway.
“You can and you will.” Catherine’s stern glare held all the warning she could muster.
Rebecca took the gift, and with shaky hands, placed it around her neck. “Thank you.”
Persephone, Georgie, and Sundae came up behind Rebecca. She was effectively boxed in by her family and friends, her pack.
“Ready to kick some ass, boss?” Persephone smiled.
Rebecca swiped away a tear that threatened to escape her eye before she put on the leader façade and nodded. “Yes. I’m going to call the wolves for reinforcement. I need you all to take note of who comes and who doesn’t. Those that don’t show up better have a damn good excuse otherwise I’ll consider them turncoats. We’ve already thinned out our tribe with the last attack. I’m curious to see how much more we lose in this battle.”
She led the way out of the door to the location set for the duel. The meadow was empty. Rebecca dug deep into her lungs and called her pack. The roar that took to the wind caused the birds to fly away, the rodents to scurry into their dens, and the leaves to shake on the gusts produced by her limited powers. It was one thing she could be thankful for. At least she wasn’t powerless, just limited. Her fingers absently caressed the amulets around her neck. She was not as inadequate as Ophelia would believe, and that little fact might be the only upper hand she had in this battle.
Lucky approached Rebecca. “Becks, she is more experienced than you are, and we both know, stronger now that you’ve been weakened.”
“I know.”
“So you’ll want to stay outside of her reach, and tire her out. The way to win this battle is the long game.”
Rebecca nodded. “Siren agrees with you.”
“Well, that’s rare.” He grinned so deeply that his dimple appeared in his cheek.
It lightened the mood. There was nothing like seeing an angel hybrid smile. They lit the room, or in this case, the meadow.
“When--”
“Lucky, I need you to handle the trade. You will deliver Brick for Gabriel.”
“I know. Gregory and Jackson are bringing Brick here but right now--”
“Siren is going to take the lead in this. I have the strength of my pack, the benefit of fighting on my home turf, and thanks to my siblings, I have access to magic. I will win this.” Rebecca promised.
“You better.” He brushed a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Sometimes I think you’re too stubborn for your own good.”
Rebecca chose to ignore the statement. “Just keep my mate safe. I’m trusting you on this.”
He shook his head. “If I know Gabriel, I’m going to have my hands full keeping him from jumping in to protect you.”
Rebecca watched as her pack came to the call. Dread crawled up her spine as double the amount of forces came from the opposite direction.
Lucky squeezed her hand as he took his spot next to Jackson and Gregory who had brought Brick to the battlefield.
Ophelia slipped out of the ranks of her pack, and stepped toward Rebecca. “I must admit, I am surprised you showed.” She signaled to have Gabriel brought out to the clearing. He looked beaten and weak, but he was still breathing. One eye was swollen shut, his lip was cut open, and the other eye blackened, all were indications he had been interrogated. “Shall we trade our toys?”
Rebecca nodded her head toward Lucky who brought Brick to the clearing. The exchange went off without a hitch. Gabriel limped to Rebecca’s side. “I fight as Rebecca’s champion,” he announced.
Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder. “No, my love. I’ve already accepted. This is my fight.”
“No, Becks. I won’t--”
Rebecca stopped his words with her mouth. Passion bloomed between them like a new flower blooming in spring. Kissing Gabe was as familiar as slipping on a pair of comfortable jeans, and as exhilarating as skiing down a mountainside. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders, and pulled him closer as he deepened the kiss. She felt desire fill her from head to toe, spiraling around her like a whirlwind, and cocooning her in the safety of his strong arms. He poured what little strength he had into her, filling her like a cup, overflowing with love and power. She could get lost in his embrace.
“Well, that’s a beautiful kiss goodbye.” Ophelia clapped her hands loudly and slowly for effect. “Can we get on with the killing now?”
“I love you,” Rebecca whispered against his lips.
“No, Becca, I can’t let this happen.” He reached for her as she sidestepped out of his grasp, and just as Lucky pulled Gabriel back.
“It’s done, Gabe. Let her be the leader she was born to be.” Lucky’s grip on Gabriel’s arm tightened as he tried to go after her. “Besides, you’re so wounded that you wouldn’t last more than five minutes.”
Rebecca approached Ophelia. “Okay, let’s talk rules.”
“There are no rules.” Ophelia sucker punched Rebecca.
Pain blossomed from her nose, and she felt the heat of blood ooze from the broken snout. Shock made her stumble back from the hit momentarily. Ophelia took the opening, and charged forward. Siren sprang forth. Rebecca’s face morphed into a wolf-human hybrid, and her fingernails extended into claws just as the roar left her lips, and she charged forward. The two women collided. The force knocked them to the ground, and sent them rolling across the earth.
