Pricolici (11 page)

It looked like red ferns were painted from his shoulders down the outside of his arms. All the hair was gone, and when he turned his wrists, he saw the marks circled them like ornate bracelets. The palms of his hands were covered in identical starbursts. The marks were oddly beautiful, but he had no idea where they came from.

“Stelian!”

The door opened immediately, and Stelian rushed in. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“What the hell are these?” Tucker held out his good arm and turned it back and forth, showing Stelian the patterns. “What did you do to me?”

He could smell his fear filling the room. Stelian tried to pull him into his arms, and Tucker backed away. “No, tell me now!”

Stelian sighed. “I was hoping to tell you about those before you saw them and freaked out, but you insisted I leave. I didn’t want to make you even angrier, because of the effects that could have on your power. It seems your powers truly unlocked that night in the clearing. Those marks are ones I saw only on one other hultan. He could control energy, including lightning.”

“Like I did,” Tucker whispered. He remembered his science classes—not his favorite, but he did all right in biology.
Energy in everything.
What was he capable of now? “Wait. Did you say effects of me being angry? What are you talking about?”

Stelian held out his arms, and Tucker gasped. Every hair stood straight up. “It’s like static electricity zinging along my skin. It stings a little, but the feeling of my hair standing straight up from the energy pinging off you is worse.” He stroked his arm and it didn’t help at all; the hair still stood straight up.

“This happened before? How did you know?”

“You had a nightmare while you were out. It was painful to hold you, but it calmed you down after a few minutes. I knew you didn’t mean to do it. The other hultan could focus it on anyone who upset him, zapping them until they fell unconscious, but I knew you’d never hurt me on purpose.”

Tucker stumbled back a step and sank down on the bed. “How am I going to learn to control this shit when I don’t even realize that I’m doing it?”

Chapter Ten

Tucker had no choice but to put the question of his magic on hold for a few days. He was too weak to do otherwise. Going downstairs for a meal meant he needed a nap afterwards. The thought of trying to take a shower exhausted him, so he made do with a washcloth in the sink. He was sick of staying in bed like an invalid.

He was sitting up in a chair in the corner of the room by the window, looking out at the garden, when Stelian came in one afternoon. He held a large book in his hands. “There you are, Tucker. Out of bed, I see.”

“I’m tired of sleeping.”

“Good. I have something for you to do.”

Tucker eyed the book in his hands. “A book?”

“Yes,” Stelian said with a grin, “a book. This is something I wasn’t sure I still had. I had to check the back corners of my shelves to find it.”

He set the book in Tucker’s lap. “I thought this should be manageable, even if you still only have one hand.”

Tucker traced the design on the front. A metal symbol of a wolf head that ended in a dragon’s scaly tail was embedded in the thick leather. “What is this?”

“A symbol of the two most common creatures in Dacia, the dragon and the wolf. It’s called a Drakon. When a full-sized statue was made, the wind would flow through the scales and make the sound of a wolf’s howl, to strike fear into the heart of their enemies. The dragon is Balaur. The legends say that to become a full-fledged hultan, initiates would have to summon a dragon, a Balaur in the flesh, and tame him. They rode them into battle.”

Tucker looked up at Stelian in awe. “Really?”

Stelian laughed. “Not that I ever saw. But in the time I’ve lived, I have seen many things. Dragons may have been before my time, who’s to say? I did see hultans, though not many. This book was written by one of the last. He was a close confidante and counselor to a friend of mine.”

“Who?”  Tucker asked. His hand was splayed on the cover of the book a bit possessively. In it, he might find the answers he’d been seeking.

“Diurapneus. He was the last king of Dacia.”

Tucker stared at Stelian in shock. Holy hell! “You were friends with a king?”

“We fought together against Rome. He was a great man, even before he was a king. His hultan was not his lover, though. Instead, he was a trusted counselor. He left this book to the king when he died, and Diurapneus then gave it to me for safekeeping when he died. I’ve kept it safe for a very long time. I hope you find some answers to the questions you have inside this book.”

“Will you sit down with me?” Tucker asked Stelian. “Or do you have other work to do?”

“I have a few calls to make, actually. I remembered the book this morning, and thought it might help you—and keep you from biting everyone’s head off when they come to visit you.” Stelian smirked. He’d gotten his fair share of smart ass comments from Tucker, but then, he earned them by being far too sure of himself, as far as Tucker was concerned.

Tucker struggled to his feet, turning to set the book down in his chair. His head swam a little, but he didn’t have time to lose his balance. Stelian pulled him into his arms.

