Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (32 page)

Kane laughed. “Why would we submit to you?”

Shade turned his head. They all followed his gaze. At the far end of the table, Raid raised his ax.

He brought it down on Blossom’s neck.

Her head rolled across the table, coming to rest on Clove’s plate. Clove’s scream echoed off the walls.

“No!” Briar had gone white. His hands shook uncontrollably. “Blossom, no!”

Lia couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe. They were all going to die.

Shade snapped his fingers. Raid’s ax rested by his side. It was clean. Blossom held a fork to her lips. Realizing all eyes were on her, she looked around the room.

“What are you guys staring at?” she asked.

“Allow me,” Shade said, “to introduce my newest acquisition.” Stepping aside, he revealed the boy. The lad swallowed visibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“My mage boy,” Shade said. “I found him walking through my woods with an old man.”

“It was my father,” the boy said. His voice only quavered slightly.

“What was that?” Shade’s voice was silk and danger.

“It was my father, sir.”

“And
was
is the operative word, is it not? I gave you a chance to spare his life, but I needed to ask you twice to come with me.” He turned to Ronan, Kane, and Lia. “I don’t like having to ask for things twice. Anyway, it was quite obvious what he was capable of. He tried to make himself and his father appear to be a bear, but he didn’t have quite enough control. And he wasn’t ready for a man to turn into a wolf before his eyes.”

Shade smiled. “Reality is better than illusions, of course. But I have the power and the will to make the illusion you just saw a reality for your entire pack. I’ll give you until tomorrow’s sunset to make your decision, but make sure you choose well. Remember, I don’t give second chances.”

Kane stood abruptly. “Thanks for the feast.”

Ronan clamped a hand on Kane’s arm. “We’ll be going now,” he said to Shade. “I’m sure you understand.”

“Oh, I do.” Shade picked up a crystal goblet, toasting them. “Flee. Like you always do. We won’t hinder you. This time.”

Orion went first, knocking the breath from anyone who stood in their way. Kane and Ronan stayed beside Lia. The two closest members of the Shadow pack, Canker and Stoat, shied away. Lia didn’t blame them. Kane looked like he would eviscerate anyone who made one wrong move.

Flint and Fox moved behind their Alphas, keeping their backs to them to watch the Shadow pack. Lia was amazed. It was like there was some kind of drill they had all been practicing that they’d just put into motion. They weren’t out of the ground yet, but she felt much better surrounded by her pack.

Briar had to drag Blossom out.

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Did he just throw us out? We should teach him some manners.”

“No, Bloss.” Briar pulled her into the light. “I’m not letting you stay in there another second.”

“That goes for all of us,” Ronan said.

Lia squinted as they emerged into the sunlight. As grateful as she was to see it, it stung her eyes.

“We aren’t out of their territory yet,” Ronan said. “We need to keep moving.”

Kane halted. Unsure what to do, the pack stopped with him.

“I’m inclined to agree with Blossom.” Kane’s eyes were narrowed into slits. “We need to stand our ground.”

“Not now,” Ronan begged. “Please, Kane. That may be a boy, but he’s a mage. We can’t rush in.”

“All we need to do is take him out,” Kane said. “One boy. Easy.”

“Unless he’s not standing where he seems to be,” Lia said.

Kane didn’t have a response to that.

“We need to get back to the den,” Ronan said, “gather our strength. We may have to fight, but not without a plan.”

Kane growled his frustration. “Fine. What do we do now, then?”

“Now we run.” Ronan shifted, and the rest of them followed. It was a long, hard run out of Shade’s territory. They finally reached the fork in the river, but Lia didn’t feel any better on the other side. All the way back to the den, Shade’s words echoed in her ears.

I don’t give second chances.

Why couldn’t he just leave them alone?

***

In his room, Ronan paced back and forth. “What do we do now, Lia? What do we do?”

She didn’t have an answer for him, but she didn’t think he really expected her to.

“Her head rolled across the table,” Ronan moaned. “Blood was gushing from her neck. What if that was real? What if I led her to her death?”

Lia made him sit down on the bed. “You didn’t,” she said sternly. “Blossom is downstairs right now eating a bowl of soup. Since she’s the only one of us who can bear to eat right now, I’d say she’s fine.”

