Scent of the Heart (13 page)

Zak clutched Sev by the back of the head and pulled back until their eyes locked. “Who am I?” he demanded.

“Y-You’re my Alpha,” Sev stammered.

“Then I give you my word as Alpha. This will be fixed.”

A deep wheezing breath from Jake had them both scrambling toward their partners. Casey’s eyes were wide as his gaze flitted about the room. He jerked his hand away from Jake and Mikhail and struggled to his feet.

“We need wards,” he gasped, then rushed from the house.

Zak knelt by Jake, rubbing hands over his mate’s still form. Sev watched his Alpha’s brow furrow, assuming that Zak was trying to mind-speak to Jake. He could see teardrops glistening on Zak’s cheeks. He knelt down and took Mikhail’s hand in his. Whatever was happening, it wasn’t something Sev could fix, and he knew deep in his soul that he was going to lose his brother.

Casey burst into the hut, clutching warded items in his hands. He frantically began hanging them near the doors, then lay one across Mikhail’s heaving chest. His breathing slowed, but his body remained rigid. Casey pushed a handful of charmed items into Sev’s hands, instructing him where to place them.

“Hurry, Sev. Quick as you can.”

Sev rushed about the room, hanging the shaman-blessed items where Casey had instructed him. Jake groaned and sat up, whimpering when Zak threw his arms around the broad shoulders.

“Okay, that totally sucked,” he whispered, his voice harsh as if he had been screaming for hours on end. “Case?”

“No time. Get up. I need help here. Go back to my house. In the cabinet near the window, bottom doors, you’ll find my materials for charms. I need you to grab that and bring it to me.”

“Now, wait one minute,” Zak rumbled. “He is in no shape to—”

“I don’t have time, Zak. He needs to get on his feet now,” Casey snapped. “You have to help him assemble the charms, and I’ll ward them so we can hang them around the enclave.”

“Will this stop him?” Jake’s raspy voice croaked out.

“No. It might slow him, but I don’t know how to stop him.”

“Stop who?” Zak demanded.

“Elizar.”

“No,” Zak gasped. “This is not possible. He is dead. I killed him.”

“There is so much more to life than we know, Alpha,” Casey stated. “And, apparently, more to death.”

***

They worked through the night creating warded charms. Casey was dragging by the time he’d finished infusing them with his own magic. Sev worried that he was giving too much, but when he attempted to broach the subject, Casey shut him down by telling him he was trying to keep Mikhail from dying and being claimed by Elizar. That pushed Sev to work harder, trying to blend some of Casey’s tea for them all.

By daybreak they had charms strewn throughout the enclave. Casey gave them one last bit of energy before he collapsed into a heap. Jake carried him to Sev’s hut and placed him near Mikhail. Zak had a couple of the servants attending both, giving them liquids and ensuring they were warm.

“Can we not simply leave the enclave?” Zak asked.

Jake shook his head. “No, he’s here already. He’s infected everyone. I don’t think trying to leave will stop that. We’re better off sticking together. Casey’s wards are going to help, but we need to find a way to fight back. He kicked my ass in the spirit realm, Zak. He would have absorbed me if it weren’t for Casey.”

The Alpha shot a glance toward his friend. “Then I owe him more than I can ever repay,” he murmured, brushing a few stray hairs off Casey’s forehead. Sev growled, which earned him a brief smile from a now awake Casey.

“Don’t try to turn me on right now. I’m kinda not in the mood.”

Jake laughed. “Since when?”

“Remember that kick to the balls I gave you? Remind me later I owe you another.”

Casey sat up. His skin was sallow, and Sev had to restrain himself from pushing him down again. Casey stood, his knees wobbling, and lurched toward Mikhail. Sev rushed to his side and helped him kneel down next to his brother.

“He’s breathing normally, but he’s so hot. I’ll put something together for Cyndil to use to cool him down. I saw something in the grimoire that will help, I think.”

Sev was torn. His brother’s life lay in the balance, but he couldn’t lose both his mate and Mikhail. Casey turned to him, put a hand on his face. “I’m not letting him go, Sev. You need to know that. He’s my family, too, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he’s safe.”

“I can’t lose you,” Sev whispered.

Casey peered into his eyes and Sev knew love, felt it to the very core of his being. His heart sang, filled with joy, even while worry clutched at his stomach. When Casey kissed him, a soft, gentle peck, Sev steeled himself that whatever came, he would face it with his mate.

