Gerard watched Kindra sleeping. She’d been extra attentive to him since coming back from the empty house. Thankfully, she had accepted the change. Her only other choice had been death.
And it seemed that in the next chapter of their lives, they would live as mated werewolves. There were times when doppelgangers couldn’t choose a couple to stay together. And her first time with a new face would be hard enough.
Kindra rolled closer to Gerard, burying her head against his chest. When she first came back to him from her abduction, she’d been appalled by the smell of his decay, but hers set in once they were reunited.
Soon, Valen would call with some sort of news. All they asked him to do was verify that a werewolf fit Anders’ description, and get a sense of the town, as a possible place for the coven to move.
“Heard from him yet?” she asked.
“Not yet. Why?”
“Is there a way to break your tie to Anders so we can go somewhere else and start fresh?”
“No, my love. There is no other way.”
“I see.” Her eyes closed as she rolled to her back.
Fear trickled in for a moment. He had to know her answer. “What would you choose if you could do it all over again?”
Facing him, she caught his chin and looked into his eyes. “You. I love you.”
“Your coven will end. Can you accept that too?” he asked.
“You’re my people now.”
“We need to get ready. As soon as we have the information, we’ll be making a trip with the other doppelgangers.”
She climbed from the bed and headed for the shower.
The phone rang, and he picked it up to find Valen’s name. “Good morning, son. I hope you’ve found something useful.”
“There is a werewolf who looks just like you. Mark Welling. Mated to Gina Summerset. I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“I’ll explain everything when you come home. It’s time you knew the truth.”
“What truth?” Valen asked boldly.
“Face-to-face, son. I promise, you’ll understand everything when you come back. Don’t stay there. I don’t want them to know who you are just yet. And the sooner we talk, the better.”
“I’ll be there soon, Dad.”
Gerard hung up and stretched. His body was weaker, but that meant his oldest magic grew stronger. He followed Kindra to the shower.
* * * *
Gina rubbed her belly while she watched Mark move through the kitchen. He kept glancing over at her with that smile of his. As if he didn’t believe there was a single problem in their world.
Maybe there shouldn’t have been, but there were real things they needed to worry about. Like the possible takeover of Edenton.
The doppelgangers had been doing it for thousands of years.
They won’t continue. There are enough of you that know what to expect and how to deal with them for good.
Gina thought back, I hope you’re right.
I’ll be here in person, in time to help.
Gina could only close her eyes. How would a baby grow fast enough to help with the coming mess?
Don’t worry about that, Badb murmured.
Easier said than done. Gina’s body was changing so fast she hardly recognized it. Mark didn’t mind her expanding belly.
In fact, he brought a plate to the table and leaned in to wrap one arm over her shoulders and caress her tummy with the other hand. “Everyone will be here soon, and all I want to do is take you back to bed.”
She took his mouth in a tender kiss, then looked into his eyes. “You will later. First, we need to ensure everyone here is safe. And until the doppelgangers are dealt with, I don’t see how.”
He sat back and glanced toward the door. “Why do they do what they do?”
“What do you mean?”
“If the doppelgangers can be what they were meant to be, why don’t they stay as they are?”
Badb told her the answer, and she winced, then relayed it. “They are a cursed people. They were too greedy, so their beauty and power was taken from them. Now they seek to become something better, and it works, for a time, but they kill everything in their wake. They’ll fade away and die if they don’t continue the pattern.”
“Why can’t people be happy with what they have? All I want is you. That’s it. No one and nothing else.”
“Because you’re a good man who appreciates what he has. And you work hard for what you want.”
“I work hard because I like what I do, and because I don’t want to let Clint down.”
“Same thing. Now hush.” She nodded to the door as the first person rang the bell. “How many should we expect today?”
“Who knows. Hopefully Dakota is here.”
“I haven’t felt off since when I first woke up.” She lifted a shoulder. “But I appreciate the thought behind having him come.”
“Yeah, but I don’t like seeing you sick.”
“No, but you took care of me and made me feel better.” Gina hopped up and moved to the door. Dakota stood there with a thermos.
His eyes widened as they locked on the baby bump. “I don’t have a clue what to say.”
“Come in.” Gina stepped inside. “And good morning.”
Blinking, he followed. “Good morning, indeed. Mark mentioned you’ll be able to carry a child after this?”
She nodded. “That’s what Badb told me. I feel the truth. Everything is different.
He nodded. “For both of you. I feel magic where there wasn’t any before.”
Mark shook his head. “The magic is below the surface, but I can’t reach it. It was always there.”
