Eclipsed by Midnight (11 page)

That’s an interesting thought, spirit guides. I’ve always thought mine would be a fat, lazy house cat or old hound dog who likes to lay on the porch most days… especially lately. Or maybe even that white stag that has liked to torture my dreams for so long and make me feel quite ill in the end… No, never mind, he didn’t feel like he belonged with me. Was this my very own vision quest of sorts and now my spirit guide is presenting itself? The hawk cries again as if in answer and I take that as a sign. Wiping my dripping nose on the back of my muddied hand, I rapidly look around. One could spend forever guessing and second-guessing every little damn thing.

As the vocal stylings of the majestic creature overhead echoes, I draw on the bird’s strength and viciously pull upward from what I can feel pulsating in the icy dirt beneath my hands. My inner fire flairs to life on impact. Earth’s wholesome scent invigorates my nose as if it were the middle of spring, and the humidity in the air thickens as it moves around me, needing to be close. Syphoning as much as I can possibly take, I absorb the earth’s magic to top off my depleted tank. Inhaling deeply once more, I revel in the feeling of centeredness and vigor as it seeps through every cell in my body. After taking my fill, I stop the channeling and purposely stand on wobbly legs that need a minute to catch up with my newfound enthusiasm. The red tail signals his support from above once more and brands me in a way that is hard to explain. The connection is instant, life altering, and quite permanent. My senses spike in warning as I feel a familiar pull on an invisible bond that defies possibility. Shit, he’s coming for me and he is one pissed-off mate! While that little incantation won’t sustain me like blood, it will do for now. Calling my unnatural wheels, I quickly cloak myself and take off toward the sacred spot in which I am being drawn to. No more games.

Dire urgency fills me as I land in northwestern Montana, in a little meadow on the sacred Native American grounds, just south of the Flathead Lake. The site pulled me in like a moth to a flame, especially the closer I came. The location was perfect for said ceremony that was used originally. The magic seeped through every blade of grass, every pebble under foot, and the heavenly lake not far off perfected the elemental need. The site felt alive and hummed its own tune in the middle of national forest. When I take a moment to relish in the vibrations, the pure beauty singing throughout, the moment is quickly cut short when I realize I am not alone. Dark energy slithers on the perimeter as a set of eyes catch my attention briefly before disappearing.

Those eyes! My time at Marcos’ flashes before me as those feminine, yet deadly, glowing eyes align with the set that would watch me in my weakest moments in captivity. Anger fuels me in spite of fear, and I channel it with deadly precision. The draw of the most powerful spot on this site is right underfoot. Ripping through the fabric of the veil between worlds as fast as I possibly can in the face of extreme danger closing in on me, I reach through and blindly grab at the source while keeping my eyes fixed on the looming shadow rapidly nearing. As I fumble around, my fingertips grasp the edge of something while demonic hissing fills my ears. I have no idea where it is coming from, but my blood pressure is now soaring in my ears, battling with the hell-sent sound that makes one want to rip at their own flesh. Time begins to move in slow motion. My fumbling becomes frantic as I strain through the portal against the seams, attempting to keep one foot in each world as the dark figure with glowing eyes begins to charge me. Air wheezes in and out of my chest in rapid form as impending death looms.

My quaking fingers finally grasp a metal handle of some sort. As contact is made, an earth-shattering screech straight from the depths of hell rockets through the little meadow’s clearing, and a power like no other explodes like an atomic bomb through the tear I created. When I stumble back from the explosive force, the opening snaps shut with a loud, latex-inspired crack, and the cup clatters lifelessly by my feet. My head drops back in time to catch the mushroom cloud of power looming above. Instinctively raising my hands, I brace my feet as the now-dark purple haze begins rumble with thunder and lightning. The winds in the little valley pick up speed and begin to circle in a maddening speed, stopping the charging figure in its tracks.