Rebecca managed to land on top, and she didn’t hesitate to pound her fist into the woman’s face to return the favor. She got a few good punches in before Ophelia grabbed a handful of dirt, and flung it into Rebecca’s eyes, temporarily blinding her.
Rebecca fell back as the sting caused by the grit assaulted her eyes. She felt
the next few blows, but couldn’t see Ophelia hitting her. Each punch to her head, to the gut, the kidneys, and lungs stole her breath away. She was playing with her. She wanted to make Rebecca suffer. The pain she was inflicting was similar to a cat playing with her food. It was Ophelia’s mistake. With each hit, she showed her ego, and that would be her Achilles’ heel. Rebecca closed her eyes and focused on the wolf, on the vibrations of magic that came from her amulets, the strength of her pack, and her connection with Mother Nature. She didn’t feel the hits anymore, only the protective magic activating. It shot out of her like a bolt of lightning sending Ophelia flying across the meadow.
Rebecca stood, oblivious to the pain that shuddered through her body, propelled by vengeance and magic. It didn’t matter that her vision was clouded. She had other senses stepping in. She heard the bones crack when Ophelia thumped against the tree, and crumbled to the ground. Her claws jutted out, more dangerous than a sword. They glinted against the sun. “Your pride will be the death of you.” She raised her hand, readying for the death blow that would end Ophelia’s reign of terror.
***
Hunter
“NO! REBECCA YOU CAN’T COME back from this.” Hunter yelled just as Becks was about to take the death swipe. Her claws paused midair.
“She’ll keep coming. Someone let her out, and they’ll do it again, and she’ll keep coming.” Tears streamed down Rebecca’s face.
Hunter knew those were tears of pain as the body’s natural defense worked to clear the mud from her eyes. He felt only fury roaring from his sister.
“We’ll take her to Becky,” Kia offered, her voice faint but audible.
Rebecca shook her head. “I can’t chance it again.” She coiled to strike like a viper.
“You are stronger than this.” It was her mother’s voice that stopped the death blow from hitting its mark.
Instead, Rebecca shoved her claws into Ophelia’s chest. “One yank and you’re dead. Do you withdraw your challenge?”
“Yes!”
“If I spare your life, there will be no more challenges,” Rebecca snapped, her hand still in the woman’s chest.
“None.” Ophelia agreed, panting.
Rebecca removed her hand from Ophelia’s chest without harming her internal organs. “My family saved your life today, Ophelia.” She slammed her fist into the brunette’s face knocking her out.
Hunter didn’t realize he stopped breathing until a gush of air expelled from his chest. He said a silent prayer to whatever God was listening, thankful his sister didn’t kill in cold blood.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rebecca
“DAMNIT, BECKS, YOU MESSED UP!” Gabriel snapped as he paced Rebecca’s office nursing a slight limp, and his ribs.
She was glad to see he was healing nicely. Apparently, Ophelia and her crew had no problem poisoning her, but they’d only injure Gabe. Rebecca was tiring of listening to his rant. He’d been going on for ten minutes now. Convinced she screwed up by not killing Ophelia. He wasn’t alone. Her siblings, who were still recovering from the energy syphon she used to win the battle were pretty upset with her decision to spare the wolf, all of them, except Hunter. It was his, and her mother’s voices that steadied her hand.
“Tell me, Gabe, what would have happened if I’d killed her?”
“She and her pack would no longer be a threat.” He answered simply.
“And my pack would’ve doubled with wolves I couldn’t trust, and those that chose not to side with us would’ve returned to the alternate universe to regroup and attack again. Where is the logic in that?” She pulled the energy-syphoning amulet from her neck. She didn’t want to inadvertently pull magic from her siblings when she didn’t need it.
He stopped pacing, and stared at her.
“And not only would I be wading through a bunch of shifters that wouldn’t be loyal, but I’d also make an enemy of my alternate Becky. Now, I can deliver Ophelia to Becky, and she can decide how she wants to clean house. I kept my word.” She should’ve given Ophelia to Becky in the first place instead of believing the Authority would keep them in prison.
Gabe nodded. “And strengthened your alpha position in this pack.” He ran a shaky hand through his dark, shoulder-length locks. “You didn’t show mercy today, Becks, you showed weakness, and you’re going to lose pack members because of it.”