“Okay, the wards aren’t going to keep Elizar out. Maybe if I’d done it weeks ago, but he’s insinuated himself into the people, and the only way to fight is on the spiritual plane, which I know I won’t win. Even with Jake’s added strength, we almost didn’t make it out.”

“So what should we do?” Jake queried.

“Tell me about this item he had.”

“He said it would give him the ability to take a body at the point of death and force the spirit out, then allow him to overtake it and have it as his own. He didn’t say what it was or where he kept it.”

“We need to find that and destroy it. It’s what holds him to this plane. When Zak killed him, he must have transferred his essence to the item. Without a body, a portion of him moved on, but a part of him stayed here. He’s not whole.”

Zak groaned. “If he is not whole, then what will he be like when he is? If he is this powerful now—”

“I don’t think that’s the case. I’m guessing that he’s drawing energy from both places to supplement himself, which builds on what he’s got. If we can force the two halves together, I think we’re going to cut off his supply.”

“That’s a big ‘if,’ Case,” Jake answered.

“I got nothing else.”

“Where do we start looking?” Sev asked.

“
We
are going to tear the Alpha’s house apart. Elizar could have stashed it in any number of cubbyholes.
You
are going to stay here with your brothers. I need to know that you’re safe, and I can’t focus my magic if you’re in danger.”

Sev puffed up his chest as his face burned in anger. “I survived for twenty years with Elizar when he was the usurper to the title of Alpha. Hakiim died. You died. Which one of us is better equipped?”

Emotions danced over Casey’s features. Sev had struck an unfair blow, but he wouldn’t be cut off like this, not even by his mate.

“Please, baby,” Casey whispered, cupping Sev’s cheek. “Don’t do this. Not now. I know you’re hurt and angry, and you can kick my ass when this is over and done with, but for now, please, stay with Mikhail.”

“I won’t. My place is by your—”

“Your place is where I tell you to be, Tsvetok,” Zak said, his voice like ice. “Do not forget who is the Alpha here.”

“No, Alpha. Of course not.”

Sev bowed, but his stomach ached as he tried to fight against the compulsion Zak was using. When Zak placed a hand on his shoulder, Sev flinched.

“Your place is by your family’s side. If Elizar truly is trying to gain control of Mikhail, you may be the only one who can keep your brother focused enough to fight him. If you honestly wish to be with Casey, I will not force you to stay here. You have the right, but I ask you, please help us by being where you are needed the most.”

Sev was conflicted. Between Casey’s imploring gaze, and his brother lying at his feet, he felt the decision was made for him. “I’ll stay with Mikky, Alpha.”

Casey kissed Sev on the cheek. “Thank you. I swear, I’ll make it up to you.”

“You can do that by rescuing our people. And coming back to me.”

Casey gave his best cocky grin. “Oh, you know I’m coming back. My family needs me.”

Sev’s heart practically flew at the declaration. He grabbed Casey’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss, mewling his need for his mate, trying to pour as much feeling into it as he could, needing Casey to understand how much he meant to all of them.

“Wow,” Casey exclaimed as they broke the kiss. “Yeah, coming back for more of those.”

Sev smiled at the flush running up Casey’s neck. Casey leaned forward and whispered in Sev’s ear, “The feelings are mutual, I swear.”

“We will wait here until your return, Casey. Then we will tear the Alpha’s compound to kindling if that is what it takes,” Zak snarled.

Jake held up a hand. “Whoa, hold on there. You’re staying with Sev. This is no place for you. We don’t know what kind of danger might be—”

Zak silenced him with a glare. “These are our people. I am their leader. It is my choice. Casey will return to his home, gather up what he needs to keep Mikhail safe while you and I return home. There will be no discussion in this.”

Jake grumbled, clearly unhappy with the decision, but not able to forestall his headstrong mate.

“See, told you. Whipped.”

The growl from Jake rattled Sev, even if he knew it was in fun. The Protector was as scary a man as you’d ever find. Since he’d come to the enclave, he’d adopted the people as his own. His size and ferocity made him intimidating to most, but he was gentle, even with the smallest child. Let someone get between him and his mate, and Sev feared for their lives.