The darkness on the fringes of the forest attempts to bulldoze through towards me again, but a ring of fire rises all around as mists of water from the lake join the surrounding tornado, fortifying the impermeable wall. Cloaked figures battle ram the barrier with blasts of magic not rooted in what I have become accustomed to. As the cloud surges above thunder on, charging up, my upturned arms begin to feel locked in place by a steel vice. Before I can question it, lighting from the mist strikes me in one powerful, blindingly painful lash. My own screams of horror rise to compete and amplify in the raging elements.

As my body collapses under the night sky, the earth rushes up to catch me. Soft, forest-drenched aromas nestle into me as I sink into the oddly warm and comforting soil. The earth element eases my beaten, bloody, and bruised body down deeper into its embrace as aftershocks rip through me, making me wish for certain death. Tears and sobs rip through my quaking body as I continue to sink even deeper into the impossibly lax soil now encapsulating me. The elemental power racing around draws nearer, no longer raging through the meadow. Its sole focus is now me. The soil closes over the top of my body in a dome fashion; air gently wisps around inside the cocoon as fire and water sit protectively over the top of my entombed figure. The demonic blackness draws uncomfortably near, its hovering presence setting off my senses. However, it is suddenly stopped by a barrier of unknown origin as pain forces my consciousness to slip away and a coma-like sleep overtakes me.

∞

Etienne

I rushed out of the house early this afternoon, weakened by the sun still too high in sky but determined to beat the Mastagia in the search for this relic. Our intel cited activity in northern Montana. Dominic also confirmed this morning before we lay down that dark magic was being drawn up there. Not wanting to take any chances with my mate, I had extra precautions put into place at home to keep her there while we hunted. She is a prime target. Her powers would be exactly what those fuckers would love to have to track down the relic, if it even exists. And if her tossing, turning, and emanating of energy the last few nights was anything to go by, something big is on her mind—something she hasn’t cared to share with me—but I had a good idea.

“My Lord, we have a general idea where in the north the activity is located, but we won’t know for sure until we get closer. Hakeem, as well as a few others, is landing very shortly to assist in the hunt. Time is of the essence. The veil will be thin early this evening, and something bad is nearing.” Roman shudders, his power pulsing around his figure in reaction to whatever disturbance is taking place on our ground. His earth element ties him closely to every waveform. Even when he doesn’t fully understand what is happening, it affects him.

“What would ye like to do? I can head to pick them up and meet back here or I can help Gabriel,” Niall interjects, warrior ready.

“Gabriel and the others should be fine. I’ve acquired some extra help by way of charmed goods should she get out of control.” At that, Niall grins a “that’s my girl” look before nodding.

“Maurizio, I want you to take a few and head out now. We need to flank them. If Hakeem is coming to assist, then take Roman with you now. His speed can match yours. Do not take any eren who are slow, leave them behind to patrol my compound as well as to tail Sasha’s boys when they go out this evening.”

“Should the witch join us?” Emile’s baritone voice enters the room before he does.

“Brother. So glad you were able to join us.” I stand and embrace Emile. I can’t deny the relief I have knowing he is back with us. Kataya cycled late, and he couldn’t leave her side until she was well and through her moon. Fire licks my loin as I briefly recall my very own honeymoon. I can smell Sasha’s heathen call as we speak—scent that had me rendered utterly and completely helpless. Quickly, my focus shifts back to present before I am drawn down that dangerous path. My senses suddenly jump to attention, attempting to alert me of some shift, while still keeping a finger on the pulse of the change. I carry on our planning session here at our private facility tucked well below the warehouse and cloaked so that prying ears cannot penetrate as my mind searches to understand the alarm. I may be put off by that fumbling male of a healer based completely off his demeanor, far from warrior-esk, but he is damn good at his craft.

“About that witch…”

“She cannot travel as fast as we.” Solana’s gifts would be helpful, but we cannot be liable for her either.