“Good. I think this whole survival of the fittest, lead by intimidation crap needs to end anyway. Let those that want to leave, go.” She pulled the ghost-wolf stone out of her pocket, and put it in the safe with the crystal gifted to her by her family.
“Our forces are already depleted.” Gabriel gave her a defeated look.
“Which reminds me, Lucky and my family took note of who answered my call and who didn’t. When you’re feeling better, I want the absentees gathered up and brought here to answer to their betrayal.” She tapped her finger on the lists from her family.
He chuckled, and shook his head. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“Hardly, just trying to survive this world.” Her head dropped onto her arms on the desk. She was so tired and emotionally spent. She was glad her mate was safe, but knew things weren’t over yet. They still had the trial, and needed to prove Violet innocent of the frame job. They needed to deliver Ophelia to Becky, and make sure they were square. When things calmed down, she made another promise to herself that she’d refocus on building her pack.
Gabriel crossed the room, and sat on the edge of the desk as close as he could get to her side. “Becca?” His hand ran through her blonde hair. “I’m sorry, my love. It’ll get easier someday.”
She looked up at him. Gods, he was sexy, and his touch could calm her so easily, it was almost criminal the effect he had on her. “I know. I just wish it would become someday soon. We’ve been burning both ends of the candle since all of this started, and it doesn’t ever seem to get easier.”
His hand cupped her face, and his thumb gently caressed her cheek. “I know. Someday.”
She stood up, and slipped between his legs, careful not to jostle his injuries. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
He looked surprised. “What?”
“Get captured. I know it’s a ridiculous request, but I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you.” Her hand caressed his stubble-shaded cheek.
He claimed her lips. The promise was in the kiss. The words didn’t come because they both knew he couldn’t really commit to her request, but he’d do his best to remain at her side for as many days as they were blessed with life on this planet. For the first time since he was taken, she finally relaxed, and melted into his comforting embrace.
***
Hunter
“AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER after.” Hunter read the last words of the book to Freya as she drifted off to sleep. It had been a rough day for her. Heck, it had been a difficult week for all of them. She’d been going through training, and learning to harness her power of fire from Natalia’s replacement trainer, Jericho. Hunter knew he needed to join in on that training, but he couldn’t bring himself to learn from another fire witch yet. Natalia had only been gone for a few days, but he missed her. She’d become such an important part of his life.
He stood up, still weakened from the power pull earlier, but was able to steady himself as he tucked Freya in. She looked so vulnerable. He couldn’t believe she was his responsibility now. How in the world did he become a surrogate father before he’d even graduated high school?
“How is she holding up?” Sundae’s voice whispered softly from the door frame.
Hunter turned to his new friend, and smiled. Nodding, he flipped on the night light, turned off the bedroom light, and closed the door softly. “Better than most children would be. She’s made from strong stuff.”
Sundae reached a hand up to touch Hunter’s face, but pulled her tiny fingers away when he shrank back. “And how are you doing?” She asked with a level of kindness she seemed to reserve only for him in
her voice.
He shrugged, and started toward the stairs. “Weak,” he admitted, “but happy my sister survived, and this whole deal with Becky is over with.”
“Where are you going?” Sundae asked, hands on her slender hips.
“To see how Becks is doing.” He shuffled his feet toward the first step.
“No. Gabe is with Rebecca. She’s fine. You, on the other hand, need to rest,” Sundae insisted.
Hunter turned her way to see her fingers pointing toward his bedroom. “But--”
“Now, Mister Winters.”
He groaned, but couldn’t really argue with her orders, and headed to his bedroom. She followed him in. “I suppose I can--” he made his way to the family grimoire, and she stepped in front of him.
“Bed. Now.” The determination in her eyes made his steps falter.
He’d never had a woman boss him into bed before. It was odd, disconcerting, and intriguing. “Fine.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
Sundae knelt down in front of him, and reached for his boot.
“What are you doing?” His nerves were on high alert.
“You need sleep. I can douse you with sleeping dust now or make sure you’re comfortable before I do so, but either way, you’re going to get a full night’s sleep.”
Hunter stared at her, confused. “I can undress myself.”
“You can? Because I don’t see you making any moves to get ready for bed.” She pulled off one of his boots, and then the next one. Then, she went to his dresser, and pulled out a pair of sweats and t-shirt she’d seen him wear to bed before.
Hunter eyed her, baffled. “Sundae,” how could he say this without hurting her feelings?
“Yes?” She looked at him with sky blue, innocent eyes.
“I’m still healing from Natalia’s leaving. I’m not interested in starting anything new,” he told her. Her closeness was far too intimate for his comfort at the moment.