“I’m not, though,” Ronan said, his voice strangled. “I’m supposed to keep us safe. All of us. How can I call myself Alpha if Blossom is only alive because of Shade’s mercy?”

She rubbed his strong back with long, languid movements. “It’s going to be all right. You’ll think of something.”

“Will I?” He gave a barking laugh. “They have a mage. I don’t know how to fight illusions, Lia. I know he’s just a boy, but it would be all too easy to get us to run into battle and right into a pit of stakes. I don’t know how we stand a chance.”

Lia sat back. “How can you say that? You’re Ronan, Alpha and strategist. You have to pull yourself together. You can’t let the pack see you like this.”

He looked startled. “I never let anyone see me like this. Only… only you.”

It felt like a knife had gone through her. How could she be so cruel? Was he not allowed a single moment of weakness?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just… I’m so scared. I’m not good at being the strong one.”

Ronan wrapped his arms around her. “Sometimes, neither of us has to be strong.” He grinned. “That’s why we have Kane.”

She kissed him then. He stared at her, surprised. Lia knew what he was thinking. It wasn’t the right time—there were plans to make, orders to give, defenses to prepare. But she knew him. He needed this, needed her. He was hurting, badly. She would make him whole again.

Then he would be ready to lead.

She kissed him again, and this time he responded. She put everything into her kiss, hoping her love, her passion, her strength would tide him over. His lips were so warm, so sweet, just like the rest of him. She never wanted to let him go.

He broke off the kiss, spinning her around. Her back was pressed to his chest, and she reveled in the feel of his taut skin against hers. He cupped her breasts, fondling the soft flesh, making her drown in his caress. Kissing the side of her neck, Ronan bared his teeth. It was like he wanted to Bite her all over again. Lia gave a soft sigh. For all the agony of Turning, she’d do it again. For him.

His breath was hot on her neck, his need clear. Reaching down, Lia found his hard cock. She wrapped a hand around it, and it pulsed under her touch. She wanted him to take her. She ached with desire. Arching her back against him, she let him know she was ready.

“What in the hells is going on here?”

Lia and Ronan both jumped. Reflexively, Lia covered herself with one of the bed furs.

Kane stood in the doorway, looking absolutely livid. “You do know that we’re about to go to war. Or does that not concern you?”

“Kane,” Lia said, “we were just—”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses from you,” he said, his voice forbidding. “You don’t know any better, clearly. It’s my brother who has to answer to me.”

Ronan gave a low growl. “Don’t speak to her like that.”

“I’ll speak to her as I like. We have more important things to worry about, though you may have forgotten. To be fair, everything happened three whole hours ago. I can understand it may have slipped your mind.”

“I didn’t forget,” Ronan snapped. “Or do you not know me at all?”

Kane studied him. “Maybe I don’t. This is nothing like the brother I know.”

“This is my fault,” Lia said. “I can explain.”

“Are you still here?” Kane asked coldly. “If you’re going to be a distraction, then kindly remove yourself.”

Ronan roared something at him, and Kane roared back. Lia didn’t want to hear it. If Kane was going to be an ass, then she would leave. She had only been trying to help.

She went down the stairs and into the mess hall. The tables were packed with shifters. Everyone was talking in low voices about what had happened at Shade’s den. Violet and Rain, Blossom’s best friends, were huddled in a corner looking pale. Blossom herself was relishing the attention, preening as she retold the story again.

“I didn’t feel a thing. I just looked up and everyone was freaking out. I don’t know what
you
were so afraid of, Briar. As if anyone could hurt me. I’m too nice.”

Discussion ceased when Lia walked in. They all looked at her, probably for comforting words, or news of what the Alphas were up to.

Lia sighed. She couldn’t stay here. She walked toward the entryway. Maybe outside she’d get some peace.

“Hey, Lia.” Lark ran up to her. “Where are you going? Do you want me to go with you?”

Lia glared. “I don’t need a nursemaid.”

“That’s not what…”

Lia left before Lark could make her feel too guilty. She wouldn’t go far, or be gone long. She just wanted to be alone, if even for a minute. Was that too much to ask?