***

Casey swallowed hard as he left the hut. He’d only been joined twenty-four hours and already everything was going to hell in a frilly little hand basket. The fear on Sev’s face and the feelings he’d gotten from his mate steeled Casey’s determination. He would do whatever it took to stop Elizar, because the man threatened his family. Casey could never explain it to Sev, but he’d give his life to save what he’d found.

Gathering herbs and potions, balms and salves, and whatever else he could think of, Casey threw everything together, needing to return to Sev. He spied a small, worn leather-bound book nestled among the various tomes Hakiim had written. Casey had read through many of Hakiim’s journals. Deciphering the scrawl was another task entirely. He opened it, hoping his mentor could at least give him a clue how to fight Elizar, but instead, found stories about shamans and their place in society. Casey returned the book to the shelf, and hurried from the house, glancing back as dark thoughts niggled at the corner of his mind that he might never see it again.

“I’m back,” he said, pushing his way into the hut. Lines of worry creased Sev’s forehead. Casey could feel the tension rolling off him and wanted to gather him up and drag him off somewhere he’d be safe, but he knew there was nowhere. Each of them had been touched by Elizar’s evil, and the wards would only hold him back for so long.

“Ready?” Jake asked him.

“Let’s do it. We’ve got people to save.”

Jake led the way out of the hut. Casey could feel Sev’s gaze on him, and the concern through the link they shared, but he dared not stop, because if he did, he wouldn’t be able to walk away from his family.

The Alpha’s compound was immense. Two stories, dozens of rooms, each decorated in garish designs by Elizar, who had lived like a king while his people suffered from starvation. Still, it was an impressive edifice considering it had been constructed using materials from the area and crafted by people with only rudimentary tools.

Jake and Zak had blocked off whole sections of the house, which they had to open again so they could search. Jake’s nose was of no use. Shortly after Elizar’s death, Zak had gutted the place and Casey had gone through and cleansed the house, eliminating all traces of Elizar’s foul stench. It was the only way Jake could stand to be in the place.

“I wish I knew what the hell I was looking for,” Jake grumbled.

“Me, too. It would have been easier if Elizar had drawn you a map. Perhaps you should go back and ask him,” Zak replied dryly.

“Not funny. Keep it up and you won’t be sitting down for a week.”

“Do not threaten me with a good time, Jake.”

Casey knew the banter was due to nerves. In the eight months they’d been here, Zak had made incredible strides to undo all the horrors Elizar wrought. This was a serious blow to his plans. Casey wished he was more powerful. He’d heard tales of former shamans who could do magic night and day, seemingly able to do miracles. Casey, on the other hand, was only able to do things with natural ingredients—blending teas, salves, and potions. Everyone else had decades of experience, but his people needed him now, and he was going to fail.

He had no doubt people were going to die.

For hours they searched. Most rooms had very little in them, but Jake insisted on looking for hidden panels, loose floorboards, drop ceilings, or anything that might contain Elizar’s hidden item of power. The worst of it came when they uncovered a small room which contained body parts, gems, bits of jewelry.

“This is where Kell stored his trophies,” Zak said glumly. Row upon row of shiny baubles, jars which held fingers, eyes, and ears. Most disturbing was the human head that hung on the wall, caked with dried blood. Each spoke of Kell’s sickness that Elizar had encouraged.

“It’s not in the house,” Jake announced. “Whatever it is, he hid it somewhere else.”

“If I thought it would help, I would put a torch to the place myself,” Zak said, stretching and popping his vertebrae.

“So now what? Do we tear the enclave apart? What if the item isn’t a thing, but a person? Could Elizar have had his shaman put it inside someone?” Jake muttered.

Casey scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d been so proud of what he’d learned since he’d been here, but this served as a reminder he knew next to nothing. Even with everything he’d read, he had never seen anything like this even alluded to. How did you beat a spirit when it was more powerful than you? Hell, it was more powerful than the Protector.

“It’s not a living thing,” Casey said grimly. “It’s got to be somewhere safe. A human host could die too easily. A shifter body wouldn’t accept anything foreign like that. I think he has to have it hidden somewhere.”

“How can you be so certain?” Zak wondered.

“I can’t. I’m going off gut instinct. From everything we learned, Elizar is an egomaniac. I don’t think he would allow anyone else to be part of his
victory
. I’m doubting he even told Kell where it was, considering how little he trusted anyone.”