“Have you checked with Dominic to see if they have spelled other forms of travel yet?” Maurizio asks.

“Not yet, but—” My phone vibrates in my pocket, and the feeling I had moments ago intensifies. “Yes, Erik?” I try not to sound panicked but something else takes over. His voice rambles on and on, littered with a million apologies and swear words as he tells me what my little minx just pulled. The room cools on impact as my anger comes to life. All heads turn my way as my tone matches the shift in degrees and I over-annunciate every next syllable so as not to misinterpret a single with my thick accent.

“Erik, listen very carefully. You will be taking those other two pussies to track those boys at all times. If anything happens to them, well, I don’t need to explain that because you all are already quite familiar with my work. Niall will be joining you shortly to assist. Do not, under any circumstances, allow them to come across this knowledge concerning their mother.” I promptly hang up the phone on Erik and cut my eyes to Niall, who gives me one nod and hits the door without another word. Clearly, Sasha’s gifts are evolving once more, making my eren look like complete fools. My body vibrates as urgency and irritation take up residence.

“There is no further need for discussion. You all know what you need to do. Emile, call Dominic once we arrive to retrieve Hakeem. We leave now!” I growl and tear out of the room, my eren scattering to their assigned duties as Emile and I head straight for the nearby airstrip.

Five minutes later, we land on the tarmac as another of my private jets taxis in. Emile is promptly on the phone as I take up a stance at the end of the asphalt, willing the plane to me with all that I have. Ten minutes has passed and the sun will soon be setting in the sky. I can feel her heading north and my heart sinks. Fisting my hands at my sides, I pray she is traveling by foot at her normal pace, which will be easier to catch up to. Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that she’s using that little trick she learned when we first arrived back here? Goddess help me, when I get my hands on her—she’s not leaving the basement for a solid year. My fangs lengthen as I prepare for battle, and Emile silently joins me.

“They can meet us there; they’ve managed to learn some interesting travel spells but will hang back until we summon them for fear of Solana’s safety. She is still too young to be battling forces on the level of which we expect.”

“This fucking plane, brother. How long does it honestly take?”

“We can catch up with you if you’d rather go ahead.”

“No, please distract me with brighter tales.” Anything at all to take my mind off the pain tearing me apart from the inside out at the moment.

“Well, we are not getting too excited as we want to wait for the first quarter to pass, but—” Joy lights up Emile on a level I have yet to see from my brother.

“Seriously? A young?” I turn and excitedly embrace him.

Tears of joy prick his eyes as he pulls back and looks me in the eye. “Yes, brother. We believe so. She never bled, and she’s even more radiant than ever. While it is too soon to be certain that it will take, we are relishing in this brief moment.”

“Thank you for the bit of light upon this dark evening, brother mine. Truly, I am beyond overjoyed for you.” A twinge of unknown jealously niggles at my heart before I promptly smack it away. I can barely keep Sasha under control and out of harm’s way; I can’t even imagine a young. “Whatever is required, you need only ask.” My shit-kicking leather boots scrape the tarmac in anticipation as my biceps flex under the black, long-sleeve sweater. My body is coiled, humming with rage, and ready to spring into action.

“Right now, all I need is to help you secure your mate so that we may add some years back to your life.” Emile’s black-gloved hand smacks my back. I grunt as the plane finally comes to stop before us and the doors slowly open, as if to poke fun at my hurried state.

Emile’s moustache twitches in joy as Hakeem, dressed for battle, flashes down the stairs to stop before us, ready. Suddenly, Vlad, Inessa, and her twin nieces join him, all dressed in head-to-toe black, the warrior gleam in their eyes.

“What a pleasant surprise!” Emile quickly embraces them all as I stand completely still, thinking… the dots all lining up faster than I care to explain. Koray, you fucking mastermind.

“Inessa, I can only assume why you are here, but I cannot be responsible for the young.” My eyes cut to her nieces, who stealthily remain emotionless behind her.