A Cursed Bloodline (WG 4) (26 page)

“No. Makawee asked the Warriors to stay and protect your sisters.”

“But they’re Aric’s guards. How can they leave him by himself?”

“Celia, remember how angry Aric was when he found out I helped you break your bond?”

I shuddered at the thought. “Yes.”

Danny paused. “It doesn’t compare to what he’s like now. He doesn’t know Anara used the power of the Pack against you. All he knows is that Anara has been the one hurting you. He’s blind with rage. Martin thinks you’re the only one capable of settling him—once he knows you’re safe, I mean.”

I pictured Aric on a crowded airplane in his temperamental state. It wasn’t a pretty picture. “How is he traveling?”

“An old friend of his is flying him down on a private plane.”

“Okay.” I said it, although I didn’t know why. Everything was far from “okay.” I shook all thoughts of Aric away. He distracted me too easily and there was more I needed to know. “Does anyone know about our baby?”

“No one—and the Warriors don’t know they were used as vessels against you. I did tell Martin and Makawee since it was important. Both were furious. Makawee especially felt betrayed.”

My head hammered so hard my eyes hurt. Anara would come for me and wouldn’t stop until I was dead. I was sure of it.

Danny continued, completely oblivious to my terror. “The Warriors couldn’t understand why you didn’t come to them. I explained Anara had threatened to kill your sisters if you told anyone. Liam, who’s not even mated to Emme, freaked out. Gemini and Koda were incensed, only Taran and Shayna could calm them. That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to tell them what they’d done.”

“Where is everyone now?”

“I’m in Aric’s old quarters. They’ve moved Bren here, too. Since Anara was stripped of his power, Bren has started to heal.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, but he still has a way to go. Makawee says his body is literally rebuilding his brain and pushing out the magic Anara imprisoned him with. Emme’s tried to help, except Anara’s residual power blocked her efforts.”

My voice continued to tremble. “He’s going to be okay?”

“Both Elders believe so. They credit you with saving his life; we all do.”

Someone knocked in the background. I held my breath, half expecting Anara to arrive and kill him. I slumped to the ground when I heard my sisters’ voices. “Celia’s on the phone. It’s okay, it’s okay. She’s safe.”

My God,
I clearly heard them sobbing. Taran hurried to the line. “Why didn’t you tell us that son of a bitch was hurting you? We could have stopped him together!”

“He would have killed you if I had.”

“Do you hate me, dude?” Shayna whimpered.

I buried my face in my hand. “Of course not. I could never hate you.”

Shayna could barely speak with how hard she wept. “But I’ve been awful to you. I even hit you! I’m so sorry, Ceel.”

“It’s okay, Shayna. Calm down, honey.” I was telling her to calm down, meanwhile I was battling my own fit of hysterics. They were safe. I’d succeeded in keeping everyone safe, and now because of Danny they all knew the truth.

Emme cried into the phone. “Please come home. We don’t want you in any more danger.”

I rose from the ground and swatted the dirt off my shorts. “Not until I find Misha.”

“Damnit, Celia!” Taran snapped. “Get your ass back here now!”

Shayna sniffed. “The Elders have promised to protect you. After what Anara’s done, they feel it’s the least they can do.”

I steadied myself. “It’s not just about me being safe. Misha protected me when no one else could. I have to help him now if I can.”

For a few moments, all I heard was their sniffling. Finally Taran pulled it together enough for all of them. “If anything happens to you, I’ll kill you myself.”

I smiled into the phone. “I love you, too.” I disconnected. The scent of the Serengeti and sensual musk made me turn toward the house. Tye stood with his arms crossed, a deep-set scowl darkening his electric blue eyes. Armando appeared confused and a little frightened by the last few tears to trickle down my cheeks. You’d think with a house full of women he’d be used to hysterical females.

“Is there something you’d like to tell me?” Tye asked.

I wiped my face. “We’ll talk in the car. It’s time to get Misha back.”

—

I
shifted
Armando and Tye through several backyards until we reached the vampires. Michael snatched Armando quickly while the others kept watch. Hank shut the car door. “Don’t worry, Celia. No one saw him.”