“Not like it is now. No, this isn’t residual magic. This is strong enough you can tap into. What were you?”
Mark groaned. “Witch.”
“What the hell is going on?” Dakota asked.
Mark rubbed at his face and gave Dakota the rundown of where he was from and what was coming to try to take over.
Dakota nodded slowly. “Interesting. We saw a man at In 2 Deep who looks a lot like you.”
Mark swallowed hard. “Did you get a name?”
“I overheard him introduce himself as Valen.”
“We were going to name our boy Valen if we had one. Paige if our baby were a girl.”
Gina could feel the pain rolling from Mark. She asked, “Did you overhear any of the rest of the conversation?”
“He asked about the witches in Edenton and about how well they get along with werewolves.” Dakota shook his head. “You think they’re scoping out the area?”
“Yeah, and using my son to do it.” He rubbed at his face and walked away.
“He may not know.” Gina touched his shoulder.
Mark held up a hand. “Don’t. I get it. It’s been fifty years, Gina. I don’t know the kid. I wish things were different, but shit.” He blew out a breath. “Thing is, he’s against us, or will be once they tell him what’s going on.”
“How can you be sure?” Gina asked.
Dakota let out a breath. “There was something wrong with him. Death and decay lingered in the air around him. In fact, everyone moved away from the bar soon after he took a seat at the counter.”
“He’s one of them. Even if he has my DNA, he’s still Gerard’s.” Mark shook his head. “As long as I don’t think about him being mine, it’s easier.”
“What if there is a way to save him?” Gina took his hand. “What if?”
Mark rubbed at his face. “I don’t know. Does it really matter? Even if there is, there is no guarantee we can. I want to say of course it matters, but we don’t have a lot of choices here. We need to protect ourselves and Edenton. And if he’s been raised by Kindra and Gerard, I have to accept the fact he may not believe a word we say.”
Badb whispered, he may be right. There is no guarantee where the boy is concerned.
He’s older than me, Gina thought back.
Badb sighed. Makes little difference.
It didn’t.
* * * *
Part of Mark mourned for the loss of a son he never knew. A small part. And maybe that made him an asshole, but the kid came to his town, to ask questions. That had to mean he was scouting for the witches. Who else would it be? Edenton didn’t get a lot of visitors, and not usually nosy ones.
Gina watched him with such sad eyes. He turned back and offered a smile, at least attempted to.
“I’m fine, Gina. Look, I’ve always expected the baby died with Kindra. I’ve been okay with it since then. So why should I let the new information change my perspective?”
“I can’t help thinking there must be a way.”
And the truth of the matter was it probably didn’t matter. “Look, if he chooses his mother and the man he’s grown up believing to be his father, I’ll have to deal with him. And seeing as he doesn’t know me, and God knows what that woman filled his head with, I expect him to hate me. I stabbed his mother. The woman who raised him.”
“In self-defense!” Gina argued.
A bitter laugh escaped. “He doesn’t know that.”
“He’s right,” Dakota said.
“Look, whatever happens, I’ll deal with it. I have to,” Mark answered.
“With me by your side,” Gina vowed.
He pulled her close and hugged her tight. “I know. We’ll be okay.”
Dakota cleared his throat. “Sorry. Here. If this works, I’m leaving the recipe so you can make more. Or you can call. And if there is anything else you need, let me know.”
“Of course, thank you.”
Dakota hugged Gina, then patted Mark on the back. “Honest, anything. I’m here.”
“You’re a sweetheart,” Gina answered.
He glanced at her stomach with a strange smile, then shrugged. “Anytime.”
Mark smiled. “Thank you for coming so fast.”
“Just heat it up when you need it.” Dakota ducked out the door.
Gina took Mark’s hands. “What can I do?”
“You already are.” He kissed her forehead. “Just be here.”
“Always.”
The bell rang again.
He opened the door and found Slater and Jess.
“May we come in?” Slater asked.
“Yeah, of course.” He stepped out of the way.
Jess rushed over to Gina and stared at her stomach. “Slater told me, and I saw something like this, but wow.”
Gina laughed. “It’s fast.”
Jess nodded. “If the rest of what I saw for you is right, it won’t be this fast next time.”
“I can handle slower. This is too fast,” Gina said.
Mark moved to her. “As long as I have you, I’ll be happy.”
She couldn’t agree more. Gina turned to Jess and smiled. “Do you know everything going on?”
“Yeah, and I’m worried about Mark.” Jess side-eyed him.
“Me too,” Gina admitted.
“I’ll be fine,” Mark promised.
Jess rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t mean you won’t be affected by everything to come.”
He dipped his head.