“Oof,” Tucker said as their chests collided. The alpha was strong, stronger than any lupe in Tucker’s old haitas. His body was solid as rock.

“Did I hurt your shoulder?” Stelian asked. His arms tightened as Tucker shifted closer, and his dark brown eyes began to lighten and gleam with yellow around the edges.

“No. This is where I wanted to be.” Tucker stretched up, his lips barely an inch away from Stelian’s. “Thank you.”

“Mmm, don’t I get better thanks than that?” Stelian’s voice dropped, the rumble a sexy growl that made Tucker shiver.

Tucker grinned then focused on Stelian’s lips. “Maybe.”

“Maybe I’ll take it.”

The dominant demand in his voice made Tucker fight back a moan as his eyes met the now solid yellow gaze of Stelian’s wolf. Excitement raced up his spine when Stelian leaned closer. The lupe’s hot breath blew across Tucker’s face and neck, but he didn’t kiss him. He ran his nose up Tucker’s neck, forcing him to tilt his head back.

Sharp nibbles on his jaw were small, stinging reminders of what Stelian considered Tucker’s place as his mate. The need for a lupe to claim a mate was so strong, and Stelian had been waiting thousands of years for him. Tucker could almost feel the weight of all those years driving Stelian’s need to sink his teeth in and take that final step in every scraping bite along his neck. He could barely breathe. His excitement mounted as Stelian approached the spot where his neck met his shoulder. It took a moment for him to realize the sharp teeth and soothing lips had stopped. He lifted his head, not meeting Stelian’s eyes. It was hard to remember that he was not a submissive lupe, and he didn’t have to act like one.

Deciding to throw out everything he’d been taught and go with how he felt, Tucker stood on his toes and leaned in close. He inhaled Stelian’s scent, enjoying the musk of his arousal.

Nuzzling Stelian’s whiskered cheek, he licked at the alpha’s lips then pressed his lips to Stelian’s. It wasn’t long before Stelian took over, one hand buried in Tucker’s hair as he prodded until Tucker opened his mouth. 

Tucker moaned at the invasion, rubbing back at the hot tongue in his mouth. The alpha held him and surrounded him, filling his senses. He was filled with longing. Tucker wanted more. He couldn’t stop his hips from rubbing against Stelian as the lupe reminded him exactly what he was capable of. The power of the male’s aura, along with the way Stelian took control, had Tucker trembling in need.

Then his power decided to push back, the wolf inside him whining. He felt every hair on his body stand straight up as if energy crackled along his skin. Instead of being conquered, he leaned forward and began to kiss back, letting his hands roam along Stelian’s back.

Stelian gasped, shuddering as he pulled back and broke their kiss.

“By Zalmoxis, Tucker.” Stelian pressed their foreheads together and stared into his eyes. “I’m trying to keep my word, but you don’t make it easy. Your power, when you feel like that against my skin, it’s like you’re touching me everywhere. I want you.” Stelian’s accent had thickened.

Tucker closed his eyes, blocking out his wolf’s vision—or was that his power’s vision? He had so much to learn. Tucker knew his eyes were glowing, and he couldn’t stop the tremors that wracked his body. “I want you, too. I can’t help but feel that I need to know what I am before I’m ready to become your mate. I have no idea what I just did, what if something else happens to you because I lose control? I don’t want to hurt you.”

Stelian smiled. “I don’t think you could. That’s the first time you said you want to become my mate,” he said softly.

Tucker smiled back. They’d had more time to get to know each other, and he already felt a strong connection with Stelian. But there was too much he didn’t know. “I’m not ready to risk it. I care about you, too.”

The alpha pulled back with a sigh. He stepped over to the door; he looked over his shoulder at the book and then stared in Tucker’s eyes. “Learn fast.”

Tucker laughed, the sound breaking the tension a little. “Is that an order?”

“Yes,” Stelian growled. “All right, I have to go make those calls”—he glanced at his watch— “that I’m already late for. I’d kiss you again, but then I’d never leave.” He walked out of the room. It took Tucker a minute to recover from the fog of arousal surrounding his senses.

He picked up the book, and sat back in the chair. Balancing it on his lap, he touched the drakon again then took a deep breath. Tucker winced as the ancient leather crackled when he lifted the cover; he opened it carefully, hoping the aged book held up.

The first page held a large symbol in brown ink. The rays coming off the outside of the circle looked like a sun; curling spiral of dots filled the inside. His finger hovered in the air above the design as he traced the spiral on the page.