Armando directed us out and away from the town, into a forest laden mostly with dead trees and wringing vines. “The witch’s presence has choked our land,” he said quietly.

And hurt those you love.

I told the others about Anara. The vampires became unusually quiet. They seemed focused on finding their master. That is, except for Edith. Her eyes locked on Armando’s increasingly pulsating jugular. Vampires didn’t typically snack on children, because they provided only nourishment. Adults, however, afforded an orgasmic experience during a feed. They’d been ordered not to bite him, but that didn’t mean I’d trust them to babysit.

Tye drummed on the armrest. “If Anara’s smart he’ll take his own life. It’ll be more merciful than what we’ll do to him.” His eyes skimmed the length of my body. “How the hell did you survive all this shit? Liam went into detail about how badly you were hurt the day he found you.”

I didn’t like remembering and tried to shrug off his comment. “What other choice did I have?”

Tye curled his arm around me and played with my hair. When I tried to push his hand away, he instantly found a spot behind my ear that made me purr. My cheeks flushed from my unintentional reaction. He smirked, seemingly pleased with himself. “You’re going to make a hell of a wife, Celia. Damn shame you won’t be mine.”

My blush deepened. “I’m glad you finally realize that I’m not the one for you.”

Tye touched my chin gently and his smile vanished. “I never said that. What I meant was, it’s clear where your heart is, and it’s not with me.”

I passed my hand over my belly.
No. It’s not.

Armando pointed to an opening among the dying palm trees. “Turn here.” Hank doubled back and maneuvered the SUV through the narrow space. We followed the trail for a few minutes until it widened into a field of an old plantain farm. The lingering presence of pestilent magic curdled around us. Everyone tensed briefly then rushed to unbuckle their seat belts and leap out.

“Is this Lucinda’s place?” I asked Armando quickly.

“No. Her home is in Izalco, but her devils stay here.” He glanced at the soiled ground staining my white canvas sneakers red. “She’s poisoned the earth with the blood of innocents.”

I backed away from the spongy surface only to splatter my shoes more. The essence of her kills was everywhere.
Jesus. How powerful is she?

Armando marched forward with more nerve than I’d expected. “There’s a path behind the barn that leads up the mountain and to an ancient Mayan structure. If your friend is here, that’s where you’ll find him.”

I gripped Armando’s arm while Hank translated his words. “Thank you for your help. You’ve been really brave, but it’s time for you to return to your family.” I needed to ensure his safety, but wasn’t sure which vamp to send back with him. With the exception of possibly Agnes, the schoolgirls were out of the question. But then I remembered the dream I had where she’d roasted those sausages and thought better of it. I picked Michael, feeling I could trust him to keep him safe. Armando squirmed in my grasp when Michael approached.

Michael covered Armando’s mouth and raced with him to the last car. “I’ll return soon.”

Tye took the lead. “Watch out for booby traps, magical or otherwise. And remember, no one gets left behind.”

Tim rushed to block his path. “We’re not of your kind, lion. We remain our master’s humble servants. Our priority is to get him to safety even if it means our destruction.”

Tye growled. “
We’re
not his goddamn servants. I swear if you double-cross us Lucinda will be the least of your worries.”

The vamps weren’t the kind of species who took threats well. They hissed. I hissed back. “Stop it. All of you. We’ve come to save Misha. Let’s not waste time fighting.”

We divided in half and cut through the woods on either side of the path. My tigress and Tye’s lion gifted us with the silent stealth of predators. The girls slithered among the decaying trees in high heels. I couldn’t fathom why the hell they hadn’t brought camouflage clothes, sneakers, shorts—
anything
but the same ridiculous getups they wore every day. They knew we’d be trekking through the freaking jungle. Still, stilettos or not, they barely made a sound as we scaled the mountain. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, and every cell of my being poised on high alert. I stopped and smiled when we’d climbed more than halfway.

“What is it?” Hank asked.

“It’s Misha. He knows we’re here.” Our presence had renewed his energy, but then my inner beast whispered a warning. “Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“We haven’t hit any traps. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”

Hank shrugged. “Lucinda is arrogant. She might not have used them, thinking she could take on any threat.” The other group opposite us continued ahead in their haste to reach Misha. A high-pitched squeal followed two short-lived screams. Sharpened stakes launched from the ground and impaled the vamps. Hank gritted his fangs. “
Shit
. Come on, they know we’re here!”