She went into the woods, just out of sight of the sentries on the heights. It was so quiet here, with nothing but the sound of the wind blowing through the spring leaves. Lia sighed. She had probably been too harsh with Lark. She just didn’t want to be chaperoned to death. Lia would apologize when she got back. Surely Lark would understand.

She didn’t see anyone approach, or hear footsteps. But hands clamped around her mouth, forcing her to breathe in a familiar scent. What was it, though? Her lids were growing heavy.

“Sleep.” The silky voice seemed to come from a million miles away. Lia had no choice. She couldn’t help but obey.

She drifted away before her eyes closed. One last thought swirled sluggishly in her mind.

Everwort.

Then she was gone.

Part Five

Chapter One

Kane couldn’t believe the two of them, fooling around like Shade wasn’t planning to slaughter them all. He knew his sharp words had cut Lia, and he didn’t care. Let her leave. Let her sulk. Didn’t she know they were practically at war?

Ronan was snarling something at him, but Kane couldn’t make out the words through the pounding in his ears. What had become of his brother? If Ronan wanted to put his feet up and relax, maybe Kane should relieve him of the title of Alpha.

An urgent howl cut through the air. It was Lark, almost hysterical. The only thing that could make her howl like that was Shade… or Lia. He looked at Ronan, reading the same thought on his twin’s face. As one, they turned and bounded down the stairs.

They met Lark in the entryway.

“He’s taken her!” Tears rolled down her face. “He’s taken Lia!”

“Show me where she was,” Ronan commanded. “Quickly.”

Lark led them to the edge of the woods. There was the faint scent of ash mingled with the sweet smell of flowers, though the wind had carried most of it away. There were no tracks. No trace. Shade had her now.

“I let her go off alone,” Lark moaned. “Why did I let her go? I should have been with her, no matter what she said.”

A prickling sense of dread washed over Kane. He made Lia upset. He made her run from the den, and right into Shade.

Kane slumped against a tree, head in hands. This was his fault. His fucking fault. Again.

***

“Look into the pool,” Magda said, “and foretell your fate.”

Lia leaned over the scrying pool. There was something there, something important. Two white wolves faced an oncoming storm.

“Oops!” Magda dropped a pebble into the water, making the image ripple and blur. “We can’t let you See too much now, can we, dearie?”

Lia moved around the pool, frantic to find a calm section. She needed to know what was going to happen. She needed to warn them. A dark form lunged at one of the wolves. But which?

“That’s not for you to know.” Grinning, Magda dropped some more pebbles. “Scrying is for witches, not wolves.”

“Let me look,” Lia pleaded. “Please, let me See.”

“The stillness is sacred,” Magda said, “but not for you.”

“I need to See! Just for a moment. One moment, that’s all I ask.”

But Magda simply cackled. One by one, she loosed a thousand pebbles until the pool was filled with them.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

“No,” Lia mumbled. She had to make Magda stop dropping the pebbles. She couldn’t move, though. Her arms felt like they were made of solid rock.

With great effort, she opened her eyelids a crack. This wasn’t the scrying pool. Where was she? It was so cold.

The dripping continued as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. There was something there, in the gloom. Bars.

Lia would have cried if she weren’t so tired. Shade had trapped her in the dark after all.

There was a scuffle of boot against stone. Someone was there, watching her. She stiffened, but it was just the mage boy.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

She was torn between screaming at him to go away and begging him not to leave her alone. Instead, she fell back into a dreamless sleep. There was nothing then, except the sound of dripping.

***

Rough hands grabbed Kane by the shoulders and wrenched him to his feet.

“We can’t just sit here,” Ronan said. “We’re going to go rescue her.”

“Now?” Kane asked.

“Now.”

Kane let out a shuddering breath. “What about your plans, your strategies?”

“Fuck that. We’re going to save our mate.”

Lark dashed a hand across her eyes. “I’m coming too. Don’t think you can stop me.”

“Fine,” Ronan said. “Gather some others if you must, but don’t leave the den unprotected. You can follow us, but don’t cross the southern border unless we signal you.”

She nodded. “Bring her home, Alphas.”