It had been scribed thousands of years ago, yet the lessons and words in this book were seemingly meant for him as the only living hultan. It might be an ancient ancestor of his, speaking to him from the past. As a historian, Tucker couldn’t believe the incredible value he held within his hands from a historical viewpoint, as well. Holding his breath, wondering what he would read first, Tucker turned the page.

Looking at the words, his mouth dropped open.

He couldn’t read it!

His stomach fell. He flipped through the pages, forcing himself to treat them gently even as his irritation built. Each page was filled with symbols and lines that meant nothing to him. He kept turning, hoping to come to something that would make sense, but halfway through the book he gave up.

He growled as he stared out the window. “What the hell am I supposed to do with a book I can’t read?”

“Talking to yourself now?” A voice speaking from the door startled him. Tucker jumped.

“Grecia! What in the hell is the matter with you? Do you have to sneak up on me like that?”

She laughed, holding up her hands. “Sorry, sorry. I won’t do it anymore. You’re just so easy.”

Tucker made a face. He knew he didn’t have the acute senses the other lupes did; the sneak up and get Tucker game was far from new. At least she wasn’t throwing cold water or garbage on him like some of the younger lupes had in his old haitas.

“So, what’s wrong?”

Tucker sighed. “Stelian gave me a book from a hultan he used to know, but I can’t read it.”

She frowned. “That’s strange. You’d think the hultan would have thought of that, if he was trying to preserve the history of hultans.”

He shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t expect hultans to die out, and this was some sort of written language used back then.”

“Can Stelian read it?”

Tucker’s eyes opened wide. “Of course!” He smacked his forehead with his palm. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you’re not a genius, like me?” Grecia said sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever, woman. Why, exactly, are you bothering me again?”

“I came up to get some clothes I left in the spare room the last time I was here. I left my favorite pajama pants. Anyway, I’ll let you go speak with Stelian.” She waved as she walked away.

Tucker watched her, envious of her fast healing. He was still in the sling, his arm sore from the dislocation, and his cuts and scrapes were ugly scabs tightening his skin. Grecia had been shot, but she was already healed. Of course, she was an older lupe, and powerful as well.

Tucking the book under his sling, Tucker began the walk downstairs. He was starting to falter by the time he got to the hall to Stelian’s office. He stopped for a minute to lean against the wall, to take some deep breaths. Sweat beaded on his face.
Damn
.

A door opened. “Tucker?”

“Here.” Tucker lifted a hand to wipe sweat off his forehead.

“What are you doing down here?” Stelian came striding down the hall toward him. At least this time he didn’t pick Tucker up, though he put an arm around him and helped him walk into his office. His door stood open to the deck outside and the garden.

Tucker took a deep breath of the flower-scented air as he sank into a chair by the desk. The noon sun was barely strong enough to warm the remaining blossoms. Fall was just around the corner, even this far south, and the few summer flowers still bravely blooming wouldn’t last long.

“What did you need to come all the way down here for, Tucker?” Stelian asked as he sat next to Tucker.

Slipping the book out from under his sling, Tucker opened it and turned a few pages. “Can you read this?” he asked. “I think it must be ancient Dacian or something, and I can’t understand it at all.”

Stelian’s eyes flicked over the open pages. He frowned and reached for the book, carefully turning to the next page and then the next. Tucker sat quietly, letting Stelian study the book while he watched his face. He enjoyed watching Stelian; he was so handsome with his dark coloring and strong bones.

A small sound, like a quiet hum, filled the air as Stelian focused on the book. Reaching out with one hand, he touched the page. His lips moved, in a chant that Tucker couldn’t understand, though it did sound familiar. It came to an end as Stelian sat up straight.

His finger touched a symbol here and there on the open pages. “It looks familiar, like some of the symbols used in the written language, but this isn’t any writing I recognize.” Regret filled his voice. “I’m sorry; I can’t read it either.”

“Why were you humming?” Tucker asked as he accepted the book back.

“Sometimes the hultans would set their objects to respond to a spell or incantation. Without knowing that, the items wouldn’t activate. I knew one, so I decided to try it. Obviously it didn’t work, but I don’t have magic. I can try to teach it to you later, if you like.”

“We could try that. If that doesn’t work, I’ll think of something, I guess. I’m no worse off than before, at least.” Tucker looked out through the open French doors. He sighed. “I feel like I’ve been cooped up for a long time. Do you mind helping me go outside for a bit? I want to sit in the grass, maybe look at the book some more. There are a few drawings I’d like to study.”

“I have to work for about another hour, then I’m done. I can come back out for you when I’m done, if you like. Then maybe we can go sit in the living room and watch a movie with dinner. We could order pizza. The younger lupes seem to love that.”