We sprinted forward as sharp whistling sounds sliced through the air. A vamp in front of us pointed ahead. “Arrows!” None of us had human eyes. We saw the damn arrows tearing through the night like a blizzard of mini-spears. The yelling vamp splattered my legs with his blood as I dove behind a tree. Tye landed in a heap behind a boulder next to me, ash caked on his chest. I kept my back against the bark and scanned the area. More blood splashed around me, the vampires continued to charge despite the danger.

Hank ducked behind a tree across from mine and yanked an arrow out of his thigh. “We lost Jonas and Nadum. We need to get in now!”

I didn’t respond. I sensed Misha’s restlessness. He was close to losing it.

A few hundred feet stood between us and the fortress. A huge stone wall constituted what remained of the original Mayan ruin. The rest was a makeshift stronghold composed of old trees. There was only one door that I could see—narrow and built to prevent more than one being from entering at a time. It was perfect for them, that way they could slaughter us individually. “I can
shift
three of us in and return for more, but we need to get closer. If enough of you create a distraction, the others will be able to jump the wall.”

The surviving vamps quickly relayed my plan. Everyone crouched low and waited for my command. “Now!” I let Tye and Hank race ahead of me. When only a few feet remained to the wall, I tackled them and
shifted
us underground. Luck was on my side for once. We surfaced behind a group of
weres
passing arrows to the archers on the landing. They never knew what hit them. In the time Tye and I tore the heads off two
,
Hank mutilated three on his own. His insatiable appetite to avenge amplified his strength and speed.

“Get the others,” Tye urged.

I
shifted
only one more set of vamps. They, along with Hank, were enough to distract Lucinda’s charge so the others could rocket over the wall and attack. The schoolgirls used their stilettos to stake anything with a heart and whipped and choked their enemies with their long, thick necklaces. I hadn’t understood why they’d dressed that way, but leave it to the good Catholics to use their accessories as lethal weapons. If Misha didn’t know we were here before, he certainly did now. Their banshee-like shrieking became the official battle cry. But even through their wretched screams, one voice rose above them all.

“CELIA!”

The roar was that of a monstrous and extremely hungry Misha. It scared the unholy hell out of me and froze me and the vampire I fought into a stupefied state. I recovered first and severed his head with my claws. Tim, saturated with sweat, blood, and ash, urged me forward. “Go to him. Our master beckons you.”

No shit.

Tye clasped my wrist when I failed to move and thundered forth, stopping only to drag an unconscious
were
along with us. “Come on, this is what we came for!”

We jogged toward the opening of a cave where we’d heard Misha call. Tye released me and lifted a torch from the cavern wall. “I can see in the dark without
changing
,” I reminded him.

“Misha is out of his mind, Celia. I’m bringing this along in case we have to set him on fire.”

If Tye was trying to somehow reassure me, it didn’t work. I didn’t want to set Misha on fire. That said, I also didn’t want to be eaten. “Master vampires are immune to fire,” I managed.

“Not when they’ve feasted on animal blood to survive,” Tye muttered.

The more we advanced, the louder Misha’s voracious growls clamored. At every corner we rounded, I expected to find Misha. But it wasn’t until I scented the decaying corpses of pigs that I knew we were almost upon him.

We found him at the cave’s end. I gasped when I saw him. Misha no longer resembled the vampire I knew. He’d grown at least six inches and his fangs had morphed to those of a snake. His bright green and bloodthirsty stare trained on me, piercing through the greasy knots of hair falling around his face. He was caged and chained by his neck, but despite his confines, he seemed ready to break free. My tigress chuffed within me, insisting we run. My stupid human side took two steps closer.

Tye yanked me back at the same moment Misha lunged for me.

“Celia.”
Misha licked his lips greedily.

“Here, Misha, are you hungry?” Tye grabbed the
were
and threw him toward the cage.

The
were’s
lifeless body slumped against the bars. “Tye, Misha can’t reach him—”