Slater sighed. “What she means to say is that we’re all here for you, whatever happens. And if some of the witches settle here, and you want them gone, just say the word. We’ll make sure that happens.”
“They have the right to live where they want. And it’s not like I’m going to be anything other than what I am. They’ll either deal or they won’t. I’m not going anywhere.”
Slater nodded. “With that out of the way, how can we help?”
He laughed sadly. “Don’t even know. Robert and the rest of them should be here soon. I’m hoping it’s as simple as Robert hopping over there and taking who needs to be taken. Of course, I doubt it’s going to be that simple.”
“Never is.”
The bell rang, and Mark went to get it. He wanted to avoid the personal side of the mess for as long as he could.
Robert stood on the other porch with his hands shoved in his pocket. Behind him were Morrigan, Cora, and Druciela.
“Come in. Where’s Preston?”
“On the way,” Robert assured. “Clint will be here soon, too. He wants to ensure you have enough people around you.”
“Of course he is.” Mark ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t suppose we can convince him we’re fine?”
“Doubtful. Why would you want to?” Slater asked.
“I don’t want anyone else in danger. Not over my past.”
“Not your decision,” Slater answered. “I talked to him. I even told him you would want him to stay home. And he told me to fuck off, he was coming for his closest friend.”
“He didn’t even know I was a witch. Why would he want to be here now?” Mark asked.
“Because you were there for him for everything. Now he wants to do the same.”
“Which makes him a damned good friend, but why should he suffer?”
“Why should you?” Gina demanded.
Mark shook his head. She had a point. It wasn’t like any of them had a choice where all of that was concerned. As much as he would love to keep them all safe, he couldn’t. And that was the difference between his coven and his pack.
The pack stood as one. Hell, the whole damned town did. His old coven—well, shit—that was a whole different story. They didn’t even believe him when he went to them for help. All except Cora.
“Sorry.” Mark lifted a shoulder. “I know how you all are. It’s the same way I am. I’m trying to remember that. But it’s harder than you would imagine. I keep thinking back to the coven and all the shit I was forced to endure.”
“That’s why you should know we won’t let you go through this alone. Especially when everything I’ve been told leads me to believe that’s exactly what these damned things want.” Slater took a seat. “You picked us, stood by us. Now we’re going to do the same for you.”
“Which is why I love you all.” Mark dropped into a seat across from Slater.
“Finally, he sees reason,” Gina muttered.
He pulled her down beside him with a sheepish smile. “You hush. I’m trying, Gina.”
“You should be used to this pack by now.”
He ducked his head. “Never needed their help before. Not like this.”
Slater nodded. “Mark’s always been there to help everyone else. And sometimes that makes it harder to accept that there are people waiting to help him, much the same way he’s always helped everyone else.”
“Not just the pack.” Robert nodded to Cora. “And you finally have someone from your coven who wants to help.”
Cora’s shoulders rose and fell with her sigh. “I’m a fool. What more would you like me to say?”
“You’re not,” Mark offered. “I wish you had come forward to the Council with me all those years ago, but we can’t change the past. So let’s focus on what we can do now.”
Cora stared back at Mark. “I’m here to do everything I can. I don’t want anything to happen with our coven.”
“Neither do I,” Mark admitted. And if Kindra had been led astray, which seemed likely, then it wasn’t all her fault. That also meant she deserved a chance without all the mind control nonsense, as long as that life was away from him.
Jess spoke up. “They’re already poking around out here. And from what I understand, the man looks an awful lot like you. I only wish I’d been there to get a read on him. Although, Riley thought Valen was fishing for any information. I don’t think he knows what’s going on.”
“He was raised by Kindra and the man posing as me. Why would he know about me?” Mark said.
Slater rubbed his beard. “So, now what?”
Robert stood up. “Preston and I go out there, see if we can bring any of the doppelgangers back to a safe location. And figure out what the hell we do.”
There was a knock on the door. Gina opened it to find Preston. “Come in.”
Morrigan sighed. “You need to be careful. Keep in mind they are looking for a new face. You both would be prime candidates.”
“Is there a way to protect against it?” Preston asked.
“Just be mindful. I know of no way to block the draining.”
Robert smiled. “We have a way. Still have the handkerchief Monique made?”
“I do. We need to make a stop.”
“Okay. We’ll take the first one we find.” Robert reached out to Preston and they were gone.
“Wish I could be locked in a room with Anthony without his buddies to back him up. I’d love to butcher him,” Cora muttered.
And suddenly, Mark felt a little better about that fire in Cora. Maybe she was ready to accept witches weren’t the only way.